South Africa has renewed its efforts to restore direct air connections with India, which could potentially simplify travel for both tourists and business travelers between the two destinations.
As reported by BusinessTech, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa is interested in resuming direct air links with India during the India-South Africa Leaders' Business Round Table, which took place parallel to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The proposed routes would connect two significant markets, eliminating the need for passengers to fly through hubs in the Middle East or other parts of Africa.
However, there is an important condition for South Africans planning a trip to India: direct flights have not yet resumed. Previously, South African Airways (SAA) operated a direct flight from Johannesburg to Mumbai, but this route was discontinued in 2015. Currently, travelers between South Africa and India generally have to make a connection at another international hub.
The drive to restore this route is gaining momentum. In September 2025, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) announced work on connecting three major South African international airports with India. The initial priority was the Mumbai-Johannesburg service, followed by potential connections from Mumbai to Cape Town and Durban. A Delhi-Johannesburg route was also identified for the long term.
Mpho Rambau, Group Manager for Traffic Development at ACSA, stated at the time that the organization had presented its business case to several airlines and was in advanced discussions with selected carriers. The study included an analysis of passenger flow and demand to demonstrate the commercial viability of these routes.
The bilateral agreement between South Africa and India provides for up to 28 weekly flights in each direction, with over 126,000 passengers flying between the two countries annually.
Johannesburg is expected to be the primary destination if direct flights resume. According to ACSA, 58% of air traffic between South Africa and India originates from or is destined for Johannesburg, making it the most likely candidate for an initial connection with Mumbai.
However, Johannesburg is not the only destination in South Africa under consideration. ACSA's long-term strategy includes direct flights from Mumbai to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, and the Delhi-Johannesburg route is also being considered due to demand for both travel and trade.
Specifically, the proposed route to Cape Town could open another direct link between the city and a major Asian market. Cape Town previously participated in efforts to justify the need for a direct route to India, with city officials emphasizing the potential for growth in tourism and business ties.
India is already an important market source for South Africa. Between January and July 2025, it was the country's seventh-largest foreign market source, with over 42,600 arrivals registered during that period. South African tourism has designated India as one of its 15 priority foreign growth markets.
A direct flight could make South Africa a more convenient option for Indian travelers, especially those visiting for leisure, business, family, or as part of extended multi-city tours. It would also increase India's accessibility for South Africans. For example, a direct Johannesburg-Mumbai flight would eliminate the need to add another airport and layover to the journey.
The route would also benefit business travel. During his visit to India, Ramaphosa emphasized the growing economic relationship between the two nations. According to the President, over 150 Indian companies have collectively invested more than $10 billion in South Africa.
The resumption of efforts for direct flights is part of broader measures to strengthen ties between South Africa and India. At the business round table, Ramaphosa highlighted areas such as renewable energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, and digital technologies as potential spheres for closer cooperation.
India's pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors can also support South Africa's aspirations to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, while India's experience in information technology, fintech, and digital infrastructure can contribute to modernizing South Africa's systems. South Africa, in turn, possesses reserves of critical minerals that can support India's growing industries in renewable energy, batteries, and automotive manufacturing.
Against this backdrop, improved air connectivity will provide a more direct link between the two markets. However, the key point for travelers is that the launch dates for the proposed direct flights have not yet been set; the routes remain subject to ongoing discussions between South African authorities, airports, and airlines.
Therefore, if you hope to fly directly from South Africa to India, you will currently have to use connecting flights. But after many years without direct service, this route has once again come into the focus of aviation and tourism agendas.
