How much it will cost to fly Cape Town to Johannesburg this Easter long weekend
For South Africans itching to escape the city grind this Easter, the clock is ticking. Whether you’re a Capetonian dreaming of Johannesburg’s buzzing streets or a Joburger longing for the Mother City’s ocean breeze, flight tickets are moving fast and prices aren’t waiting for anyone.
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Why flights are more expensive this Easter
According to The South African , FlySafair, the country’s largest low-cost airline, recently introduced a temporary fuel surcharge on selected routes. The move comes as global oil prices spike amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The surcharge, effective from Thursday, 12 March, will apply to flights departing on or before 12 May.
Rather than hiking fares across the board, FlySafair opted to clearly itemise the surcharge on tickets. “This ensures fairness and transparency to our customers,” said spokesperson Kirby Gordon. If fuel prices drop, the extra charge could disappear just as quickly.
Planning your Easter escape
Easter 2026 offers a four-day weekend, running from Good Friday, 3 April, to Family Day, Monday, 6 April—prime time for a quick holiday.
Assuming you depart Cape Town on Thursday, 2 April, and return from Johannesburg on Tuesday, 7 April, here’s what a standard FlySafair trip looks like:
- Departure: 05:45 from Cape Town International Airport, landing at OR Tambo at 07:50. Price: R2 733.06
- Return: 20:05 from OR Tambo, landing at 22:20 in Cape Town. Price: R2 183.06
- Total cost: R4 916.12
For those thinking of flying the reverse route—from Johannesburg to Cape Town—the cheapest option under the same conditions comes to R6 016.12, over R1 100 more than the Cape Town to Johannesburg round trip.
The debate over surcharges
While airlines argue that fuel surcharges are a necessary short-term response to volatile costs, some travellers see them as a convenient excuse for higher prices. In South Africa, where domestic travel is already sensitive to cost, debates over surcharges often trend on social media, with some users calling for more transparency and others urging travellers to book quickly before fares climb further.
Timing is everything
With flights for Easter already filling up, procrastinators may pay the price. Early bookings not only secure your seat but also help avoid last-minute spikes in cost.
For many, this long weekend is more than a break, it’s a chance to reconnect with family, friends, or just swap city skylines for sandy shores. Just remember: the earlier you book, the better your chances of snagging a deal before fuel prices and demand push fares even higher.
Source: The South African
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