South Africans are paying up to R1,179 more on flights to popular destinations this December than they were one year ago, according to research done by TopAuto.
The holiday season is fast approaching, and many households are currently finalizing plans to get away this summer to sunny locales like Cape Town and Durban.
Unfortunately, the cost of flights has risen considerably over the past year, with certain routes being more impacted than others.
2023 vs 2024
TopAuto compared the cost of flights traveling between South Africa’s three biggest cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban – this December to see how much prices have gone up since last year.
A MyBroadband study from December 2023 previously found that the cheapest option for an individual flying from Gauteng to the Western Cape was R3,408, while a trip from Joburg to KwaZulu-Natal was R1,782.
This data was based on return flight listings for one person booked in economy class with a single checked baggage allowance, who was on holiday from 16 until 30 December.
We recreated these conditions using Google Flight data, looking for two-way trips with the same criteria set over an identical 14-day period.
The cheapest option for a Joburg to Cape Town trip came to R3,641, while the lowest fare to Durban clocked in at R2,961. Both flights were provided by FlySafair.
The following table shows the difference between flight prices from 2023 to 2024:
| Route | Cheapest flight in 2023 | Cheapest flight in 2024 | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joburg – Cape Town | R3,408 | R3,641 | R233 |
| Joburg – Durban | R1,782 | R2,961 | R1,179 |
Despite identical requirements and a similar booking timeframe, the cost of both flights is higher than it was last year.
Admittedly, the R233 increase for the Cape Town route is only 6.6% higher than in 2023, but this is still higher than the average inflation rate of 4.6% experienced in 2024.
Durban’s rates, on the other hand, are 49.7% higher than the previous holiday, illustrating the importance of booking flights as early as possible to secure a better deal.
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