Planning a holiday? South Africa is getting more international flights this summer

New international flights are on the way for South Africans planning a summer holiday.

Several airlines are adding routes and extra flights in and out of the country.

That means more choice, and possibly better fares, for travellers heading overseas or welcoming visitors home.

Here’s what’s changing over the coming months.

MORE NEW INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO EUROPE

Turkish Airlines is adding three extra weekly flights each to Johannesburg and Cape Town, taking it from 14 to 20 weekly flights to South Africa.

The new Johannesburg flights start on 25 October, and the Cape Town flights on 26 October.

Virgin Atlantic is also boosting capacity.

According to AirlineGeeks, it will operate 10 weekly flights between London Heathrow and Johannesburg from October 2026 to March 2027.

Its seasonal Cape Town service runs 11 times a week from 15 October to 20 April.

NEW ISLAND ROUTES FROM CAPE TOWN

Cape Town travellers have two new direct options to the Indian Ocean.

According to Time Out Cape Town, Airlink launched its first-ever flights to Mauritius on 2 October, with two flights a week.

It’s not the only option. Air Mauritius already flies non-stop between Cape Town and the island.

A day later, on 3 October, Airlink launched the first-ever direct flights between Cape Town and Zanzibar.

MORE FESTIVE SEASON CAPACITY

Airlink’s Johannesburg to Zanzibar route will get an extra weekly flight over the festive season, from 15 December to 13 January.

From 15 November, Airlink will also fly three times a week between Lanseria and Harare.

WHY MORE FLIGHTS MATTER

More flights mean more seats, which can help ease prices over busy periods like December.

They also make it easier for tourists to reach South Africa.

International arrivals passed 7.5 million for January to August 2026, according to the Department of Tourism.

TIPS BEFORE YOU BOOK

Compare fares across airlines, since new routes sometimes come with introductory specials.

Check your passport and visa requirements before booking, especially for long-haul trips.

And book early for December, when flights fill up fast.

I’ll admit, Zanzibar straight from Cape Town sounds very tempting right now.

More flights mean more options, and more competition usually helps your wallet too.

If you’ve been dreaming about a holiday abroad, this might be the summer to do it.