BA Comair has restarted its flights from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls on Thursdays and Sundays, and more good news is that from June 1, the airline’s flights will go daily.
The airline had to stop the Vic Falls route in March 2020 due to the COVID lockdown and border closures. Now it is flying the route again, and ramping up to daily flights, as Victoria Falls, always a popular leisure haven, has recently earned something of a reputation as a ‘vaccination destination’. The tourism sector in the town and its surrounds has worked tirelessly and effectively to get the industry back on its feet, and herd immunity has been attained.
Desmond O’Connor, Comair’s executive for revenue, says the appeal of Vic Falls as an icon of tourism in Africa today is the same as when BOAC launched a new flying boat service in May 1948, using Solent flying boats. These departed Southampton and, after five stops, including the one at Vic Falls, landed on the Vaal Dam four and a half days later. The scenic flight over Vic Falls and the overnight stay made up for the long flight time.
“Today, 71 years after the last Solent flying boat departed, there’s still plenty of demand for the ‘flight of angels’, with various charter companies offering these flights over the Falls,” said O’Connor.
Other adrenaline-fuelled activities, such as white-water rafting and bungee jumping were very popular, as were family safaris and tranquil river cruises, he added.
