Officials are once again being urged to probe South Africa’s high and rising domestic airline ticket prices, with some accusing major airlines of preying on passengers.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have called on the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition to summon the local airline industry and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to provide answers.
In a letter to the committee’s Chairperson, Mzwandile Masina, EFF MP Sinawo Thambo called for urgent parliamentary oversight due to the growing crises within the domestic aviation sector.
“The committee must urgently receive answers regarding the industry’s performance, pricing practices, and treatment of both workers and passengers, as the situation has deteriorated sharply over the past few years,” he wrote.
“South Africans have endured a wave of issues, including skyrocketing ticket prices, frequent flight delays, airport mismanagement, and worsening safety concerns.”
He added that these are not isolated incidents and that they form part of a pattern of neglect, profiteering, and weak regulations that demand accountability.
Thambo noted the meeting between the Transport Committee and the Trade, Industry and Competition Committee in April 2023, wherein they committed to a follow-up meeting with low-cost carriers to understand their pricing and impact on consumers.
The MP noted that despite the commitment by both committees to seek advice on a possible parliamentary inquiry into pricing and overbooking allegations, there has been no formal feedback.
“The EFF is concerned that the aviation sector will continue to practice objectively exploitative pricing practices which are not guided by any rationale or consideration for consumers, for the purposes of profit maximisation.”
“Additionally, the frequent delays to flights due to technical and related problems pose a threat to the safety and financial security of passengers.”
Thambo explained in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the party initially raised these concerns on 7 October 2025, and claimed that they have since been forgotten.
“We must now rally behind a call that there must be a cap on the pricing of airline tickets. The exclusion of a large portion of our society from travel through flight is ridiculous,” he said.
“A lot of it can be credited to pricing manipulation in the aviation sector, whose pricing is determined by the whims of operators and the exploitation of demand.”
Demanding change
As a result of these allegations, the EFF proposed that several aviation entities be summoned, including South African Airways, FlySafair, Airlink, CemAir, ACSA, the Competition Commission, and the National Consumer Commission.
The party is demanding that the entities account for escalating airline prices that continue to rise “disproportionately”, particularly on domestic routes without justification.
It claimed that the practice excludes ordinary South Africans and undermines the economy.
In his letter, Thambo also called for accountability regarding the collapse of smaller airlines and the consolidation of major airlines that have created monopolies that disadvantage consumers.
A major concern highlighted in his letter is the neglect of South Africa’s airports, which continue to experience disruptions stemming from power failures, technical breakdowns, and management failures.
Besides this, the EFF believes airports in the Eastern Cape have been marginalised, reflecting a broader neglect in rural regions as well as undermining connectivity, tourism, and economic activity.
Finally, the party called on the entities to address the exploitation of airline employees who complain about poor wages, unsafe working conditions, and excessive hours.
“The South African public deserves a full, transparent explanation for the state of the vital industry, as air travel is an essential service that connects people, drives trade, and sustains tourism,” said Thambo.
“The EFF is, therefore, deeply concerned that the Department has not intervened decisively despite public concerns.”
Thambo’s letter claims a hearing will provide parliament with the opportunity to uncover the true cause of South Africa’s aviation sector decline.
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