African infrastructure investor Harith and its affiliates have entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire South Africa’s leading low-cost airline, FlySafair, in a move that signals growing investor confidence in the continent’s aviation sector.
The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, will result in a change of ownership of the airline. FlySafair confirmed that the agreement represents a long-term strategic acquisition aimed at supporting the carrier’s continued growth and operational stability.
Despite the ownership transition, the airline emphasized that its operations, brand and leadership structure will remain unchanged. FlySafair will continue to focus on its core strategy of offering affordable fares, high reliability and strong on-time performance across its domestic and regional network.
Harith, which has over two decades of experience investing in African infrastructure, views the acquisition as part of a broader vision to strengthen transport and mobility across the continent. The investor’s long-term capital approach is expected to support FlySafair’s expansion plans and reinforce its position as a key player in Southern Africa’s aviation market.
The transaction will be reviewed by the Competition Commission and relevant aviation regulators before completion. In parallel, a separate regulatory process related to the airline’s ownership structure, initiated in 2025, remains ongoing. FlySafair noted that the shareholder agreement was developed independently over an extended period.
Since its launch in 2014, FlySafair has built a strong reputation for operational efficiency and has consistently ranked among the world’s most punctual low-cost carriers. The airline operates a growing domestic network within South Africa as well as selected regional routes across Africa.
The acquisition reflects increasing interest from African infrastructure investors in aviation assets with strong operational fundamentals. For the travel distribution ecosystem, a financially strengthened FlySafair could support network expansion, capacity growth and more stable distribution partnerships across Southern Africa.
