Travellers planning flights to, from, or within South Africa may be wondering whether the global jet fuel crisis could disrupt their trips.
The short answer is reassuring: flights are still operating normally, but airfares are rising and airlines are closely monitoring fuel supply beyond the next few months.
The ongoing Middle East conflict has disrupted global oil and refined fuel supply chains, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes. Roughly 20% of global oil supply normally moves through this corridor, making aviation fuel prices especially sensitive to disruptions.
For travellers, the main impact right now is simple: expect higher ticket prices, temporary fuel surcharges, and continued fare volatility.
Is South Africa running out of jet fuel?
No — not at present.
Industry bodies and fuel suppliers have indicated that South Africa's jet fuel supply remains stable in the short term, with supply considered secure into late autumn and, in some reports, through June 2026.
Major airports such as O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban continue normal operations, and no widespread fuel-related disruptions have been reported.
However, airlines warn that the challenge is no longer only about price — it is about longer-term supply certainty. If global disruptions continue, airlines may need to adjust schedules, reduce frequencies, or consolidate flights later in the year.
For now, though, travellers should not expect airports to run out of jet fuel.
Why are airfares rising so fast?
Jet fuel prices have surged sharply across Southern Africa.
FlySafair confirmed that Jet A1 fuel prices at South African coastal airports increased by approximately 70% in just one week, forcing airlines to start passing on part of those costs to passengers.
Fuel is one of the largest airline operating costs, and for some African carriers it now represents between 30% and 55% of total operating expenses.
This leads to:
- fuel surcharges
- higher base fares
- fewer promotional fares
- reduced flight frequencies on weaker routes
That is why travellers booking domestic and regional flights now are often seeing noticeably higher prices than earlier in 2026.
Which airlines have introduced fuel surcharges?
Several airlines in South Africa and the region have already adjusted pricing.
FlySafair
FlySafair introduced a temporary dynamic fuel surcharge from 12 March 2026 for new bookings on flights departing on or before 12 May 2026.
Important for travellers:
- existing bookings are not affected
- the surcharge applies only to new bookings
- it appears as a separate line item on tickets
- longer routes attract higher surcharges
Other airlines
Other carriers such as South African Airways (SAA) and Airlink have also adjusted fares across domestic, regional, and international routes, even where a separate surcharge is not shown.
For travellers, the result is the same: flying is becoming more expensive across the region.
Jet fuel supply in other Southern African countries
The situation is similar across much of Southern Africa, where many countries rely heavily on imported aviation fuel supplied through regional ports and road transport networks.
In countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, major airports including Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) in Windhoek, Maun Airport (MUB) in Maun, Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Victoria Falls, and Maputo International Airport (MPM) in Maputo continue operating normally, with no widespread jet fuel shortages reported.
However, because many of these markets depend on imported fuel from South Africa or via Indian Ocean ports, they are particularly exposed to global price shocks and supply chain disruptions. This means travellers may see rising ticket prices, temporary fuel surcharges and reduced flight frequencies sooner on regional routes than on larger international services.
For example, FlyNamibia introduced a fuel surcharge from 23 March 2026 across the Westair Aviation group, including FlyNamibia Safari and Westair Charters, as a response to rising fuel costs and volatility linked to the Middle East crisis.
Similarly, Air Botswana also introduced fuel surcharges as airlines across the region responded to sharply higher jet fuel prices.
For safari travellers heading to destinations such as the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia or Namibia's national parks, flights are still operating normally — but flying around the region is becoming noticeably more expensive.
Could flights be cancelled?
At the moment, widespread cancellations in South Africa are not expected.
Flights continue to operate normally, and airlines are maintaining schedules.
Globally, however, the picture is more serious. Airlines in Europe, Asia, and Australia have already begun reducing capacity, cutting flights, and adding refuelling stops due to supply pressure and high fuel costs. Europe is also seeing record emergency jet fuel imports from the United States and Nigeria as supply tightens.
This shows how quickly a fuel price problem can become an operational problem if disruptions persist.
South Africa is not there yet — but airlines are planning carefully.
What Travellers Should Do Now
Book earlier rather than later
If fuel prices remain volatile, fares are likely to continue rising.
Monitor airline notifications
Regional routes may see schedule adjustments faster than major long-haul services.
Expect temporary surcharges
Some airlines show them separately, while others simply raise fares.
Stay flexible
Where possible, flexible tickets can help if schedules change later.
Bottom line
For now, South Africa's jet fuel supply remains stable enough for normal operations.
The bigger issue for travellers is cost, not cancellations.
Flights to destinations such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban are continuing as normal, but airlines are warning that sustained global fuel pressure could lead to further fare increases and possible schedule adjustments later in 2026.
For now, the message is clear:
planes are still flying — but they are getting significantly more expensive to fill.
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