Local air travel now unaffordable

Air travel is always a good indicator of the health of the economy of a country and of the world at large.

And, after the battering of the Covid years, people are flying once again – for business and pleasure.

That’s good news for our tourism sector, which offers one of the best products on the planet, but has been brought to its knees by the collapse of visitor numbers since 2020.

But, for South Africans wanting to fly inside the country, there is a simple message: Be prepared to pay through the nose for your air tickets.

With low-cost airline Mango and British Airways and its low-cost brand, kulula, consigned to the dustbin of history, there is less competition at a time when domestic demand is soaring.

High fuel prices are also driving up fares – although this may ease in the next few months as global oil prices drop.

With flying being so expensive and with there being no real rail alternative, we can expect the volumes of traffic on our roads to increase significantly, especially over the festive period at the end of the year.

Mind you, money is so tight that many might not be able to afford any travel…