Fastjet – Initially plying domestic routes in Tanzania, fastjet started small in 2011, but has since expanded to four other countries. With Ed Winter, a former easyJet executive at the helm, it’s looking to break into the lucrative South African domestic market.
Mango – Flying within South Africa and to Zanzibar, Mango loves flash sales and will rebate flyers who join its mailing list.
Kulula – Launched in 2001, Kulula offers what sometimes seems a lighthearted take on flying, with bright green planes and wisecracking flight attendants. But it’s serious business. Its operator Comair is partnered with British Airways, Air France and Kenya Airways, and it’s spread from South Africa to five other countries.
flyafrica.com – Filling the void left by the shrunken Air Zimbabwe, flyafrica.com offers some seriously tempting deals — when it launched some flights were as little as ($9). It also runs regular flights from South Africa to Harare, popular with Zimbabwean expats.
FlySafair – One of the newest kids on the block, FlySafair launched in October 2014 in direct competition with Kulula and Mango. Ticket prices have been pared back recently to reflect lower fuel prices.
Fly540 – After ventures into Ghana and Angola proved costly, Fly540 refocused its attentions to Kenya where it has achieved great success connecting remote locations such as Lodwar with the rest of the country.
JamboJet – Another Kenyan airline, this one serving only four cities, JamboJet has recently been cleared to fly across Africa from Nairobi and Mombasa.
Dana Air – Closed in 2012 following a serious crash, Dana Air is back. It’s still limited to domestic flights within Nigeria, but an international license is on the horizon.
flydubai.com – Although not strictly African, flydubai.com nevertheless connects 12 cities on the continent — albeit via Dubai. Hargeisa in Somaliland is the next location to feature on its destination list.