Kulula stopped flying in 2022 — here's who's cheapest now.
The green machine is gone: Comair, which operated kulula.com, was liquidated in June 2022 and isn't coming back. Every route Kulula flew is still served — usually cheaper than you'd expect. Compare all of them in one search below.
Status and route data reviewed July 2026
Written and reviewed by Kyle Govender, founder and editor · Johannesburg
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Search your route and dates — see who actually flies it in 2026 and who's cheapest, side by side.
What replaced Kulula
Same routes, new names — often at lower fares.
Kulula built its brand on cheap, cheerful flying between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, George and Gqeberha — famously using Lanseria as its quieter Joburg base. When Comair's funding collapsed in May 2022, all of it stopped overnight, taking British Airways' domestic franchise down with it.
The gap didn't stay open long. FlySafair scaled up aggressively and now carries the majority of domestic seats, flying from both OR Tambo and Lanseria. LIFT established itself on the Johannesburg–Cape Town corridor, while Airlink and CemAir absorbed regional demand. The net effect for travellers: the competition Kulula once provided still exists — it just wears different colours.
If you've landed here searching for a Kulula booking, the fastest path to the same outcome is one live search comparing every current airline on your route.
Compare all current airlinesRoute replacements
Who flies Kulula's old routes now.
| Former Kulula route | Who flies it in 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg (JNB) → Cape Town | FlySafair, LIFT, SAA, CemAir | Kulula's flagship route — now SA's most competitive |
| Lanseria (HLA) → Cape Town | FlySafair, LIFT | Kulula's signature airport lives on |
| Johannesburg → Durban | FlySafair, LIFT, SAA | Frequently the cheapest route in the country |
| Lanseria → Durban | FlySafair | Quieter alternative to OR Tambo |
| Johannesburg → George | FlySafair, Airlink, CemAir | Garden Route gateway |
| Johannesburg → Gqeberha | FlySafair, Airlink | Formerly Port Elizabeth |
Airline line-ups change by season and schedule — run a live search above to see exactly who flies your route and dates today.
Refunds & the liquidation
Kulula refunds: the honest position in 2026.
When Comair was provisionally liquidated in June 2022, passengers holding unflown Kulula and BA-domestic tickets became concurrent creditors in the liquidation — near the back of the payout queue. That process has been in the liquidators' hands for years; there is no open customer refund portal the way Mango is running in 2026.
If you never lodged a claim, you can still contact the appointed liquidators, but be realistic: for ordinary ticket holders, meaningful recoveries from the Comair estate are unlikely. If you paid by credit card and never claimed a chargeback, that window has long since closed with most banks.
By contrast, if you're also holding an old Mango ticket or voucher — that refund window is open right now and closes 22 September 2026.
Compare today's fares insteadKulula FAQs
Questions travellers ask.
Is Kulula coming back in 2026?
No. Kulula was operated by Comair Limited, which suspended all flights on 31 May 2022 after its funding collapsed and was placed in provisional liquidation in June 2022. The company was wound up and the airline will not return.
What happened to Kulula.com?
Comair — which flew both kulula.com and British Airways' South African domestic routes — entered business rescue in 2021 and ran out of funding in May 2022. Flights stopped on 31 May 2022, and provisional liquidation followed in June 2022, ending 21 years of the green machine.
Can I still get a refund for an unused Kulula ticket?
Kulula ticket holders became concurrent creditors in Comair's liquidation, handled by the appointed liquidators. Unlike Mango, there is no open customer portal in 2026 — the liquidation claims process has long been under way. If you never lodged a claim, contact the liquidators; realistically, recoveries for ordinary ticket holders are minimal.
Who flies Kulula's old routes now?
FlySafair covers the core network — Johannesburg (both OR Tambo and Lanseria) to Cape Town, Durban, George, Gqeberha and East London. LIFT flies Johannesburg–Cape Town, and SAA, Airlink and CemAir fill in the rest. Lanseria, Kulula's signature airport, is served by FlySafair and LIFT.
Did British Airways domestic flights in South Africa also stop?
Yes. Comair operated British Airways' local routes under franchise, so when Comair was liquidated in 2022, BA's South African domestic flights ended too. British Airways still flies long-haul internationally to South Africa, but not domestically.
What is the cheapest alternative to Kulula today?
FlySafair took over Kulula's position as the dominant low-cost carrier and usually shows the lowest headline fares, but LIFT and CemAir undercut it on specific days. The only reliable answer is a live comparison on your exact dates — run a search above.
The green machine is gone — the low fares aren't
Compare available airlines flying Kulula's old routes.
One search shows FlySafair, LIFT, Airlink, CemAir and SAA priced side by side.