Cape Town – South African Airways (SAA) is set to resume daily flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, starting Monday, January 20, 2025.
The relaunch marks a significant milestone in strengthening connections between two of Africa’s most influential economies.
“This flight is not simply a milestone for SAA and linking Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam through air travel; it heralds a bridge that connects two of Africa’s most influential economies and strengthens the friendship between our nations,” said SAA’s interim CEO, Professor John Lamola.
The renewed route is expected to promote trade, investment, and economic collaboration between South Africa and Tanzania.
“It brings together industries, communities and resources, enabling us to unlock greater prosperity, foster collaboration, and generate new opportunities for trade, investment, and development for both our economies and the people of South Africa and Tanzania,” Lamola said.
The countdown is on as we relaunch daily flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on Monday, 20 January 2025.✈️
“This flight is not simply a milestone for SAA and linking Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam through air travel; it heralds a bridge that connects two… pic.twitter.com/9cr4PH7naQ
— SAA – South Africa (@flysaa) January 16, 2025
Dar es Salaam, East Africa’s largest city and a regional economic hub, is a gateway to key tourist attractions and a vital center for trade.
South Africa already accounts for a significant share of foreign direct investment in Tanzania, with robust trade in agricultural products, precious metals, chemicals, and machinery.
According to Lamola, the relaunch aligns with SAA’s broader strategy to solidify its presence across Africa.
“SAA’s regional network has emerged as a top performer, contributing significantly to the revenue of the SAA Group. More importantly, these regional connections are crucial for the broader economic growth of South Africa,” he said.
Flight schedule details
The daily flights will depart from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 10:00 PM (SAST), arriving at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam at 2:30 AM (EAT).
The return leg will depart Dar es Salaam at 5:10 AM (EAT) and arrive in Johannesburg at 7:55 AM (SAST). Tanzania operates one hour ahead of South Africa.
The schedule has been crafted to accommodate both point-to-point and connecting passengers, ensuring flexibility and convenience for travellers.
Expanding regional and international networks
SAA’s relaunch of the Johannesburg-Dar es Salaam route follows recent expansions of its regional network. In November 2024, the airline increased its weekly flights to Harare (Zimbabwe) and Lusaka (Zambia) to 12 each.
Flights to Lagos (Nigeria) and Accra (Ghana) were also increased to four per week. Additionally, SAA enhanced its presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with five weekly flights to Kinshasa and new services to Lubumbashi, the DRC’s mining hub.
Intercontinentally, SAA increased flights to Perth, Australia, to five per week from January 7, 2025, underscoring the airline’s commitment to offering comprehensive connectivity.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
