Air India Explores Direct Flights Between Bengaluru and Cape Town to Boost Trade and Tourism
Cape Town officials are in talks with Air India to introduce direct flights between Bengaluru and Cape Town, aiming to strengthen tourism, trade, and business ties. Currently, Air India operates a direct Mumbai-Johannesburg flight, with other airlines offering one-stop connections. Discussions with Air India executives in Mumbai are planned, with Mumbai and New Delhi also being considered. Over 85,000 Indian tourists visited South Africa in 2023, and direct flights could boost this by 30-40%. The delegation is promoting a visa system to simplify travel.
They also met Karnataka’s IT-BT Minister to explore business and tech collaborations, including Cape Town’s inclusion in Bengaluru’s Global Innovation Programme. Bengaluru-based MoveInSync has already expanded its services to Cape Town. The delegation shared strategies from Cape Town’s 2017 water crisis, focusing on infrastructure improvements and real-time monitoring. Plans include a Memorandum of Collaboration between India and South Africa. Cape Town is also investing in smart city solutions like drones, CCTV, and renewable energy.
Air India Explores Direct Flights Between Bengaluru and Cape Town to Boost Trade and Tourism
Cape Town authorities are in talks with Air India to launch direct flights between the South African city and Bengaluru, aiming to deepen tourism, trade, and business connections between India and South Africa. Mumbai and New Delhi are also being considered for similar routes.
Current Flight Connections
Currently, Air India operates the only non-stop flight between India and South Africa, connecting Mumbai and Johannesburg. Before the pandemic, South African Airways also ran this route but halted it due to financial struggles. Travelers now rely on one-stop options via airlines like Emirates (via Dubai), Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa), and Qatar Airways (via Doha).
Boosting Tourism and Trade
Alderman James Vos, part of Cape Town’s economic growth team, shared that discussions with Air India executives will take place in Mumbai. The goal is to simplify travel and attract more visitors. Over 85,000 Indian tourists visited South Africa in 2023, and experts believe direct flights could increase this number by 30–40% within two years. To support this, Cape Town is promoting a streamlined visa process for Indian travelers through partnerships with tour operators.
Tech and Business Collaborations
Beyond flights, Cape Town is exploring partnerships with Bengaluru’s tech sector. During a meeting with Karnataka’s IT Minister Priyank Kharge on March 17, both sides discussed opportunities in technology, finance, business outsourcing, and marine manufacturing. Kharge suggested adding Cape Town to Bengaluru’s Global Innovation Programme to foster joint projects.
Bengaluru-based MoveInSync, known for its office commute solutions, has already expanded its services to Cape Town, demonstrating the potential for cross-border business growth. A Cape Town delegation also toured Bengaluru’s tech parks and business hubs to discuss investment opportunities.
Learning from Cape Town’s Water Crisis
Cape Town officials shared lessons from their 2017 water crisis, known as “Day Zero,” when the city nearly ran out of water. Their recovery strategy included fixing leaky pipelines, drilling underground aquifers, expanding wastewater recycling, and building desalination plants. A public dashboard was introduced to allow residents to monitor water levels in real time, promoting conservation. These insights could benefit Indian cities facing similar challenges.
Smart City Innovations
Cape Town is also focusing on smart city upgrades, such as drone surveillance, renewable energy projects, and improved public transport. Officials are exploring partnerships with Indian tech firms to implement these solutions. Additionally, both regions are considering a formal Memorandum of Collaboration to strengthen ties in innovation and economic growth.
Why This Matters
Direct flights between Bengaluru and Cape Town would reduce travel time, boost tourism, and create new business opportunities. For South Africa, closer ties with India—a global tech hub—could drive investment and knowledge sharing. For Indian travelers and companies, easier access to Cape Town opens doors for tourism, trade, and collaboration in sectors like technology and sustainability.
As discussions progress, the focus remains on building a partnership that benefits both regions economically and culturally, paving the way for a stronger India-South Africa relationship.