THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE I 39 The Review ➔ Low-cost carriers flying high
NO-FRILLS carriers add up to 44 per cent to the price of a ticket through the addition of ancillary fees and services, but still remain markedly cheaper than traditional carriers. Research conducted by Kelkoo
and produced by flight analysts RDC Aviation reveals that the ‘extras’ account for an average of 37 per cent of the total price of budget air fares compared to four per cent on standard ones, with UK carriers second only to Italian ones in terms of add-ons. The survey charted the cost of
5,000 fares on 118 routes from 20 low-cost carriers and 20 conventional airlines across 192 airports. It found that low-cost carriers still offer an average saving on air fares of 33 per cent over traditional airlines, with the difference rising to 41 per cent on international flights and falling to 20 per cent on domestic routes. Ryanair emerged as the carrier whose ticket prices contained the greatest proportion of charged-for extras, with travellers forking out an average of 40 per cent on top of the basic air fare. Nonetheless, it
IN THE AIR IN BRIEF
• A DELTA Airlines survey recently revealed business travellers place great value on the ability to relax and unwind while in the air. The survey revealed that 94 per cent of UK business travellers appreciated onboard pampering. The most popular way to relax was by reading, followed by sleeping and watching a movie. Delta is implementing $2billion of inflight enhancements throughout 2013. See feature on p.24.
still proved to offer one of the lowest average fares across all airlines surveyed. Italy-based Blue Panorama Airlines took that title. There were no surprises when it
came to the savings to be reaped by booking in advance, with fares up to 50 per cent lower when booked ten weeks in advance. The figure plummets to a saving of 19 per cent for bookings made seven weeks before travel. Chris Nixon of Kelkoo Travel
TRANSATLANTIC SHUTTLE SERVICE
says, “Ancillary charges can often form a substantial proportion of the total cost of flying, but there is a misconception that the prices advertised by low-cost carriers can work out more expensive than those offered by conventional airlines once all these costs are factored in. The fact is that low- cost carriers remain a third cheaper than traditional airlines, despite the significant charges they levy on their passengers.”
BRUSSELS IN THE HOT SEAT
WHAT the airlines bill as a 'transatlantic shuttle service' has been created by coordinating the timetables of British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia. The carriers have aligned their summer timetables, with flights now departing from London Heathrow for New York every hour on the hour between 1pm and 8pm, with a maximum of an hour and a half between morning departures. Previously, of the 11 daily flights to New York, five left Heathrow at almost exactly the same time, leaving gaps of up to
three hours between services. Similarly, flights from Chicago
into London will now be more evenly spaced, departing on the hour from 5pm to 8pm, with two morning slots remaining as previously scheduled. Two of the three London-Miami flights operated by the triumvirate also used to clash but have now been timetabled further apart. British Airways launches daily services to San Diego in June after an absence of eight years, and its direct service to Buenos Aires commenced at the end of March.
BRUSSELS Airlines is overhauling its short and medium-haul fleet this summer with new aircraft and a new seat design. Six Airbus A319/320 will enter service during the summer, all of which will feature the same new seat specification from German manufacturer Recaro that features on Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss Airlines. The seat provides an extra four centimetres of legroom and more space for luggage below the seat. The new-style seat helps bring down the weight per aircraft by almost 700kgs, reducing fuel consumption and
CO2 emissions by four per cent. “The introduction of six aircraft, together with a new seat, is an investment of Brussels Airlines in comfort, efficiency and environmental concern,” says CEO Bernard Gustin.
• BMI is updating its inflight product this summer with the introduction of new leather seats across its fleet of short-haul aircraft. As part of the refurbishment, nine Airbus A319s and five A320s will also be fitted with new carpets, curtains and lighting. The move follows a similar refurbishment project across the airline’s mid-haul fleet which is due for completion this spring.
• MANCHESTER'S connections to the Middle East have been given a boost by the addition of extra services from Etihad Airways and Emirates. Etihad will double its frequency between Manchester and Abu Dhabi from seven to 14 flights a week – a twice-daily schedule – from August. Emirates, meanwhile, added a third daily flight from Manchester to Dubai in May. The addition comes less than a year after introducing the giant Airbus A380 on its lunchtime departure, and Emirates says the route is now one of its strongest performers. Andrew Harrison, managing director of Manchester Airport, says “This underlines the continuing strength of Manchester to the major global carriers and our network of long-haul flights.”
• AMERICAN Airlines, British Airways and Iberia have opened their first joint Premium lounge at Concourse E of Miami International Airport. The move is just one facet of the carriers’ business agreement that will see them share revenue, coordinate networks and schedules, and cooperate commercially on flights between Europe and North America. The 6,000ft2 lounge has seating for 120 guests, a business centre, TV lounges and shower rooms. Complimentary food and beverages are also served.
• FREE wifi internet access onboard Norwegian flights has proved a hit with passengers since launching in February. Over half of all passengers went online on some flights, with London-Oslo and London-Stockholm two of the routes recording the greatest uptake. Over 20 aircraft will be equipped with broadband by the year’s end and the service remains free of charge – 'for the time being'.
46 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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