Quantcast

Eswatini Air considers expansion across Southern African Development Community countries

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Eswatini Air considers expansion across Southern African Development Community countries
Policy
Webp ymhfjf407emv9o42iza31o4oyd1u
Justin Foster Private Aviation Journalist | Simple Flying

Eswatini Air, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Eswatini, is considering expanding its operations to connect with all countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and potentially adding a new route to Johannesburg's Lanseria International Airport. The airline aims to make air travel more affordable and accessible, contributing to significant growth in traffic volumes.

Since commencing operations in March 2023, Eswatini Air has seen notable growth during its first financial year, which ended in March 2024. The airline has made air travel cheaper and more accessible for passengers traveling to and from Eswatini. As a result, traffic volumes have grown significantly on various routes launched by the airline since last year.

Speaking at AviaDev Africa in Namibia last month, Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) Director Commercial Getaneh Woldemicheal stated that the airline has a mandate to expand its operations within Southern Africa. "We have a mandate to deepen the integration to all the SADC countries, so they are on the cards," said Woldemicheal. "We are looking at some destinations and evaluating which ones are easy to mature within two to three years. We are considering adding a number of new routes in 2025 and introducing dedicated freighter services to contribute to the Eswatini economy as well as regional economies."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The national carrier also sees opportunities beyond the SADC region. According to Woldemicheal, there are strong links for business and leisure travel from Southern Africa to East Africa, the Middle East, and other regions. The carrier is considering launching flights to East Africa to connect the tourism segment with Southern Africa.

Woldemicheal highlighted that South Africa remains an important market for Eswatini Air. Currently, the airline offers up to 18 weekly flights from its base at Manzini King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) to South Africa, including 13 weekly flights (up to two daily) to Johannesburg, three weekly flights to Cape Town, and two weekly flights to Durban.

While South Africa’s economy has faced challenges over recent years, domestic and international traffic is expected to increase this year. According to Stats SA data, approximately 734,000 tourists arrived in South Africa from Eswatini in 2023—an 81.7% increase from the previous year.

About 1.7 million road users also travel from Eswatini to South Africa annually. The national carrier believes that by making air travel more affordable within the country, more travelers could opt for flying between these two nations. Therefore, it sees potential in increasing frequencies on its Johannesburg route but is considering flying into Lanseria International Airport instead of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB). "Johannesburg is a major regional hub," said Woldemicheal. "We think that by converting some of the road users to air travel we might increase frequencies... We might be looking at Lanseria [International Airport] as an alternative."

Lanseria International Airport is located about 54 km from OR Tambo and serves as Johannesburg’s secondary airport with lower parking fees and friendlier tariffs compared with OR Tambo.

Eswatini Air currently operates a fleet of two Embraer ERJ145EPs flying routes including Harare and three South African destinations. In light of future expansion plans—including possible longer flights—the airline may consider adding ERJ145LR aircraft or leasing larger capacity planes such as those seating between 70-90 passengers.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

With the commencement of the 2025 summer flight schedule, ITA Airways has seamlessly integrated into the Lufthansa Group terminals in Frankfurt and Munich.

Mar 30, 2025

Air China is set to resume its Toronto flights after a 33-year hiatus.

Mar 29, 2025

United Airlines has confirmed that a Boeing 767-300ER, which departed from London on March 26, returned to London Heathrow after experiencing mechanical problems.

Mar 29, 2025

American Airlines has introduced new routes to Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, following its "March Map-Ness" contest.

Mar 29, 2025

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A321neo is back in operation after being grounded due to smoke detected in its cabin.

Mar 29, 2025

The Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama, presents an extensive collection of over 120 aircraft, showcasing a range of experimental, military, and general aviation aircraft.

Mar 29, 2025