South African travellers returning from Solwezi to Johannesburg now have more convenient same-day connections as Proflight Zambia increases capacity and frequency on two of its key domestic routes.

The expanded October schedule includes additional Solwezi services timed to connect in Lusaka with onward flights to Johannesburg. Proflight Zambia has also doubled its Kasama schedule to six flights a week, giving regional and international travellers greater flexibility when travelling beyond Lusaka.

Better-timed connections from Solwezi to Johannesburg

A new Friday service from Solwezi departs at 12:50 and arrives in Lusaka at 14:00, giving passengers a connection time of 1 hour and 40 minutes before Proflight Zambia’s 15:40 flight to Johannesburg.

The additional Friday service will operate until Christmas and resume in March 2027. The corresponding flight from Lusaka departs at 11:05 and arrives in Solwezi at 12:15.

From 13 October, a further Tuesday service will operate between Lusaka and Solwezi, departing Lusaka at 16:35 and arriving at 17:30. The aircraft will remain in Solwezi overnight before departing at 06:25 on Wednesday and arriving in Lusaka at 07:20.

This gives passengers a 55-minute connection to Proflight Zambia’s 08:15 Johannesburg service, allowing travellers to leave Solwezi early in the morning and continue to South Africa without a lengthy wait in Lusaka.

The connections are particularly useful for business travellers whose work takes them beyond Zambia’s capital, helping them spend less of the working week in transit.

Kasama increases to six flights a week

Proflight Zambia has also doubled its Kasama schedule to six flights a week, using a 29-seat turboprop aircraft.

Flights operate between Lusaka and Kasama on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, departing Lusaka at 10:25 and arriving in Kasama at 12:00. The return flight departs at 12:35 and arrives in Lusaka at 14:10.

On Fridays, the service operates in the afternoon, departing Lusaka at 14:10 and arriving in Kasama at 15:45. The return flight departs Kasama at 16:20 and arrives in Lusaka at 17:55.

A few dates in October vary slightly owing to planned aircraft maintenance. All times are local, and passengers should consult flyzambia.com for the latest schedules.

Mansa, the third route to benefit from Proflight Zambia’s domestic expansion, had its schedule increased in July and, since 13 September, has had a daily scheduled service for the first time. The growth comes as Mansa Airport undergoes runway and terminal upgrades, which could eventually allow larger aircraft to serve the route.

“When passengers are travelling beyond Lusaka, frequency alone is not enough; the connections also have to work,” said Captain Josias Walubita, Proflight Zambia’s Director of Government and Industry Affairs.

“Proflight Zambia has timed the Solwezi services around the onward Johannesburg flights so passengers can spend less time waiting in Lusaka and more time where they need to be. The increase to Kasama forms part of the same focus on making Zambia’s domestic network more practical for both regional and international travellers.”

Table of Contents

JOHANNESBURG – Chasing savings on business travel has become almost automatic for many organisations. With budgets under scrutiny and finance teams laser-focused on spend, booking the cheapest possible fare seems like an easy win. The latest SAP Concur Business Travel Survey shows that 87% of business travellers say their company has cut back over the past 12 months, and further cuts are expected to company travel budgets this year, which typically show up as requiring the choice of the lowest fares. One in three polled say that business or premium class as an option has dried up. The logic is simple: less money spent per flight means more left in the pot. But here’s where things get complicated, because not every cost comes with a clear price tag.

A bargain ticket might trim the budget sheet today, yet it can quietly drain productivity tomorrow, warns Herman Heunes, General Manager of Corporate Traveller South Africa.

“Employees routed through multiple layovers to nab a good deal, arrive at their destination running on empty. A journey that should take ten hours stretches into thirty, and instead of hitting meetings at full strength, travellers need time to recover from their itinerary,” says Heunes.

When “Savings” Mean Setbacks

The knock-on effects go far beyond tired faces in airports. Sixty-one percent say these leaner itineraries make them less effective; nine out of ten would flat-out refuse trips if safety or health feels compromised by fatigue or logistical stress.

Every disruption – whether it’s a missed connection or an unplanned reroute – triggers new expenses and lost opportunities along the way. In South Africa alone this year, nearly ninety percent of business travellers hit major snags while on assignment; many now factor extra days into each trip to cope with setbacks before work begins in earnest.

And company culture isn’t immune either: almost half of employees say current travel rules fall short for real-world needs, and more than one-quarter have considered switching jobs because they feel unsupported on the road.

Value Means More Than Just Price

What does smart savings really look like? As global prices continue their steady climb, the answer lies not in squeezing every cent but in planning wisely around total value delivered, say Heunes.

“The best-run businesses empower staff with booking tools that weigh both ticket price and journey impact and introduce flexible policies based on trip purpose rather than blanket mandates for everyone,” he says.

Expert guidance from a specialist travel management company makes all the difference here – not simply pushing higher fares but helping shape strategies where every rand supports both employee performance and organisational objectives, he explains.

“A well-designed travel policy recognises that sometimes paying more upfront actually protects productivity,” says Heunes. “It isn’t about luxury; it’s about outcomes.”

For those planning trips – or approving them – the question becomes less about what’s cheapest today and more about what delivers results tomorrow. Before confirming that next ticket, ask yourself: Will this journey set our team up for success?

The human cost aside, cheap fares can deliver a real hit to your budget, adds Heunes.

Airlines design these bargain seats with plenty of strings attached. The cheapest tickets tend to show up when demand is low, but there’s a catch: they’re often non-refundable and loaded with strict rules. Need to adjust your trip because a client moved a meeting? Expect to pay significant penalties or find yourself stuck buying an entirely new ticket at the last minute.

For business travellers whose schedules change quickly, inflexible fares rarely deliver actual value. That’s why many top performers opt for flexible tickets whenever possible. They might cost more upfront, but as Heunes puts it: “Paying extra for flexibility is like buying insurance against disruption. Sometimes it’s what keeps your deal on track and your costs under control.”

The bottom line? What looks cheap today can end up being surprisingly expensive once real-world business needs kick in.

Flights between South Africa’s “Mother City” and the South Atlantic Island will operate every Saturday until 29 March 2025.  They augment the weekly Johannesburg-St Helena schedule which will operate on Tuesdays for the duration of the summer season.

Prior to 2017, when commercial flights to St Helena’s newly built airport began operating, the only way to reach the island was a five-day sea voyage from Cape Town. Today, Airlink, puts this bucket-list destination in easy reach of visitors.

“It’s about a six-hour flight between Cape Town and Jamestown, with a brief re-fuelling stop in Walvis Bay,” says Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster. “For travellers with a keen sense of adventure and history, St Helena remains one of the most unspoiled, fascinating and unforgettable places to visit. It is a privilege to be entrusted with this route.”

Matt Joshua, Head of Tourism for St Helena says the seasonal Cape Town-St Helena route is invaluable for local residents with ties to South Africa, South African tourists, and international visitors from the UK, Europe and beyond.

“Cape Town is a launchpad for tourism. By linking the Mother City directly with St Helena, Airlink is providing a convenient and reliable service to a destination that holds a unique mystique for many,” says Joshua. “It really is a destination like no other.”

Lying in middle of the South Atlantic and once a critical port of call between Europe and Asia, St Helena is now home to nearly 4,000 residents – all ready to introduce visitors to the island’s extraordinary history, traditions, landscape, wildlife and nature. From unmatched walking and hiking trails to birding, diving, snorkelling and photographic expeditions, the island awaits – now only a flight away from Cape Town.

Discover the best rates and promotional fares by visiting the Airlink website at www.flyairlink.com or contacting an IATA travel agent. Your extraordinary Atlantic adventure begins with just one click – explore and book today for the best deals available!

The full schedule of flights can be found on www.flyairlink.com.

This return to the front of the plane might be a boon for airlines, but it also raises several questions. Why has preference shifted to business class? Is it limited to the C-suite? Is it sustainable? What’s the business impact? A recent report by Corporate Traveller addressed these and more.

Strictly business?

As business travel is becoming more intentional and considered, it’s often only the higher tiers of the company travelling. This goes against early predictions, which expected C-level execs to remain in their offices while lower-level corporates would be flying. The shift brought along with it new expectations: business class tickets, which come with their own set of pros and cons. More room and comfort means travellers can be more productive during transit and arrive rested and refreshed. On the other hand, there are the obvious financial implications as well as sustainability concerns.

With the benefit of hindsight, the move to the front of the plane is not all that surprising. Execs tend to be the individuals with the most sway and decision-making power, and it follows that companies would stand to gain the most by putting them first.

Now that younger recruits are also taking back to the skies, the question remains whether the demand for business class tickets will remain as high as it is currently. “We expect the demand for business class will slightly diminish as more layers of the company are going back to travel,” says Bonnie Smith, GM Corporate Traveller. “However, important to note is that health and wellness have become a huge focus area for many companies. The effects of the pandemic and subsequent return to work revealed the many shortcomings in the system and have led both employees and companies to rethink their approach to wellbeing. Business travel presents a unique opportunity to offer employees health-centric benefits – premium-class bookings for longer flights, serviced apartments for extended stays, and various upgrades and perks. As such, we could just see more junior employees flying premium class and above for long-haul flights.”   

What about sustainability?

When it comes to sustainability, the onus is split between the airline and the traveller, and both have several ways to tackle the issue.

Airlines are taking a multifaceted approach which includes investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft and focusing on specific elements like optimising flight times and weight reduction. For travellers, it’s partly a balancing act influenced by several factors. And unfortunately, business class is taking its toll on the environment. The ICCT compiled a report analysing carbon dioxide emissions from commercial aviation from 2013, 2018 and 2019. The findings were eye-opening.

Passengers seated in business class are responsible for 2.6 to 4.3 times more emissions than if they fly in coach. The results are based on the floor space taken up by each passenger, along with weight considerations and other factors.

Dan Rutherford, the director of aviation and shipping-related research at the International Council on Clean Transportation, put it perfectly when he said: “If you turn right and go to economy class, it’s like you’re choosing a hybrid car. If you get on a plane and turn left into business class, it’s like choosing an SUV.”

Luckily, there are ways to offset your carbon footprint, even if you decide to travel in the front of the plane. “Today, TMCs are able to calculate your carbon footprint per leg, per flight. You can track your emissions against sustainability goals – and offset your impact through verified carbon offset projects. This is really important if you have frequent travellers – or travellers turning left on the plane,” says Smith. “Corporate travel is in a constant state of flux and that has a significant impact on decision-making. We’ve become experts in anticipating these changes and making quick adjustments to best serve our clients. By staying on top of the latest developments we’re able to offer real-time expertise that saves you time and money without compromising your needs.”

Is it worth it?

The ROI of business travel is not the same for every company, but when executed with consideration and precision it’s benefits can be exponential. Market dynamics drive airfares and until COVID has been eradicated they will remain unpredictable. But consider the financial implications of a new intentional client – or the loss of one. This is where your TMC comes in.

“Lean on your travel partner, and don’t be afraid to mix things up,” says Smith. “Your TMC will be able to use their own buying power to negotiate and secure special rates on your behalf wherever possible. Take their advice when it comes to booking ahead, booking out of peak times, or exploring new accommodation options.” 

Read the full SME Travel Trends for 2023 report here.

Lufthansa will thus continue to offer an urgently needed basic service. A total of 18 weekly long-haul flights are scheduled: three times a week each from Frankfurt to Newark and Chicago (both USA), Montreal (Canada), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Bangkok (Thailand) and Tokyo (Japan). Flights to Johannesburg (South Africa) had to be cancelled by 16 April due to official regulations. In addition, the airline still offers around 50 daily connections from its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich to the most important cities in Germany and Europe.

SWISS, too, will in future offer three weekly long-haul services a week to Newark (USA) from Zurich and Geneva, in addition to a substantially reduced short- and medium-haul timetable focusing on selected European cities.

In addition to the regularly scheduled services, the airlines in the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Edelweiss) have been operating more than 300 special flights since March 13, taking some 60,000 holidaymakers back to their home countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. Around 45 further flights are already in preparation. Clients are and have been tour operators, cruise lines and governments.

In addition to regular cargo flights, the Lufthansa Group has already operated 22 pure cargo special flights with relief supplies on board. A further 34 special cargo flights are already planned.

Passengers whose flights have been cancelled or who were unable to take their flight can keep their booking and do not have to commit to a new flight date for the time being. The ticket and ticket value remain unchanged and can be converted into a voucher for a new booking with a departure date up to and including 30 April 2021. The conversion into a voucher is possible online via the airlines’ websites. Customers who choose a new travel date up to and including 31 December 2020 will also receive a 50 Euro discount on every rebooking.

The new TravelPass technology provides a subscription-based travel solution, allowing Etihad to offer its frequent guests complete flexibility and ease with their regular and recurring travel arrangements. Customers can purchase a TravelPass for a set number of trips or a particular travel period instead of purchasing flights one by one.

Subscription-based travel is good news for the aviation industry as it provides customers with the choice between prepaid trips and pay-as-you-fly options, meeting the demands of flexibility, ease of booking and cost-efficient travel management.

Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “The innovative TravelPass technology offers a revolutionary booking experience for corporate and frequent clients who will also be enrolled into our award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme. By simplifying the travel process to just a few clicks, our guests have a seamless transaction through a platform that holds all your details in one place, gives you the flexibility to make changes to your bookings without fees and gives you the choice to pay later. We know our corporate clients are time-poor and believe this innovative addition to our digital offering will improve the travel journey for subscribers.”

The Etihad TravelPass will be available to book on the Etihad website on a desktop or mobile, offering customers an enhanced digital experience that saves time by avoiding repetitive tasks involved in managing each booking, leading to improved customer satisfaction.

Svein Therkelsen, Chief Executive Officer, Braathens IT, said: “Etihad is going to take sophisticated digital personalisation very far, everything from ease of use to customisation. They are an innovative player and they will continue in that direction to improve their customers’ digital experience using TravelPass.”

The platform is a logical extension of Etihad’s digital strategy which re-engineers the booking process for frequent flyers, improving their experience and loyalty.

The islands in the Atlantic Ocean will also be served four times a week: Tenerife every Saturday and Sunday, Fuerteventura on Saturdays and Gran Canaria on Sundays. An Airbus A321 will be serving these Spanish islands. This autumn, Lufthansa will also be flying to Thessaloniki, three times a week with an Airbus A320; Flights will be operated every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Munich to the Greek port city, starting at the end of October.

With the new connections to Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria, Lufthansa will be offering direct flights to the largest three Canary Islands, among the seven.

The additional overnight service will be operated between 8 July and 31 August by an Airbus A320 configured with 8 seats in Business and 150 seats in Economy. The extra frequency complements the daily two-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner morning daytime service between the two capitals.

Abu Dhabi – Athens schedule effective 8 July 2020 (all timings are local):

Victoria Falls to Kruger Mpumulanga International Airport – KMIA (Nelspruit) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

To accompany this will be the rebirth of the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls route, this will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The first day of operation will be Monday 6 July for both routes. The new route is expected to improve connectivity and options to Fastjet’s tourism industry partners, when creating interesting and varied itineraries for their clients.

The timing of the flights will be such that it will allow for Southbound Guests to undertake a morning activity or partake in a leisurely breakfast in Victoria Falls and arrive at KMIA to connect seamlessly with Federal Airlines to the Sabi Sands, Manyeleti or Timbavati Game Reserves for an afternoon game drive.

Northbound Guests will be able to enjoy a morning game drive in their private game reserve or The Kruger National Park, before a quick Federal Airlines flight to KMIA and the flight to Victoria Falls, this will land in time for an evening activity in Vic Falls (activity dependent).

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
FN 8801 Victoria Falls (VFA) to KMIA (MQP) depart 11:20 & arrive 13:05
FN 8802 KMIA (MQP) to Victoria Falls (VFA) depart 13:35 & arrive 15:15

The Bulawayo to Victoria Falls flight will provide links for tourists to explore the wonders of Bulawayo’s history, The Matobo National Park and Khami Ruins with onward links to Johannesburg or Harare, this route can form an integral part in any itinerary.

For the resident traveller this route will provide a welcome alternative to a long road trip. For those conducting business between the two regions – the Monday, Wednesday and Friday operations will give plenty of choice.

For Parents and Students of Bulawayo’s boarding schools there is now a quicker way to get to and from school. These flights are also timed to allow for direct connectivity to and from Johannesburg.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday
FN 8671 Bulawayo (BUQ) to Victoria Falls (VFA) depart 11:05 & arrive 12:05
FN 8672 Victoria Falls (VFA) to Bulawayo (BUQ) depart 15:50 & arrive 16:50

Lufthansa Group has therefore chosen Google Cloud as a strategic partner to further improve its operational performance and minimize the impact of irregularities on its passengers. The aim is to build a platform that will suggest scenarios to return to a stable flight plan in the event of an irregularity so that passengers still arrive at their destinations as punctually and comfortably as possible. This will be done by merging data from various processes that are relevant for stable operations (for example aircraft replacement and maintenance as well as crew scheduling).

“By combining Google Cloud’s technology with Lufthansa Group’s operational expertise, we are driving the digitization of our operation even further,” said Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board of the Lufthansa Group. “This will enable us to identify possible flight irregularities even earlier and implement countermeasures at an early stage.”

For example, flights are sometimes delayed due to weather conditions such as snowfall and passengers might miss their connecting flights. In the future, it will be possible to offer faster rebooking possibilities across all four hubs for Lufthansa Group passengers thanks to systems based on artificial intelligence.

“Through this collaboration, we have a significant opportunity to revolutionize the future of airline operations,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO for Google Cloud. “We’re bringing the best of Lufthansa Group and Google Cloud together to solve airlines’ biggest challenges and positively impact the travel experience of the more than 145 million passengers that fly annually with them.”

A joint team of operations experts, developers and engineers from the Lufthansa Group and software engineers from Google Cloud will be developing and testing the appropriate platform. The test launch will take place in Zurich with SWISS.