Direct Flights Launched Between Frankfurt, Germany and Kruger National Park in South Africa
It just got easier for tourists from Europe to visit South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park. Lufthansa Group’s leisure airline, Eurowings Discover (4Y), took off from Frankfurt on Tuesday evening at 9:55 pm and touched town in Mbombela, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), at 14:10 pm for the first time! After a short stopover in […]
It just got easier for tourists from Europe to visit South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park. Lufthansa Group’s leisure airline, Eurowings Discover (4Y), took off from Frankfurt on Tuesday evening at 9:55 pm and touched town in Mbombela, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), at 14:10 pm for the first time! After a
short stopover in Windhoek, flight 4Y142 was welcomed with a water salute and a festive ceremony. (Watch below.)
- Lufthansa Group’s quality-leisure-carrier, Eurowings Discover, serves route
Frankfurt (FRA) – Kruger Mpumalanga International (MQP) for the first time - Eurowings Discover is the first intercontinental airline ever to introduce
scheduled air services to the greater Kruger National Park region - Up to three weekly direct flights from Frankfurt to Kruger Mpumalanga
International Airport
This morning an excited KMIA said: “Good Morning! Today is an incredibly special day for South African tourism as we welcome a very special arrival for the first time ever at KMIA.
Eurowings Discover is coming to Mbombela, Kruger National Park!”
German Ambassador Andreas Peschke noted that the flight is good news for “South Africa as a tourism destination, and for German visitors who want to enjoy this part of this unique country. Welcome, Eurowings Discover, to Kruger Park! Namukelekile!”
As of 15 November 2022, Eurowings Discover operates up to three (3) weekly direct flights between Frankfurt and KMIA with a year-round service. This makes Eurowings Discover the only carrier operating direct flights between South Africa’s Province of Mpumalanga and Germany.
Kruger Mpumalanga is the seventh destination offered by Eurowings Discover on the continent after already starting services from Frankfurt to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mauritius, Windhoek, Victoria Falls and Kilimanjaro.
“We are both thrilled and proud to start flight operations between Frankfurt and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport as the first intercontinental airline ever. For me personally, it is a special pleasure to be on board of today ́s Eurowings Discover inaugural flight. It is a truly unique addition not only to our own leisure portfolio but also to the whole Lufthansa Group network.
“It was never easier for travellers from all over Europe to experience the beauty and diversity of this stunning nature and wildlife reserve which is particularly popular with
holidaymakers from Germany,” says Helmut Woelfel, Chief Commercial Officer at
Eurowings Discover.
Welcoming the landing of the first ever Eurowings Discover direct flight from Germany to Mpumalanga, an elated Mpumalanga MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Nompumelelo Hlophe, said:
“As Mpumalanga, we are very much excited about the landing of the first ever direct flight from Germany; this is a sign of trust and confidence in our tourism industry. We’re very delighted that this will further expose and promote the destination of Mpumalanga as an international tourist destination of choice.
“We’re quite certain that the direct flight by Eurowings Discover will increase the number of international tourists from Germany and Europe in general. We welcome the initiative, and we encourage other airlines to also consider flying directly into our province. Indeed, when we unite in purpose, we will surely be greater than the sum of our parts. I believe that this partnership will not only accelerate economic activity through tourism, but will also bring Europeans and our people closer, for future collaborative efforts.”
Grant Ponting, CEO – KMI Airport, said:
“Watching the wheels touchdown today was an incredible moment for all of us. We are proud of our role in this game changing route development and look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to fully realise the potential of our region’s wonderful tourist assets and the sustainability of this direct intercontinental schedule to and from Europe.”
“This is a game changing achievement for the province. This direct flight from Frankfurt to KMIA will promote the destination and increase tourist numbers to the province. We look forward to providing our tourists from Germany with a memorable experience of wildlife, scenic beauty, adventure, culture and heritage,” said Mr Mduduzi Vilakazi, Acting CEO of Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.
Nomasonto Ndlovu, Chief Operating Officer at SA Tourism added: “Germany is a key source market for South Africa. We know from our insights and from our engagement with German tourists that they want to be outdoors exploring and enjoying nature. Mpumalanga offers this and more. The province has a wide variety of experiences in wide-open spaces, wildlife as well as quaint little towns characterised by unique South African cultures with warm and welcoming people always ready to receive and cater to tourists. South Africa is indeed open for business and we invite visitors from this market to use South Africa’s extensive network to also explore the other parts of our country as we have a wide variety of tourism products and experiences.”
Providing a safe environment will obviously need to remain a priority for tourism to flourish, following the tragic murder of a German tourist on his way to the Kruger National Park in October.
The Eurowings flight will not only benefit Europeans, but South Africans too who wish to travel to Europe. Flights can be booked on eurowings-discover.com.