If you want to get your hands on last-minute Christmas period flights, you’re going to expect to pay some pretty incredulous rates.
By: Garrin Lambley
Anyone still hoping to get their hands on last-minute Christmas period flights can expect to pay exorbitant rates.
Domestic flights between South Africa’s three biggest airports – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban – over December have sky-rocketed to more than R2 500 for a one-way ticket.
That means you’ll be coughing up between R5 000 and R7 000 for a return flight depending on your location and desired destination.
Of South Africa’s eight domestic airlines that were in operation pre-Covid-19, only four remain: FlySafair, Lift, CemAir and Airlink.
The four other airlines – SA Express, Kulula, British Airways and Mango – have all been grounded or liquidated.
While it is common for flight prices to increase around the holiday peak season, the hike is also partly due to South Africa’s capacity constraints due to Kulula’s parent company Comair going under earlier this year.
ALSO READ: Three great day trips from Cape Town to do this December
CHEAPEST POSSIBLE RETURN FLIGHTS
The South African website did some research into the cheapest possible return flights between Cape Town International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for the period Friday, 23 December to Tuesday, 27 December.
On FlySafair, the cheapest option – leaving at the most undesirable hours in both directions – with one bag checked in (recommended) and all taxes included, will set you back R4 929.
On Lift, the same flight will cost R5 870 while on CemAir it’s available at R5 478.
Airlink comes in at the most expensive at R7 309.
ALSO READ: Johannesburg to Gqeberha: SAA to launch new local route
If you wish to fly the other way around – from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back – on the same dates, FlySafair will cost you R5 364.
On Lift it will set you back R6 170 and CemAir R5 880.
Airlink comes in at 6 354.
Happy flying!
