Fashion designer and media personality, Somizi Mhlongo, took to Instagram to share his views on the price increase in airfare tickets.
Image: X.
As the Easter long weekend approaches, South African travellers are feeling the pinch as domestic airline ticket prices rise sharply.
The surge, linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, has sparked widespread frustration - including from local celebrities.
Media personality Somizi Mhlongo recently took to Instagram to express his disbelief about soaring ticket prices.
While attempting to book a return flight from Durban to Johannesburg, Mhlongo was quoted 3,954.48, prompting a blunt reaction.
“@flysafair are you mad? One way trip? I’m going to start using my gran’s broom,” he joked.
His post quickly gained traction, with fellow celebrities and social media users echoing similar concerns.
Rapper Cassper Nyovest commented: “Dawg, it’s crazy. And they mess up our bags. Let’s not talk about flights delayed!”
Other users shared their own experiences, highlighting the scale of the increases.
@sifiso_matsila said: “If the likes of Somizi are complaining, then who are we?”
@maremo_violin commented: “Paid R6,000 for an upcoming trip to Cape Town like it’s December. Yho.”
While @chinamelo1 said: “I was also trying to book a round trip from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg and it was more than 6K.”
Historically, return flights between Durban and Johannesburg ranged between R1,000 and R2,000, particularly with budget airlines such as FlySafair and LIFT.
However, recent developments have pushed prices significantly higher.
The primary driver is the sharp increase in jet fuel costs.
In March 2026, fuel prices surged by more than 70%, largely due to instability in the Middle East affecting global oil supply.
As a result, airlines have introduced fuel surcharges, pushing ticket prices up by an estimated 20 - 25%.
Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair, explained that both fuel costs and booking patterns are contributing to higher fares.
“We are heading into a busy travel period with the Easter weekend and school holidays coming up. The first seats sold on any flight are the cheapest, and fares increase as the aircraft fills up,” he said.
Gordon noted that last-minute bookings, such as the one highlighted by Mhlongo, tend to be the most expensive.
He also emphasised the impact of the Middle East conflict.
“The price of jet fuel in South Africa is now almost double what it was before the conflict began, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz came under pressure. Fuel makes up nearly half of an airline’s direct operating costs, so such increases inevitably affect ticket prices.”
FlySafair has opted to display fuel surcharges separately from base fares and airport taxes, allowing customers to better understand the breakdown of costs.
Cilliers Jordaan, chief Commercial officer at LIFT, echoed similar concerns, highlighting both rising fuel costs and unprecedented demand.
“The rising cost of fuel due to the conflict in the Middle East has had a significant and immediate impact on operating costs."
He added that South Africa is currently experiencing a “super peak” travel period, with Easter and school holidays overlapping, leading to flights filling up rapidly.
“In some cases, routes such as Cape Town and Durban have seen fuel cost increases of more than 95% per litre over the past two weeks.”
With fuel prices expected to remain volatile, airlines warn that elevated fares may persist in the coming months.
Travellers are advised to:
As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, both airlines and passengers remain hopeful for stability and, ultimately, more affordable travel.