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Cemair
Unclaimed Business
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AI Review Summary
Based on recent customer reviews, Cemair is facing significant customer experience challenges, with travellers consistently expressing frustration over flight cancellations, lengthy delays, and poor communication at boarding gates. A recurring theme is the difficulty of obtaining refunds, with many customers describing prolonged waiting periods and unresponsive support channels. Concerns are also raised about aircraft condition, rigid boarding policies, and inconsistent cabin service. While a small portion of feedback highlights friendly inflight staff and pleasant onboard catering, the overall tone reflects deep dissatisfaction with reliability, accountability, and value for money.
Performance(last 12 months):
Trustindex Rating
2TrustIndex
2
Review Distribution
1.2|18 Reviews
Jul '25 - Jun '26
Recent reviews (18)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 May 2026, 07:03
Cancelled flight and delayed refund
I booked a flight travelling from East London to Johannesburg for the 4th May and the airline notified us that the flight was cancelled and whether we would like a full refund. Firstly they cancelled about 2 days before the scheduled flight and we had to make an alternative plan which we hadn’t budgeted for. Secondly how do you cancel a flight 2 days before, what if we won’t able to make another plan. This airline is both unprofessional and inconsiderate and to top it off, apparently refunds are paid 6 to 12 weeks time. This almost feels like they make the refund process so long so that we forget we due for a refund. I will never make a booking with them ever again and would suggest others do the same.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
13 May 2026, 07:03
Cancelled flight and delayed refund
I booked a flight travelling from East London to Johannesburg for the 4th May and the airline notified us that the flight was cancelled and whether we would like a full refund. Firstly they cancelled about 2 days before the scheduled flight and we had to make an alternative plan which we hadn’t budgeted for. Secondly how do you cancel a flight 2 days before, what if we won’t able to make another plan. This airline is both unprofessional and inconsiderate and to top it off, apparently refunds are paid 6 to 12 weeks time. This almost feels like they make the refund process so long so that we forget we due for a refund. I will never make a booking with them ever again and would suggest others do the same.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
4 May 2026, 04:27
Poor service and late departure for SAA - Cemair
Its approximately 06:24 and our flight was suppose to leave at 6:10, we have been awaiting for the bus ever since 5:30 and no one is addressing us, this is rating for poor service and late departure time, inconvinience to passengers because monday morning flights are for business travel.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
4 May 2026, 04:27
Poor service and late departure for SAA - Cemair
Its approximately 06:24 and our flight was suppose to leave at 6:10, we have been awaiting for the bus ever since 5:30 and no one is addressing us, this is rating for poor service and late departure time, inconvinience to passengers because monday morning flights are for business travel.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
7 Apr 2026, 13:50
CEMAIR in financial trouble
In Feb 2026 I booked a return flight on CEMAIR from George WCape to Johannesburg. 3 days before the flight was due to take off, CEMAIR cancelled the flight without reason and gave me the option of a full refund, which I opted for. Now, 8 weeks later, I still haven't received my refund from CEMAIR, despite numerous calls and emails to them and I have a very distinct feeling that CEMAIR is in financial trouble. They do not have the money to refund passengers and I see they cancel more and more flights without reason. I would stay away from this airline and avoid booking any further flights for the time being - until we find out if they are being liquidated or not.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
7 Apr 2026, 13:50
CEMAIR in financial trouble
In Feb 2026 I booked a return flight on CEMAIR from George WCape to Johannesburg. 3 days before the flight was due to take off, CEMAIR cancelled the flight without reason and gave me the option of a full refund, which I opted for. Now, 8 weeks later, I still haven't received my refund from CEMAIR, despite numerous calls and emails to them and I have a very distinct feeling that CEMAIR is in financial trouble. They do not have the money to refund passengers and I see they cancel more and more flights without reason. I would stay away from this airline and avoid booking any further flights for the time being - until we find out if they are being liquidated or not.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
31 Mar 2026, 09:54
Poor, Terrible service received.
Terrible service received. They charge 100% non-refundable ticket purchase on all flights. As a first-time passenger they do not send you a flight boarding pass. They send you something that look like a pass. You need to pick up your pass once at the airport. When complaining you receive your Flight ref number as a complaint reference. You cannot even get through on their landline number which does not even exist.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
31 Mar 2026, 09:54
Poor, Terrible service received.
Terrible service received. They charge 100% non-refundable ticket purchase on all flights. As a first-time passenger they do not send you a flight boarding pass. They send you something that look like a pass. You need to pick up your pass once at the airport. When complaining you receive your Flight ref number as a complaint reference. You cannot even get through on their landline number which does not even exist.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
28 Dec 2025, 05:12
Cemair's lack of honest communication
On 27 December 2025 Cemair notified passengers at 9h30 that the 12h20 Jnb to Margate flight is delayed and will now depart at 14h00. No further communication from the airline except that the delay got longer and longer while passengers waited at the boarding gate. Eventually the promise was to depart at 16h00, and then (by this time it seems they could not land at Margate any more) the flight got diverted to Durban.. with the pathetic option af a bus to Margate. This bus would arrive in Margate earliest 19h00 after the original arrival time was 14h00. Now weather was being blamed with no reason given for the original delay that allowed tye weather to become the reason for delay. This airline does not value its clients and relies on the fact that they have exclusive access to some routes. I can fly to Durban with a more reliable carrier for 30% of the cost of a Cemair flight to Margate, but I elected to fly to Margate, only to be frustrated with lack of honest information and communication from Cemair. Avoid this airline whenever you have other options and expect the worst client service if you have to use them. Looking through their terms of service, it seems customers have no recourse for re embur*****t since the real reason for delays are not given.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
28 Dec 2025, 05:12
Cemair's lack of honest communication
On 27 December 2025 Cemair notified passengers at 9h30 that the 12h20 Jnb to Margate flight is delayed and will now depart at 14h00. No further communication from the airline except that the delay got longer and longer while passengers waited at the boarding gate. Eventually the promise was to depart at 16h00, and then (by this time it seems they could not land at Margate any more) the flight got diverted to Durban.. with the pathetic option af a bus to Margate. This bus would arrive in Margate earliest 19h00 after the original arrival time was 14h00. Now weather was being blamed with no reason given for the original delay that allowed tye weather to become the reason for delay. This airline does not value its clients and relies on the fact that they have exclusive access to some routes. I can fly to Durban with a more reliable carrier for 30% of the cost of a Cemair flight to Margate, but I elected to fly to Margate, only to be frustrated with lack of honest information and communication from Cemair. Avoid this airline whenever you have other options and expect the worst client service if you have to use them. Looking through their terms of service, it seems customers have no recourse for re embur*****t since the real reason for delays are not given.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
11 Dec 2025, 08:45
Beware: Refunds Take 6–12 Weeks and Cost R506, even when THEY cancel your flight!
I am extremely disappointed with a booking we made through Travelstart with CemAir and feel it is important for other travellers to be aware of our experience. We purchased a ticket from Durban to Cape Town, only for the airline to cancel the flight. The alternatives they offered did not work for us, which meant we had to purchase a brand new ticket out of pocket. Annoying, but fine. Life happens. What is not fine is the refund process. Travelstart/CemAir sent us a refund link, but to activate it we are required to pay a R506 “processing fee” that is non refundable. Yes, you read that correctly. You must pay to get your own money back. To make matters worse, the refund then apparently takes six to twelve weeks to reflect back into your account. Twelve weeks!! Now imagine someone who saved every cent to send their child home for Christmas. CemAir cancels the flight, keeps the money, charges a fee to release the refund, and then takes up to three months to pay it back. That child would miss Christmas. This is not just inconvenient. It is unacceptable and completely unreasonable in 2025. Airlines cancel flights. That happens. But charging customers to access their own refund and making them wait months for their money is a shocking practice. CemAir needs to fix this, because it is simply not good enough.
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Anonymous
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
11 Dec 2025, 08:45
Beware: Refunds Take 6–12 Weeks and Cost R506, even when THEY cancel your flight!
I am extremely disappointed with a booking we made through Travelstart with CemAir and feel it is important for other travellers to be aware of our experience. We purchased a ticket from Durban to Cape Town, only for the airline to cancel the flight. The alternatives they offered did not work for us, which meant we had to purchase a brand new ticket out of pocket. Annoying, but fine. Life happens. What is not fine is the refund process. Travelstart/CemAir sent us a refund link, but to activate it we are required to pay a R506 “processing fee” that is non refundable. Yes, you read that correctly. You must pay to get your own money back. To make matters worse, the refund then apparently takes six to twelve weeks to reflect back into your account. Twelve weeks!! Now imagine someone who saved every cent to send their child home for Christmas. CemAir cancels the flight, keeps the money, charges a fee to release the refund, and then takes up to three months to pay it back. That child would miss Christmas. This is not just inconvenient. It is unacceptable and completely unreasonable in 2025. Airlines cancel flights. That happens. But charging customers to access their own refund and making them wait months for their money is a shocking practice. CemAir needs to fix this, because it is simply not good enough.
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