Flights between UK and SA can now cost you as much as R65 000

After the brief travel ban against South Africa, flights from South Africa to the UK reached astronomical levels, with one business class seat on British Airways from Johannesburg to London reaching a whopping R65 000.

After it was announced that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will resume flights between South Africa and the United Kingdom this week (30 November), it seems getting a seat on one of these flights can cost a person a whopping R65 000.

COST OF DIRECT FLIGHT TICKETS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UK

This comes after various travel bans imposed on South Africa due to the Omicron variant.

While repatriation flights have resumed, South Africa currently remains on the UK’s travel “Red List” which means that from 26 November, only British/Irish citizens and those with residence rights can enter England.

UK Visas and Immigration will therefore pause issuing visit visas for the moment.

ALSO READ: South Africa to be on UK red list due to B.1.1.529

However, Business Insider South Africa reports that these flights are not that easy to come by — either on British Airways or Virgin Atlantic.

“Following the reinstatement of South Africa on the UK Government’s ‘red list’, we’ve been actively reviewing our flying schedule and will be cancelling all passenger services from Johannesburg to London Heathrow until Wednesday 1 December, when flight VS450 is next scheduled to operate,” a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told the publication.

FLIGHT TICKET PRICES

Flight VS450, which departed OR Tambo International Airport at 08:55 on Tuesday 30 November was almost fully booked. At the time of publication, the outbound flight only had two seats available in Premium Class, costing R24 409 each.

Meanwhile, British Airways will operate six flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg between 1 December and 6 December. At the time of publication, there were three seats left in Economy Standard for R20 187 on British Airways from Johannesburg to London.

One seat left in business class departing from Johannesburg on Saturday 4 December reached R65 000 at the time of publication.

INBOUND FLIGHTS

It is reported that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights heading from London to Johannesburg have more seats available than those leaving South Africa, but even these are selling quickly.

Fewer than 10 seats were listed as available for flights departing Heathrow on Wednesday (1 December) and Thursday (2 December) at the time of publication.

Written by: Erene Roux