SAA Boosts Flights For Festive Season Travel Rush

For Joburgers planning to head abroad this festive season, South African Airways (SAA) has just made life a little easier. The national carrier has announced additional flights on key African and international routes, aimed at easing demand during the December and New Year rush.

More Options For Festive Flyers

The uplift will see more weekly frequencies on three of SAA’s busiest regional and long-haul routes:

• Johannesburg–Lagos: Two extra flights on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6 October, taking the service to six flights per week.

• Johannesburg–Accra: Two additional flights on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 October, also boosting to six per week.

• Johannesburg–São Paulo: From 10 December, two extra flights on Wednesdays and Sundays, giving travellers five weekly options.

These seasonal increases will run until 11 February 2026, covering both the festive peak and the back-to-school travel period.

Strengthening Connections

“This is about meeting the real demand of our customers,” said SAA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Tebogo Tsimane. “We’re strengthening our network with more flights, more frequencies, and more opportunities to connect Africa to the world. We are aiming higher to serve our customers better this festive season.”

For South Africans, Lagos and Accra have become major regional gateways for both business and family visits, while São Paulo is growing as a vital link to South America. The festive boost signals that SAA is not only recovering, but actively competing for travel traffic in one of the busiest seasons of the year.

Why It Matters for South African Tourism and Beyond

Airline capacity is often stretched during December, and South Africans travelling abroad have in recent years faced pricey tickets and limited seats. By adding frequencies now, SAA is positioning itself as a more reliable option during the country’s busiest travel period. For many Joburg residents, that means fewer headaches when booking family visits, festive holidays or business trips.

Source: Travel News 

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