This month, FlyGabon introduced twice-weekly direct flights from its hub in Libreville to Johannesburg, providing a much-needed link between Southern Africa and the business hubs of West and Central Africa. Corporate travel experts have welcomed the new route as it is expected to improve accessibility to destinations that have been expensive and difficult to reach.
Flights depart Johannesburg on Wednesdays at 08h30 and arrive in Libreville at 12h15. The second flight departs Johannesburg on Sundays at 10h15 and arrives in Libreville at 14h00. Return flights depart Libreville on Tuesdays at 14h00 and arrive in Johannesburg at 19h45. The second flight departs Libreville on Fridays at 14h30 and arrives in Johannesburg at 20h15.
Johannesburg was selected as FlyGabon’s first destination outside Central and West Africa due to its position as a major hub for business, trade, healthcare and tourism. The airline also hopes to attract South African business travellers to Gabon’s oil and gas sector.
More direct routes
FlyGabon’s new route will provide corporate travellers with more direct options. “There are several options for South African corporates travelling to West and Central Africa, though most routes require at least one stop. Connections are typically made via major regional or international hubs, which offer flexibility but can add travel time. Direct flights remain limited, so journeys often involve transfers and longer layovers,” said Tash Webb, RevMan and Distribution Leader RSA/Global RevMan Flight Centre Travel Group – Corporate Brands.
“The new direct service is a big plus for business travellers with tight schedules. Cutting out stopovers saves valuable hours and reduces the risk of missed connections or baggage delays,” added Webb.
“Corporate clients always prefer direct routes and this will be a bonus for clients not only travelling to Gabon but also with the connections to Port Harcourt, Congo and Equatorial Guinea, which are traditionally difficult to access,” said Linda Edwards, MD of XL Turners Travel.
Currently her corporate clients are using ASKY, South African Airways, Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and even Emirates to access some Central and West African destinations.
Competitive fares
Fares into Africa are relatively high due to high airline taxes and international departure levies.
“Fares into Africa have always been relatively high, particularly to West Coast countries. The increase in options should hopefully decrease costs, particularly if FlyGabon increases its frequency from the initial two weekly departures. They seem to be very competitive when looking at the fares of ASKY who fly directly from Johannesburg to Gabon,” said Edwards.
For Webb, FlyGabon's pricing is semi-competitive with existing long-haul options. “Direct flights may come at a small premium but offer time savings that matter for corporate travel. As the market adjusts, fare competition could further improve value,” said Webb.
Stefan van der Merwe, CEO of Suretravel, also believes that competition on the routes could bring down the fares. However, there is no guarantee that fares will remain competitive. “Airline revenue management is very dynamic and due to dates, availability and load factors, available pricing will change all the time.”
Other issues hindering travel
While air connectivity is a key issue, it is not the only barrier impacting corporate travel in West and Central Africa.
According to Van der Merwe, several issues are impacting air connectivity in the region. “Each country has its own challenges. Airlines require enough traffic and governments to be open to let more airlines in and allow them to expatriate funds from the country in question. This would be why we have seen global airlines investing in African carriers to assist in expansion and route development. Airport infrastructure, flight delays and fuel availability play a big part,” said Van der Merwe.
“Visas remain a major hurdle. Most countries in the region require advance applications that can be slow to process. There are also challenges around currency controls, inconsistent customs procedures, health documentation requirements, and sometimes patchy ground transport once you arrive,” said Webb.
Edwards acknowledged that while visas could be managed, unsafe ground transport, health documentation requirements, political instability, and regional conflicts remained significant challenges.
