Flight searches are on the rise with South Africans hunting for mid-year holiday destinations and trading the winter for Europe’s glimmering summer.

Travel site Cheapflights records that flight searches across South Africa are surpassing the pre-pandemic levels for this year’s winter period by about 40%. Over a third (36%) of all flight searches have been made for destinations in Europe – a 30% increase in outbound European destination flight searches compared to the pre-pandemic period.

The United Kingdom seized the top spot in the list of countries most searched for by South African travellers. The UK has long been a favoured destination for South African holiday-makers for its summer season collating with SA’s winter period as well as the juncture with the local school holidays. Following the UK, which saw an increase of around 47% in flight searches compared to 2019, was the United States (about 15% up) and Turkey (about 79% up).

When looking deeper into flight search changes in city destinations, London ranked first among the top 10 destinations for this period with a spike of around 45% in searches compared to 2019 levels.

European destinations are definitely a sweet spot for South African travellers at the moment, with the top three seeing a significant increase in flight searches compared to the pre-pandemic level.

10 most-searched destinations for South Africa in winter 2022

Istanbul came in second place with about an 84% rise in flight searches in comparison to 2019. Being one of the best connecting airports for South Africans travelling further to Europe and overseas, Istanbul was listed among the most searched cities and took 6th place before the pandemic. This year, with the local currency continuously sliding, holidaying in Turkey is becoming more attractive for international tourists which might have helped the Turkish metropolis climb to the second spot in SA’s ranking.

Amsterdam, Athens and Lisbon take up the next European top spots, seeing around 52%, 25% and 3% growth in flight searches respectively compared to the pre-pandemic period. South Africans tend to visit the Netherlands to meet family and friends and experience a summer holiday together. While Athens and Lisbon, boasting rich culture and beautiful beaches located in the closest proximity, are also seen as one of the most budget-friendly holiday destinations in Europe. This is important for South African travellers, given the high price increases that they are experiencing locally.

Picture: Getaway gallery

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