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From Wednesday, 6 May, the pressure on travellers intensifies as South Africa implements a sharp fuel price hike, with petrol jumping by over R3 per litre and diesel by more than R6, one of the steepest increases in recent years.
This surge is already feeding directly into the cost of flying: jet fuel prices have spiked dramatically in recent months due to global oil disruptions, forcing airlines to introduce or extend fuel surcharges and push fares higher.
Yet even as the Middle East crisis is hitting the travel sector hard, it's not hitting travellers hard enough to stop them from travelling. That's according to a new survey by the Association of Southern African Travel Agents and Advisors (ASATA).
A new survey conducted between 20 and 28 April 2026 reveals that while global flight chaos is pushing prices sky-high, most travellers aren’t backing out. Instead, they’re digging deeper, delaying decisions, or calling in the pros to help them secure the most flexible deal.
Pricier tickets and the stubborn wanderluster
According to the ASATA survey, a hefty 75% of travel agencies say their clients are facing increases of between 10% and 50%.
Emirates confirmed 96% of its global network has been restored after the recent disruption – a signal that international travel is steadily finding its rhythm again. But that's only part of the messy mix of limited fuel supplies, seat availability and ongoing rerouting.
Even the much-anticipated FlySafair birthday sale, taking place tomorrow, will add all applicable fuel surcharges to the base fare of R12. (It's still ridiculously low, so go for it - only 50,000 tickets will be released across their domestic routes.)
Despite the spike in costs, cancellations are surprisingly low, sitting at just 10%. Rather than ditching their plans, travellers are choosing to reroute, postpone or absorb the extra spend.
DIY bookings? More like flexibility is the new luxury
But if you thought everyone was still happily booking online, think again.
Travellers are increasingly turning to human travel advisors to navigate the chaos. With 57% of clients worried about losing money on non-refundable bookings, flexibility has become the name of the game. That means flexible tickets, backup plans and someone who can decode airline fine print at a moment’s notice.
As Otto de Vries, CEO of the Association of Southern African Travel Agents, puts it, booking behaviour has split in two. About 36% of travellers are holding off until the last minute, while 29% are locking in early to secure limited seats.
“No app or online booking platform can call an airline at midnight, fight for a refund, or redesign an itinerary in real time,” says De Vries, “Our members have been doing exactly that for weeks."
"What stands out most is that travellers no longer want to navigate this alone. They want a professional in their corner who can guarantee flexibility and provide a safety net."
So what’s stressing travellers out? Top concerns right now include:
- Flight delays (79%)
- Rising costs (77%)
- Losing money on non-refundable bookings (57%)
Over half of travel advisors say their clients still plan to travel, but bookings for the June/July holidays are shaky. Around a third of agencies are seeing year-on-year declines, with many travellers taking a “wait-and-see” approach before committing.
This ongoing stubborn wanderlust trend, however, means flexibility is the new luxury for local travellers, as they are increasingly willing to pay extra for peace of mind. About 20% are now actively opting for flexible fares or “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance – even if it costs more!
Meanwhile, travel agencies are stepping up. Around 70% have updated or are reviewing their crisis plans to support clients better if and when things go sideways.