South Africa’s Competition Commission has recommended conditional approval for Harith Aviation’s acquisition of Safair Holdings, the parent of FlySafair, pending specific public interest and competitive remedies before the Competition Tribunal issues its final decision. The conditional recommendation, delivered before 14 July 2026, marks the first major regulatory milestone, requiring adjustments to address market concentration and employment concerns while the deal advances toward a potential fourth-quarter 2026 closure. Operators now face a critical review phase where the Tribunal must evaluate whether remedies sufficiently mitigate anti-competitive risks stemming from FlySafair’s dominant low-cost position and Harith’s infrastructure holdings at Lanseria Airport.