You’ve booked the flight, the hotel and the tour. There’s one thing many South African travellers don’t plan for: the queue at passport control.
Europe’s airports and airlines are now publicly pushing for fixes. Here’s what’s going on, and how to protect your trip.

*What the industry is saying*
Two European industry bodies made a joint call this week. ACI Europe represents airports. Airlines for Europe, or A4E, represents airlines.
They want urgent changes to the Entry/Exit System, known as the EES. It is Europe’s digital border check for visitors from outside the EU.
Nearly six months after full rollout, they say waits are still high. In the worst cases, queues have reached five hours. Waits regularly top two hours.

*Why queues are still long*
The two groups point to several unfixed problems. There aren’t enough border staff. The IT systems have been unstable.
Self-service kiosks and automated gates aren’t widely used or widely installed. The “Travel to Europe” pre-registration app has limited features and limited rollout.
None of these issues is about passengers doing something wrong. They are system problems.

*What they want changed*
The groups listed six fixes. They want an end to “double verification”, and better biometric checks.
>They also want to stop duplicate EES profiles being created. They want the pre-registration app and web portal rebuilt.
A fifth ask is faster, more consistent automated gates for non-EU visitors. The sixth is the ability to partially suspend the EES when queues get too long.

*Why this matters to South African travellers*
South Africans travel on non-EU passports. That means the EES applies to us when we visit Europe on a short stay. This is general background, not stated in the source.
The source doesn’t mention South Africa or give figures for South African arrivals. But the delays it describes apply to non-EU visitors as a group.
December is a heavy season for South Africans heading to Europe. Queues are likely to be at their worst when airports are busiest. That’s our reading, not a forecast from the source.

*What you can do*
Think about timing before you book. A tight connection through a big European hub is the riskiest option.
Where you can, leave a long gap between landing and your next flight. The same applies to pre-booked transfers, tours and hotel check-ins on arrival day.
If your airline offers a longer layover at a similar price, it’s worth taking. Compare options on Travelstart before you commit.

*What we don’t know yet*
The source doesn’t say whether any of the six changes will be adopted. It also doesn’t say when.
It also doesn’t give current wait times at specific airports. Delays vary a great deal from day to day.

*The practical takeaway*
Plan for a slow arrival. Build slack into your first day in Europe.
Check your airline’s and airport’s own advice before you fly. And keep an eye on this story. If the industry’s asks are accepted, queues could improve in 2027.

South African travellers haven’t stopped travelling. They are changing where they go.
Rising costs, visa delays and awkward flight routes are pushing many people away from long-haul favourites. Closer, cheaper destinations are picking up the slack.
*What travel agents are reporting*
A recent poll of South African travel agents, run on Travelinfo’s OpenJaw platform, shows a clear pattern. Some 78% say North America and Europe are taking the biggest hit in leisure bookings.
North America accounts for 57% of that. Europe accounts for 21%.
The UK and Australia and New Zealand are holding up much better. Only 4% of agents flagged the UK, and just 1% flagged Australia and New Zealand.
This was a poll of agents, not a count of bookings. It’s a useful signal, but it isn’t hard sales data.*It’s the total bill, not one cost*
Flight Centre’s regional managers say no single expense is to blame. Airfares, exchange rates, accommodation and daily spending all stack up.
Together they can push a holiday past a comfortable budget. Shirley-Ann McQuade of Flight Centre Western Cape put it that way.
The response is selectiveness, not retreat. Trish Johnston of Flight Centre KZN and Eastern Cape says travellers are choosing where to spend, rather than giving up on international trips.
*What people are doing instead*
Agents describe the same adjustments again and again. Travellers book shorter trips. They go in the off-season. They pick destinations closer to home.
Mauritius, Zanzibar and regional African destinations are the main beneficiaries. For many South Africans, they offer a beach holiday without a long-haul fare.
*Why the US and Canada are struggling most*
North America faces several problems at once. Airfares are high and routes often involve multiple connections.
Visas add a further hurdle. Agents say wait times and requirements are putting people off. Canada’s processing times came up as a particular concern.
KwaZulu-Natal has an extra problem. The US no longer processes visas at its Durban office. Applicants there must now travel to Johannesburg or Cape Town for appointments.
*Why the UK and Australia hold up*
Family is the reason. Many trips to the UK, Australia and New Zealand are to visit relatives.
Staying with family cuts accommodation costs. A personal reason to travel also makes people more willing to pay a higher fare.
Even so, price still matters there. Some travellers are moving their dates by a few weeks or months to find a better fare.
*Fuel is part of the story*
The source also points to high fuel prices. Airlines have consolidated networks and tightened capacity. Fares have risen as a result.
Travellers must then choose between cheaper connecting flights and pricier direct ones. Last-minute buyers have the least room to manoeuvre.
*What this means for South African travellers*
If you’re weighing a trip abroad, three ideas stand out.
First, be flexible on dates. Moving a trip by a few weeks can change the fare.
Second, consider regional options. Airlink now flies to Zanzibar from both Johannesburg and Cape Town, with more flights planned for December. We covered that earlier this month.
Third, start visa applications early. For the US and Canada especially, waiting times can matter as much as the fare.
*The practical takeaway*
Compare the full trip cost, not just the flight. Check visa timelines before you book anything non-refundable.
Then compare options on Travelstart. A shorter trip to a closer destination may give you more holiday for the same money.

Summer holiday planning is under way. Airlink has just given South African travellers more to work with.
The airline is expanding its schedule between October and December 2026. Here is what’s changing, and who benefits most.
*A daily Johannesburg–George service*
This is the headline change for Garden Route travellers. From December, Airlink adds a daily return flight between Johannesburg and George.
The flight leaves Johannesburg at 17h35. It lands in George at 19h35.
That’s an evening departure, so it suits people finishing work on the day they travel. George is the gateway to Knysna, Wilderness and Mossel Bay.
*More weekend flights from Cape Town*
Cape Town also gets extra George flights. Two additional return services run on Saturdays and Sundays.
They depart Cape Town at 07h00 and land in George at 07h55. An early weekend flight means a full day on the Garden Route.
Cape Town’s Harare service grows too. Airlink will fly it on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
*Regional upgrades*
Airlink is also improving its regional flying. The new E195-E2 aircraft goes onto the daily Johannesburg–Nairobi route.
The same aircraft adds a business-class option to the twice-weekly Johannesburg–Zanzibar flight from October. In December, that route goes up to three flights a week, using an extra Embraer E190.
Nosy Be in Madagascar gets an additional Saturday flight in December. It leaves Johannesburg at 09h40 and lands at 14h10.
*Lanseria joins the picture*
In November, Airlink launches its first international route from Lanseria. It flies to Harare three times a week on an E190.
We covered that route in August. It’s now part of a bigger Airlink push beyond OR Tambo.
*What this means for South African travellers*
December is peak season. Seats on popular holiday routes tend to sell out early.
The new George flights matter most. George is one of the busiest leisure airports in the country during the festive period.
More frequencies also mean more choice on dates. That can help when school-holiday flights are filling up.
*What we don’t know yet*
The source doesn’t give fares. It also doesn’t give exact December start dates for the new services.
We can’t say what these flights will cost compared with FlySafair or other carriers. That is worth checking before you book.
*The practical takeaway*
If you’re planning a Garden Route holiday, check the new George flights now. Compare Airlink with other carriers on Travelstart before you decide.
Do it early. Festive-season fares usually rise as seats fill.

Anyone who has flown with a small child knows the drill. You book the tickets, then discover the seats aren’t together.
Fixing that has often meant paying extra. The UK government now says that has to stop.
*What the UK has announced*
On 2 October 2026, the UK government confirmed a new rule for airlines. Children under 14 must be seated next to a parent or accompanying adult, free of charge.
The government says the current fee can reach £104 on a return journey for a parent and child.
A second change covers booking mistakes. Passengers will get the right to fix simple name errors for free. Some airlines currently charge as much as £40 for that.
*It isn’t law yet*
This is the important caveat. The rules are announced, not active.
The government says they will follow Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill. An earlier version of the press release gave a start date. That date was removed on 2 October to correct an error.
The stated aim is to have the rules in place in time for next year’s summer holidays. Some early news reports said the rules were already in force. That isn’t what the official page says.
*Who it covers*
The government says the rules apply to all airlines operating in the UK. That includes carriers many South Africans use for UK trips.
It also says UK and EU rules will line up more closely. The EU approved a similar change in July, covering free adjacent seating for under-14s and free correction of simple name errors.
The exact reach for flights between South Africa and the UK isn’t spelled out in the announcement. Check how it applies to your airline once the law is final.
*Why this matters for South African families*
The UK is one of South Africa’s biggest overseas travel markets. Families fly to London, Manchester and beyond every year, especially in December and July.
Seat fees are often easy to miss when comparing fares. A cheap-looking ticket can climb once you add seats for everyone.
The name-correction change helps too. One wrong letter in a passport name used to mean a costly fix, or even a lost booking.
*What to do right now*
Don’t count on the new rules yet. For flights booked this year, the old charges may still apply.
Before you pay for seats, check your airline’s own family-seating policy. Some carriers already seat young children with a parent for free.
Compare the total price across airlines on Travelstart. Include seat selection, not just the base fare.
Check names against your passports before you pay, not after.
*The practical takeaway*
Keep an eye on the Civil Aviation Bill. If you’re planning UK or European summer travel for 2027, the rules may be in place by then.
Until the law is final, treat this as good news on the way rather than a saving you can bank today.

Cape Town to Johannesburg is one of the world’s busiest flight routes. Millions fly it every year.
Until now, almost everyone landed at OR Tambo. That’s about to change.
*What’s actually launching*
Airlink will start flying Cape Town to Lanseria from 4 December 2026. It’s the airline’s first-ever scheduled domestic service through Lanseria.
Flights will run twice daily, seven days a week, from day one. From 22 March 2027, that jumps to four daily return flights.
The exact schedule is already published. Morning flights leave Lanseria at 9:10am, landing in Cape Town at 11:35am. Afternoon flights leave at 1:00pm, landing at 3:25pm.
Heading back to Gauteng works similarly. Cape Town departures run at 9:20am and 1:30pm.
*The aircraft itself*
Every flight uses a 98-seat Embraer E190. Airlink has confirmed the cabin layout skips middle seats entirely, just window and aisle.
That’s a genuinely pleasant touch on a route this short and this frequently flown.
*Why Lanseria, and why now*
Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht was direct about the reasoning. Travel options on this specific route have been limited, he said.
The goal is a comfortable alternative for Cape Town–Gauteng travel, alongside Airlink’s existing OR Tambo services, not instead of them.
It’s a sensible move. Lanseria sits in Johannesburg’s north, closer to Sandton, Fourways and Pretoria’s western suburbs than OR Tambo is.
For travellers based in those areas, this could cut real time off the airport transfer, in both directions.
*This builds on August’s bigger announcement*
This isn’t Airlink’s first Lanseria move. Back in August, the airline confirmed Lanseria’s first-ever international route too, three weekly flights to Harare starting 15 November.
Together, these two launches turn Lanseria into a genuine second Gauteng gateway. Not just for Cape Town, but potentially for regional travel too, depending on how the airline builds out the base over time.
*What this means for South African travellers*
If you live or work on Johannesburg’s north side, this route is worth comparing directly against your usual OR Tambo option. Factor in your actual door-to-door time, not just the flight itself.
It’s also useful if you’re already flying FlySafair or other carriers from Lanseria for other routes, since this adds a same-airport option for Cape Town specifically, rather than needing a separate trip across the city.
Worth noting too: Lanseria already serves Durban, East London, George and Port Elizabeth via FlySafair. This Airlink route adds real competition on the Cape Town leg specifically.
*The practical takeaway*
Bookings should open ahead of the 4 December start date. If you’re planning Cape Town–Gauteng travel from December onward, it’s worth comparing Lanseria and OR Tambo fares side by side on Travelstart.
Four daily flights from March 2027 means genuinely flexible scheduling once the route beds in, not just a token twice-a-day service.

Durban’s Dubai route is about to get busier. In a good way, for once.
Emirates has confirmed extra capacity on its Dubai–Durban route. It’s specifically timed for the December and January holiday rush.
*The exact dates*
Two separate windows get the boost. The first runs from 18 to 23 December 2026. The second runs from 2 to 8 January 2027.
During both periods, Emirates will add a second daily flight on the route. Right now, it’s typically just one.
*What’s actually flying*
Every flight on this route uses Emirates’ three-class Boeing 777-300ER. That means First, Business and Economy cabins are all on offer, not a stripped-down holiday charter.
The schedule itself works well for South African travellers. The new morning Dubai departure lands in Durban at 10:30am. The existing flight still lands in the early evening.
Coming back, Durban passengers can now choose between a lunchtime departure or an evening one. That’s useful flexibility if you’re juggling connecting flights or ground transport.
*Why this matters for KZN travellers*
December and January are peak season for a reason. Families travel. Expats come home. Business slows down enough for proper holidays.
That demand usually means one thing: fuller flights, and fewer seats at good prices. A second daily service directly addresses that.
More seats on the route should ease some of that December pressure. It won’t guarantee cheap fares, but it does mean more chances to find a seat that works for your dates.
*What this means if you’re booking*
If you’re Durban-based and planning Dubai travel over the holidays, or using Dubai as a stopover to Europe, Asia or beyond, this is genuinely good news.
Durban currently has three airlines flying direct to Dubai: Emirates, South African Airways and Condor. Together, that’s 24 weekly services as of this year. The added Emirates flights push total capacity even higher during the two holiday windows specifically.
Worth noting too: Dubai remains one of the smarter stopover hubs for Durban-based travellers heading further afield. More seats on this leg can mean more flexibility on your full itinerary, not just the Dubai leg itself.
*The practical takeaway*
If you’re planning December or early January travel through Dubai, it’s worth checking Emirates’ schedule now. The extra flight windows are narrow, just six and seven days respectively, so availability on those specific dates is what actually matters.
Compare fares across Emirates, SAA and Condor on Travelstart before booking. More competition on the route generally works in travellers’ favour, especially during a season when prices usually climb.

Cape Town had its busiest year ever in 2025. Over 11.1 million passengers passed through its airport.
That’s good news for tourism. It’s also a genuine problem. The airport is now running into real capacity limits.
Two major projects are underway to fix this. Here’s what’s happening, and why it matters for your future trips.
*The scale of the problem*
Cape Town International is already the Western Cape’s only major commercial airport. Every domestic, regional and international flight funnels through one site.
According to aviation expert Linden Birns, the real bottleneck isn’t the terminal. It’s the runway itself.
The current runway alignment creates obstacles for arriving and departing flights. That limits how efficiently air traffic can move, even when terminals have room to spare.
*What ACSA is doing about it*
Airports Company South Africa has confirmed a major infrastructure programme for Cape Town International. The headline project is a full runway realignment.
The new runway will stretch 3,500 metres. It’ll shift by 11.5 degrees to improve traffic flow. That alone is estimated at roughly R6.4 billion.
Alongside it, ACSA is expanding the domestic arrivals terminal and upgrading the international terminal. Combined, the full capacity programme is estimated at just over R10 billion.
Contractor appointment for the runway project is planned for December 2026. Terminal work is expected to begin around April 2027.
*A second airport enters the picture*
This isn’t the only project in motion. Cape Winelands Airport, on the old Fisantekraal airfield near Durbanville, is being built as a genuine second commercial airport for the region.
This isn’t designed as a simple overflow site. A Cape Winelands spokesperson told Travel News the ambition is broader: new connectivity, and opening up markets Cape Town International doesn’t currently serve well.
The project carries its own roughly R8 billion price tag, backed by property group Growthpoint. Construction is expected to start in late 2026, with an opening targeted for 2028.
Long-term plans for Cape Winelands point to two million international and three million domestic travellers a year by 2050.
*Why this matters for South African travellers*
Two airports eventually serving one region is a meaningfully different travel landscape. More runway capacity should mean fewer weather-related delays and smoother peak-season scheduling.
A second airport could also open genuinely new routes. Airlines that can’t currently get landing slots at Cape Town International may find Cape Winelands an easier way into the Western Cape.
For Winelands-bound travellers specifically, that’s a real win. Cape Winelands sits roughly 24km from Stellenbosch and 30km from Paarl, closer to wine country than Cape Town International itself.
*What this means right now*
None of this changes your travel plans today. Cape Winelands won’t open until 2028. The Cape Town International runway project won’t even appoint a contractor until December 2026.
But it’s worth knowing if you’re a frequent Western Cape traveller, or you’re involved in planning longer-term trips. Over the next two to three years, expect ongoing construction activity around Cape Town’s airports, alongside genuinely expanded capacity on the other side.
*The practical takeaway*
For now, book as usual through Cape Town International. There’s no immediate disruption to flag.
Keep half an eye on this story over the next few years though. A second Western Cape airport, with direct access to the Winelands, could meaningfully change how you plan future regional trips.

Planning a gap year trip to Europe? Or a US visit before starting work? Here’s something worth knowing first.
South African travel agents are seeing more visa refusals. Young travellers are being hit hardest.
*What agents are actually seeing*
A recent Travel News poll asked agents directly. Nearly 70% had noticed more rejections, or more requests for extra documents, from young adults and students.
The trend is clearest in two places. The US and European Schengen countries.
One Cape Town-based agent, Harriet Fourie from Sky Arch Travel, put it simply. She’d rarely had a Schengen refusal before this year. Now it’s becoming more common.
*The numbers behind it*
European Commission data backs this up. South Africa’s Schengen refusal rate sat at 5.3% recently. That’s up from 3.3% in 2019.
Applications have actually dropped too. South Africans applied for 225,060 Schengen visas in 2019. By 2025, that number was down to 195,946.
Refusals, meanwhile, went the other way. From 7,388 in 2019 to 10,203 last year.
*Why young applicants specifically*
This isn’t random. Consulates are looking for one thing above all else: proof you’ll actually go home.
Visa expert Andrea Bonalumi explained it directly. Young applicants often don’t have a job, a business, a house, or a family tying them down.
That makes consulates nervous. Some younger travellers apply for tourist visas while quietly planning to work abroad illegally. Consulates have caught on, and scrutiny has risen for everyone as a result.
*What this means for South African travellers*
If you’re young, unemployed, or between jobs, and planning international travel, this is worth taking seriously. A refusal doesn’t just cost you this trip. It can complicate future visa applications too.
The good news: there are concrete ways to strengthen your application.
*How to improve your chances*
Show clear financial proof. Bonalumi recommends having at least R2,000 available per day of your trip.
Provide evidence you’ll return. That could mean proof of arranged employment back home, or other clear ties to South Africa.
Clean up your social media. Consulates do check, and posts suggesting foreign job hunting can work against you.
Apply early. Fourie strongly recommends submitting well ahead of your travel dates. That protects you financially if a decision is delayed or refused, especially with strict airline change fees and upfront hostel payments.
*If you do get refused*
Not all refusals are worth fighting. If the reason is fixable, reapplying can work. One client successfully reapplied for a French visa after adding proof of funds, prepaid accommodation, and invitation letters from friends already in France.
If the refusal reason isn’t something you can change, agents advise against reapplying. You’ll likely be refused again on the same grounds.
*The practical takeaway*
Before booking flights to Europe or the US, especially if you’re a younger, unemployed, or first-time international traveller, build in visa buffer time. Apply as early as possible, and gather strong proof of both funds and ties back home.
It’s a more cautious approach than travel used to require. But it’s a far better position than losing money on a refused application and non-refundable bookings.

If you live in KwaZulu-Natal, international travel usually starts with a detour. You fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town first. Then you catch your real flight.
That’s about to change for one important route. Ethiopian Airlines will launch daily flights from Durban’s King Shaka International Airport to Addis Ababa on 11 December 2026.
*The basics*
The flights will run every day. They’ll be operated on a Boeing 737 MAX, and bookings are already open.
Ethiopian has flown this route before, but it stopped in 2017. This is a comeback after roughly nine years.
*Where you can go from Addis Ababa*
Addis Ababa is Ethiopian Airlines’ main hub. From there, the airline connects to more than 130 destinations.
That includes London, Paris and Frankfurt. It also includes Mumbai, Delhi and Washington.
For KZN travellers, that’s a real option. You can reach these cities without first heading to Johannesburg or Cape Town.

*Why this matters for Durban*
King Shaka Airport is still rebuilding its international traffic. It handled 5.6 million passengers in the 2025/26 financial year. That’s about 92% of its pre-pandemic level.
A daily international link is a meaningful step. Local leaders have welcomed the news. eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said stronger direct links help attract investment and tourism.
The route also matters for inbound visitors. It gives travellers from Ethiopia and beyond an easier way into Durban.
*What this means for South African travellers*
The clearest winner is anyone based in KwaZulu-Natal who travels to India, East Africa or Europe. It could remove a domestic leg from your journey.
That saves time. It may also save the hassle of a separate ticket and a second airport transfer.
It could also suit travellers heading to India. Mumbai and Delhi are both on Ethiopian’s network via Addis Ababa. That’s relevant given the growing interest we covered in South Africa–India travel.

*What we don’t know yet*
The source reporting doesn’t include fares or a flight schedule. We can’t yet say what a Durban–London or Durban–Mumbai ticket will cost. Connection times at Addis Ababa also haven’t been published in the coverage we found.
Those details will decide whether this route beats flying via Johannesburg. It’s worth comparing total journey time and price before you book.
*The practical takeaway*
If you’re KZN-based and planning international travel from December, check this route on Travelstart and on Ethiopian’s own site. Compare the full journey against your usual Johannesburg connection.
Also note that Ethiopian’s Addis Ababa transfers will suit some destinations better than others. Check your onward baggage and transit rules, since visa rules can differ depending on where you’re headed.

FlySafair updated its fuel surcharge again yesterday. If that sounds familiar, it should.
This charge has been adjusting weekly since March. Here’s the full story, and what it means for your next booking.
*How this started*
Back in March 2026, jet fuel prices spiked hard. A Middle East conflict disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route carrying roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.
Jet A1 fuel at South African coastal airports jumped around 70% in a single week. FlySafair, which had never charged a fuel surcharge before, said it had no reasonable alternative.
The airline introduced a temporary Dynamic Fuel Surcharge on 12 March. It was meant to be short-term, itemised clearly on every ticket rather than hidden inside fares.
*Why it’s still here, months later*
The surcharge was originally meant to end by 12 May. It didn’t.
FlySafair extended it to August, then kept extending as global fuel markets stayed volatile. As of this week, it’s still active, still reviewed every seven days.
To be fair to the airline, this hasn’t just meant increases. Prices peaked in March, then eased. By June, FlySafair had cut surcharges by up to 40% from their highest point, saving up to R285 per flight on domestic routes and R413 on regional ones.
*What determines the price*
The surcharge isn’t fixed. It moves with actual fuel costs, and varies by route length, since longer flights burn more fuel.
At its March peak, the Cape Town–Johannesburg route carried an R832 surcharge per flight. Cape Town–Durban hit R840. Those were the worst weeks of the crisis.
Since then, the trend has generally been downward, though FlySafair has been clear it can’t promise a fixed timeline. Everything depends on global oil markets, which remain genuinely unpredictable.
*What this means for South African travellers*
If you’re booking a FlySafair flight, the fare you see already includes the current week’s surcharge. There’s no separate step required on your part.
If you’ve already booked, your price is locked in. FlySafair has repeatedly confirmed it never applies surcharges retrospectively to existing bookings.
Where it does matter is if you’re changing an existing booking. Move to a new flight date, and the surcharge applicable to that new date will apply, even if your original booking predated the surcharge entirely.
*The practical takeaway*
FlySafair publishes current surcharge amounts by route on its own fuel surcharge page, updated weekly. It’s worth a quick check before booking, especially on longer regional routes where the surcharge tends to run higher.
There’s no clear end date in sight. The airline has tied removal specifically to fuel markets stabilising, not to a calendar date.
For now, the sensible approach is simple. Check the current rate before you book, and don’t assume today’s price matches what you last saw a few months ago.