New international flight launching in South Africa this year

The new twice-daily service will commence on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, with bookings for the route now open. 

The SOE said that the new route further extends its regional reach and connectivity. 

The morning service departs Johannesburg at 06h35 and arrives at Gaborone at 07h35. The return flight departs at 08h25 and lands in Johannesburg at 09h25. 

The afternoon schedule leaves Johannesburg at 16h40, and arrives in Gaborone at 17h40, with the return leg departing at 18h30 and arriving in Johannesburg at 19h30. 

Given Johannesburg and Gaborone’s proximity, the flight is shorter than several domestic routes in South Africa. 

Flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town take around two hours to complete, while a direct flight between Durban and Johannesburg takes an hour and 10 minutes. 

“The launch of this route not only strengthens the cultural and economic ties between Botswana and South Africa but also reinforces SAA’s position as a premium network carrier, said CEO John Lamola. 

“SAA remains focused on expanding its footprint across the continent, delivering reliable, customer-centric service.” 

“The addition of Gaborone to our network is a clear demonstration of our dedication to supporting regional integration, tourism, and inclusive economic growth.” 

New flights inbound

The new route to Gaborone joins the growing list of regional and international flights coming to and from South Africa. 

Last month, SAA announced that it would launch its first-ever direct service between Cape Town and Mauritius in December.

Australian-based Qantas also announced that it would launch a route between Johannesburg and Perth, with direct flights taking off in December 2025.

Qantas said the new flights will provide South Africans with access to Perth and easy connections to Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide via the carrier’s Australian network. It already offers direct flights to Sydney. 

Air France will also reintroduce its direct flight between Cape Town and Paris for the upcoming summer season.

From 15 December 2025 to 12 January 2026, Air France will operate daily nonstop flights between Cape Town and Paris, aligning with South Africa’s summer season and Europe’s peak holiday period.

Via a partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France-KLM will offer up to 18 weekly flights to Cape Town and 32 flights per week to South Africa. 

Loooking at domestic flights, Flysafair recently announced a new route connecting Cape Town and Hoedspruit, Limpopo.

Flights will operate thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with the first flight departing on 2 October 2025.

The group said the flight will enhance access to the central Kruger region and the wider Limpopo province and complement the existing route to Mbombela, Mpumalanga. 

FlySafair has also expanded access between Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape via two new routes. 

Passengers can fly directly from Lanseria to King Phalo Airport in East London six times a week, and to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha seven times a week from 1 November.

Issued on BusinessTech by Luke Fraser | https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/836538/new-international-flight-launching-in-south-africa-this-year/