Royal Swazi National Airways
Former national airline of the Kingdom of Swaziland, later renamed Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation was the national airline of the Kingdom of Swaziland, now Eswatini. Established by the Swazi government in 1978, it was created to provide a state-controlled national air service and to replace the privately owned Swazi Air, which the government required to end operations. The airline began flying on 1 August 1978 from its operational base at Matsapha Airport near Manzini, with a Fokker F28-3000 and a Vickers Viscount acquired for standby and supplementary use. Its initial scheduled service linked Manzini with Johannesburg through Durban, while additional regional destinations were planned as the network developed. During the 1980s and 1990s, Royal Swazi National Airways expanded into a regional carrier serving cities across southern and eastern Africa. Its network included Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gaborone, Maseru, Maputo, Lusaka, Harare, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. The Manzini–Johannesburg route became the airline’s busiest service. The carrier used a succession of leased and owned aircraft, including Fokker F28 and Fokker 100 aircraft and a Boeing 737-200. In 1994 it leased a Fokker 100 configured with business- and economy-class cabins, but the aircraft was returned in 1996 and subsequently leased to Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique. The airline’s history was affected by two serious security incidents. In 1981, a group of mercenaries used a scheduled Royal Swazi flight from Manzini to Mahé in the Seychelles as part of an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Seychellois government. The aircraft was damaged during a firefight at Seychelles International Airport, after which Royal Swazi discontinued its Seychelles service. In 1993, a passenger hijacked a flight from Maputo to Manzini with an assault rifle and demanded to be taken to Australia. The aircraft diverted to Johannesburg, where South African police intervened; the captain and a passenger were injured in the resulting exchange of fire. By 1999, Royal Swazi National Airways had withdrawn from several routes, including services to Harare, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. The government subsequently reached an agreement with South African regional airline SA Airlink to establish Swaziland Airlink, with the government holding a majority stake and SA Airlink holding the remainder. Swaziland Airlink began operating in July 1999 with a leased Fokker F28, effectively replacing Royal Swazi as the country’s scheduled airline presence. The original corporation continued after the end of its mainline airline operations. In 2018, following the country’s name change from Swaziland to Eswatini, it was renamed Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation, commonly abbreviated RENAC. The reconstituted organization remained wholly owned by the government and operated under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Its activities included charter brokerage, ground handling, airline ticket brokerage and the operation of travel agencies in Mbabane and Matsapha. It did not own an airline during this period. The corporation later became associated with the resumption of national air services under the separate Eswatini Air brand, which began flight operations in 2023.
History
The government of Swaziland announced the creation of Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation in March 1978. The state intended the new carrier to become the country’s national airline and instructed privately owned Swazi Air to discontinue its operations by 1 August of that year. Royal Swazi acquired a 63-seat Fokker F28-3000 from Fokker, together with technical assistance including F28 pilots, and also obtained a low-cycle Vickers Viscount 839 previously operated by the Iranian government and the Sultan of Oman’s Air Force. The airline inaugurated operations on 1 August 1978. Its first service ran from Manzini, the airport city now associated with Matsapha Airport, to Johannesburg via Durban. The Viscount remained available at Matsapha as a standby aircraft. The early network was expected to expand to destinations such as Lusaka, Mauritius and Blantyre. Over the following years, Royal Swazi developed into a regional carrier connecting Swaziland with a broad group of southern and eastern African cities. The airline became involved in a major international security incident on 25 November 1981. Forty-four mercenaries led by Mike Hoare boarded a scheduled Royal Swazi flight at Manzini for Mahé in the Seychelles. They posed as members and supporters of a rugby organization, but customs officers discovered a dismantled AK-47 in luggage. The attempted coup collapsed after a confrontation with Seychellois officials at Seychelles International Airport. The Royal Swazi F28 was damaged during the firefight, and the airline subsequently stopped serving the Seychelles. By 1993, the scheduled network included Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Gaborone, Johannesburg, Maseru, Lusaka, Maputo and Nairobi. Manzini–Johannesburg was the carrier’s busiest route. On 4 July that year, a passenger armed with an AK-47 hijacked a flight traveling from Maputo to Manzini. The hijacker demanded a flight to Australia, but the crew explained that the aircraft lacked the range. He then requested Maseru, although that airport was closed. With fuel becoming limited, the crew diverted to Johannesburg. South African police entered the aircraft approximately three hours after arrival. The captain and one passenger were injured in the exchange of gunfire, while the hijacker suffered a gunshot wound and survived. Royal Swazi used several aircraft types during its operating history. In 1994, it leased a Fokker 100 with 12 business-class and 85 economy-class seats. The aircraft was returned to its lessor in 1996 and later leased to Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique. The airline had also used a Boeing 737-200 through leasing arrangements, in addition to the Fokker F28 aircraft associated with its early and later operations. The carrier’s scheduled network contracted toward the end of the 1990s. On 12 April 1999, it ended services to Harare, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. At that time, the corporation was owned by the Swazi government and Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, a trust managed by King Mswati III. On 25 April 1999, the government signed an agreement with South African regional airline SA Airlink to create Swaziland Airlink. The government was to hold 60 percent and SA Airlink 40 percent. Swaziland Airlink commenced operations in July 1999 with a leased Fokker F28, taking over the practical role of the country’s scheduled regional carrier. Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation continued to exist after the end of its mainline operations. By 2018 it had been renamed Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation, or RENAC, reflecting the country’s official renaming as Eswatini. The organization remained wholly government-owned, operated independently under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and governed by a board appointed by the responsible minister. Its post-airline activities included charter brokerage, ground handling, ticket brokerage and two travel agencies in Mbabane and Matsapha. In August 2009, it was reported that 16 government ministries and departments owed the corporation E13.1 million for accumulated air travel. The organization later resumed flight operations in 2023 under the Eswatini Air name.
- 2023
Flight operations resume under Eswatini Air
[1]The entity associated with the former national airline resumes air services using the Eswatini Air brand.
- 2018
Corporation adopts RENAC name
[1]The organization is renamed Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation after Swaziland becomes Eswatini.
- 1999
Network contraction and Swaziland Airlink agreement
[1]Royal Swazi ends several regional routes and the government partners with SA Airlink on a successor carrier.
- 1994
Fokker 100 enters leased fleet
[1]The carrier leases a Fokker 100 configured with business and economy cabins.
- 1993
Maputo–Manzini flight hijacking
[1]An armed passenger hijacks a scheduled flight, which diverts to Johannesburg before South African police intervene.
- 1981
Seychelles coup attempt affects airline operations
[1]A Royal Swazi flight is used by mercenaries attempting a coup in Seychelles; the aircraft is damaged and Seychelles service is discontinued.
- 1978
Government establishes the national carrier
[1]Swaziland announces the creation of Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation to replace privately operated Swazi Air.
- 1978
Scheduled operations begin
[1]The airline starts service from Manzini to Johannesburg via Durban with a Fokker F28.
Products and positioning
A government-owned national and regional carrier intended to provide Eswatini with an independent air link to neighboring African markets. After scheduled airline operations ended, the organization shifted toward aviation support, travel and ground-service activities.
Passenger airline · 1978
Scheduled regional passenger services
Royal Swazi operated scheduled passenger routes from Matsapha Airport to cities in southern and eastern Africa. Its route system included Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gaborone, Maseru, Maputo, Lusaka, Harare, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi at different points in its history. Johannesburg was the principal and busiest connection.
Aviation services
Charter brokerage and aviation support
After scheduled airline operations ended, the renamed corporation continued providing charter brokerage, airline ticket brokerage and airport ground-handling services. These activities allowed the government-owned organization to remain active in the aviation sector without operating a dedicated airline fleet.
Travel services
Travel agencies
The corporation operated travel agencies in Mbabane and Matsapha, complementing its ticket-brokerage and aviation-support activities.
Controversies
1993
Armed hijacking of Maputo–Manzini flight
An armed passenger hijacked a Royal Swazi aircraft and demanded transportation to Australia. After diversion to Johannesburg, South African police stormed the plane; the captain and a passenger were injured, and the hijacker was shot and survived.
1981
Royal Swazi flight used in Seychelles coup attempt
Mercenaries led by Mike Hoare traveled on a Royal Swazi scheduled flight to Mahé as part of an attempted overthrow of the Seychelles government. The group was exposed during customs inspection, and the aircraft was damaged in the ensuing airport firefight. Royal Swazi later stopped serving Seychelles.
Brand decisions
2018
Rename corporation following national name changeOtherBackground
Swaziland officially adopted the name Eswatini.
Action taken
Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation became Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation, or RENAC.
Aftermath
The renamed, government-owned organization continued ground handling, charter brokerage, ticket brokerage and travel-agency activities.
1999
End multiple regional routesStrategyBackground
The carrier’s scheduled network had contracted after years of regional operations.
Action taken
Services to Harare, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi were discontinued on 12 April 1999.
Aftermath
The government proceeded to create Swaziland Airlink with SA Airlink as a new scheduled regional operating partner.
1999
Form Swaziland Airlink with SA AirlinkM&ABackground
The government sought a successor arrangement for scheduled regional air services after Royal Swazi’s route reductions.
Action taken
The government agreed to hold 60 percent of the new venture while SA Airlink held 40 percent. Swaziland Airlink began operating in July with a leased Fokker F28.
Aftermath
Royal Swazi ceased functioning as the country’s principal scheduled airline, while the corporation continued with aviation and travel-support activities.
Sources1 sources
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