FlySafair has been named Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline at the 2026 World Travel Awards, receiving the accolade at the Africa Gala Ceremony held in Zanzibar on 28 August 2026. The award, regarded as one of the travel and tourism industry’s highest distinctions, recognises excellence across all sectors of global travel and hospitality. This marks the first time FlySafair has won this category. Veni Byers, Manager: Customer Care Centre, and Rohini Naicker, Executive Manager: Innovation, attended the ceremony on behalf of the FlySafair team.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards are widely regarded as the travel industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, with nominations and voting taking place across hundreds of categories spanning travel, tourism and hospitality at a regional and global level. The Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline category reflects the votes of travel professionals and consumers across the continent.
“This recognition is a reflection of everything our team puts into the job every single day,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.” Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline is not a small claim. We compete against carriers from across a vast and diverse continent, and to come out on top in a category voted on by travel professionals and passengers means a great deal. It tells us that what we’re doing is being noticed, and that the millions of South Africans who fly with us every year are advocating for us. That’s what we work for.”
The recognition adds to an already significant year for FlySafair. The airline was named the most on-time airline in the Middle East and Africa by Cirium, the aviation industry’s foremost authority on operational performance, with an exceptional 91.06% on-time arrival rate across 62,805 tracked flights in 2025. FlySafair also took home the Skytrax Best Low-Cost Airline in Africa award for the fourth time, and received five awards at the SACAA Civil Aviation Industry Awards, including Best Airline by Public Vote.
Since launching operations in 2014, FlySafair has grown to become South Africa’s largest low-cost carrier, operating dozens of Boeing 737 aircraft on more than 1,250 flights per week and carrying 230,000 passengers every week. The airline has expanded its network to include domestic routes across ten destinations and five international routes connecting South Africa with neighbouring countries.
“Affordability, reliability and a genuine care for our customers – those are the three things we’ve built this airline on,” adds Gordon. “Receiving this award in Zanzibar, one of Africa’s most iconic tourism destinations, feels fitting. It connects people, it opens opportunities, and it creates experiences people carry with them for life. We’re proud to be the airline that makes more of that possible for more South Africans. This award is for our team, and for every passenger who has chosen to fly with us.”