Instead of being able to see directly outside, passengers view images projected in from outside the aircraft using fibre-optic cameras. The airline says it paves the way for removing all windows from future planes, making them lighter and faster.

Currently the airline is testing the technology onboard its newest B777-300ER aircraft, with Emirates president, Tim Clark, saying that the images were “so good, it’s better than with the natural eye”.

Speaking to the BBC, Clark said that the ultimate aim was to have planes with no windows at all.

“Imagine now a fuselage as you’re boarding with no windows, but when you get inside, there are windows,” he said.

“Now you have one fuselage which has no structural weaknesses because of windows. The aircraft are lighter, the aircraft could fly faster, they’ll burn far less fuel and fly higher.”

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The aircraft are scheduled to enter the airline’s service in late March and late April this year, and will see FlySafair’s total number of B737 800s grow to five, bringing the fleet total to 14 aircraft.

FlySafair is one of several low cost carriers operating in South Africa, including Mango, Kulula and FastJet, which began operating locally late in 2017.

“It’s imperative that we pursue an aggressive growth strategy to ensure that we keep our cost per seat as low as possible by finding economies of scale,” said Kirby Gordon, head of sales and distribution at FlySafair.

The first of the new aircraft, which has already been loaded on to the airline’s schedule, will contribute to an increase in FlySafair’s capacity on the Johannesburg/Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg/East London and Johannesburg/Cape Town routes, as well as the Johannesburg/Durban route on weekends.

This will see the airline’s overall capacity increase by just over 25,000 seats this coming July.

According to Bulawayo24, the airline is “saddled with a dept overhang of over $300 million”, and the state-run airline has an ambitious plan to acquire several planes, lease some and retire its debts.

According to a 2018-2019 strategic turnaround document exclusively, AirZim intends to procure three Brazilian assembled 50-seater Embraer jetliners, suitable for domestic and short regional routes, on an urgent basis.

The airline might expend $6 million for the budget planes, at an estimated cost of $2 million each.

The Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) reveals the truth behind some of the most convincing travel myths of all time.

Myth 1: Jetlag is caused by a lack of sleep

While popular belief would have it that jetlag is caused by lack of sleep, it has much more to do with the physical shock to our bodies’ circadian rhythms as we travel across various time zones.

So, even if you pop a sleeping tablet to get some shut-eye on your next long-haul flight, you’re not really helping to mitigate the impacts of jetlag.

For more on jetlag, read our article here

Myth 2: Airplanes are the breeding grounds for viruses

There is a common misconception that travelling in the confined space of an aircraft combined with the recycled air circulating throughout is the ideal breeding place for illnesses and diseases.

While it is true that air might be recycled, it is also true that it is filtered. More often than not while travelling, fatigue and a change in environment contribute to your sudden susceptibility for minor illnesses such as colds and flu. The golden rule is to keep hydrated by drinking lots of water and washing your hands regularly.

Myth 3: Organised tours only offer a less authentic experience

There’s a perception that guided tours are the domain of more mature travellers, that they are inflexible and that you will be travelling with individuals with whom you’re likely to have little in common.

Experiencing a destination on your own terms can be exciting, but the experts who put together these guided tours specialize in finding interesting elements and experiences you would not necessarily discover on your own.

If you want to experience a city in-depth, consider doing both? Spend a few hours’ free time in a city exploring yourself, but let the experts take care of all the other details so you don’t have to by joining a guided tour.

Myth 4: Planes are the fastest way to travel

Travelling at speeds of up to 1000km/h, it may seem like a no-brainer that travelling by plane is the quickest way to get around.

Well often yes, but not always. In Europe especially, if you factor in the time, effort and money spent just to get to the airport, good old train travel may prove to be a quicker and more stress-free experience.