Low-cost carriers at over 80% occupancy this holiday season

Low-cost airlines present domestically have not felt the crisis fallout through a traffic drop during the holidays period, with the occupancy rate amounting to over 80%, despite the bigger number of flights operated from and to Romania.

Romanians who have not bought plane tickets for the winter holidays have missed low-cost carriers’ promotional offers on most routes, after operators have already secured a high occupancy rate. In general, around 10% of tickets put out for sale have the lowest prices. “This year, during the winter holidays’ period, the occupancy rate of MyAir flights stands at 85-90%, higher than last year, when it revolved around 80%. There were several promotions and now the lowest fare available stands at 80 euro for a return ticket,” says Antonio Iervolino, a representative of MyAir Romania. At the same time, Hungary’s Wizz Air, ranking second domestically after Blue Air, has already gained an 85% occupancy rate for flights from and to Romania. “Our experience shows us the occupancy rate climbs to 90% during holidays,” said Natasa Kazmer, communication and PR manager of Wizz Air. And “the more loaded the aircraft, the higher the prices,” Kazmer explains. Flights to Spain and Italy are in highest demand during winter holidays, too, with traffic on these routes also sustained by the Romanians working abroad and returning home. Germany and England are also among the top destinations. The high demand for certain destinations made Wizz Air representatives raise the number of flights. “During the peak period of the winter season, we’re increasing the frequency of several flights, such as Cluj-Barcelona, Cluj-Valencia, Bucharest-Dortmund, Bucharest-Milan Bergamo and Timisoara-London Luton,” said the company’s representatives. At the same time, most flights operated by MyAir low-cost carrier have Italy as a destination, with preferences being almost the same as last year. As regards flights to Germany, both Wizz Air and Germanwings already have a high occupancy rate for this destination. “We have the highest occupancy rate on the Bucharest-Berlin route,” says Andreas Engel, PR manager with Germanwings, specifying the company had an 81% occupancy rate during winter holidays, expected to rise this year.