ESWATINI Air has injected an estimated E400 million into the local economy in just three years, creating more than 80 direct jobs and opening up business opportunities beyond the aviation industry.
The national airline’s economic footprint is increasingly being felt through its spending on local suppliers, employee earnings and the movement of tourists whose spending supports hotels, lodges, travel agencies and tour operators.
This was revealed by Eswatini Air General Manager Ndumiso Shongwe during Eswatini Air’s business briefing at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha yesterday, where the airline presented its economic contribution report and outlined its future plans.
According to the report, the airline’s expenditure in the domestic economy over its first three years of operations stands at approximately E400 million. Beyond the money spent, the airline has created more than 80 direct employment opportunities, with its economic impact extending to businesses that supply goods and services required to keep its operations running.
The report explained that the airline’s supply chain generated further employment opportunities, while its employees contributed to economic activity through their everyday spending.
Tourism was identified as another significant beneficiary. By facilitating the arrival of international visitors through its regional flight network, Eswatini Air creates opportunities for businesses that depend on tourist spending.
Hotels, lodges, tour operators and travel agencies stand to benefit from increased visitor numbers, with tourism-related spending supporting livelihoods across the hospitality and service industries.
The report noted that facilitating tourist arrivals improved employment prospects in these sectors, underlining the relationship between reliable air connectivity and the growth of the wider economy.
The stakeholder engagement provided a platform for business leaders and other industry players to engage with the airline on its strategic direction, operational roadmap and role in supporting the country’s economic development.
Fuel costs triple as Eswatini Air maintains 95.6% punctuality
NEARLY 96 out of every 100 flights at Eswatini Air are on schedule despite fuel costs tripling amid the conflict in the Middle East, exposing the growing financial pressure behind the national airline’s operational performance.
The airline recorded an on-time performance of 95.6%, surpassing its internal target of 95% and the regional benchmark of 85%, while completing 99% of its scheduled flights.
The figures were presented by Eswatini Air General Manager Ndumiso Shongwe during the business briefing, where he outlined the airline’s performance, operational challenges and expansion plans.
While the punctuality figures point to strong operational reliability, rising fuel expenditure has emerged as a major concern for the airline.
According to Shongwe’s presentation, fuel costs have tripled amid the conflict in the Middle East, placing additional pressure on the cost of maintaining flight operations.
The airline has responded to weaker demand during the low season by combining its Cape Town and Durban routes, an approach intended to manage operational resources while protecting its schedule completion rate.
Despite the cost pressures, passenger demand has shown steady improvement since the airline began operations on March 27, 2023, with two Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft serving an initial network of five destinations.
Its passenger load factor, which measures how many available seats are occupied, increased from 30% in 2023 to 36% in 2024.
It then climbed to 45% in 2025 before reaching 58% in 2026.
Passenger traffic on selected routes has also grown, with movement on the Cape Town, Durban and Harare routes increasing from 3 604 in 2022 to 15 035 in the 2024/25 financial year, according to the presentation.
The airline attributed the growth partly to the availability of direct and affordable air travel options, which have made movement between destinations easier.
Express visa to cut processing time to 24 hours
INTERNATIONAL travellers requiring visas to enter Eswatini could soon have their applications processed within 24 hours under a proposed express visa service that seeks to make the kingdom more accessible to tourists and business visitors.
The service, which is being considered by the immigration department, is expected to reduce the current visa processing period of seven working days to just 24 hours, although applicants would have to pay an additional fee to access the expedited service.
Chief Immigration Officer Mthokozisi Dlamini revealed the proposed intervention during the Eswatini Air business briefing held at Esibayeni Lodge.
Responding to questions from RENAC Marketing Manager Eswatini Air’s Batsabile Nkambule, Dlamini explained that the express service was intended to accommodate travellers who might need to enter Eswatini at short notice, particularly tourists whose travel plans could change unexpectedly.
He illustrated the situation using visitors travelling in neighbouring South Africa who might decide to extend their trip by spending a night in Eswatini, only to discover that some members of their group required visas to enter the country.
Under the proposed arrangement, such visitors would have an opportunity to apply for their visas and receive a response within 24 hours, instead of waiting for the standard seven working days.
However, Dlamini acknowledged that the proposed service would require additional operational arrangements, particularly regarding the availability of immigration officers outside normal working hours.
He said discussions were still ongoing on how the department would manage the service, including the possibility of attending to applications during weekends, public holidays and after-hours.
The proposal comes alongside another digital intervention by the immigration department, with Dlamini revealing that an online visa application platform had already been put in place and was awaiting its official launch by the responsible minister.
