CemAir is a South African airline headquartered in Johannesburg. Founded in 2005, the airline operates scheduled domestic flights across South Africa as well as regional services within Africa.
CemAir’s network includes key business and leisure destinations, and the airline is known for serving several smaller or underserved airports. As of September 2026, CemAir flies to 15 destinations, including 11 in South Africa, 2 in Botswana, and 2 in Zimbabwe.
In addition to its scheduled operations, CemAir provides aircraft leasing, charter services, and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) solutions to other carriers.
The airline operates a fleet of over 35 aircraft that includes Bombardier CRJ, Beechcraft 1900, and De Havilland Dash 8 models, offering full-service amenities such as checked baggage and onboard catering. Over the years, CemAir has expanded its route network and service offering, positioning itself as a growing independent carrier in the Southern African and kenya aviation market.
History The company was formed in 2005 with the purpose of operating turboprop commuter aircraft, with the initial fleet consisting of 1 Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and 3 Beechcraft 1900C aircraft.
In January 2018, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) withdrew the Certificate of Airworthiness for 12 of CemAir's aircraft, due to allegedly unqualified personnel certifying the aircraft as airworthy. It was subsequently forced by the authorities to suspend operations in late 2018.
The airline successfully launched a High Court challenge, and the grounding was overturned. The CAA then again grounded the Airline in January 2019 and CemAir challenged the decision before the Civil Aviation Appeal Committee. On 29 April 2019, the CAAC issued a judgement in favour of the airline, calling the CAA's actions "irrational, arbitrary, unreasonable and procedurally unfair" and "factually wrong."
In January 2021, CemAir signed an interline agreement with Ethiopian Airlines.
CemAir now has interline agreements with Emirates, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM, Egypt Air, Proflight, LAM, Kenya Airways and Air Europa.
CemAir has a codeshare agreement with South African Airways.
Operations CemAir's hub in Johannesburg features a 1,800 sqm hangar, offices, and a 2,000 sqm private apron, for managing flight operations, maintenance (performed in-house), and administration.
Destinations
Charter operations Based at OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa, a significant portion of the fleet is deployed outside the country, including in the Caribbean and West Africa.
Scheduled destinations Most (10) of CemAir's 15 destinations are in South Africa, with 4 of them located elsewhere in Southern Africa. As of September 2026, CemAir operates flights to the following destinations:
Domestic (South Africa) Bloemfontein - Bram Fischer International Airport Cape Town - Cape Town International Airport Durban - King Shaka International Airport East London - King Phalo Airport George - George Airport Hoedspruit - Eastgate Airport Johannesburg - O. R. Tambo International Airport (Hub) Kimberley - Kimberley Airport Richards Bay - Richards Bay Airport (as of 1 Nov 2026) Margate - Margate Airport Port Elizabeth - Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport
International Harare, Zimbabwe - Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Kasane, Botswana - Kasane Airport Maun, Botswana - Maun Airport Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls Airport
Fleet
, CemAir operates the following aircraft:
Aircraft In fleet Orders Passengers NotesBeechcraft 1900D5—19Bombardier CRJ100/CRJ20011—50Bombardier CRJ7003—70Bombardier CRJ9009—90De Havilland Canada Dash 8-1001—37De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q3003—50De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q4004—78Total36—
Accidents and incidents CemAir suffered two hull losses in 2008 with aircraft leased out to 3rd parties, one in South Sudan and the other in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On 2 May 2008, a CemAir-owned Beechcraft 1900 - registered in Kenya and operated by Kenyan-based Flex Air Cargo - was flying from Wau to Juba, South Sudan when it crashed near Rumbek, killing all nineteen passengers and two crew. Among the passengers were two senior officials of the Sudan People's Liberation Army and their wives."South Sudan declares three-day mourning for crash victims" Sudan Tribune 3 May 2008 On 1 September 2008, an Air Serv-leased nineteen passenger Beechcraft 1900C crashed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 15 km northwest of Bukavu"'No survivors' in DR Congo crash" BBC News 2 September 2008Joe Bavier "Aid plane crashes in Congo, no sign of survivors" Reuters 2 September 2008 carrying two crew and fifteen passengers.Air Serv press release "Aid plane with 17 on board crashes in eastern DR Congo" United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2 September 2008"RDC: Un avion humanitaire de l'ONU avec 17 personnes à bord s'écrase dans l'est" (in French) United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2 September 2008 The aircraft was wet leased at the time and flown by crew from CemAir, which was then based at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa. The flight was arriving at Bukavu following technical service at N'Dolo Airport, Kinshasa."Crash d’avion près de Bukavu, 17 morts" (in French) Radio Okapi, 2 September 2008 The aircraft crashed into a mountainous ridge."SA pilot killed in DRC crash" News24 2 September 2008 Passengers included twelve Congolese, one French, one Indian, and one Canadian."Crash au Kivu: les secours n'ont pas encore pu atteindre l'épave, selon l'ONU" (in French) 3 September 2008 All 17 occupants were killed.
References
External links
Official website