In South Africa’s dynamic aviation environment, the cost of air travel has climbed markedly over the past two years. While a reduction in the number of airlines has been cited as a cause, the true culprit was the soaring price of jet fuel, said domestic and regional airline, FlySafair.
“Jet A1, the lifeblood of jet aircraft, is much like diesel in its pricing freedom. Derived from crude oil, its cost echoes the movements of Brent Crude oil on the global stage. For airlines, fuel is not just another expense; it represents a substantial portion of a flight’s direct operating costs, making airlines particularly vulnerable to its price volatility,” the airline said in a statement.
FlySafair added that approximately 60% of its direct operating cost of a flight was attributed to fuel alone.
Airlink CEO and MD, Rodger Foster, told Tourism Update that jet fuel was the biggest cost item for most airlines and Airlink was no exception. He added that Airlink was continually searching for…