South Africa is actively working to establish a direct air connection with India in anticipation of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027. Government and tourism officials aim to simplify access to South Africa for one of the country's most significant emerging markets.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille stated that negotiations are underway with South African Airways (SAA) and private Indian carriers regarding the potential launch of a direct flight between the two nations. Departments of tourism, transport, and trade, as well as industry and competition, are involved in these discussions. Furthermore, the High Commissioner of South Africa in India, Professor Anil Sukhal, is engaging with the Indian business sector.
For travelers, having a direct route is crucial, as there is currently no direct service between India and South Africa. For instance, passengers flying from Johannesburg to Mumbai must make a layover in a third city such as Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Doha, or Dubai. This gap is what South Africa hopes to bridge.
India is already an important source of tourists for South Africa. In 2025, 69,680 Indian tourists visited the country, making India the largest source of visitors among the initial BRIC countries, surpassing Brazil, Russia, and China. These four markets collectively accounted for 213,138 tourist arrivals in South Africa that year.
South Africa is also striving to grow its Indian market. In May 2026, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille announced a goal to attract 100,000 Indian visitors in 2026, up from 69,680 arrivals in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 12,912 Indian guests arrived in South Africa.
Improved air connectivity could help achieve this goal. The proposed route is important not only for leisure travelers. Sukhal pointed to broader business opportunities, noting that the lack of a direct connection is a drawback, and Indian businesses regularly raise this issue because long transit times complicate trade.
The timing of this proposal is particularly significant as South Africa is already working to expand its international air connectivity. During 2026, new direct flights were launched or expanded as part of the country's overall route development strategy, including Johannesburg-Madrid and São Paulo-Cape Town.
The most immediate catalyst for this push is cricket. The ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027 will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November 2027. The tournament will feature 14 teams and will take place in a new three-stage format, culminating in finals.
India is already among the teams that have secured a spot in the tournament, and it recently joined the automatically qualified teams, Afghanistan. For South Africa, this presents an opportunity to convert cricket fans into tourists. De Lille notes that South African Tourism plans to track ticket sales starting in October and collaborate with the private sector to develop travel packages that encourage fans to stay longer and explore the country before or after matches. This strategy targets cricket-loving markets, including India, England, Australia, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
Beyond stadiums, there are numerous attractions for visitors. South Africa intends to leverage the tournament to promote its wildlife, wine routes, beaches, and cultural experiences, while also highlighting tourism development in local communities and support for small businesses. The broader plan is to present the World Cup as a platform for sports tourism, rather than just a series of matches. This could mean that an Indian cricket fan arriving for a match in Johannesburg might be encouraged to add a safari, a stay in Cape Town, a trip to the Winelands, or a cruise to their itinerary.
A direct flight will do more than just shorten travel time. For South Africa, the more valuable gain is simplifying the choice of destination for travel. Currently, travelers between India and South Africa must build their trips around hub airports. The flight from Johannesburg to Mumbai lacks direct service, despite both cities being major commercial centers.
Airbus, in a study published earlier this year, identified the Johannesburg-Mumbai connection as one of the world's least served routes, underscoring the demand gap caused by the absence of a direct flight. This makes the proposed route interesting not only in the context of the World Cup. Successful service could support tourism, business travel, and broader economic ties between the two countries long after the cricket crowds depart. It would also strengthen South Africa's position compared to other African destinations competing for Indian travelers. De Lille noted that Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda are also negotiating with Indian airlines for direct connections to Indian hubs.
South Africa enters the 2027 tournament with growing international tourist demand. In 2025, the country recorded a record 10.5 million international arrivals, and arrivals from January to May 2026 grew by 12.8% compared to the previous year. The current task is to convert this momentum into sustainable connectivity.
A direct route to India will undoubtedly make traveling to South Africa more convenient, especially for first-time tourists who may be less inclined to undertake a long international journey with multiple layovers. However, launching the route is only the beginning. For it to remain viable after the World Cup, there needs to be consistent demand from both leisure and business travelers.
This is why the current discussions are important. Nothing is confirmed yet, but South Africa is clearly viewing a direct link with India as a strategic priority. With the 2027 Cricket World Cup approaching, the tournament provides a ready-made reason to launch the route and showcase thousands of potential visitors to the country. If the plan succeeds, the real victory for South Africa may not be the number of Indian fans who come for cricket, but the number who decide to stay longer, see more of the country, and return when there are no matches on the calendar.
Indian airlines Air India and SpiceJet have issued warnings to passengers, strongly recommending them to arrive at Indian airports significantly earlier than their scheduled departure time. This is due to the introduction of heightened security measures during the celebration of South Asia's Independence Day on August 15th.
These notifications are likely to affect Indian passengers traveling during this period, as it is a peak season for family visits, with many returning to the UAE after the summer break.
Air India reported that the enhanced measures will be in effect for guests traveling from August 10 to August 20, 2026. In its statement, the airline noted: 'Due to the implementation of enhanced security measures at the airports, guests traveling between August 10 and August 20, 2026, are advised to arrive significantly earlier than the scheduled departure. Please allow extra time for security checks and airport procedures to ensure a comfortable journey.'
Indian citizens constitute the largest expatriate population in the UAE. Many of them travel to their home country during the summer holidays in July and August, and then return in the second and third weeks of August before the start of the academic year.
SpiceJet also issued a similar warning to passengers flying between August 11 and August 20. The budget airline advised: 'Passengers traveling between August 11 and August 20, 2026, are recommended to arrive at the airport significantly earlier than the scheduled departure. Heightened security measures may require additional time for security checks and airport procedures. Please plan your trip accordingly and allow extra time for a smooth journey.'
Both warnings point to potential delays in check-in, screening, and other airport procedures during the ten-day interval. For residents of the UAE, these recommendations add a new planning factor to an already heavily trafficked transport corridor. Passengers making connections through UAE hubs to Indian cities are advised to check the latest information with their airline and account for extra time at both the departure and arrival airports during the specified dates.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille stated that the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 will be a significant event for South Africa's tourism industry. As South Africa will be a co-host of this tournament, the minister is leading government efforts to create an unforgettable experience for guests and ensure direct air links between South Africa and India.
De Lille indicated that India and China have been identified as key inbound tourism destinations. She noted that given the presence of competitors such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, which are also discussing direct flights with Indian airlines, high-level meetings were held with SAA, as well as with private carriers in India for a potential launch of a direct flight between South Africa and India.
The negotiations involved the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The Minister emphasized the importance of a swift resolution to this matter, as South Africa is hosting the World Cup next year, and cricket in India holds the status of religion, implying an expected large number of Indian fans in South Africa.
De Lille also reported that the High Commissioner of South Africa in India, Professor Anil Sukhlal, is engaging with the Indian business and corporate sectors. The Ministry plans to leverage the World Cup within marketing campaigns aimed at encouraging fans to extend their stays. Ticket sales tracking is planned to begin in October, and private sector service packages will be coordinated to showcase the diversity of South African offerings and attract visitors before and after the tournament.
According to the Statistics South Africa 2025 tourism report, tourism related to the original BRIC countries (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, and China) remains important. In 2025, 213,138 tourists from these countries arrived in South Africa, accounting for 8.9% of all international arrivals. India led this group with 69,680 tourists, followed by Brazil (63,848), the Russian Federation (41,708), and China (37,902).
De Lille added that they will collaborate with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Transport to ensure seamless travel for people in South Africa, including creating a fast-track point for arrivals to avoid airport congestion. Furthermore, community tourism initiatives are being considered so that guests can interact with local culture and small businesses.
They also plan to target major cricket-loving nations such as India, England, Australia, Pakistan, and New Zealand, as they have some of the largest fan bases. The goal is to win their favor and show what South Africa has to offer, either before or after the World Cup. Visitor experiences will then be showcased through hotels, transport, and information centers.
Together with SAT (SA Tourism), the World Cup is planned to be presented as a sports tourism platform. Since the World Cup will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, De Lille announced a regional tourism presentation for these countries, similar to regional marketing promotion. South Africa will emphasize its wildlife, culture, wine routes, and beaches, and will also create regional tourism packages. The main message they want to convey is 'the friendliest country in the world and home of the ICC Cricket World Cup.'
Professor Sukhlal noted that the lack of a direct flight to India is a drawback for South Africa, especially considering the market presence. He stated that the business sector constantly insists on the need for a direct flight, as transit time poses a serious obstacle to trade. Direct flights are necessary to maximize both business efficiency and tourism, as travelers prefer convenient direct connections over layovers.
