FlySafair has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Hoedspruit Airport after damaging floods rendered the runway unsafe for operations.
AirplaneNiner/Wikimedia Commons
According to Tourism Update, travellers planning bush adventures now face disrupted itineraries as the airline prioritises passenger and crew safety. The closure follows severe weather that wreaked havoc on critical airport infrastructure, forcing the popular low-cost carrier to halt operations until mid-February.
FlySafair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kirby Gordon, emphasised that safety remains paramount: current conditions at Hoedspruit Airport do not meet operational standards. All scheduled flights are suspended “until February 14”, and the airline has offered affected passengers options to amend bookings or secure full refunds at no extra cost.
The disruption comes at a time when demand for domestic travel is rebounding, with travellers increasingly seeking direct access to Kruger National Park and neighbouring private reserves. Although FlySafair’s seasonal routes — including its recently expanded services linking Cape Town and Hoedspruit — aim to open up safari destinations, the latest climate-related challenges underline the vulnerability of regional air travel to extreme weather events.
Tour operators and lodge managers in the Hoedspruit area are urging visitors to stay in close contact with airlines and accommodation providers, as conditions and travel links continue to evolve in the aftermath of significant flooding.
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