Proflight plans to launch the first-ever direct flight between Lusaka and Cape Town in July 2023. This highlights the airline's commitment to intra-Africa connectivity as it asserts its newly found dominance of the route between South Africa and Zambia.
Proflight Zambia recently increased its capacity to Johannesburg to cater to meet the ticket demand. The new service will be the airline's fourth route between the two African nations. It is an opportunity for business and leisure travellers to explore Cape Town without connecting via multiple cities.
Proflight Zambia operates flights from Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda Airport to over eight regional destinations, including Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa. The direct flight to Cape Town means passengers will no longer have to transit through Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport.
Cape Town is South Africa's second-largest city and one of the most visited in Africa. It's well-developed infrastructure and natural features like Table Mountain attract tourists from around the world. Before the pandemic, it received an average of 1.5 million tourists annually for business and leisure purposes.
Proflight will begin the service to this popular destination with two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The 3hr 15min flight between Lusaka and Cape Town International Airport will be operated on the airline's 50-seat Bombardier CRJ aircraft.
"We are seeing growing demand for flights between Zambia and South Africa, hence the time is now right to launch this new direct service to Cape Town. Travellers can be assured of a safe, reliable, and friendly service that adds further freedom and flexibility to explore the region."Proflight Director Flight Operations Captain Josais Walubita said.
On any other day, passengers can fly between Lusaka and Johannesburg on Proflight's three-times-a-day service. Those continuing to the tourist capital can fly onwards with the airline's partners, such as FlySafair, Cemair, and South African Airways.
Proflight Zambia recently increased the frequency between Lusaka and Johannesburg to three times a day and has now introduced a 126-seat Boeing 737-500 to meet the demand. The aircraft is leased from Joburg-based African Charter Airline and entered service this month.
This has resulted in the route being operated by more Zambian flights than South African ones. The two nations are active Southern African Development Community (SADC) members. They have strong bilateral ties, which both governments vowed to strengthen late last year.
In April Proflight resumed its service between Lusaka and Durban King Shaka Airport with two weekly flights on Sundays and Thursdays. On days outside the schedule, Durban flights are operated from Johannesburg.
The route had been suspended since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Its resumption highlights the airline's positive recovery and commitment to regional expansion. With two destinations added in the second quarter, passengers now have more travel choices and better connectivity.
Although Durban is not the most demanded destination in South Africa, it is an important manufacturing hub and home to several major international organizations. It also has numerous tourist attractions which Proflight intends to connect Africans with.
