South Africans have long struggled with sky-high airfares when travelling between major cities. The situation worsened with the collapse of several airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Comair, which had long been one of the country’s most successful and reliable carriers.
Over the years, domestic prices have remained steep, and flight options have been scarce. However, change appears to be looming as Mango signals its potential return.
A quick fare check for return flights between Cape Town and Johannesburg, for example highlights the current cost landscape.
FlySafair comes in cheapest at about R2,824, while SAA averages R3,233. Lift is priced at approximately R3,665. Airlink and CemAir are the most expensive, with both pricing return tickets at over R4,000. (The flight searches were conducted for travel between 9–16 July, with similar departure and arrival times and with none to limited luggage ancillary options chosen.)
This makes the ongoing battle in South Africa’s domestic skies promising as it would bring more choice and potentially lower prices for travellers.
South African Airways (SAA), the national carrier, is expanding its fleet and route network.
The news follows the national carrier distancing itself from its former low-cost subsidiary, Mango Airlines, which is in the final stages of business rescue.
Mango was grounded in July 2021 and subsequently placed under business rescue. Though still technically a subsidiary of SAA, the two entities have operated independently since then.
SAA has since released a statement clarifying that it has no control or involvement in Mango’s operations, financial obligations, or the ticket refund process, which is still underway for unflown flights booked before the airline suspended services.
The revival of Mango, which once targeted the frequent domestic business traveller, has been slow and mired in disputes. Still, a new investor is reportedly close to acquiring the airline with plans to relaunch it.
Whether Mango re-emerges as a strong competitor remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that SAA is charting its own course.
The state-owned airline, which exited its business rescue process in 2021, is actively rebuilding its operations, with a new aircraft added to its fleet announced this week. SAA hopes to add five more aircraft to its fleet during 2025, a move intended to increase seat availability and reduce pressure on prices for both domestic and regional travel.
“This is a remarkable achievement considering that just over three years ago, the airline emerged from business rescue with just six aircraft. Since 2021, the team at SAA has worked strategically and consistently to grow the fleet and route network sustainably. These additional aircraft will enable SAA to continue fulfilling our promise to add seat capacity in both the domestic and regional markets and thereby contributing to the affordability of passenger air travel, ” says Professor John Lamola, interim CEO at SAA.
SAA is also set to reintroduce and expand several key domestic and regional routes, including:
- Johannesburg–George (launching April 2026)
- Johannesburg–East London (date to be confirmed)
- Cape Town–Durban (date to be confirmed)
- Johannesburg–Gaborone (launching October 2025)
- Cape Town–Mauritius (seasonal flights launching November 2025)
For South African travellers, particularly frequent flyers and holidaymakers, the increased competition and route expansion couldn’t come at a better time. As the airline industry regains momentum, more flights and better fares may finally be within reach.
FlySafair’s CMO, Kirby Gordon notes that while increased competition can bring prices down, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
“Competitive pricing is huge,” he explains, “but some routes simply can’t support more than one player. On others, adding flights or larger aircraft and dropping fares can boost demand — but not always.
Undoubtedly, this is where the opportunities and risks exist.
Gordon adds that the introduction of new airlines or additional capacity, even from existing players, inevitably puts downward pressure on prices. “Airlines are price-takers, not price-setters,” he says. “If there’s too much supply and yields drop below sustainable levels, someone will eventually shrink or exit the market as it corrects itself.”
The delicate balance in South Africa’s domestic aviation sector underscores that while travellers crave affordability, long-term sustainability remains a constant challenge for carriers.