New international flight launching in South Africa

Spanish airline Air Europa is preparing to launch a new long-haul international flight which will connect the city of Johannesburg in South Africa to Madrid in Spain.

The new flight path, set to open tomorrow on 24 June 2026, will fly between O.R. Tambo International Airport and Madrid-Barajas Airport three times a week.

The Spanish carrier said the move forms part of its international growth and expansion strategy, adding new destinations to extend its global reach.

Johannesburg will be Air Europa’s fourth destination on the African continent, shortly following the launch of a new flight path to Tangiers in Morocco on 17 June.

The airline also resumed its direct flight paths to Marrakech in Morocco, as well as Tunis in Tunisia, earlier this year.

The flights between Johannesburg and Madrid will operate on both Boeing B777 and B787 Dreamliner aircraft, each offering business and economy class flights.

The airline will also receive five Airbus A350S in 2028, which will offer an additional premium economy class, with one of these aircraft set to be deployed along the Johannesburg route.

Air Europa said the new flight route will open up more possibilities for European travellers, as O.R. Tambo serves as the major air hub for sub-Saharan Africa.

This provides easier access not only to South Africa as a potential tourist destination, but also to neighbouring countries such as Namibia and Botswana.

Johannesburg’s position as the country’s financial centre means it also serves as a key stop for business travellers, which Air Europa hopes to capitalise on.

At a recent launch event in Sandton, Air Europa Director of Alliances Imanol Pérez said the flights would also carry cargo both in and out of South Africa.

This includes 10 tonnes of outbound cargo connecting onwards to Barcelona and Amsterdam, and 8 tonnes of inbound cargo connected to the United States.

Air Europa is Spain’s third-largest airline, after Iberia and Vueling, and has been a member of the SkyTeam alliance for almost 20 years.

New flight route is a boost for South African tourism

The opening of Air Europa’s new flights to Johannesburg is expected to have a significant impact on South Africa’s tourism.

The convenience and affordability of direct flights between Johannesburg and Madrid should especially drive up competition between airlines flying in and out of Europe.

According to Pérez, the airline expects as many as 60% of passengers on the flight to Johannesburg to consist of inbound tourists travelling in from Spain and other parts of Europe.

Air Europa’s membership in the SkyTeam alliance will also grant these passengers access to 25 destinations across southern Africa through an interline agreement with Airlink.

For the time being, South Africa will serve as the sole sub-Saharan destination for passengers travelling in on Air Europa from Europe and Latin America.

Pérez said the airline does not have any immediate plans to expand to other sub-Saharan destinations, but that it will remain open to the possibility in future.

In an interview with BusinessDayTV, SA Tourism Chief Quality Assurance Officer Bronwen Auret said more air travel coming into South Africa was always a reason to celebrate.

“The demand for South Africa for those coming from Europe, especially the southern parts of Europe, is there,” Auret said. “We’ve seen an increase in arrivals from that part of the world.”

“For Air Europa, it’s also a connecting hub into South Africa from the rest of Europe and the UK. So it really is a great opportunity for Europeans to experience South Africa.”

Auret said South Africa’s position as a value-for-money destination was one of its biggest selling points, and made it especially popular for travellers earning in pounds or euros.

The recent conflict in the Middle East also increased the demand not only for European carriers such as Air Europa, but for peaceful destinations, including South Africa.

This, Auret emphasised, was one of the most vital things that SA Tourism had been communicating to travellers and its various travel partners.

“There are always negotiations ongoing,” Auret said. “Air Europa lands this week, and next week there will be some other news. We have got a lot on the cards for South Africa.”

“The airlines have been really engaging, and they do see South Africa as a premium destination to prioritise their route networks into.”