List of defunct airlines of South Africa
# List of defunct airlines of South Africa

This is a list of defunct airlines of South Africa.

* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z
* See also
* References

| Airline | IATA | ICAO | Callsign | Commenced operations | Ceased operations | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 ||||||||
| 1time | T6 | RNX | NEXTTIME | 2004 | 2012 | Placed under provisional liquidation. Operated 11 McDonnell Douglas MD-80. |
| A ||||||||
| ACE Express | | | | 1996 | 1997 | Merged into Express Air Services |
| ACORN Air | | | | 1990 | 1990 | Operated BAe 146-200 |
| Advanced Aviation Logistics | | | | 1990 | 1990 | Rebranded as Aerios Global Aviation |
| Aero Air Charter | | | | 1995 | 2001 | Eyethu Air Cargo merged in 1999 |
| Aerolift | | | | 2002 | 2009 | |
| Aerospace Express | | | | 1996 | 2004 | Operated HS 748 |
| Africa Cargo Air | | | | 1996 | 2001 | Operated Douglas C-54 |
| Africa Charter Airlines | | FSK | AFRICAN SKY | 1997 | 2000 | |
| Africair | | | | 1946 | 1977 | Formed by the merger of Anglo Vaal Air Services and Africair Servicing. Operated Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-4 |
| Africair Servicing | | | | 1946 | 1946 | Merged with Anglo Vaal Air Services to form Africair. Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| African Air Carriers | | | | 1983 | 1984 | |
| African Airline Investments | | LGE | | 2010 | 2010 | |
| African Cargo Airlines | | | | 1997 | 1999 | Operated Antonov An-32 |
| African International Airways | | AIN | FLY CARGO | 1985 | 2008 | |
| African Star Airways | 4M | ASG | AFRICAN STAR | 1998 | 2000 | Operated Boeing 747 |
| Africargo Airlines | | | | 1998 | 1998 | Established as Transoceanic Airways |
| Afro Cargo | | | | 1986 | 1987 | Operated Sud Aviation Caravelle |
| Air Cape | | | | 1963 | 1988 | Acquired by Safair |
| Air Lowveld | LE | | | 1971 | 1978 | Merged with Avna Airlines and Mafeking Aviation Services to form Magnum Airlines |
| Air Midlands | | | | 1971 | 1978 | Merged into Airlink Airlines. Operated Cessna 402 |
| Aircraft Operating Company of Africa | | | | 1962 | 1980 | Operated Lockheed Lodestar, Douglas DC-3 |
| Airlink Airline | 5T | LNK | | 1992 | 1994 | Renamed to Airlink |
| AirQuarius Air Charter | | AQU | QUARIUS | 2001 | 2007 | Established as AirQuarius Aviation. Renamed to Branson Air |
| AirQuarius Aviation | | AQU SSN | QUARIUS | 1999 | 2001 | Renamed to AirQuarius Air Charter |
| AirWorld | | | | 1996 | 2003 | Operated Boeing 727, Douglas DC-3 |
| Alliance Air | Y2 | AFJ | JAMBO | 1995 | 2000 | Ran at a loss, last flight October 8, 2000. Joint venture between South African Airways, Tanzania and Uganda. |
| Alpha Airways | | | | 1947 | 1947 | |
| Alpine Aviation | | LPC | | 1996 | 2010 | Operated Bell 206, Bell 407, AS350, Robinson R22, Robinson R44 |
| Anglo Vaal Air Services | | | | 1946 | 1946 | Became Africair after merging with Africair Servicing. Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| ATAIR Executive Jet Charters | | | | 1980 | 1998 | Operated Beech Super King Air, Cessna Citation V |
| Avia Air | | | | 1994 | 1995 | Went bankrupt. Operated Boeing 747SP, Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-6 |
| Avia Airlines | GW | AGW | AVIAN | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Avna Airlines | WU | | | 1976 | 1978 | Merged with Air Lowveld and Mafeking Aviation Services to form Magnum Airlines |
| Avna Airways | | | | 1965 | 1968 | Renamed to Avna |
| B ||||||||
| Bazaruto Air Charter | | | | 1990 | 1992 | Operated Douglas C-47 |
| Bop Air | BV | MAW | | 1979 | 1994 | Rebranded as Sun Air. Operatede Embraer Bandeirante, Embraer Brasilia |
| Border Air | | | | 1966 | 1980 | To Link Airways. Operated Beech Baron, Cessna 402 |
| Branson Air | | AQU | | 2007 | 2012 | Established as AirQuarius Aviation in 1999. |
| C ||||||||
| Cape Atlantic Air | | CAO | | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Caprivi Airways | | | | 1968 | 1981 | Renamed to African Air Carriers |
| Care Airlines | CE | | | 1992 | 1996 | Air ambulance services. Renamed to Nationwide Airlines. Operated Hawker Siddeley 748 |
| Carpenter's Charter | | | | 1995 | 2000 | |
| Charlan Air Charter | S8 | CAH | CHARLAN | 2000 | 2006 | Operated Swearingen Merlin IV, Embraer Brasilia |
| CHC Air | | | | 2002 | 2008 | Operated Convair 580 |
| Ciskei International Airways | CC | | | 1988 | 1989 | Operated Convair 880, Convair 990 |
| Citi Air | | | | 1985 | 1987 | To Link Airways. Operated Cessna 310, Cessna 402, Piper Chieftain, Piper Cherokee Six |
| Civair Airways | | CIW | CIVFLIGHT | 2004 | 2004 | Operated Boeing 747 |
| Collondale Air Service | | | | 1959 | 1968 | Founded by Kenneth Brown. Operated Cessna 175, Cessna 206, Piper Colt, Piper Cherokee Six |
| Comair (South Africa) | MN | CAW | COMMERCIAL | 1943 | 2022 | Was placed under liquidation. Operated 12 Boeing 737. |
| Comair Charters (Natal) | | | | 1989 | 1993 | Rebranded Federal Air |
| Command Airways | CT | CAH | COMMAND | 1977 1980 | 1979 1981 | Rebranded as Magnum Airlines Helicopters in 1979 and back Command Airways in 1980 |
| Commercial Air Services | | | | 1946 | 1967 | Rebranded Comair. Operated Douglas DC-3, Fairchild 24 |
| Compion Aviation | | | | 2003 | 2014 | Operated Beech 1900, Cessna Citation I |
| Court Air | | CUT | COURT AIR | 1990s | 1990s | Operated Convair 580 |
| D ||||||||
| Debon-Air | | | | 1992 | 2002 | |
| Durban Flying Service | | | | 1940s | 1940s | |
| E ||||||||
| Eastern Air | KV | TAK | | 1995 | 1997 | Operated Let Turbolet |
| Eastern Air Services | | | | 1980 | 1982 | Rebranded as Eastern Airlines. Operated BAC 1-11, Beech Baron, Beech King Air |
| Eastern Airlines | | | | 1982 | 1994 | Established as Eastern Air Services. Operated Beech Baron |
| ELB Flying Services | | | | 1976 | 2000 | Operated Aero Commander 695, Cessna 525 |
| Emric Air Services | MC | | | 1969 | 1979 | Merged into Magnum Airlines. Operated BN-2 Islander |
| Exclusive Air | | | | 1986 | 1994 | |
| Executive Aerospace | | EAS | AEROSPACE | 1984 | 2008 | |
| Executive Turbine Air Charter | | TEA | | 2001 | 2011 | |
| Express Air Services | | FLN | | 1996 | 2001 | To BidAir Cargo |
| Eyethu Air Cargo | | | | 1997 | 1999 | Acquired by Aero Air Charter. Operated Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-4 |
| F ||||||||
| Flitestar | GM | TKE | | 1991 | 1994 | Operated Airbus A320, ATR 72 |
| Fly Blue Crane | 7B | FCO | BLUE CRANE | 2015 | 2017 | Entered business rescue on 3 February 2017 |
| Fly Titan | | | | 2018 | 2019 | Operated BAe Jetstream, Beech King Air, Beech 1900, Cessna Grand Caravan, Embraer Brasilia, Embraer Bandeirante, Pilatus PC-12 |
| Forest Airlines | | FOL | FORESTAIR | 1993 | 1994 | Operated Piper Seneca, Piper Chieftain, Cessna 401 |
| Foster Webb Air Charter | | | | 1982 | 1998 | Operated Piper Chieftain |
| G ||||||||
| Gauteng Air Cargo | | | | 1996 | 1998 | Operated Boeing 707-320C |
| George Air | | | | 1965 | 1966 | Founded by J. E. J. Coetzer & Pat McClure |
| Giyani Airways | | | | 1974 | 1994 | Merged with Letaba Airways to form Phoenix Airways. Operated Fairchild Metro |
| Griekwalug | | | | 1960s | 1960s | Charter operator based in Kimberley Airport |
| Grinair | | | | 1971 | 1976 | Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| H ||||||||
| Haller Aviation | | | | 1946 | 1947 | Merged with Sharwoods Flying Services to form Southern Aviation. Operated Aeronca Sedan |
| Hawkair | | | | 1960s | 1960s | Acquired by Interstate Air Services. Operated Beech Baron, Beech Bonanza, Beech Debonair, Auster Autocar |
| Hydro Air Cargo | | HYC | | 2000 | 2003 | Ceased operations after their only Boeing 747 was destroyed in a landing accident at Lagos |
| I ||||||||
| Impala Air Cargo | PH | IPL | | 1992 | 1995 | |
| Imperial Air Cargo | | | | 2006 | 2014 | Airline acquired by BidAir Cargo |
| Intensive Air | IM | XRA | | 1993 | 2002 | Operated HS 748, Fokker F28 |
| Inter Air Lines | | | | 1979 | 1994 | Renamed to Interair South Africa |
| Interair South Africa | D6 | ILN | INLINE | 1993 | 2015 | |
| Interlink Airlines | ID | ITK | INTERLINK | 1997 | 2010 | Went into liquidation on 2 March 2010 |
| International Air | | | | 1960s | 1960s | Operated Bristol Britannia |
| Interstate Air Services | | | | 1963 | 1979 | Formed by the merger of Vaal Air Service and MS Air. Renamed to Interair. Operated Beech Bonanza, Cessna 402, de Havilland Dove |
| K ||||||||
| Kulula.com | MN | CAW | COMMERCIAL | 2001 | 2022 | Part of Comair. Operated 10 Boeing 737. |
| L ||||||||
| Ladysmith Air Charters | | | | 1960s | 1960s | Renamed to Tugela Air Services |
| Letaba Airways | LK | | | 1974 | 1979 | Merged with Giyani Airways to form Phoenix Airways |
| Lima-Kilo (Edms) | | | | 1983 | 1985 | Renamed to Metavia Airlines. Operated Aero Commander 690 |
| Loex Air Cargo | | | | 1993 | 1995 | Taken-over by Romoco Cargo. Operated Antonov An-12 |
| Lowveld Aviation Services | | | | 1976 | 1980 | Merged with Citi Air, Border Air, Magnum Airlines to form Link Airways (South Africa) |
| Luft Afrique | | | | 1997 | 2000 | Established as Valitrade. Renamed to Luft Cargo |
| Luft Cargo | | LUT | LUGO | 2000 | 2002 | Renamed from Luft Afrique. Operated Fokker F27 |
| M ||||||||
| Madiba Air | | | | 1999 | 1999 | Operated Grumman Gulfstream |
| Mafeking Aviation Services | | | | 1976 | 1978 | Merged with Air Lowveld and Avna Airlines to form Magnum Airlines |
| Mafiking Air Services | | | | 1978 | 1979 | Established by the government of Bophuthatswana. Renamed to Mmabatho Air Service. Operated Cessna aircraft |
| Magnum Airlines | | | | 1978 | 1979 | Merged with Citi Air, Border Air, Lowveld Aviation Services to form Link Airways |
| Magnum Airlines | | | | 1978 | 1990 | Formed by the merger of Air Lowveld, Avna Airlines, Mafeking Aviation Services. Operated Beech Baron, Beech Queen Air, BN-2 Islander, Trislander, Cessna 402, Piper Cherokee Six, Swearingen Metroliner |
| Magnum Airlines Helicopters | | | | 1979 | 1980 | Established as Command Airways in 1977. Renamed to Command Airways |
| Majuba Aviation | | | | 2003 | 2012 | Operated Pilatus PC-12 |
| Malherbe and Kiesewetter | | | | 1940s | 1940s | |
| Mallel Airline Services | | | | 1995 | 1995 | Operated Lockheed L-188 |
| Mango | JE | MNO | TULCA | 2003 | 2021 | Part of South African Airways. Operated 14 Boeing 737. |
| Margate Air Services | OJ | | | 1978 | 1985 | Renamed to Citi Air. Operated BN-2 Islander |
| Mercury Aviation Services | | | | 1946 | 1948 | Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| Metavia Airlines | OW | MNK | VIAMET | 1985 | 1998 | Established as Lima-Kilo (Edms). Acquired by SA Airlink. Operated Let Turbolet |
| Midlands Aviation | 5T | | | 1967 | 1995 | Acquired by Airlink |
| Million Air Aviation | | | | 1986 | 1994 | Renamed to Million Air Charter |
| Million Air Charter | | ZSM | | 1994 | 2004 | Rebranded as Egoli Air. Operated Antonov An-32, Boeing 727, Douglas DC-9, Learjet 23 |
| Mmabatho Air Service | | | | 1979 | 1986 | Established as Mafiking Air Services. Renamed to Bop Air |
| N ||||||||
| Namakwaland Lugdiens | NJ | NLD | NOVEMBER JULIETT | 1961 | 1989 | National Airlines merged in. Operated Beech Bonanza, Douglas DC-3, Piper Aztec |
| Natal (National Airlines) | NF | | | 1946 | 1979 | |
| Natal Aviation Company | | | | 1920 | 1924 | |
| National Air Cargo | | | | 2005 | 2008 | |
| National Air Charters | | | | 1946 | 1963 | Renamed to National Airways Corporation |
| Nationwide Air Charter | | | | 1991 | 1995 | Renamed to Nationwide Airlines |
| Nationwide Airlines | CE | NTW | NATIONWIDE | 1991 | 2008 | |
| Naturelink Aviation | | NRK | NATURELINK | 1997 | 2011 | Merged into National Airways Corporation |
| Nelair Charters | | NLC | NELAIR | 1980 | 1986 | Operated Douglas DC-3 |
| NN Charters | | | | 1981 | 1998 | Founded by J.A. Smith. Operated Piper Seneca, Piper Navajo |
| Noord Weste Lugdiens | | | | 1963 | 1965 | Operated Cessna 172, Piper Super Cub |
| North Atlantic Airways | | NAA | | 1998 | 1999 | Operated Boeing 747-200 |
| O ||||||||
| O.F.S. Air Services | | | | 1953 | 1969 | Operated Tiger Moth, de Havilland Dragon Rapide |
| Oribi Air | | | | 1975 | 1975 | To Avna Rennies Airlines |
| Oriole Express | | | | 1980 | 1996 | Operated Douglas C-47 |
| P ||||||||
| Pacair | | | | 1968 | 1970 | To National. Operated Cessnas aircraft |
| Pan African Air Charter | | | | 1946 | 1953 | Owned by the Keyser and Cowan families. Operated Douglas C-47 |
| Pelican Air Services | 7V | PDF | | 2002 | 2011 | |
| Pesloed Flights | | | | 1989 | 1990 | Operated Douglas C-47 |
| Phalaborwa Air Services | | | | 1970s | 1970s | To Comair (South Africa) |
| Phoenix Airlines | | | | 1950s | 1950s | Operated Douglas DC-2 |
| Phoenix Airways | | | PHOENIX | 1994 | 1995 | |
| Pretoria Air Services | | | | 1997 | 2000 | Operated Douglas C-47, Pilatus PC-6 |
| Progress Air Charter | | | | 2003 | 2009 | Operated Swearingen Metroliner |
| Protea Airways | | | | 1961 | 1977 | Established as Volkslugdiens. Operated Dornier Do 27, Dornier Do 28, Vickers VC.1 Viking |
| Q ||||||||
| Qwila Air | | QWL | | 2002 | 2009 | Operated Beech 1900 |
| R ||||||||
| Rennies Air | | | | 1974 | 1975 | Merged with Avna and Oribi Air to form Avna Rennies Airlines. Operated BN-2 Islander, Piper Navajo, Cessna 402 |
| Romoco Cargo | | | | 1994 | 1997 | Operated Ilyushin Il-76 |
| Ross-Thompson Aircraft Company | | | | 1921 | 1924 | Founded by C. G. Ross and C. R. Thompson. Operated Avro 504K |
| Rossair Executive Air Charter | | RSS | ROSS CHARTER | 1956 | 2005 | |
| Rovos Air | 6P | VOS | ROVOS | 2001 | 2014 | |
| Ryan Blake Air Charter | | | | 2000 | 2006 | Operated Fairchild Metro III, Swearingen Metro II |
| S ||||||||
| SA Airlink | 5T;4Z | LNK | Airlink AL | 1994 | 1998 | renamed/merged to South African Airlink |
| Skywise | C9 | SWZ | SKYWISE | 2013 | 2015 | Operations halted November 10, 2015 |
| South African Express | XZ | EXY | EXPRESSWAYS | 1994 | 2020 | |
| South African Historic Flight | | SYY | | 1991 | 2007 | Rebranded as Skyclass |
| Stars Away Aviation | | STX | | 2005 | 2013 | |
| Sun Air | BV | SNN | Southwestern Air Service | 1994 | 1999 | Absorbed by SAA and shut down |
| Sun Air | AQ | SJE | | 2001 | 2004 | Rebranded as Millionair Aviation |
| T ||||||||
| Tramon Air | | TMX | TRAMON | 1995 | 2006 | |
| Trek Airways | JW | TKE | TREKAIR | 1953 | 1994 | |
| U ||||||||
| Union Airways | | | | 1929 | 1934 | |
| V ||||||||
| Valan International Cargo Charter | | VLA | | 2002 | 2007 | |
| Velvet Sky | VZ | VEL | VELVET | 2010 | 2012 | Went into liquidation May 7, 2012 |
