Federal Airlines (Fedair) operated its first flight from Johannesburg to Pafuri in the Northern Kruger on October 2, in partnership with The Outpost and Pel’s Post, which form part of Rare Earth’s portfolio.

The Fedair aircraft which flies to the Pafuri region accommodates 19 passengers.

Tourism Update recently reported on the launch of the direct shuttle flights, which are scheduled three times a week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The flight times have been strategically timed, departing Johannesburg at lunchtime to accommodate all inbound international flights and some morning domestic connections. 

“One of the biggest challenges the trade and tour operators face at the moment, is finding availability, and now, one has air access to an amazing part of the country, which offers five-star luxury and has the backing of the Kruger National Park’s name,” says Nik Lloyd-Roberts, Commercial Manager of Fedair.

The Outpost Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park. 

“We are fortunate enough to have a contractual, committed partner, The Outpost, which has had the vision and the foresight to get this route off the ground and, as a result, we are exclusively servicing their lodges in the Pafuri region,” says Lloyd-Roberts.

He says the end goal is to increase the service to more days of the week, as other lodges begin to see the value in a reliable service and start buying into the model.

CEO of Rare Earth, Lauren Ritchie told Tourism Update that the new shuttle flights will make the Northern Kruger region a lot more accessible.

“We have had so much interest and demand from the trade to be able to launch these flights, to make it as easy as possible to get to the region.” Ritchie says The Outpost has wanted to get the flights off the ground for about five years, and started discussions with Fedair over the last couple months.

The shuttle flights are the first flights by Federal Airlines that are available on a seat rate into the region, on a regular basis.