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Post by artisans on Mar 19, 2009 9:33:38 GMT 2
A survey of German travellers by European online travel agent, Opodo, finds that 14% of travel will be cancelled as a result of the economic situation. Almost one third will postpone the decision until later.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2009 19:57:34 GMT 2
Figures release today by the OAG (Official Airline Groups) show that 21 routes from the UK to Europe have been axed for 2009, mainly from Glasgow Prestwick, and some Midland airports. Manchester however, show no change. Airline bookings are reckoned to be between 12 - 30% down on last year.
Aer Lingus are cutting in the likes of Easyjet, with their low costs, flying in from Ireland, and onward to Europe. The OGA have also a much lower price range on flights between mainland Europe airports. I presume from this they mean for instance flying to Germany, then take another flight to Corfu, or wherever.
A full report will be out at the beginning of the week.
Yeiamas, Chris
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Post by artisans on Mar 29, 2009 7:51:26 GMT 2
Figures release today by the OAG (Official Airline Groups) show that 21 routes from the UK to Europe have been axed for 2009, mainly from Glasgow Prestwick, and some Midland airports. Manchester however, show no change. Airline bookings are reckoned to be between 12 - 30% down on last year. Aer Lingus are cutting in the likes of Easyjet, with their low costs, flying in from Ireland, and onward to Europe. The OGA have also a much lower price range on flights between mainland Europe airports. I presume from this they mean for instance flying to Germany, then take another flight to Corfu, or wherever. A full report will be out at the beginning of the week. Yeiamas, Chris Chris - do the figures make any distinction between scheduled and chartered flights? The figures they give can be so misleading. The other thing that concerns me is that we are being told about the reductions in bookings and yet people are desperately trying to find flights and can't. Much of the downturn is due to the actions of the airlines and travel companies and it's not all because of customer confidence. It's a bit like patients taking all the blame for non-appearance for hospital appointments. Steve
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Post by artisans on Mar 29, 2009 8:01:29 GMT 2
Other things occur to me now. In a declining market, Roda is competing for a fair slice of the cake, and yet bookings to Turkey and Greece are up by 30% based on the misconception, perpetuated by the travel companies, that those places offer better value. It may be that those who are less aware are being persuaded to visit those destinations because the tour companies make more money there, and those who are more aware are being actively prevented from visiting the destinations of their choice. If bookings are down, then the operators should give us the flights we need and stop whinging. There are plenty of would-be tourists out there who are willing and able to travel if flights were available. Don't forget 'Opodo's' survey which found that one third of potential travels are merely postponing the decision until later in the year. They also found that only 14% had made the firm decision that they would not travel this year. Who, exactly, is telling us the truth?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2009 13:37:51 GMT 2
Exactly Steve, who is telling the truth. We get figures from one group, that are contradicted by another group. Travel Agents say one thing, but Tour Operators say another.
I do feel that Tour Operators are their own worst enemy. They look for the market only to find where it is expected that most money will be spent. They never look at the ongoing affects of established holidays, such as Corfu. Look back a couple of years ago with the First Choice fiasco in Acharavi with the Blue Bay Resort etc. Then there was the smaller companies such as Golden Sun being forced out because of the bigger companies. For instance, I can remembers staying at a Golden Sun accommodation and the owners were very happy in what they got per room per person. Where as the bigger boys were only paying something like €8 per room. Although they were making more money, the big TOs could drop the price a little which forced little TOs out.
I am an avid listening and reader of Simon Calder, the Travel pundit of the Independent, and the TV. As I pointed out in my previous post he too sees a down slide in the number of routes to Europe from the UK, with the same airports being hit more than others. He also believes that flying from another Europe destination to say for instance Corfu or Spain, is beneficial on the wallet. We have seen this with Air Berlin, LTU etc. Like Simon Calder says, if you are willing to hang around airports, some good deals are available, and in time these airports will see this, and add more to those routes.
Whilst on the subject of travel. One of the nurses who has been dealing with my leg is driving to Corfu this year, and has been doing for the last 2 years, to see her sister and hubby in Kassiopi. She will not fly anymore. She also finds it cheaper, not by too much, dependent on the price of fuel at the time, but it is the gain in the extra holiday part of travelling down and back.
Friends of ours are travelling to Corfu, but via train. Eurostar to Paris, and overnight train Paris to Milan, and then I think Milan to Brindisi, and then the ferry. They are contemplating using the Brindisi to Gouvia Air sea service, but yet to confirm.
Overall I feel the Tour Operators and airlines can only push us a certain distance, and then they will feel the pinch themselves. But from what I can see, numbers are down, but not in the way that the TOs are saying themselves which for some reason warrants them taking away routes and aircraft.
Chris
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Post by artisans on Mar 29, 2009 14:06:44 GMT 2
Hi Chris - we first came to Corfu with Golden Sun for which we will be forever grateful. We had two good holidays and we were impressed by their contactability and resort knowledge. Clearly, things changed somewhat towards the end, but perhaps some of the executives who have lost their jobs will branch out with a small and friendly travel company specialising in value for money and giving their customers and suppliers a good deal.
If we can look forward to one thing over the next couple of years, it is for some young entrepreneur or redundant travel executive to spot this gap in the market and start the cycle all over again. This is a classic scenario in markets approaching monopoly and ignoring the needs of their customers and there are many famous examples. Perhaps we should do it ourselves - do you have any investors in your pocket?
I would be interested to know more about your nurse's plans to travel to Corfu by train as those of us who will or cannot fly might find the information useful.
As for First Choice, it is something of a misnomer!
Steve
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