Why are flights to South Africa so expensive?

Discovery Bank and Visa have identified two major reasons that drove steep increases in flight prices in 2022 – high aviation fuel prices and reduced flight capacity.



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Flights cost even more in early 2023 than they do now. Factors such as fuel costs, staffing shortages, aging IT infrastructure and hidden fees all contribute to expensive flights in 2023.

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Here are some of our favorite airlines that fly to South Africa.
  • South African Airways: Direct flights from New York or Washington, D.C.; easy connections to other destinations in South Africa.
  • Emirates: Indirect flights with stopovers in Dubai and other Middle East locations; exceptional inflight service.


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South African Airways (SAA) was the most expensive airline with a business class offering on this route for our chosen dates. Its prices started at R8,723. The tables below compare the prices of return tickets in business class between Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban.

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Infrastructure in Africa is pretty poor on the most part. There are very few good roads, very few good railways; so flying is the only option. However, getting the fuel and parts for the aircraft to certain places in Africa is often very difficult and very expensive. This drives up operating costs for airlines.

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South Africa is easily one of Africa's most accessible countries and best tourist offers, but it may no longer be as safe a destination as it was five or more years ago.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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The general rule is that for domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance. Prices can also vary widely among airlines.

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Originally Answered: Are plane tickets cheaper at midnight? No. While this used to be a common thing, it's no longer the case. Prices can be updated multiple times per day, in real time.

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