10 budget airlines changing Africa’s skies | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video
More
Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video

Follow CNN Travel
Download the CNN App

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Elections 2026
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Download the CNN App
Africa View
Ad Feedback
Travel

10 budget airlines changing Africa’s skies

Updated 10:18 AM EDT, Fri October 9, 2015
Link Copied!
Initially plying domestic routes in Tanzania, fastjet started small in 2011, but has since expanded to four other countries. With Ed Winter, a former easyJet executive at the helm, it's looking to break into the lucrative South African domestic market.
fastjet —
Initially plying domestic routes in Tanzania, fastjet started small in 2011, but has since expanded to four other countries. With Ed Winter, a former easyJet executive at the helm, it's looking to break into the lucrative South African domestic market.
courtesy Fastjet
Flying within South Africa and to Zanzibar, Mango loves flash sales and will rebate flyers who join its mailing list.
Mango —
Flying within South Africa and to Zanzibar, Mango loves flash sales and will rebate flyers who join its mailing list.
courtesy Mango
Launched in 2001, Kulula offers what sometimes seems a lighthearted take on flying, with bright green planes and wisecracking flight attendants. But it's serious business. Its operator Comair is partnered with British Airways, Air France and Kenya Airways, and it's spread from South Africa to five other countries.
Kulula —
Launched in 2001, Kulula offers what sometimes seems a lighthearted take on flying, with bright green planes and wisecracking flight attendants. But it's serious business. Its operator Comair is partnered with British Airways, Air France and Kenya Airways, and it's spread from South Africa to five other countries.
courtesy kulula
Filling the void left by the shrunken Air Zimbabwe, flyafrica.com offers some seriously tempting deals -- when it launched some flights were as little as ($9). It also runs regular flights from South Africa to Harare, popular with Zimbabwean expats.
flyafrica.com —
Filling the void left by the shrunken Air Zimbabwe, flyafrica.com offers some seriously tempting deals -- when it launched some flights were as little as ($9). It also runs regular flights from South Africa to Harare, popular with Zimbabwean expats.
courtesy flyafrica
One of the newest kids on the block, FlySafair launched in October 2014 in direct competition with Kulula and Mango. Ticket prices have been pared back recently to reflect lower fuel prices.
FlySafair —
One of the newest kids on the block, FlySafair launched in October 2014 in direct competition with Kulula and Mango. Ticket prices have been pared back recently to reflect lower fuel prices.
courtesy flysafair
After ventures into Ghana and Angola proved costly, Fly540 refocused its attentions to Kenya where it has achieved great success connecting remote locations such as Lodwar with the rest of the country.
Fly540 —
After ventures into Ghana and Angola proved costly, Fly540 refocused its attentions to Kenya where it has achieved great success connecting remote locations such as Lodwar with the rest of the country.
courtesy fly540
Another Kenyan airline, this one serving only four cities, JamboJet has recently been cleared to fly across Africa from Nairobi and Mombasa.
JamboJet —
Another Kenyan airline, this one serving only four cities, JamboJet has recently been cleared to fly across Africa from Nairobi and Mombasa.
courtesy jambojet
Closed in 2012 following a serious crash, Dana Air is back. It's still limited to domestic flights within Nigeria, but an international license is on the horizon.
Dana Air —
Closed in 2012 following a serious crash, Dana Air is back. It's still limited to domestic flights within Nigeria, but an international license is on the horizon.
courtesy Dana Air
A reboot for the defunct 1time, Skywise is run by the same team of executives. Its main selling point: no charges for checked baggage.
Skywise —
A reboot for the defunct 1time, Skywise is run by the same team of executives. Its main selling point: no charges for checked baggage.
courtesy Skywise
Although not strictly African, flydubai.com nevertheless connects 12 cities on the continent -- albeit via Dubai. Hargeisa in Somaliland is the next location to feature on its destination list.
flydubai.com —
Although not strictly African, flydubai.com nevertheless connects 12 cities on the continent -- albeit via Dubai. Hargeisa in Somaliland is the next location to feature on its destination list.
courtesy flydubai

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • Elections 2026
    • Redistricting Tracker
    • Epstein Files
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • World Cup 2026
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • Featured
    • CNN Headlines
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN 10
    • CNN TV Schedule
  • Listen
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • Terms of Service with Clare Duffy
    • CNN 5 Things
    • All CNN Podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Photo Shuffle
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account
Follow CNN Travel

Download the CNN app
Download the CNN app

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.

Download the CNN app

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.

Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.