South Africa is once again pushing to restore direct flights between the country and India, potentially making travel between the two destinations easier for tourists and business travellers.
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As reported by BusinessTech, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa is keen to re-establish direct air connectivity with India during the India-South Africa Business Leadership Roundtable held alongside the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The proposed routes would reconnect two important markets while cutting out the need for travellers to fly via hubs in the Middle East or elsewhere in Africa.
Direct flights between South Africa and India are still in the works
For South Africans planning a trip to India, however, there is an important catch: direct flights have not yet returned.
South African Airways (SAA) previously operated a direct Johannesburg-Mumbai service, but the route was discontinued in 2015. At present, travellers between South Africa and India generally need to connect through another international hub.
The push to restore the route has been gathering momentum. In September 2025, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said it was working towards connecting South Africa’s three major international airports with India. Its initial priority was a Mumbai-Johannesburg service, followed by potential Mumbai connections to Cape Town and Durban. Delhi-Johannesburg has also been identified as a longer-term target.
ACSA’s Acting Group Manager for Traffic Development, Mpho Rambau, said at the time that the organisation had presented its business case to several airlines and was in advanced discussions with selected carriers. The research included passenger-demand and traffic-flow analysis to demonstrate the commercial viability of the routes.
The bilateral agreement between South Africa and India allows for up to 28 weekly flights in each direction, while more than 126,000 passengers currently travel between the two countries each year.
Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are in line
Johannesburg is expected to be the first priority if direct services return.
According to ACSA, 58% of air traffic between South Africa and India either originates from or is destined for Johannesburg, making the city the strongest candidate for an initial Mumbai connection.
But Johannesburg is not the only South African destination being considered.
ACSA’s longer-term strategy includes direct Mumbai services to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, while a Delhi-Johannesburg route is also being considered because of demand for both travel and trade.
For Cape Town in particular, the proposed route could open another direct connection between the city and a major Asian market. The City of Cape Town has previously been involved in efforts to make the case for a direct India route, with city officials highlighting the potential for increased tourism and business links.
Why direct flights matter for tourism
India is already an important source market for South Africa. It was the country’s seventh-largest overseas source market between January and July 2025, with more than 42,600 arrivals recorded during that period. South African Tourism has identified India as one of its 15 priority overseas growth markets.
A direct flight could make South Africa a more convenient option for Indian travellers, particularly those visiting for holidays, business, family connections or longer multi-city trips.
It could also make India more accessible to South Africans. A direct Johannesburg-Mumbai service, for example, would remove the need to add another airport and connection to the journey.
The route would also benefit business travel. During his visit to India, Ramaphosa highlighted the growing economic relationship between the two countries. More than 150 Indian companies have collectively invested over US$10 billion in South Africa, according to the President.
Ramaphosa wants stronger links between the two countries
The renewed push for direct flights forms part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between South Africa and India.
At the business leadership roundtable, Ramaphosa identified areas including renewable energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure and digital technology as potential areas for greater cooperation.
India’s pharmaceutical and health-technology industries could also support South Africa’s ambitions to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, while India’s expertise in information technology, fintech and digital infrastructure could contribute to the modernisation of South African systems.
South Africa, meanwhile, has critical mineral resources that could support India’s growing renewable-energy, battery and automotive industries.
Against this backdrop, improved air connectivity would provide a more direct link between the two markets.
For travellers, though, the key point is that there is no launch date for the proposed direct flights yet. The routes remain the subject of ongoing discussions between South African authorities, airports and airlines.
So, if you’re hoping to fly directly from South Africa to India, you’ll have to keep the connecting flight for now. But after years without a nonstop service, the route is once again firmly on the aviation and tourism agenda.
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