SAA imposes surcharge as jet fuel costs surge

South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it will be adding a surcharge on bookings, despite previously opting to keep prices stable.

The national carrier is the latest airline to buckle under the weight of higher jet fuel costs, following FlySafair's announcement on Wednesday of a similar move.

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

Earlier this week, SAA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting passengers from sudden cost burdens, maintaining competitive fares, and ensuring safe, reliable operations.

ALSO READ: What FlySafair’s fuel surcharge means for your next trip

However, Moneyweb reports that the airline says that since its first update, it has begun receiving Jet A1 fuel hike notifications from fuel suppliers that have come into immediate effect.

SAA says that given the substantial scale of these increases, it is impossible for the airline to absorb them entirely, forcing the airline to adjust airfares.