• Malawi Airlines to launch three additional non-stop flights between Lilongwe and Johannesburg from 6 December 2025.

• The move brings the airline’s Johannesburg frequency to 10 weekly flights.

• Government outlines a broader plan to modernize aviation, marine, road, and rail transport.

Malawi Airlines has announced the introduction of three new non-stop weekly flights between Lilongwe’s Kamuzu International Airport and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, starting 6 December 2025. The new services, operating on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays, will complement the existing daily flights via Blantyre, increasing total frequencies on the Johannesburg route to 10 per week.

The government said the expanded schedule is aimed at improving convenience for travelers and strengthening air links between Malawi and South Africa,  one of the country’s key trade and investment partners. The new direct flights will depart Lilongwe at 10:20 and arrive in Johannesburg at 12:35, with the return leg leaving at 13:25 and landing at 15:40.

The initiative comes amid rising demand for faster and more reliable regional air connections as reported by local news. Improved access is expected to stimulate trade, tourism, and business travel, while supporting Malawi’s goal of positioning Lilongwe as a regional aviation hub.

At the same time, the government has unveiled a transport sector reform, covering aviation, road, rail, and marine infrastructure. Minister of Transport and Public Works Feston Kaupa told Parliament that modernization plans include expanding Malawi Airlines’ operations, upgrading Kamuzu International Airport into an “Airport City,” constructing a new airport in the Northern Region, and rehabilitating key ports on Lake Malawi such as Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, and Likoma.

According to the ministry, these measures are part of a broader effort to improve connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen Malawi’s integration into regional markets. The reforms also aim to shift bulk cargo transport from roads to rail and waterways, preserving road networks and lowering emissions.

Malawi Airlines’ new route expansion and the government’s infrastructure agenda align with the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative, which seeks to liberalize intra-African air travel and boost economic growth through better mobility.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang