CemAir is to add a number of regional routes, enhancing its profile as a privately owned South African regional carrier. CEO, Miles van der Molen spoke to Tourism Update after the granting of the routes by the International Air Services Council (IASC).

The airline has been granted seven weekly frequencies on the Johannesburg-Livingstone route and four on the Johannesburg-Lilongwe route. It has also been granted three frequencies a week between Johannesburg and Accra, Nairobi, Pointe Noire, Brazzaville, Libreville and Entebbe.

Additionally, the IASC has granted CemAir two frequencies a week on the Johannesburg-Kinshasa and Johannesburg-Lubumbashi routes, and one between Johannesburg and Freetown. 

Van der Molen said the outcome for a few of the routes applied for was still pending. Those include Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and Johannesburg to Harare.

Van der Molen told Tourism Update that the airline would acquire more aircraft to cope with the need for increased capacity. He said CemAir had already committed to six 90-seat CRJ 900 regional jets. This could be increased to 10 aircraft by the end of next year. 

He also gave Tourism Update the exciting news that, in addition to the regional routes, CemAir would add to its domestic operations. It will increase its Johannesburg-Cape Town frequency and will soon start flights from Johannesburg to East London.