By: Lonwabo Mtyeku Photo Credit: Supplied
Seen Here: Taking dreams to new heights — FlySafair’s School Booster returns, giving South African learners the chance to turn ambition into opportunity with 100 flights up for grabs. Photo Credit: Supplied
South African low-cost carrier FlySafair has officially relaunched its popular School Booster competition, offering schools across the country a chance to win a share of 100 return domestic flights—an initiative designed to open doors for learners through travel.
Now in its third year, the competition continues to gain momentum, inviting schools to demonstrate how access to air travel can create meaningful educational, cultural and sporting opportunities for their students.
Opening the Skies for Young South Africans
A total of 10 schools will be selected, with each receiving 10 return flights. The prize is aimed at enabling experiences that would otherwise remain out of reach—whether it’s attending academic competitions, participating in national sporting events, or embarking on educational tours.
“Three years in, and the School Booster never gets old,” says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. “Every year, we see the ambition from schools across South Africa. Sometimes all learners need is the opportunity to get somewhere—and that’s what we’re here for.”
Growing Impact Year on Year
Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has steadily expanded its reach. In its first year, three schools—Benjamin Pine Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal, Potchefstroom Central School in North West and ESCA Wanderers in Gauteng—each received 10 return flights.
By 2025, the competition had grown significantly, attracting 788 entries and awarding flights to 10 schools, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 13 nationwide.
As part of the experience, FlySafair representatives personally visit winning schools to present their prizes in the form of a symbolic giant boarding pass—turning the moment into a celebration of achievement and possibility.
More Than Just Travel
Beyond the logistics of flying, the School Booster initiative is rooted in a deeper purpose: empowering young South Africans through exposure and opportunity.
“A school tour to a different province, a sporting final at the coast, an academic Olympiad in another city—these experiences stay with young people for life,” Gordon explains. “This is our way of saying: your school has what it takes; let us help you get there.”
How to Enter
Entries for the 2026 edition opened on 8 April and will close on 29 April. Schools are required to submit a written motivation, signed by the principal, outlining how the flights would benefit their learners.
Submissions must include key details such as the number of learners, the school’s status (public or independent), and principal contact information. Entry representatives must be 18 years or older.
Part of a Broader Community Commitment
The School Booster competition forms part of FlySafair’s wider social impact portfolio. The airline’s Business Booster initiative has already awarded 180 return business-class flights to small businesses, while partnerships such as Wings & Wishes help children from under-resourced communities access specialist medical care in other cities.
Additionally, the airline’s Artist Project showcases local creative talent by featuring original South African artworks onboard its aircraft—bringing culture and storytelling to the skies.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For FlySafair, the initiative goes beyond corporate social responsibility—it is about shaping futures.
“Flying opens up the world,” says Gordon. “For a young person experiencing it for the first time, it’s magical. We’ve been connecting South Africans since 2014, and this is one of the ways we share that magic with the next generation.”
As entries roll in from across the country, one thing is certain: for 10 schools, the journey ahead could soon begin at 30,000 feet.
