🔥 Trending Competition Commission Approves Harith's Acquisition of FlySafair

The South African Competition Commission has recommended conditional approval for Harith General Partners' acquisition of FlySafair, the country's largest domestic airline ²³⁶. This recommendation clears a significant hurdle, moving the deal closer to finalization by the Competition Tribunal ²⁸.

Background of the Acquisition

Harith General Partners, an infrastructure investor, and its affiliates entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to acquire FlySafair on February 10, 2026 ⁷. FlySafair is a prominent low-cost carrier in South Africa, controlling over 60% of the domestic seat capacity ⁵. The acquisition is also expected to help FlySafair address regulatory pressure concerning South African ownership rules ⁵.

Competition Commission's Decision

On July 14, 2026, the Competition Commission announced its recommendation for approval to the Competition Tribunal ²³. This decision comes with certain conditions aimed at protecting competition within the domestic aviation sector ⁴. While the specific conditions were not detailed in all reports, it is understood that they are designed to ensure the acquisition does not lead to anti-competitive practices ⁴. One report specifically mentions a "Lanseria caveat," suggesting conditions related to operations at Lanseria Airport ⁶.

Next Steps

With the Competition Commission's recommendation, the acquisition now moves to the Competition Tribunal for final approval ²⁶. The Tribunal will review the Commission's findings and conditions before making a definitive ruling ¹⁸. Harith is one Competition Tribunal ruling away from completing the deal ¹.

This development is a crucial step for Harith Aviation, as it seeks to strengthen South African aviation infrastructure through this acquisition ⁷.