The prices of flights in this year that are about to end have been up to 30% higher than those found in pre-pandemic on certain routes, due largely to the desire to travel after the restrictions derived from the fight against Covid, but also to other variables such as the increase in fuel prices.
This is calculated by the experts consulted, who point out that the average ticket price today is “significantly higher” than in 2019 and predict that there will be no type of decrease in the years 2024 and 2025.
For example, a ticket between Spain and Argentina does not go below 1,100 euros even when purchased within a year, when previously it could be obtained for a figure between 550 and 600 euros, according to sources in the field of wholesale contracting of this type. of flights.
His answer coincides with the results of the study carried out by the tourism sector agency Mabrian, which goes further and calculates that conventional airlines are 40% more expensive and low-cost airlines 6%, after analyzing the average monthly prices between on July 1, 2021 and the same date this year.
He adds that the increase in the period covered would be 31.2% globally and that Qatar – due to the celebration of the World Cup -, Mali, Jordan, Panama and Sudan are the destinations that have become most expensive.
This increase has also been detected by tourist price comparison platforms such as Skyscanner, from which they indicate to Efe that there are increases in average fares, although not at the same pace or on the same routes.
Strong demand increases the cost per ticket
The increase in airline ticket prices is caused by the increase in demand, as a result of the recovery of mobility after the stoppage of travel due to the health crisis.
The euphoria of passengers to jump to other places has taken over airline seats, as pointed out by the Association of Air Lines (ALA), which points out that 243.28 million people have traveled to or from Spain until October, 1.9% More than in the same period in 2019.
On the other hand, Skyscanner shares that the number of flight searches on its website has grown by 53% so far in 2023, compared to pre-pandemic; While Amadeus estimates that 1,452.8 million passengers have boarded using its technological solutions in the first nine months of this year, only 44 million less than in 2019.
The strong demand puts pressure on prices, also affected by fluctuations in the cost of fuel – especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine – or the rise in interest rates – but which, despite their increase, users pay.
Thus, the tourism platform Edreams asserts that the “desire to travel is resilient in the face of economic ups and downs” and Skyscanner reveals in a report that 84% of Spaniards plan to make the same number of trips or more next year.
“Prices are high, but the planes are full every day, a situation that airlines take advantage of to recover part of what they lost during the pandemic,” says another of the sector experts consulted.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated the losses due to the pandemic at 182,000 million euros, a gap that airlines are beginning to cover in the current year, which will close with a net profit of more than 21,000 million.
Only the IAG group – made up of Iberia, Vueling, British Airways, Aer Lingus and Level – multiplied its profits tenfold until September, with 2,151 million.
More places
In order to satisfy the high demand, airlines have increased the planned supply of seats for this winter by 12.8%, compared to the number of seats for the 2018-2019 season, according to ALA data.
This advance translates into 127 million passengers between October and March of this year, the highest number recorded in Spanish airports. By companies, Iberia Express offers 3.5 million seats, 12% more than in 2019, and Jet2 programs 2.7 million, 25% above the pre-pandemic number.
Meanwhile, Iberia announced that it has increased the capacity of international flights by 30%, 9% for the Balearic Islands and 5% on routes to the Canary Islands, compared to the previous season.
Air Europa, Ryanair – which launched 20,000 million seats, the largest offering since it operated in Spain – and Vueling are also on the list of airlines that have chosen to put more tickets on sale for the winter period.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS