Flying With a Disability in South Africa 2026

The short answer: All SA domestic airlines provide special assistance at no extra cost — but you must request it at booking, not at the airport. Wheelchair assistance, guide dogs, aisle chairs, Meet and Assist escorts and priority boarding are all available. Here is exactly how to get each one.

How to request special assistance — the right way

The request process varies by airline but follows the same steps:

1. When booking online: Look for a "Special Assistance" or "Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM)" option during the booking flow. Not all SA airline websites surface this clearly — if you cannot find it, call.
2. Call the airline's special assistance desk after booking online — confirm your request is on the booking and ask for a reference number.
3. Specify the exact assistance needed — wheelchair from home? From check-in? Aisle chair to seat? Guide dog? Each has a different setup requirement.
4. Arrive early — 2 hours before departure minimum, 2.5 hours for first-time or complex assistance requests at OR Tambo.

Wheelchair assistance and aisle chairs

Wheelchair assistance covers the full journey from the terminal entrance to your seat on the aircraft — and back again on arrival. Here is what is included:

Mobility aids, scooters and wheelchairs in the hold

Airline-by-airline special assistance — 2026

Visual impairments and guide dogs

Travelling with a visual impairment

Passengers with visual impairments travel unaccompanied on SA domestic routes routinely. Informing the airline at booking activates the Meet and Assist service — a staff member escorts you from check-in through security, to the gate, and to your seat. On arrival, the same service gets you from your seat to the arrivals exit where a companion can meet you.

At check-in, staff are trained to read out documentation and assist with digital boarding passes. At security, you will be guided through manually rather than through the scanner independently. Always tell the gate agent you are travelling with a visual impairment before boarding so crew can brief you on safety procedures.

Guide dogs on SA flights

Hearing impairments and Deaf travellers

Passengers who are Deaf or hard of hearing are not restricted in any way on SA domestic flights. Practical considerations:

• Notify the airline at booking — crew can be alerted to communicate in writing or use visual signals rather than announcements
• At security: Tell the officer you are Deaf — they will use visual cues and gestures
• At the gate: Ask gate staff to alert you visually when boarding begins — departure announcements are audio-only at most SA gates
• On the aircraft: Ask cabin crew to come to your seat directly for any safety briefing rather than relying on you to hear the PA system
• OR Tambo Terminal A (domestic) has visual departure boards throughout — King Shaka and Cape Town similarly well-equipped

Travelling with a carer or assistant

If you travel with a personal carer or assistant, inform the airline at booking. Airlines will try to seat you together but cannot guarantee adjacent seats unless you pay for seat selection. On SAA full-service routes, adjacent seating for PRM passengers with carers can usually be arranged. On low-cost carriers (FlySafair, Lift), pay for assigned seats at booking to guarantee this.

At the airport on the day

OR Tambo International (JNB)

OR Tambo is large and distances from drop-off to gate are significant. The PRM assistance desk is located in the departures hall near check-in. Arrive 2 hours before departure minimum — 2.5 hours if you are using an aisle chair or motorised wheelchair. The terminal has lifts throughout and is fully accessible, though peak-period queues at security can add time.

Cape Town International (CPT)

Cape Town International is more compact than OR Tambo and assistance coordination is generally faster. The domestic terminal is a single level with good accessibility. During December and school holiday peaks, assistance staff are busier — confirm your assistance request the day before travel.

King Shaka International (DUR)

King Shaka is modern and well-designed for accessibility. Jet bridges are available at all domestic gates. Distance from drop-off to security is manageable. Allow 2 hours before departure.

Lanseria (HLA)

Lanseria is smaller and typically faster to process than OR Tambo. Lift operates from Lanseria — for JHB-based PRM passengers, Lanseria can be a significantly easier experience. Confirm accessibility assistance is available with Lift when booking.

Your legal rights as a disabled passenger in SA

South Africa's Constitution prohibits unfair discrimination on the basis of disability. In the aviation context, the relevant frameworks are:

• Constitution of South Africa (Section 9): Equality clause — airlines cannot refuse to carry a passenger solely on the basis of disability without objective justification
• Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA): Provides recourse if you are refused assistance or denied boarding unfairly
• Consumer Protection Act (CPA): You have the right to services that meet reasonable standards — if promised assistance was not provided, this is a CPA complaint
• SACAA (SA Civil Aviation Authority): Regulates airline obligations to passengers with reduced mobility — complaints can be lodged at sacaa.co.za

Frequently Asked Questions

Policies are set by each airline and ACSA and may change without notice. Always confirm current special assistance arrangements directly with your airline before travel. This guide is general information and does not constitute legal advice.