The country’s flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), is slowly regaining altitude in the aviation world after years of turbulence. At the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, SAA was ranked 67th among the world’s top 100 airlines, a slight but symbolic rise from 69th in 2024, a nod to its continuing recovery.
But SAA wasn’t the only local name making waves. Homegrown low-cost carriers FlySafair, Lift, and Fastjet also earned top honours in the Best Low-Cost Airlines in Africa category , securing the top three spots on the continent.
After more than a decade of financial woes, government bailouts, and a devastating grounding during the COVID-19 pandemic, SAA posted its first profit in over ten years — R252 million for the 2022/23 financial year.
That’s a massive turnaround for a company that once haemorrhaged over R23 billion in just four years.
In 2025, the airline continues to consolidate, fine-tune routes, improve customer service, and modernise its fleet. And it shows. While ranking 67th globally might not sound headline-worthy, it’s a quiet victory for an airline many South Africans had written off.
“We’ve gone from punchline to progress,” one X user quipped, echoing the cautiously optimistic mood among patriotic travellers.
FlySafair, meanwhile, is riding high as Africa’s top low-cost airline, reclaiming its crown from rival LIFT, which held the title in 2024.
“To be recognised by Skytrax is proof of our team’s dedication and hard work,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.
Gordon’s not wrong. FlySafair has built a loyal following for its affordability, punctuality, and simplicity — a no-frills approach that resonates with cash-conscious South Africans.
The airline’s consistent domestic performance and strong word-of-mouth across social platforms like TikTok and Instagram have helped it punch well above its weight.
While FlySafair flew off with top low-cost honours, Airlink claimed the title of Africa’s cleanest airline and the best regional airline — two subtle but crucial wins in a post-COVID world where hygiene and network efficiency are increasingly non-negotiable.
Airlink also ranked 7th for best airline staff in Africa, while LIFT grabbed the 8th spot.
Interestingly, SAA came in 4th for staff service, just behind continental powerhouses EgyptAir, RwandAir, and Ethiopian Airlines all airlines with major African hubs and wider international reach.
| Rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 1 | FlySafair |
| 2 | LIFT |
| 3 | FastJet |
| 4 | JamboJet |
| 5 | Fly540 |
| Rank | Airline |
|---|---|
| 1 | EgyptAir |
| 2 | RwandAir |
| 3 | Ethiopian Airlines |
| 4 | South African Airways |
| 5 | Air Mauritius |
| 6 | Kenya Airways |
| 7 | Airlink |
| 8 | LIFT |
| 9 | Royal Air Maroc |
| 10 | FlySafair |
Skytrax rankings are based on one of the largest customer satisfaction surveys in the aviation industry, with 325 airlines evaluated globally. Importantly, the results come directly from passengers, making the accolades a genuine reflection of service quality and customer experience.
For South Africans battered by rising ticket prices, route cuts, and airline uncertainty, these rankings are more than numbers. They’re a sign that the local industry is not just surviving, but competing on a world stage — a source of national pride in turbulent economic times.
These wins may seem symbolic, but they’re also strategic. As global giants like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines dominate the top of the list, South Africa’s aviation sector must carve out niches, whether through low-cost dominance, regional connectivity, or cultural resonance.
The growth of FlySafair and the rebirth of SAA aren’t just aviation stories. They’re stories about resilience, reputation, and rebooting public trust in a sector long weighed down by dysfunction and drama.
And if 2025’s Skytrax results are anything to go by, it seems like South Africa’s wings are slowly stretching wide again, ready to fly further, faster, and with more local pride than ever.
{Source: BusinessTech}
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