Federal Air

The airline was established in 1989 as Comair Charters (Natal). It was rebranded as Federal Air (Fedair) in 1993. The company later acquired and absorbed Pelican Air Services to expand its scheduled air shuttle services. In 2012, Federal Air merged with Bateleur Air Charter. ==Corporate Affairs==

Ownership Federal Air operates under the legal entity Federal Airlines (Pty) Ltd. As of 2014, its shareholding structure was Federal Holdings (Pty) Ltd (45%), with the remaining shares held by C. W. F. Trieloff (12.5%), E. H. Bailie (12.5%), N. B. Taylor (12.5%), T. J. Reiser (12.5%), P. R. van Schalkwyk (1.5%), and R. M. Muir (3.5%). The airline has a close operational relationship with Solenta Aviation, sharing a group CEO in 2020 and a maintenance services agreement established in 2019. Management In November 2012, Evan Baillie took over as Managing Director from Troy Reiser, and Rachel Muir was appointed Financial and Administrative Director. As of 2025, the CEO is Lourens Engelbrecht. Rachel Muir has served as a Director since March 2006. Business Model Federal Air positions itself as a leader in air travel to safari destinations in Southern Africa. The company focuses on shuttle services connecting O. R. Tambo International Airport to the Sabi Sand, Timbavati, and Madikwe Game Reserves, and also offers a private charter division for customized flights. ==Destinations==

Federal Air provides services to the following destinations: • Johannesburg - OR Tambo International Airport (hub) • Hoedspruit - Eastgate Airport • Mbombela - Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (hub) • Phinda Private Game Reserve • Pietermaritzburg - Oribi Airport • Sabi Sand Game Reserve - Ulusaba Airstrip • Marakele National Park ==Operations==

Federal Air operates between 22 and 25 flights daily from its hubs in Johannesburg and Mbombela. In early 2025, Federal Air temporarily paused flights to some private game lodges pending their compliance with new regulations requiring all commercial aerodromes to be licensed. The airline later resumed services on 71% of its safari shuttle network as airfields received regulatory approval. In May 2025, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Mayday-SA, a non-profit organization, to promote mental health and well-being for its aviation personnel. ==Fleet==

In October 2023, Federal Air invested R350 million in six new Cessna Grand Caravan C208B EX aircraft, financed through a seven-year revolving credit facility with Investec. As of April 2025, the Federal Air fleet consists of the following aircraft: ==References==