Madrid-based carrier Air Europa is preparing for its first flight from Madrid to Johannesburg on June 24. The carrier, a member of the SkyTeam alliance for the past 20 years, will conduct thrice-weekly flights between the two cities.
At a launch function at the Green Park Venue in Sandton on May 27, the airline’s VP: Commercial, Imanol Pérez, told Tourism Update the airline will use a combination of Boeing B777 and B787 Dreamliner aircraft, both in a two-class configuration: business and economy. In 2028, the airline is set to receive five A350s – one will be deployed on the Johannesburg route with a third class, premium economy, he added.
Pérez said the airline expects to carry 60% inbound tourism and booking trends already show this to be true. But, Perez added, outbound bookings from Johannesburg are growing.
Air Europa is about more than just flights between Madrid and Johannesburg. It has an interline agreement in place with Airlink, which gives passengers seamless access to 25 of Airlink’s destinations domestically and in the southern African region. The agreement also allows access to all Air Europa’s destinations. The carrier has a good network from Madrid. It conducts flights to more than 13 European capitals within one and a half to two hours flying time – including Athens, Amsterdam, London, Lisbon, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich and Brussels. It also has domestic services connecting to many cities in mainland Spain as well as in the Balearic and Canary Islands. Air Europa also serves 22 destinations in Latin America.
South Africa is the only sub-Saharan destination currently offered by Air Europa – it has only two other African destinations, Marrakech and Tunis, with Tangier coming onstream this year.
Asked about the possibility of a route to Durban in view of the new Club Med opening on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast next month, Pérez said the airline presently has no plans to expand to other South African destinations but remains open to all opportunities.
Despite the current oil price crisis, Pérez remains upbeat, saying the 40-year-old airline is expecting very good results in 2026.
© Now Media. This content, including images, is protected by copyright and may not be copied, reused, adapted or republished without permission. If you would like to discuss content-sharing or cooperation opportunities, please contact: editor@tourismupdate.com.
