A new chapter in domestic air travel opened last week as FlySafair touched down at Hoedspruit, marking the start of a direct Cape Town to Hoedspruit route.
The inaugural flight landed amid ceremonial fanfare and high hopes for boosting connectivity, tourism and economic activity in Limpopo.
Take a look…
A new Flysafair link to the bushveld
FlySafair now offers a three-times-weekly service between Cape Town and Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
- The westbound service departs Cape Town at 12:15 and arrives in Hoedspruit at 14:45.
- The return flight leaves Hoedspruit at 15:20 and lands in Cape Town at 18:05.
- One-way fares start from around R1 570.
In launching the route, FlySafair’s Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon said the airline was responding to strong demand from its Cape Town–Nelspruit route and saw a parallel opportunity in Hoedspruit, which serves key safari and conservation areas.
Symbolism, ceremony and expectations
The inaugural touchdown was more than just a flight; it was a statement of intent. At Hoedspruit, government dignitaries and tourism stakeholders marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and water-cannon salute. Premier Phophi Ramathuba highlighted the route as part of efforts to deepen integration among Limpopo’s core economic sectors, tourism, mining and agriculture.
Maruleng Municipality Mayor Tsheko Musolwa called the new connection “a Christmas gift” for the region, especially in terms of job creation and tourism growth.
With this new route, FlySafair is aiming to open up safari tourism to a broader market – domestic and international travellers on tighter budgets.
