FlySafair (FA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) and South Africa's Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) met on July 24 following a public dispute over whether shortcomings in air traffic management are constraining the airline's growth.

The meeting came a day after ATNS rejected FlySafair's claims that limitations in air traffic and navigation services had hampered the low-cost carrier's expansion, describing the airline's public comments as "inaccurate and misleading."

FlySafair had told News24 earlier in the week that its growth had been constrained by "air traffic woes" and high fuel prices. In a July 22 statement highlighting the airline's on-time performance, chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said airlines operate in a complex environment where factors beyond their control, such as adverse weather, air traffic management constraints, and airport infrastructure challenges, can disrupt schedules.

The exchange follows longstanding concerns over ATNS's operational performance. In October 2025, the Airline Association of Southern Africa (AASA) warned that suspended instrument flight procedures and staffing shortages at ATNS had triggered a prolonged operational crisis, resulting in delays, diversions, cancellations, and higher costs for airlines, passengers and businesses. The association said the suspension of instrument flight procedures prevented aircraft from operating in low-visibility conditions at several airports, disrupting operations across South Africa.