Lufthansa Group will operate what it describes as its largest-ever South African (northern) winter schedule in 2026/27, increasing capacity between South Africa and Europe to 38 weekly long-haul flights.
The expanded schedule, which takes effect at the end of October 2026, includes three additional long-haul services to South Africa with increased frequencies to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Lufthansa will increase its Munich-Johannesburg service from three to five weekly flights. The route will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
From October 27, the Johannesburg-Munich service will also operate as a night flight, departing from OR Tambo International Airport at 19h55 and arriving in Munich at 05h00 the following morning. Lufthansa said the schedule change will improve onward connectivity.
Cape Town will gain an additional non-stop Monday service from Frankfurt during the main winter season, making the route a daily service.
Additionally, SWISS will introduce its new long-haul “SWISS Senses” cabin product on the daily Zurich-Johannesburg route using its Airbus A350 aircraft.
At the same time, Edelweiss will continue operating the Cape Town-Zurich route up to five times a week using Airbus A350 aircraft.
