FlySafair says air-traffic constraints limit operations a week after Harith wins approval for takeover

South Africa’s biggest domestic airline, FlySafair, says persistent air-traffic control constraints are forcing it to adjust flight schedules as congestion at the country’s busiest airports limits operational flexibility. The update comes just one week after Harith General Partners, the Pan-African infrastructure investment firm founded by Tshepo Mahloele, secured regulatory approval to acquire FlySafair, bringing the transaction a step closer to completion.

FlySafair, which carries more than half of South Africa’s domestic passengers, said pressure on aircraft movements—particularly at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport—is increasingly shaping how it plans its network. While Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) continues efforts to rebuild staffing levels and modernize its systems, the airline said runway capacity and air-traffic management remain its biggest operational hurdles.

Those constraints are most visible at OR Tambo, where passengers are experiencing longer departure delays and extended taxi times, Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon said. Although the airline has not postponed or cancelled any planned route launches because of ATNS, Gordon said the operational limits are now influencing scheduling decisions. “We can’t always build the network we’d optimally like to,” he said, adding that the airline must increasingly work around available air-traffic capacity when planning its services.

ATNS progresses air-navigation system restoration

ATNS acknowledged that it has faced operational difficulties in recent years but said meaningful progress has been made in restoring flight procedures and strengthening the resilience of South Africa’s air-navigation system. In an emailed response, the agency said it has been working to improve operational reliability while rebuilding critical capabilities across the network.

The challenges facing FlySafair reflect wider issues across South Africa’s aviation industry. Over the past two years, the sector has struggled with shortages of qualified air-traffic controllers and delays in maintaining instrument flight procedures—the pre-approved routes pilots rely on when poor weather limits visibility. More than 340 of those procedures either expired or were suspended last year after ATNS failed to complete scheduled maintenance, contributing to repeated delays and, in some cases, flight cancellations.

The growing concerns prompted Transport Minister Barbara Creecy to appoint an expert intervention team in late 2024. The review identified shortages of air-traffic controllers, unreliable communication and navigation systems, suspended instrument procedures and weaknesses in safety oversight as key issues affecting the country’s air-navigation network.

Rising costs, staffing shortages squeeze margins

The government has since stepped up recruitment and accelerated system upgrades. Even so, officials warned earlier this year that many instrument procedures would not be restored before temporary exemptions expire, forcing authorities to prioritize the country’s busiest airports. Similar staffing shortages have affected airports elsewhere, including Newark and Sydney, underscoring broader pressures facing air-navigation systems worldwide.

ATNS said airlines should develop schedules that reflect operational realities and place safety ahead of commercial considerations. “Flight schedules should be developed with due regard to operational realities and safety considerations, and not solely on commercial objectives,” the agency said. It added that unrealistic scheduling assumptions can create inefficiencies, frustrate stakeholders and increase safety risks for both pilots and air-traffic controllers.

Despite the operational pressures, Gordon said South Africa continues to maintain a strong aviation safety record, adding that airlines and ATNS remain committed to ensuring safety standards are never compromised. He also noted that the industry’s challenges extend beyond air-traffic control. Higher fuel costs and softer travel demand following fuel surcharges introduced as oil prices rose during the U.S.-Iran conflict have made expansion less attractive and continued to weigh on airline margins. “A stable, well-resourced air-traffic system serves all of us,” Gordon said.

Harith’s FlySafair deal clears antitrust hurdle

The operational update comes as Harith General Partners moves closer to becoming FlySafair’s new owner. Last week, South Africa’s Competition Commission approved Harith’s proposed acquisition of Safair Holdings from Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings, the parent company of FlySafair. The transaction, which still requires approval from the Competition Tribunal, is one of the most closely watched deals in South Africa’s aviation sector.

The acquisition also addresses questions around FlySafair’s ownership structure. The airline, which controls more than 60 percent of South Africa’s domestic seat capacity, had previously come under scrutiny from the Domestic Air Services Council over whether its voting rights complied with South Africa’s local ownership rules for domestic airlines. Harith’s investment is expected to strengthen the airline’s compliance with those requirements while supporting its long-term growth across Southern Africa.

Founded in 2006 and chaired by Tshepo Mahloele, Harith General Partners manages more than $1.2 billion in assets and has built a portfolio spanning energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, healthcare and water projects across Africa. Based in Sandton, the firm has backed infrastructure investments aimed at improving connectivity and supporting economic activity across the continent. If the FlySafair transaction receives final regulatory approval, it will add one of Africa’s fastest-growing low-cost airlines to Harith’s investment portfolio, extending its presence in the aviation sector.