VistaVoyage Fare Index, October 2026: What Domestic Flights Really Cost
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Headline findings
- On 7 of 14 routes the cheapest fare already included a checked bag (Airlink, SAA). On four of the busiest routes where FlySafair or LIFT also fly (Joburg–Cape Town both ways, Joburg–Durban and Joburg–Gqeberha), the full-service fare with a bag was cheapest outright.
- Cheapest Joburg–Cape Town fare for Wednesday 28 October: R1,849 (Airlink, 20 kg bag included).
- Cheapest Joburg–Durban fare: R889 (SAA, 23 kg bag included).
- December peak (Friday 18 December) costs 132% more on Joburg–George and 107% more on Joburg–Gqeberha than an ordinary October Wednesday.
- Cheapest route in the index: Lanseria–Durban at R879 (FlySafair, cabin bag only).
The index: 14 routes, one date
Every month we run the same searches on Travelstart's live booking engine (the one you land on from this site) and record the cheapest one-way economy fare, the airline and what bag it includes. One fixed, ordinary midweek date makes the routes comparable with each other and, from next month, with themselves over time.
VistaVoyage Fare Index, October 2026: 14 domestic routes
Cheapest one-way economy fare on Travelstart's live search for Wednesday 28 October 2026, checked on 9 October 2026. Tap a fare to open that search.
| Route · date | Fare | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg → Cape Town Wed 28 Oct | R1,849 › | Airlink 20kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Cape Town → Johannesburg Wed 28 Oct | R1,529 › | SAA 23kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Johannesburg → Durban Wed 28 Oct | R889 › | SAA 23kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Cape Town → Durban Wed 28 Oct | R2,049 › | LIFT cabin bag only · non-stop |
| Johannesburg → Gqeberha Wed 28 Oct | R1,099 › | SAA 23kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Cape Town → Gqeberha Wed 28 Oct | R1,129 › | FlySafair cabin bag only · non-stop |
| Johannesburg → George Wed 28 Oct | R1,399 › | FlySafair cabin bag only · non-stop |
| Cape Town → George Wed 28 Oct | R1,489 › | Airlink 20kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Johannesburg → East London Wed 28 Oct | R1,179 › | FlySafair cabin bag only · non-stop |
| Johannesburg → Hoedspruit Wed 28 Oct | R2,559 › | Airlink 20kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Johannesburg → Nelspruit Wed 28 Oct | R1,979 › | Airlink 20kg bag incl. · non-stop |
| Cape Town → Nelspruit Wed 28 Oct | R1,609 › | FlySafair cabin bag only · non-stop |
| Lanseria → Cape Town Wed 28 Oct | R1,939 › | FlySafair cabin bag only · non-stop |
| Lanseria → Durban Wed 28 Oct | R879 › | FlySafair cabin bag only · non-stop |
Tap a fare to open that route and date on Travelstart's live search (new tab). Prices move daily, so the fare you see there may differ.
FlySafair and LIFT fares are cabin-bag only: a 20 kg bag is R185 online on FlySafair and a 23 kg bag R200 on LIFT. Airlink (20 kg), SAA (23 kg) and CemAir (21 kg) include a checked bag.
Finding 1: the cheapest fare often includes a bag
Travellers assume FlySafair or LIFT will be cheapest. On 28 October that held on Cape Town–Durban, Gqeberha, Nelspruit, East London, George from Joburg and both Lanseria routes. But on Joburg–Cape Town, Cape Town–Joburg, Joburg–Durban, Joburg–Gqeberha, Cape Town–George, Joburg–Hoedspruit and Joburg–Nelspruit the cheapest fare of all came from Airlink or SAA, with a checked bag already in it. Add FlySafair's R185 bag and the gap widens further.
Compare live fares for your date
Finding 2: what December does to prices
The same searches for Friday 18 December, a week after schools close, against the October Wednesday:
| Route | Wed 28 Oct | Fri 18 Dec | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg → Cape Town | R1,849 › | R2,489 › | +35% |
| Cape Town → Johannesburg | R1,529 › | R1,719 › | +12% |
| Johannesburg → Durban | R889 › | R1,359 › | +53% |
| Johannesburg → Gqeberha | R1,099 › | R2,279 › | +107% |
| Johannesburg → George | R1,399 › | R3,239 › | +132% |
Tap a fare to open that route and date on Travelstart's live search (new tab). Prices move daily, so the fare you see there may differ.
Garden Route and Eastern Cape fares more than double, because December demand on those routes is overwhelmingly one-way out of Gauteng. Cape Town–Joburg barely moves on that date: most December traffic flies the other way. December flights guide →
How we build the index
- Source: Travelstart's live search (travelstart.co.za), economy, one adult, one-way.
- Date checked: 9 October 2026. Travel dates: Wednesday 28 October 2026 and Friday 18 December 2026.
- What we record: the cheapest fare shown, the airline, routing (non-stop or connecting) and the bag included. Fares include taxes as displayed; FlySafair shows its fuel surcharge as a separate line at checkout.
- Limits: one search per route and date; fares change daily. The index shows where prices sat on the day, not a guarantee.
Using these numbers? Journalists and bloggers are welcome to quote the index with a link to this page. For the underlying data or a comment, contact Kyle Govender. Next edition: November 2026.
More: Flight price benchmarks · Cheapest flights right now · How booking works
Frequently asked questions
What is the VistaVoyage Fare Index?
A monthly record of the cheapest one-way economy fare on 14 South African domestic routes, taken from Travelstart's live search for one fixed midweek date, with the airline and bag included.
Which airline was cheapest in October 2026?
It depended on the route. On 7 of 14 routes the cheapest fare was Airlink or SAA with a checked bag included; FlySafair or LIFT were cheapest on the other 7, with a cabin bag only.
How much more do December flights cost?
On our 9 October check, the cheapest fare for Friday 18 December was 132% higher on Joburg–George, 107% on Joburg–Gqeberha, 53% on Joburg–Durban and 35% on Joburg–Cape Town than for Wednesday 28 October.
Can I quote the index?
Yes. Please quote it with a link to this page and the date the fares were checked.