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Faizel Patel – 16/11/2020
As South Africans prepare to go on holiday, a Business Insider journalist says it is cheaper to hire a car than to book flights to your travel destination.
Phillip de Wet was speaking to Radio Islam on Monday about the cost of travelling amid level one of the COVID-19 lockdown.
De Wet says flights for a family visit within South Africa over the festive season can be expensive despite the entry of a brand new airline, and the return to scheduled service of Kulula.com.
With the festive and holiday season just more than a month away, many South Africans want to forget 2020 and to get some rest and relaxation after a taxing year that has taken a toll on mind body and soul
De Wet says the Coronavirus has had a severe impact on the airline industry.
“There just aren’t that many planes in the air. With SAA out of commission and with some of the airlines also still holding back their flights, there aren’t just that many seats available and costs are high. Airlines are desperately trying to stay afloat, some are doing better than others. But they tell us they simply can’t cut their fairs down to some of the special prices that we used to previously.”
De Wet says even if holidaymakers are intending to drive to their destinations, it is better to hire a care.
“It will be cheaper if you rent a car. A lot of people have been speaking to us and saying ‘we are uncomfortable with flying during the pandemic, we are thinking of driving, but we don’t have a car or our car isn’t big enough for our entire family. The rental car industry opposite to the airline industry has a lot of vehicles available. They don’t know what to do with those, so their prices are quite good.”
De Wet says with the severe economic impact of the Coronavirus on individuals and families, it is highly likely there will be a lot less domestic tourism.
Listen to the interview with Phillip de Wet
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