Air fares in the time of pandemic

[whole diary]

[grahame]

We so often see "it's cheaper to fly than to take the train".  A little bit of the other side of the coin, perhaps (BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Live feed):

It's not just France seeing soaring travel prices ahead of new UK^▸ (United Kingdom) quarantine rules.

The Netherlands was also taken off the travel corridor list after a rise in coronavirus infections there.

Prices for seats on non-stop flights between Amsterdam and London have soared well above the average for this time of year, according to a review of Google Flight data.

The cheapest seat on Friday will set passengers back £327 - with the most expensive on British Airways' last available flight costs £645 for the 85 minute journey.

Meanwhile, the only remaining journey on Stena Line's ferry route between Hook of Holland and Harwich on Friday is sold out.

And an example of a truly open market?   If this the sort of outcome that may happen from a fares review on rail?

[Robin Summerhill]

It is an example of neither.

The air passenger market is currently decimated. The only people that are flying the Amsterdam to London route are those who really really want to go or really really have to go. They’ll probably pay whatever is asked of them.

And, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion), of any TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) tried charging £327 for an 85-minute journey they’d find themselves running a lot of virtual ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock)

[broadgage]

The correct basis for comparison is surely the distance in miles, not the time taken in minutes.
Possibly not much more, per mile than the worst UK^▸ (United Kingdom) train fares for full fare walk up.

[grahame]

It is an example of neither.

The air passenger market is currently decimated. The only people that are flying the Amsterdam to London route are those who really really want to go or really really have to go. They’ll probably pay whatever is asked of them.

And, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion), of any TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) tried charging £327 for an 85-minute journey they’d find themselves running a lot of virtual ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock)

The correct basis for comparison is surely the distance in miles, not the time taken in minutes.
Possibly not much more, per mile than the worst UK^▸ (United Kingdom) train fares for full fare walk up.

London to Amsterdam - 222 miles, so that's £1.47 per mile

London to Melksham - 100 miles, £91 peak single, so £0.90 per mile. Standard Class
London to Melksham - 100 miles, £153.70 peak single, so £1.54 per mile. First Class (*)

* - That's a "via Swindon" Fare.  Noticed an "any permitted" at £138.30 too ... wonder what the difference is

[Robin Summerhill]

It is an example of neither.

The air passenger market is currently decimated. The only people that are flying the Amsterdam to London route are those who really really want to go or really really have to go. They’ll probably pay whatever is asked of them.

And, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion), of any TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) tried charging £327 for an 85-minute journey they’d find themselves running a lot of virtual ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock)

The correct basis for comparison is surely the distance in miles, not the time taken in minutes.
Possibly not much more, per mile than the worst UK^▸ (United Kingdom) train fares for full fare walk up.

London to Amsterdam - 222 miles, so that's £1.47 per mile

London to Melksham - 100 miles, £91 peak single, so £0.90 per mile. Standard Class
London to Melksham - 100 miles, £153.70 peak single, so £1.54 per mile. First Class (*)

* - That's a "via Swindon" Fare.  Noticed an "any permitted" at £138.30 too ... wonder what the difference is

In truth none of these comparisons are really valid because we are in very special circumstances at the moment.

The peak rate pence per mile figures between London and Melksham might look impressive (for want of a better word) but cheaper options are available (going off peak, advance fares, splitting etc). There appear to be no such options on any cross channel routes at the moment.

Being one of those social pariahs who still smoke, for over 20 years I have been taking advantage of the Single Market and Customs Union to buy my tobacco tax and duty paid in Belgium where it is legally on sale at about 40% of the UK price. When the lockdown restrictions were lifted I looked into the possibility of going over – quick.

P&O, DFDS and Eurotunnel all wanted £90-£95 for a one way trip, or £180 to £190 return. Last year I got a return with P&O for a car and two adults for £37.00. The additional cost makes it impractical to go at the moment (even if I could but of course Belgium is now back on the quarantine list).

I have a sneaking suspicion that one of the first things our Glorious Leaders will do after Brexit is fully finalised is to reintroduce the Customs Allowances that already exist if you are coming back from a non-EU^» (European Union - about) country. Of course, those who smuggle the stuff in will still be doing it, but doing it legally will be stopped.

Funny old world, innit...

[southwest]

It's called supply and demand, don't forget airlines have lost millions of pound a day whilst being grounded, maintenance etc still has to continue on aircraft even if they are just sitting there. With travel decimate and most air corridors being shut down yet again thanks to the incompetence of this government they are having to increase prices to make up for lost revenue. There's also having to bring more staff back one minute and then put them back on furlough/unpaid leave again.


There's also the mass scale market that would usually happen, meaning having thousand of staff and a 200 plus aircraft available is cheap and cost effective, but currently it's being more of a burden.

[eightonedee]

It's called supply and demand, don't forget airlines have lost millions of pound a day whilst being grounded, maintenance etc still has to continue on aircraft even if they are just sitting there.

To say nothing of having to continue to pay leasing fees to the financial institutions from whom they lease the aircraft. And if the airline collapses, those institutions will be left with aircraft on their hands with no income from them, and capital values severely impaired by the surplus of aircraft over demand, but with continuing cost being incurred storing and maintaining them. The write downs that result will mean that the banks that own then will have their balance sheets impaired and be less able to support home buyers, small and medium businesses (or even large ones needing to refinance to get through the current difficult times).

A chap can get depressed thinking about this, but at least it will reduce emissions from aircraft..........