FlySafair hits passengers with temporary fuel surcharge

Key topics:FlySafair adds temporary fuel surcharge from Mar 12 to May 12.Jet fuel costs up 70% after US-Israel conflict on Iran.Surcharge offsets ~35,000 ZAR extra per flight; may be removed later..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox every morning on weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa's bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..By Enzokuhle Sabela.South Africa’s largest airline, FlySafair, will raise fares to buffer against the steep increase in fuel costs triggered by the war in the Middle East. The temporary surcharge will take effect from March 12 and will apply to flights departing on or before May 12, “reflecting the airline’s hope that this is a short-term crisis requiring a short-term response,” it said in a e-mailed statement on Wednesday. The carrier didn’t specify the size of the increase per passenger.Global oil prices surged to the highest since mid-2022 following the US and Israel’s war on Iran, with jet A1 fuel at South Africa’s coastal airports rising about 70% in the week following the outbreak of the conflict. Fuel typically comprises about half of FlySafair’s direct operating costs, and it estimates an additional expense of about 35,000 rand ($2,158) per flight. It will reduce or remove the surcharge once market conditions improve..Read more:.Middle East war risks fresh wave of African devaluations.“The persistence and scale of these fuel costs have left us with no reasonable alternative,” Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon said. “Instead of increasing fares across the board, we have chosen to introduce a temporary surcharge.” .© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.

FlySafair hits passengers with temporary fuel surcharge

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