Air travellers in South Africa may soon face higher ticket prices as the cost of jet fuel has surged by about 70 percent at two of the country’s major airports.
According to a report by SABC News, the price of Jet A1 fuel has increased at Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport in Durban, largely due to rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Domestic airline FlySafair has already indicated that it will introduce a temporary fuel surcharge on ticket prices to offset the increased fuel costs.
The surcharge is expected to take effect on Thursday and will apply to flights scheduled to depart on or before May 12, 2026.
Aviation expert Linden Burns told SABC News that airlines could adopt several strategies in response to the higher operating costs.
He explained that carriers may consider consolidating flights, reducing the number of services they operate, and ensuring aircraft operate closer to full capacity rather than increasing flight frequency.
Burns noted that airlines have not yet implemented such measures because demand for air travel remains strong. However, he warned that if economic conditions deteriorate and travel demand weakens, airlines could eventually cut capacity, particularly for non-essential travel.