According to a MyBroadband research, FlySafair is the cheapest domestic airline in South Africa, and by a significant margin on some routes.
On the Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-George routes, the airline charges R840 and R566 less than its nearest rival.
While still less expensive than the others for travellers travelling between Johannesburg and Durban, the price gap was much less for the trip.
South Africa’s aviation sector has been shaken in recent years, with South African Airlines (SAA) still shaky following a corporate rescue and Comair halting operations in the nation.
South Africa sold a 51% stake in SAA to Takatso Consortium for R51 billion in May 2022.
The agreement favoured Takatso substantially, with the organisation having the authority to determine whether the government must settle any outstanding liabilities in SAA.
The airline used to service destinations across Africa and many major worldwide capitals, but it hasn’t earned a profit since 2011, costing taxpayers billions of rands in government bailouts.
A little-known law firm filed a lawsuit against the South African government over the purchase, claiming that it should be cancelled and re-run owing to a lack of openness.
“R1 billion is allocated to South African Airways to assist the carrier with the business rescue process,” Godongwana said.
Another issue affecting the South African flight sector is the failure of low-cost airline Kulula following the closure of parent firm Comair.
On its operational routes, Comair handled over 40% of the country’s domestic flight volume, including British Airways flights.
Kulula was declared unsalvageable by the corporation in June 2022.
“Regrettably, the requisite funding could not be raised in order for the company to continue with its operations,” the company said in a statement.
“Accordingly, the company’s joint business rescue practitioners give notice herewith that they no longer believe that there is a reasonable prospect that the company can be rescued.”
Flight cost comparison
FlySafair is the cheapest domestic airline on all three routes we chose for comparison: Johannesburg to Durban, Cape Town, and George.
We chose the lowest available outbound and return tickets for each airline, with flights departing on March 22nd and returning on March 24th, 2023.
FlySafair is by far the cheapest option on the Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-George routes.
Nevertheless, because Lift and SAA no longer operate between Johannesburg and George, the comparison on that route was limited to FlySafair and Airlink.
FlySafair was also the cheapest option on the Johannesburg-Durban route, although only by about R200 round-trip.
At R1,670 return, lift was the second-most inexpensive option for the journey. The fares on FlySafair total R1,462.
SAA is the second cheapest airline on the Johannesburg-Cape Town route, with a round-trip cost of R3,803.02 — R201.98 less than Lift’s and R805 less than Airlink’s.
South Africans who choose FlySafair over Airlink might save over R600 on their next trip to George. Nevertheless, if they choose to check in their luggage, the savings will be substantially lower.
The cost of one checked bag is included in the rates of SAA and Airlink. Lift and FlySafair levy a price for checked luggage, which varies according on the ticket tier.
The table below summarises a comparison of flight fares for the three itineraries.
| Johannesburg ↔ Cape Town | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline | Outgoing | Return | Total |
| FlySafair | R1,532.00 | R1,431.00 | R2,963.00 |
| SAA | R1,786.51 | R2,016.51 | R3,803.02 |
| Lift | R1,910.00 | R2,095.00 | R4,005.00 |
| Airlink | R2,154.51 | R2,453.51 | R4,608.02 |
| Johannesburg ↔ Durban | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| FlySafair | R731.00 | R731.00 | R1,462.00 |
| Lift | R835.00 | R835.00 | R1,670.00 |
| Airlink | R929.01 | R1,113.01 | R2,042.02 |
| SAA | R847.01 | R1,261.01 | R2,108.02 |
| Johannesburg ↔ George | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lift | Lift and SAA don’t currently offer this route | ||
| SAA | |||
| FlySafair | R1,031.00 | R1,431.00 | R2,462.00 |
| Airlink | R1,324.51 | R1,704.01 | R3,028.52 |
