The Cheapest Domestic Airline 2014 vs 2015

September 14, 2015

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In early October 2014 we only had Mango, Kulula, South African Airways (SAA) and British Airways Comair (BA) operating on the CPT – JNB route. FlySafair entered the market on the 16th of October 2014 and Skywise followed suit in March of this year. To see how airfares have been affected by FlySafair and Skywise’s entrance into the market, we compared airfares from this time last year to airfares that we have available today.

We found a survey that was done by SouthAfrica.TO last year on flights departing Cape Town for Johannesburg after 17h00 but before 20h10 on Friday the 3rd of October 2014. We did a survey on the same route within the same time period for flights departing on Friday the 2nd of October 2015. Both surveys were done on flights departing on a Friday when airfares are usually higher. The table below shows the 2014 prices on the left and the 2015 prices on the right.

Flight Prices on the 3rd of October 2014
Flight Prices on the 2nd of October 2015

Kulula Airline to Lanseria
MN452 leaves 17h30 arrives 19h25

R1250

FlySafair to OR Tambo International
FA1002 leaves 17h35 arrives 19h45

R949*

Mango Airline to OR Tambo International
JE168 leaves 19h30 arrives 20h45

R1542

Skywise to OR Tambo International
S8 – 116 leaves 18h15 arrived 20h20

R1044*

British Airways to OR Tambo International

BA6438 leaves 19h00 arrives 21h00

R1522

Mango to OR Tambo International
JE168 leaves 19h15 arrives 21h20

R1243*

Kulula Airline to OR Tambo International
MN106 leaves 18h30 arrives 20h30

R1557

Kulula to Lanseria International
MN106 leaves 20h00 arrives 21h55

R1264*

South African Airways to OR Tambo International
SA362 leaves 18h30 arrives 20h30

R3238

Mango to Lanseria International JE706 leaves 17h00 arrives 19h00

R1298*

British Airways Business Class to OR Tambo International
BA6438 leaves 19h00 arrives 21h00

R3014

British Airways to OR Tambo International
BA6438 leaves 19h00 arrives 21h00

R1405*

South African Airways Business Class
SA362 leaves 18h30 arrives 20h30

R3342

Kulula to OR Tambo International
MN106 leaves 18h30 arrives 20h30

R1561*

South African Airways to OR Tambo International
SA366 leaves 18h50 arrived 20h50

R1627*

British Airways Business Class to OR Tambo International
BA6438 leaves 19h00 arrives 21h00
 R3515*
South African Airways Business Class to OR Tambo International
SA366 leaves 18h50 arrived 20h50
 R3916*
*Prices are subject to change. There is limited availability.*

This year’s cheapest flight is R301 cheaper than last year’s cheapest flight. With their flight priced at only R949*, FlySafair is the cheapest domestic airline in the 2015 survey. Last year’s lowest priced flight was Kulula’s Cape Town (CPT) to OR Tambo (ORT) flight that was priced at R1250. Mango’s flight is cheaper this year, while Kulula’s flights are a little more expensive. Both BA and SAA’s economy class seats are cheaper in 2015 that they were in 2014, but their business class seats are more expensive.

The survey shows that the average cost of an economy and low cost flight was R1822 in 2014, while in 2015 it is only R1485. There has been a staggering 18. 5% drop in the average cost of a flight between CPT and ORT (low cost carrier + economy class). It is clear that more competition equals lower prices. FlySafair and Skywise have driven prices down, bringing some relief to the South African consumer. We have been repeatedly hit by hikes in the price of fuel, electricity and an increase in taxes in 2015. To see that the average price of a domestic flight (between CPT and Johannesburg) has come down by an average of 18.5% is refreshing to say the least. Industry experts have however cautioned that the current low prices are not sustainable and prices will more than likely soon be on the rise again. So if you have thought of travelling domestically, then now is the time to do so.

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