South African Airways (SAA) will launch a new direct service between Cape Town and Mauritius from 9 December 2025, enhancing connectivity between the Western Cape and one of the Indian Ocean’s most popular island destinations. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the national carrier as it continues to expand its regional network and meet the evolving needs of the leisure travel market.
The new route will operate three times per week, with flights scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The outbound flight will depart Cape Town at 09:25 and arrive in Mauritius at 16:30, with a flight time of approximately five hours. The return flight departs Mauritius at 17:20 and arrives back in Cape Town at 21:30.
“This connection between Cape Town and Mauritius is a fascinating achievement that our team has been aspiring towards for quite some time,” said SAA Chief Executive Officer, Professor John Lamola.
“The introduction of this route demonstrates SAA’s role in promoting leisure travel across the region and supports the broader tourism objectives for both South Africa and Mauritius.”
Between mid-January and mid-March 2026, the service will operate twice weekly, in line with seasonal demand.
Tebogo Tsimane, SAA’s Chief Commercial Officer, said the flight schedule was developed in close consultation with the South African travel trade.
“This convenience of the flight schedule was carefully developed through rigorous engagement with our South African tour operator partners to ensure it aligns with traveller preferences and peak holiday planning. We are fulfilling our mission to offer our customers greater flexibility and convenience.”
The Cape Town–Mauritius route adds to SAA’s growing regional offering and is expected to further stimulate two-way tourism between Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. With strong interest from leisure travellers and tour operators, the new route arrives at a time when demand for direct, high-quality air access is on the rise.
