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Airliners launch fare war to fill winter seats
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-14 09:05 Major European carriers are
competing for Chinese passengers with low fares and tour promotions in the slow
winter season as the market becomes crowded with new players and more flights.
Leading the price war is Virgin Atlantic Airways, which just announced a
3,777 yuan (US$466) round-trip fare between Shanghai and London for economy
class seats through the end of this year.
The price is the lowest offered on China-British routes and beats the 3,990
yuan promotional fare offered by British Airways, the UK's flagship carrier in
June.
Before Virgin Atlantic's announcement, economy fares on the route hovered
around 4,500 yuan.
British Airways came up its own special promotions in response to its
archrival's price cut.
The biggest UK carrier, which has dominated the Beijing market and hopes to
break Virgin's hold on Shanghai, launched several special offers since it
started service in Shanghai in June, especially when Britain opened its tourism
market to China in July.
For instance, any passenger who buys a BA 5,990-yuan round-trip economy class
ticket from Shanghai or Beijing to London before December 15 can take along a
child under age 12 for free.
In addition, the traveler can go to other UK cities or designated European
cities for an additional 1,000 yuan.
A winter package will run through the end of March featuring a two-night stay
in a three-star hotel plus a round-trip ticket from Shanghai or Beijing to
London for 6,390 yuan.
BA now runs five flights a week from Shanghai or Beijing to London.
Air France said this month it's offering a 8,000 yuan package for passengers
starting from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to selected destinations in France
via Paris. The price includes a round-trip ticket and five nights' stay in a
twin-share room in luxury Sofitel hotels in France.
Lufthansa German Airlines also started a winter promotion offering a 5,500
yuan round-trip fare for passengers flying from Shanghai or Beijing to Europe
from tomorrow to January 15.
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