New Direct Flight from Munich to Joburg Launched to Boost Gauteng’s Economy

The inaugural flight, which landed on Wednesday, marks the beginning of a new connection that will see at least three weekly flights between the two cities.

The Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) has hailed the launch of Lufthansa’s direct flight route from Munich to Johannesburg as a significant boost for the province's economy. The inaugural flight, which landed on Wednesday, marks the beginning of a new connection that will see at least three weekly flights between the two cities.

According to the GDED, this direct route is of immense importance for Gauteng, given Munich’s status as the third-largest metropolitan region in the European Union by gross domestic product. Munich serves as a major economic hub, hosting international companies in industries such as manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, automotive, media, and logistics.

“The significance of this route to the Gauteng provincial economy is incalculable,” the department said in a statement. The new flight will strengthen business ties between southern Germany and South Africa, facilitating corporate connections and promoting economic development in Gauteng and beyond.

Launched during South Africa's Tourism Month, the route is expected to further boost tourism. Last year, 245,259 German tourists visited South Africa, up from 173,146 the previous year. The direct flight to Munich, a popular tourist destination, will make travel more convenient for South Africans while attracting more German tourists to Gauteng. Visitors can experience the province’s diverse attractions, including paleo-sciences, gastronomy, sports tourism, and township tourism.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel and route development, the GDED has been working to rebuild airlift capacity. With the support of partners like the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the department has focused on recruiting new routes and improving services for freight, cargo, film crews, private charters, and medical rescue flights. Recent successes include new routes from Sao Paulo, Abidjan, Lusaka, Perth, and now Munich.

The GDED credits a R5 million investment from the Tourism Business Council for enhancing marketing efforts, resulting in these expanded air connections, which are expected to bring more tourists and business opportunities to Gauteng.