Flight ticket prices could be significantly higher over the festive season due to declining domestic seat capacity and climbing airline expenses.
Picture: Getaway gallery
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Dinesh Govender, Discovery vitality CEO, said that market predictions show festive season airfares will be five times higher in December than in off-peak periods.
Costs for a one-way domestic flight between major cities average at around R2 000 while some are as much as R4 000, meaning double that for return tickets.
These increases will not only affect domestic flights, with global airline expenses increasing by about 300% over the last three years.
‘Australia has seen a similar increase of 300%, while the USA – which is known for having cheap domestic flights – has seen increases of over 100%, so airfares have simply rocketed all over the world,’ said aviation expert Desmond Latham as reported by BusinessTech.
A key factor is an increase in fuel prices. Jet fuel has almost tripled in price. According to BusinessTech In 2019, a gallon of Jet A1 fuel, which is just under four litres, cost around R 31.15. Now, in 2022, it costs around R 57.11. Another issue, according to Latham is the shortage of airline personnel in South Africa, including pilots, which means that they are being paid more to pitch up to work.
‘Several domestic and global economic factors have changed the dynamics of air travel in South Africa, and this will likely continue until 2024,’ said Latham.
But he also added a few tips for travellers between Johannesburg and Cape Town that might be handy. ‘Busy routes, such as between Joburg and Cape Town, can have good deals on off-peak days, while flying just before the 16th of December, for example, could inflict the highest costs. Also, try looking for flights on days that people generally don’t like flying, such as the 1st of January,’ said Latham.
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