FlySafair (FA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) is looking ahead to a new chapter under incoming shareholder Harith Aviation Consortium, while maintaining its existing operations and focus on affordable air travel, the airline told ch-aviation.

"The team at FlySafair are very excited about this new chapter in the company's history. Our focus remains on business as usual, working to deliver a flight service to South Africans that is affordable, efficient, and easy to use," commented chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon.

The airline will continue to operate independently under its existing management team.

This follows an announcement on October 29, 2026, by Harith Aviation Consortium that South Africa's Competition Tribunal has approved its acquisition of a 100% stake in the low-cost airline, buying out Irish lessor ASL Aviation Holdings.

"Following the Competition Tribunal approval, the parties are progressing the remaining regulatory approvals and conditions precedent required for implementation of the transaction. Subject to receipt of the outstanding approvals and satisfaction of the remaining conditions precedent, the transaction is currently expected to close in late 2026," Harith said.

FlySafair CEO Elmar Conradie also welcomed the decision, saying the airline looked forward to working with its incoming shareholder to strengthen its foundations and expand in the South African passenger aviation market.

"We are pleased with the Competition Tribunal's decision. It is a significant milestone for the transaction and reflects confidence in the future of the airline," Conradie said.

"We are excited about the road ahead with our incoming shareholder, and about the opportunities to strengthen our foundations and to grow the South African passenger aviation market. Throughout this process, it has been business as usual for our customers and our people, and that continues. As the remaining conditions are met, we look forward to embarking on a new chapter for FlySafair," he added.

The consortium, through Harith Aviation (Pty) Ltd, is led by Harith General Partners, a Johannesburg-based investment holding company focused on African infrastructure.

Harith chief executive Sipho Makhubela said the investment reflects the importance of aviation to connectivity and economic activity, adding that the consortium intends to support FlySafair's continued growth.

Harith's existing infrastructure portfolio includes rail, airport operations, logistics, and border-post management. The acquisition will extend its investments into commercial aviation.

FlySafair began operations in 2014 and operates domestic services in South Africa and regionally with a fleet of 41 aircraft, comprising five B737-400s, one B737-400(C), and thirty-five B737-800s, according to ch-aviation data.

The airline has also signed lease agreements with AerCap for three new B737-8s - marking the airline's introduction of the B737 MAX - scheduled to arrive from the first quarter of 2028.

Ownership compliance issues

Harith General Partners and affiliates signed an agreement in February 2026 to acquire 100% of FlySafair through its subsidiary, Harith Aviation, buying out Irish owner ASL Aviation Holdings. The merger was conditionally approved in July 2026, by the Competition Tribunal's advisory body, the Competition Commission.

The transaction resolves FlySafair's ownership-compliance pressure by shifting control to a South African black-economic empowerment investor group. South African civil-aviation rules require local airlines to be at least 75% South African-owned. The Air Services Licensing Council found that ASL Aviation Holdings had effectively controlled 74.86% of FlySafair through a trust structure, which placed the airline's ownership compliance under scrutiny.

Harith had previously pursued, unsuccessfully, bids for Comair (South Africa) and South African Express (both since out of business), and South African Airways, before turning to the full buyout of FlySafair.

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