South Africa's Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has welcomed Turkish Airlines' decision to increase direct flights between South Africa and Türkiye to 20 weekly services from October 2026, strengthening air connectivity ahead of the summer tourism season.
The airline will operate 10 weekly direct flights between Istanbul and Johannesburg and 10 weekly direct flights between Istanbul and Cape Town, up from the current seven weekly flights to each city. The expansion follows deliberate engagements between the Department of Tourism and Turkish Airlines, supported by growing demand for travel to South Africa.
"This expansion is the result of deliberate engagements between Department of Tourism and Turkish Airlines, supported by growing demand for travel to South Africa. It is another vote of confidence in our tourism sector and aligns with our efforts to improve air access through the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan. More flights mean more visitors, more trade, more investment, and ultimately, more jobs," De Lille said.
The increased frequency is backed by strong market performance. In May 2026, arrivals from Türkiye increased by 92% compared with the same month in 2025, highlighting growing demand for travel between the two countries.
South Africa's tourism sector continues to build momentum following a record 10.5 million international arrivals in 2025. Between January and May 2026, the country welcomed 4,761,108 international visitors, a 12.8% year-on-year increase.
To further stimulate demand, South African Tourism and Turkish Airlines have agreed to implement a joint destination marketing campaign to promote travel between the two countries and support strong passenger demand on the expanded route network.
The announcement follows a series of positive developments in South Africa's international air connectivity. In June, Spanish carrier Air Europa launched its inaugural direct service between Madrid and Johannesburg, while last week Brazil's LATAM Airlines commenced three weekly direct flights between São Paulo and Cape Town. These developments reinforce the implementation of the Cabinet-approved Tourism Route Development Marketing Plan, which seeks to expand direct connectivity, strengthen strategic airline partnerships, and unlock new tourism and investment opportunities for South Africa.
Why it matters
The expansion of Turkish Airlines' services to South Africa signals growing demand from the Turkish market and strengthens connectivity between two key tourism regions. The 92% year-on-year increase in Turkish arrivals in May 2026 demonstrates strong market potential, and the additional capacity will likely further boost visitor numbers. For the travel trade, the increased frequency offers more flexibility for tour operators and bedbanks to package South Africa holidays, while the joint marketing campaign could stimulate additional demand. The move also aligns with South Africa's broader strategy to improve air access through strategic airline partnerships, which is critical for sustaining the country's record-breaking arrival numbers.
