The managers and workers in travel and tourism agencies said that the prices of airline tickets for scheduled flights, until the end of March, have fallen in large proportions to reach low levels during this period of the year, compared to the same period in previous years.
But they assured «Emirates Today» that prices to some destinations, and for scheduled flights during short periods, have maintained their cohesion, despite the significant decline in demand due to the spread of the new Corona virus.
They pointed out that airlines reduced seat capacity, with many countries restricting air transport, to decrease the demand for travel to record levels, noting that more companies resorted to offering offers for airline tickets and hotel accommodations, within the programs of tourist holidays to various destinations.
Suspension of flights
In detail, the general manager of the “Asayel Tourism” company, Riyadh Al-Faisal, said that the prominent feature of the air transport market today is the suspension and suspension of operating flights to the affected destinations, and the countries that impose restrictions on air services, due to the spread of the new Corona virus, indicating that Attention is primarily directed at suspending operations, not airline tickets prices. Al-Faisal pointed out that airlines worldwide have resorted to reducing seat capacity by directing them to other stations or temporarily stopping aircraft, pointing out that the sector is watching the developments of "Corona" and adheres to the directions issued by countries or international organizations.
Average prices
Al-Faisal explained that the average prices for airline tickets during this period are at the lowest levels compared to the same period in previous years, adding that the prices to some destinations, and for scheduled flights during short periods, have remained coherent, especially those that are in demand.
He pointed out that airlines have the flexibility to control the price schedule, in proportion to the demand available to those destinations.
He mentioned that with regard to flights scheduled for the end of March, prices remain at the same levels, but they are higher than average for next April trips, for reservations that are currently made, indicating that prices will remain closely related to the expected demand volume for the coming period and new travel restrictions.
Challenges
For his part, the Director General of the Al-Faisal Travel and Tourism Agency, Yassin Diab, said that airlines worldwide face several challenges, indicating that the demand for travel has fallen to record levels, due to the restrictions imposed by various countries on air transport, and travel concerns due to a virus Corona. He pointed out that most airlines resorted to reducing the seat capacity they occupy on various stations.
Retreat
Diab indicated that the price of airline tickets, in turn, reached low levels during this period of the year, as they fell by rates ranging between an average of 60 and 80%, indicating in the same framework that air carriers resorted to offering many offers, to raise the levels of demand for flights to destinations The list is currently running. Diab stated that the promotional offers for companies included earning travel miles, with the ability to carry additional weights at no charge, in addition to promotional holidays that include airline tickets and hotel accommodations, pointing out that the decline in the demand for travel included a large part of destinations around the world.
Restrictions
In turn, the general manager of Belhasa Tourism Company, Narrows Sarkis, said that prices are at low levels, but they have not declined significantly in proportion to the rates of low travel demand, indicating that many countries impose restrictions on travel, and there is general international apprehension about the idea of travel .
Sarkis added that the trader who will travel under these conditions will not take the ticket price into consideration as a single factor, as there are other factors with the spread of Corona currently controlling travel decisions.
Offers
Sarkis said that there are more companies that resorted to offering offers on airline tickets and hotel accommodations, as part of tourist vacation programs to various destinations, pointing out that air carriers have implemented flexible policies to cancel bookings affected by travel restrictions due to "Corona", and it monitors the conditions, while it seeks to Reduced capacity and concentrate it from other destinations, to suit demand levels.
He explained that the decision to reduce airline tickets prices by air carriers is based on a number of factors, most notably the demand and maintaining operational continuity, as well as costs.
Great flexibility
The general manager of the “Asayel Tourism” company, Riyad Al-Faisal, said that the air transport sector is characterized by great flexibility to adapt to the challenges that have emerged during the past years, and it is at the current stage that adheres to the recommendations and directives binding on it.
He added that some companies resorted to reducing capacities, to keep operating costs down to the lowest possible level.
Companies offering tourist offers including tickets and hotel accommodation.