The World Cup Effect on Ticket Prices

by Abbey on 13/10/09 at 9:37 am

Those who live in Africa will have to massively overpay in order to come home during the World Cup. The cost of a round trip ticket from Cape Town to Joburg between June 11 and July 11 will be R3 800 (around $515), which also includes airport taxes.

But if we were to compare prices with those that are sold during the peak tourist season, i.e. December 2009 to January 2010, the cost is R1 500. The cost of the flight after the World Cup is R1 800.

As for the cost of British Airways of a return flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg during the World Cup is R5 300. The same tickets of the same directions during December and January will cost R1 500, but in August it is R1 900.

All these costs can be explained by the increased demand of flights on popular routes due to which an opportunity of costly charter flights arises. According to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa the problem of flight prices would be handled at the month’s national airline conference.

The flight prices of SAA were compared before, during and after the World Cup and it was shown that prices were increased three times as much as the usual amount during the World Cup. According to Travelstart, the ticket prices from European countries to South Africa are generally around R11 000 or R12 000 during the high season. But as for the World Cup month the cost is much higher, amounting to R30 000 on some routes ($4,000).

The social networking site Twitter showed recent data of Travelstart that led to a negative reaction from customers because of the price differences during a certain period of time. But Mmatsatsi Marobe, Tourism Business Council of South Africa CEO, said that flight prices were always increased when various events like sport world cups took place not depending on a country. It was underlined long-term planning of airfare will produce a positive effect on tourists who are likely to have good impression about Africa than feeling exploited.

But according to Vilma Maistry, acting SAA spokeswoman, the company is not intended to change domestic flight prices during the World Cup but at the same time solid pricing structures will be available. (Via Cape Argus)

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