SAA ticket prices also up as volatile oil prices squeeze aviation industry

National carrier, South African Airways (SAA) is the latest airline to buckle under the weight of higher jet fuel costs, announcing it would also add a surcharge on bookings despite previously opting to hold fares stable.

The conflict in the Middle East, which is now in its second week, has squeezed oil supply and triggered a dramatic rise in prices.

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The Middle East remains one of the world’s most critical connecting hub, and volatility in the region has direct implications for airlines and travellers globally. This has left the aviation industry operating under immense uncertainty.

While SAA does not anticipate any immediate disruption to fuel supply or availability, it says the airline needs to adapt to the fluidity of the situation.

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“South Africa sources aviation fuel through multiple supply channels, including domestic refining capacity and established import infrastructure, which provide resilience against potential regional supply volatility,” the state-owned airline said in a statement.

SAA spokesperson Vimla Maistry has confirmed to Moneyweb that since the national carrier’s first update, it has begun receiving Jet A1 fuel hike notifications from fuel suppliers that have come into immediate effect.

Given the substantial scale of these increases, “it is impossible for the airline to absorb them entirely. As a result, SAA will need to adjust airfares,” she added on Thursday.

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Maistry said the exact fare levels by route and cabin class will be published via the airline’s booking channels, GDS systems, and other distribution platforms with effect from 12 March 2026.

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Tickets already purchased and issued prior to the effective date will be honoured at the fare paid. It’s unclear how long the temporary surcharge will be in place for.

SAA’s announcement follows a similar move by other domestic airlines, including South Africa’s largest airline FlySafair, which also implemented a surcharge to fares to buffer against the steep increase in fuel costs triggered by the war in the Middle East.

The price of brent crude surged above $100/ barrel on Thursday morning following an evacuation at Oman’s key oil export terminal and the targeting of two crude tankers in Iraqi waters.

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