Priced out on air, local travellers now resort to insecure roads

Travellers using the South Sudanese domestic routes are a worried lot after detecting a trend of extreme increases in the prices of air tickets.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the routes within the country did not exceed $100 for the natives to fly to their respective areas via air. But as of now, this is no longer an applicable situation.

For example, travelling to Bor Town in Jonglei State used to be within the range of SSP16,000 to SSP18,000 as other places like Wau Town in Western Bahr El Ghazal State went for SSP20,000 to SSP25,000 then.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the prices became a little bit amplified to cover for the new pandemic gaps that were left due to social distancing.

However, the ramble then remained stagnant, and as a result, the operators could not bother to revise the pricing. As of 2022, the flight price spike continues even though the COVID-19 situation is the new normal.  

Currently, a flight ticket to Wau Town costs between $100 and $150, as Malakal goes for $120.

For Bor town, Torit, and Nimule (Eastern Equatoria State), travellers part with $100 and Aweil towns goes for $120 or more.

According to airport reliable sources, Kapoeta costs $150, the Pibor Administrative Area costs $200, Ruweng costs $150, Renk costs $200, and Rubkona in Unity State costs $150.

The silent cries

Manas James, a frequent flyer who frequently visits the Greater Jonglei Region, admitted that there has been an increase in travel costs that was not adequately justified when travelling to the United States.

“Especially since this year begun. It used to be SSP16,000. After the COVID-19 they increased it to SSP30,000 and later it was increased again to SSP40,000 and now $100,” he explained.

“The increase is not fair. When it was first increased, it was understandable. The reason was due to COVID-19 measures, and people were not allowed to sit within the circumference of meter, but now that the COVID-19 is lockdown has been lifted. What is the reason for the increment? He questioned.

According to James, there was no clear justification why the fare should remain stagnant at SSP40,000 and beyond.

James revealed the huge travel fares have continued to interfere with most of his programming when travelling to the fields to earn his living.

“Some of us are monitoring and evaluation officers, health workers, businessmen, and journalists. We have to visit the states regularly, and paying $100 and more per trip is very expensive, and sometimes, it disrupts schedules as planned, “he narrated.

James said the present prices were exploiting the poor citizens who are struggling to meet their costs of living by all means.

“This is not logical. It is exploitation, and the government is supposed to do something about it.Any relevant government agency must look into it critically, “he concluded.

 “During the COVID-19, the increase was to cover the expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 lockdown, but now that the restriction is lifted, what is the reason for keeping it? He quipped.

The concerned citizen appealed to the travel agencies and other relevant government agencies to look into the issue and try to reduce such expensive fares from the current level of over SSP40,000 to what they used to be before COVID-19 started in 2020.

Kuol Akech Matiop, a field officer for a certain local organisation headquartered in Juba, said the increment has reduced the number of clients that use aircraft nowadays.

“Many locals have resorted to road transport regardless of the presence of insecurity being felt in the country, “he said.

“They decided to risk their lives since they could not afford the local available flights,”Mr. Matiop added.

He added, stressing that the matter was also affecting the transit of goods and other organisational equipment from Juba to the field areas.

Aviation companies defence

Jijowk Sliman, the Operations Manager for Kush Air Aviation Company, one of the best-selling South Sudanese aviation companies in Juba said any increment in prices was directly proportional to the arising operation costs that the aviation companies have to meet on a constant basis.

“The increase in prices now depends on the operational costs.” He said operational costs include fuel, landing fees, navigation fees, and any other fees, including taxation also,” he said.

“By any ticket, you have to pay the taxes.” You have to pay the fuel, you have to pay the handling fee; and many other things that are involved in operations,” Sliman explained.

The company’s official said even if the prices were seemingly “expensive,” they were not expensive because they had to constantly pay the operational costs.

“The main problem is fuel. Because in the international market, the price of fuel is high; every day, or every two days, or a week; you will find different prices higher than before; they are not fixed, “he stated.

Managerial take

When contacted on his capacity as the Managing Director of Juba International Airport to explain the policy guiding domestic flights across the country, Brig. Gen. Kur Kuol Ajieu revealed that domestic flights are never regulated.

 “What is going on here in South Sudan; is that there is no one who is regulating the prices,” he admitted.

“It is a free market in which one can increase his/her prices today and if there are no customers tomorrow, one lowers them. No one regulates the fare of the ticket. It is just a free-market system where you can get different prices,” the Managing Director said.

Gen. Ajieu said the excuse has always been attributed to the fuel crisis that gives him and his administration, a lower hand to intervene and quell the cries.

When asked once again to describe what his administration was doing currently to clear the cries and correct the mishaps, he said there was nothing the management can do without government intervention.

“The management cannot do anything because the prices of the fuel are already high and those of fuel say they are being taxed by the government highly in the border including here . so, what do you think the management can do? he asked.

“It should be the government’s job to make the policy followable. Full stop, that’s the only thing I can tell you,” he stated.

Citizens cries

Ajieu also disclosed that he can’t even manage to help in the citizenry’s cries though the natives were hit over limited capacity.

“Yes, they are crying but what can I do? He questioned.

“Everybody is claiming his/her rights and all those kinds of things. So, who is governing us is the government? The Ministry of Trade and Commence, should come up with the policy to be followed,”

According to the Director, he would speedily implement the policy on fair domestic fares should the government develop it now.

He said the current situation was putting him in dilemma since the companies could even give in due to the present economic situation.

“You cannot just tell someone that don’t do this and all those things. Okay later on the companies’  public who are crying, for instance those operating their aircrafts can just ground their planes, but I can question why you don’t fly? Because they will say we are losing.  so it is the government to come with the policy that can be followed by everyone,” Ajieu reiterated.

South Sudan local flights are scheduled to most of the state’s capitals that have in the past eased local transportation due to the nature of the feeders roads coupled with insecurity

However, the citizens complain of the expensive fares levied by the companies without mercy.