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| Founded | 1989 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs | OR Tambo International Airport,Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport | ||||||
| Alliance | Solenta Aviation | ||||||
| Fleet size | 17 | ||||||
| Destinations | 7+ | ||||||
| Parent company | Federal Holdings (Pty) Ltd | ||||||
| Headquarters | OR Tambo International Airport Kempton Park,Ekurhuleni,Gauteng,South Africa | ||||||
| Key people | Lourens Engelbrecht (CEO) Rachel Muir (Director) | ||||||
| Website | fedair | ||||||
Federal Air is a South African airline headquartered atO. R. Tambo International Airport nearJohannesburg.[1] It specializes in flights to luxury safari lodges and operates air shuttle, scheduled, and charter services throughout Southern Africa.[2]
The airline's main base is in Johannesburg, with hubs atKruger Mpumalanga International Airport andVilanculos Airport.[3] It operates daily flights toKruger National Park,Sabi Sand Game Reserve,Madikwe Game Reserve, and other private game reserves in South Africa.[4]
The airline was established in 1989 as Comair Charters (Natal).[3][5] It was rebranded as Federal Air (Fedair) in 1993.[6] The company later acquired and absorbed Pelican Air Services to expand its scheduled air shuttle services. In 2012, Federal Air merged with Bateleur Air Charter.[7]
Federal Air operates under the legal entity Federal Airlines (Pty) Ltd. As of 2014, its shareholding structure was Federal Holdings (Pty) Ltd (45%), with the remaining shares held by C. W. F. Trieloff (12.5%), E. H. Bailie (12.5%), N. B. Taylor (12.5%), T. J. Reiser (12.5%), P. R. van Schalkwyk (1.5%), and R. M. Muir (3.5%).[8] The airline has a close operational relationship withSolenta Aviation, sharing a group CEO in 2020 and a maintenance services agreement established in 2019.[2][9]
In November 2012, Evan Baillie took over as Managing Director from Troy Reiser, and Rachel Muir was appointed Financial and Administrative Director.[10] As of 2025, the CEO is Lourens Engelbrecht.[11] Rachel Muir has served as a Director since March 2006.[12]
Federal Air positions itself as a leader in air travel to safari destinations in Southern Africa.[13] The company focuses on shuttle services connecting O. R. Tambo International Airport to the Sabi Sand, Timbavati, and Madikwe Game Reserves, and also offers a private charter division for customized flights.[2] The airline operates within the context of a significant regional market; the Africa safari tourism market was valued at $16.90 billion in 2023, with South Africa accounting for 23.92% of market revenue.[14]
Federal Air provides services to the following destinations:
Federal Air operates between 22 and 25 flights daily from its hubs in Johannesburg and Mbombela.[3] Its lodge transfer operations carry up to 50,000 passengers annually.[13]
The airline is licensed and regulated by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).[17] In early 2025, Federal Air temporarily paused flights to some private game lodges pending their compliance with new regulations requiring all commercial aerodromes to be licensed.[18] The airline later resumed services on 71% of its safari shuttle network as airfields received regulatory approval.[19]
In May 2025, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Mayday-SA, a non-profit organization, to promote mental health and well-being for its aviation personnel.[11]
In October 2023, Federal Air invested R350 million in six new Cessna Grand Caravan C208B EX aircraft, financed through a seven-year revolving credit facility with Investec.[13][20]
As of April 2025, the Federal Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[19]
| Aircraft | In fleet | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cessna C208 Caravan | 10 | Includes seven C208B EX Grand Caravans |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 4 | Includes two PC-12NGs |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 1 | |
| Embraer E145 | 2 | |
| Total | 17 |
Physical Address Hangar 14 O. R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg International Airport) South Africa
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