Airline ticket prices could go up due to cost of jet fuel
South African travellers may be in for a nasty shock soon...
Can you imagine a world without being able to travel by airplane?
Well, if the prices of flights continue to rise at this alarming rate, then we might just find out.
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According to BusinessTech, normal operators of domestic airlines have warned consumers about ticket price hikes.
It may be on the cards due to the rising cost of jet fuel.
That doesn't bode well for people who travel domestically using airplanes or even for our international guests looking to come this side.
Kirby Gordon, who is the FlySafair Chief Marketing Officer, has expressed his concern in the industry due to the collapse of Comair.
With the collapse of Comair, ticket prices will have to be hiked due to the higher fuel costs and capacity constraints that is has caused.
Read more: Competition Commission meets with airlines to prevent price gouging
"Prices are being spiked up by tightness in the availability of seats, but the price of jet fuel means they won't drop to previous levels," says Gordon.
According to Business Tech's report, jet fuel has indeed increased by 220% over the last year and makes up about 50% of total operating costs - which are up 30%.
The reality is that Comair has set back a lot of airlines.
If you think about the costs for passengers using air travel in South Africa, it has increased by almost 50% over the last year.
Read more: Comair runs out of cash, suspends flights
With the closure of several domestic routes, added pressure to the market was inevitable.
If you remember what happened to Comair, they used to operate domestic British Airways flights and low-cost carrier Kulula.
Comair was responsible for 40% of domestic airline capacity in South Africa.
It then entered into liquidation after the company was unable to secure the necessary funding to remain in operation.
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