May there be ETA for cheap air fares

South Africa’s airline industry has been struck down by the effects of “long Covid”, because the financial devastation brought about by pandemic restrictions has continued.

This means the days of cheap air fares are history … and the fear is they may never return. The demise of local carriers like British Airways, Mango and kulula has meant that, effectively, flying domestically has, once again, become the privilege of those who have money.

Take a hypothetical family of four who want to fly to Cape Town for Christmas. They will fork out R36 000 for the air tickets alone … and thousands more on even the most basic accommodation.

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Despite those prices, flights to Cape Town over the festive period are already almost fully booked, while to other holiday destinations like George (gateway to the Garden Route), there are no more seats available.

Perhaps spurred on by upcountry travellers’ concerns about the safety of beaches in KwaZulu-Natal – given many are polluted with sewage – seaside towns in the Cape are seeing their accommodation mostly booked up for Christmas and New Year.

That shows that despite the spiralling costs and tough economic climate, wealthier South Africans are still living the life of privilege. This has far-reaching implications for our tourist industry.

Over the Covid period, as international arrivals plunged, many resorts and accommodation establishments focused on local tourists to help keep their heads above water.

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Even then, there were fears that local travel was becoming unaffordable, especially for the hardpressed middle class.

Low-cost air travel has been a critical stimulant for economies around the world, but has also been a vital ingredient of a healthy society, enabling people to visit family in far-flung places, as well as exposing people to the broader world.

We hope it returns one day.