Johannesburg, January 2025 – The skies between South Africa and Tanzania are set to see a renewed connection as South African Airways (SAA) prepares to reintroduce its daily flights between Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam starting Monday, 20 January 2025.
“This flight is not simply a milestone for SAA and linking Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam through air travel; it heralds a bridge that connects two of Africa’s most influential economies and strengthens the friendship between our nations,” said SAA’s interim CEO, Professor John Lamola.
Lamola emphasised the broader significance of this service, highlighting its potential to bring together industries, communities, and resources, fostering collaboration and unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment, and development.
Boosting Economic Connectivity
Dar es Salaam, East Africa’s largest city by population, is a critical economic and logistical hub in the region and a gateway to prominent tourist destinations. The economic ties between South Africa and Tanzania are already robust, with significant South African foreign direct investment in Tanzania and strong trade in sectors such as agriculture, precious metals, chemicals, and machinery.
The relaunched service is part of SAA’s broader strategy to enhance its regional presence. “SAA’s regional network has emerged as a top performer, contributing significantly to the revenue of the SAA Group. More importantly, these regional connections are crucial for the broader economic growth of South Africa,” Lamola added.
Flight Details
The daily service will depart Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport at 10:00 pm (SAST), arriving in Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport at 2:30 am (EAT). The return flights will leave Dar es Salaam at 5:10 am (EAT), reaching Johannesburg at 7:55 am (SAST). The time difference between the two cities is one hour, with Dar es Salaam being ahead.
The schedule has been meticulously planned to cater to both point-to-point travellers and those connecting to other destinations.
Expanding Regional and Global Networks
The Dar es Salaam route is not SAA’s only recent expansion. Last November, the airline increased flight frequencies to Harare and Lusaka, added new services to Lubumbashi, and boosted connections to Lagos and Accra. SAA also enhanced its intercontinental offerings, with flights to Perth in Australia now operating five times weekly.
These expansions underline SAA’s commitment to consolidating its position as a key player in regional and international aviation.
Reservations for the Johannesburg–Dar es Salaam flights are now open and available at www.flysaa.com.
