By Tendai Keith Guvamombe
6 May 2026, Johannesburg – FlySafair is celebrating 12 years in the skies with the return of its birthday sale, and customers can expect a slightly different spin on the airline’s anticipated annual event.Kicking off at 9am today, 50,000 sale tickets are up for grabs, with base fares starting from just R12 for domestic travel until 30 November 2026.
With jet fuel prices spiking due to the conflict in the MiddleEast, this year, airport taxes and applicable fuel surcharges are added on top of the base fare and clearly displayed at checkout – in keeping with FlySafair’s commitment to transparency while still delivering one of the best flight deals around.
“Since 2014, our goal has been to make flying more affordable and accessible for South Africans. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the environment in which we operate, and we believe our customers deserve complete transparency about that.
The R12 base fare is our way of thanking customers for their loyalty – but this year we will be applying taxes and fuel surcharges upfront due to the current jet fuel price volatility,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.
Tickets are available exclusively via the FlySafair website, and the sale runs until all 50,000 seats are sold.As with previous birthday sales, demand is expected to be high, and the airline’s online waiting room has been activated to manage traffic and ensure fair access for all customers.
Entry into the booking site is completely randomised, meaning it’s not about who logs in first or refreshes their browser the most – it’s the luck of the draw. While waiting, customers can keep themselves entertained with the Flappy Plane game and enter the competition to win free flights for two people for six months, adding even more excitement to the queue.
Customers who successfully snap up Birthday Sale tickets are encouraged to share their purchase on social media and stand a chance to win an island holiday.
Running alongside the Birthday Sale is a 30% off promotion on domestic flights, valid for travel between 6 May 2026 and 27 March 2027. The offer applies to domestic routes only, is available on the FlySafair website and app, and runs until midnight.As with previous years, FlySafair warns customers to be vigilant during high-profile promotions and beware of scammers posing as airlines on social media or via fraudulent links.“We see it every year,” Gordon adds.
“Please only book through our official website or verified social media pages marked with a blue tick. If something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.”The FlySafair app remains available for bookings, while the Birthday Sale runs exclusively on the airline’s website. Customers who aren’t looking for a sale fare can also use Lindi AI to make bookings via WhatsApp by messaging the FlySafair helpline on 079 365 8800.The 12th Birthday Sale is now live. Full terms and conditions are available at the FlySafair Help Desk.