Eswatini Air to launch direct flights to Lusaka in April 2026

last updated 19 February 2026

The new route between Eswatini and Lusaka  will be operated on Wednesdays and Fridays. It will be paired with Harare on a triangular basis.

last updated 19 February 2026 

Eswatini Air has announced a new international route linking Eswatini with Lusaka (Zambia), starting 01 April 2026. The service will operate between King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), creating the first direct air link between the two countries.

Until now, travellers typically connected via Johannesburg, often flying with Airlink. The new nonstop route is expected to significantly reduce travel time and simplify multi-country Southern Africa itineraries.

What we know

• Launch date: 01 April 2026
• First direct Eswatini <> Zambia flight
• Schedule, frequency and aircraft details to be announced soon

Why this route matters
The new connection will make it easier to combine Eswatini's culture and wildlife with Zambia's renowned safari destinations and Victoria Falls itineraries, while also improving regional business travel and tourism connectivity.

More details, including flight schedules and fares, are expected in the coming weeks. 

 

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Eswatini Air to go cashless from 20 November 2025!

Eswatini’s national carrier, Eswatini Air, has announced a major update to its payment policy. Starting 20 November 2025, the airline will no longer accept hard cash for any of its services at all reservation offices, including airport ticket counters.

The move forms part of Eswatini Air’s broader strategy to improve safety, streamline operations, and offer a more efficient customer experience. By shifting to digital transactions, the airline aims to reduce cash-handling risks and speed up service across its network.

Travellers are encouraged to use the airline’s wide range of secure digital payment options, such as EFTs, debit and credit cards, and popular mobile money platforms, when booking flights or purchasing ancillary services.

Eswatini Air’s transition to cashless payments reflects a growing trend across the aviation industry and supports the airline’s mission to deliver a modern, seamless, and customer-friendly travel experience.

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Eswatini Air to launch new route to Zambia! [update]

update (07 May 2025): Eswatini Air yesterday confirmed that the launch date of the airline's new service to Lusaka in Zambia will be announced "soon"!

Eswatini Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of eSwatini, has revealed plans to introduce a new route to Zambia. The airline intends to launch scheduled flights connecting King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in eSwatini with Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka. However, the official start date for this service has not yet been announced.

Founded in 2022 by the government-owned Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC), Eswatini Air commenced operations in March 2023. The airline specializes in regional travel across southern Africa and currently offers scheduled flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban in South Africa, as well as Harare in Zimbabwe.

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eSwatini: Eswatini Air launches a complimentary shuttle service to/from King Mswati III International Airport (SHO)! [update #2]

update (29 October 2024): Eswatini Air has made slight changes to the shuttle service schedule.

update (11 October 2024): Eswatini Air has released the schedule for its new airport schedue connecting Mbabane, Ezulwini, Matsapha, and Manzini with King Mswati III International Airport (SHO):

click to enlarge

The flag carrier of the Kingdom of eSwatini, Eswatini Air, is set to introduce a complimentary shuttle service for all its passengers travelling to and from King Mswati III International Airport (SHO). The shuttle stops include Mbabane, Ezulwini, Matsapha, and Manzini. Eswatini Air's new shuttle service will commence operations on 12 October 2024. The shuttle service can easily be booked on Eswatini Air's website right after completing the purchase of flight tickets. Alternatively, passengers can book via the airline' service centres.

King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) is located near the town of Sikhuphe, about 70 kilometers from the eSwatini's capital, Mbabane, and approximately 80 kilometers from Manzini, the country's largest urban area.
Eswatini Air was founded in 2022 by the Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC), which is fully owned by the government of eSwatini. The airline launched its inaugural flights in March 2023. Eswatini Air focuses on regional flights within southern Africa. The airline is currently operating scheduled flights between eSwatini and Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban (all South Africa) and Harare (Zimbabwe).

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eSwatini: Eswatini Air launches operations! [update]

update (26 March 2023): eSwatini Air has launched operations. The maiden flight of the new flag carrier of of the Kingdom of eSwatini was from King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in South Africa.

The new flag carrier of the Kingdom of eSwatini, Eswatini Air, has released its planned operating schedule, fares and notice of reservations systems going live. This marks and brings to an end of the long wait for the commencement date of Eswatini Air flights. The airline is set to introduce its service in four phases to ensure a smooth entry in the market.

Phase I: Launch of flights between King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in South Africa, operating two flights per day (an early morning rotation and a late afternoon rotation) effective 26 March 2023.

• eSwatini 07:00 > 07:45 Johannesburg
• Johannesburg 08:45 > 09:35 eSwatini
• eSwatini 16:05 > 16:55 Johannesburg
• Johannesburg 17:40 > 18:30 eSwatini

Phase II: Robert G. Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare in Zimbabwe will be added to the schedule effective 14 April 2023, offering four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

• eSwatini 10:15 > 11:45 Harare
• Harare 14:00 > 15:30 eSwatini

Phase III: King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban will be added to the schedule effective 05 May 2023, offering a flight each day of the week.

• eSwatini 17:30 > 18:30 Durban
• Durban 07:55 > 08:55 eSwatini

Phase III also includes introduction of a 3rd daily flight between eSwatini and Johannesburg to be operated in the afternoon.

• eSwatini 11:30 > 12:20 Johannesburg
• Johannesburg 14:10 > 15:00 eSwatini

Phase IV: This is the final launch phase and entails addition of Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town to the route network effective 02 June 2023. Cape Town will be operated three times per week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

• eSwatini 10:20 > 12:50 Cape Town
• Cape Town 13:40 > 16:10 eSwatini

Eswatini Air's reservations and ticketing system is now open for bookings and ticket purchases.

Launch special fares are on offer for one-way flights inclusive of taxes ranging from:

• SZL 1,300.00 on flights between eSwatini and Johannesburg or Durban,
• SZL 2,100.00 on flights between eSwatini and Cape Town, and
• SZL 2,200.00 on flights between eSwatini and Harare.

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eSwatini: eSwatini Air has released an update on the latest developments! [update]

update (24 February 2023): The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has granted Foreign Operator Permits (FOP) to Eswatini Air and Zambia Airways. The FOPs authorize the respective airlines to operate passenger and cargo operations in and outbound RG Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare, Zimbabwe.

eSwatini Air, the new flag carrier of the Kingdom of eSwatini, has released an update on the latest developments. The airline's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was approved at the end of last year. The Foreign Operator Permit (FOP) for Zimbabwe has been received, while the FOP for South Africa is still in process.
The Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC)* has also been assigned airline codes by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) - the assigned IATA 2 letter code is "RN" and the IATA 3 digit accounting prefix is "507".
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has also assigned codes for airline identification when operating international flights. The two codes applicable are "SZL" as the 3 letter designator and "Eswatini" as the Telephony designator.
eSwatini Air has applied for landing and departure slots at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg as well as Robert G. Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare.

According to eSwatini Air's update, a define date for its maiden flight can not be set as the turnaround time for the outstanding process is dependent on various factors beyond the airline's control. As soon as all outstanding matters are cleared, a flight schedule and pricing will be released. However, the airline is expecting to be able lo launch operations at the beginning of the next IATA seson, which is 26 March 2023. We'll keep you posted!

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*eSwatini Air is RENAC's (new) trading name.

eSwatini: eSwatini Air has finally received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) [update]

update (01 February 2023): According to statements by Eswatini Air on Facebook, the airline still working on logistics that can only be resumed after the license (AOC) is received. We'll continue to keep you posted!

eSwatini Air, the new flag carrier of the Kingdom of eSwatini, has finally received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). According to a posting on Facebook, the airline will revert with fares and a schedule for its routes.
If plans are not changing, eSwatini Air will initially offer direct nonstop flights between eSwatini's King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in South Africa as well as Robert G. Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare in Zimbabwe. 

eSwatini Air initially targeted the end of March 2022 to conclude the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), but than postponed it to late May or early June 2022. It than announced that services would be launched in June 2022. In May 2022, eSwatini Air said that operations are set to launch in mid-2022. In August 2022, the Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) posted on LinkedIn that "the wait will soon be over".

eSwatini: Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) has released an update on Eswatini Air!

The Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) has released an update on Eswatini's new flag carrier Eswatini Air, which was supposed to commence operations in mid-2022. The airline's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) certification process is still ongoing and has progressed from Phase 3 to Phase 4 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) 5 Phase process. As the certification is still ongoing, a launch date for eSwatini Air will only be announced once the AOC has been issued. RENAC confirms that eSwatini Air's systems are ready to go live, that the two Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft to be used for the operation are both serviceable and ready to commence operations and that the airline will operate direct non-stop flights flights between eSwatini's King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in South Africa as well as Robert G. Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare in Zimbabwe.. We'll keep you posted!

There are five phases in the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) certification process. The five phases are:

1. Pre-Application Phase
2. Formal Application Phase
3. Document Evaluation Phase
4. Demonstration and Inspection Phase
5. Certification Phase

eSwatini: eSwatini Airlink ceases operations!

The Government of the Kingdom of eSwatini and South African privately-owned reginal carrier Airlink have announced that eSwatini Airlink will cease operations from 01 June 2022. The airline, which was formed in 1999 as a joint venture company between the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (60%) and Airlink (40%) to provide air services for the Kingdom after Royal Swazi National Airways stopped operating, currently operates multiple daily services between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe.
From 01 June 2022, Airlink and the new national carrier of the Kingdom of eSwatini, eSwatini Air, will respectively provide scheduled air services between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe, giving travellers to and from eSwatini greater choice. 

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eSwatini: eSwatini Air to launch operations in the second quarter of 2022! [update #6]

update (04 August 2022):  The Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) has posted on LinkedIn that "the wait will soon be over". No launch date, but a least a hint that the new airline will be launching operations in the near future.

update (01 July 2022): According to an article on bizcommunity.com issued by the Gauteng Tourism Authority, Eswatini Air(ways) will debut in July 2022.

update (25 May 2022): According to media statement by Eswatini Air (10 May 2022), the airline plans to launch its operations during mid-2022 (!), starting with four routes linking Eswatini to Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Harare using 2 Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft.

update (12 May 2022): eSwatini Air and Hahn Air signed an agreement at African Airlines Association's (AFRAA) 10th Aviation Stakeholders’ Convention in Nairobi, Kenya (08-10 May 2022). eSwatini Air will start operating in June 2022 and will expand its ticket sales with Hahn Air via all major global distribution systems (GDS) under the X1 code.

update (11 March 2022): eSwatini Air is planning to operate daily direct flights to Durban and Johannesburg as well as four weekly direct flights to Cape Town and Harare.

update (10 March 2022): According to Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) CEO Qiniso Dhlamini, eSwatini Air will commence operations in late May 2022 or early June 2022. [src.]

The Commercial Director of the Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC), Xavier Masule, announced during an interview with Jon Howell's AviaDev Insight, the first podcast dedicated to the African aviation industry, that the trading name of eSwatini's new national airline is eSwatini Air. RENAC currently targets to conclude the air operator's certificate (AOC) for eSwatini Air by the end of March 2022 and is planing to launch regional operations towards the end of the second quarter of 2022. eSwatini Air will initially offer direct nonstop flights between eSwatini's King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) in Sikhuphe and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg in South Africa as well as Robert G. Mugabe International Airport (HRE) in Harare in Zimbabwe. The airline will operate all flights on board its two newly acquired 50-seater Embraer ERJ 145, which were both previously operated by HOP!, a subsidiary of Air France.