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Press release
- 17.01.1900
- 8th Hamburg Aviation Conference - Low cost carriers threaten European charter airlines
Long-haul flights remain in the hands of traditional airlines
The European aviation market continues to change rapidly. Low cost carriers on short-haul flights within Europe are taking over more and more of the leisure travel market from charter airlines by offering low prices and selling tickets directly through the internet. Traditional airlines are experiencing difficulties, while low cost carriers are benefitting to large degree from further market growth. However, on medium and long-haul flights - that is, 3 hours flying time and longer - charter airlines are still used by passengers: the classic package tour still has a chance here, since by cooperating with tour operators, charter airlines have direct access to the all-important hotel accommodation. Travellers will in future book classic city breaks and short vacations almost exclusively over the internet, without going through a tour operator or travel agency. For airports, this means a more flexible approach to their use of floor space and encouraging new concepts beyond the classic booking of trips.
This was the conclusion reached by over 250 scientists and senior management figures from the aviation industry at the 8th Hamburg Aviation Conference which met in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg from 16th to 18th February.
International aviation experts agreed that:
· the package tour must redefine itself in order to offer the traveller more value than they have from booking flights and accommodation separately;
· consumers can continue to expect low air fares, as airline business models are oriented towards maximum efficiency;
· the number of destinations will increase, but the number of departure airports will consolidate. At the same time, the number of private journeys will increase;
· traditional charter airlines must adapt their fleets from short-haul to medium and long-haul traffic in order to maintain a profitable niche;
· new market potential is developing for low-cost flights to China and India.
The annual Hamburg Aviation Conference is jointly organised by the Department of the Economy and Labour of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the German Aeronautical and Astronautical Society under the leadership of Hamburg Airport.