FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1973
1973 - 0127.PDF
FLIGHT International, 18 January 1973 77 AIR TRANSPORT "! ^ ^ Earlybird fares filed M ORE TALKS are expected between the British Civil Avia tion Authority and the US Civil Aeronautics Board some time in February, in an attempt to agree over fares policy on the UK-USA sector of the North Atlantic, following the breakdown of lata traffic conferences and subsequent disagreement between the two authorities over fares filed by British and American carriers. Advance- purchase fares on scheduled flights, advocated by BOAC for three years (and called "Earlybird" by the airline), have been filed by BOAC and British Caledonian with the CAA, CAB and Canadian Transport Commission. If approved the fares would become effective on April 1. With CAA support, and that of British Prime Minister Edward Heath, who called for lower fares at the last lata annual general meeting, the British carriers have thus set the pace in cheap transatlantic fares. The BOAC fares start at £59 return on London-Boston and London-Montreal in the low season (October 15 to June 14, excluding the Christmas period), but climb to £91 in the summer peak. On the London-New York route, which both BOAC and BCAL intend to fly, the fares range between £62 and £94. These rates are little higher than the advance-booking charter fares already proposed, but all apply only for tickets bought in Britain. The American traveller is ex pected to pay £78 return between New York and London in the winter and up to £123 in the July peak on Earlybird. Examples of the fares for American originations, which are based on four traffic periods, including shoulders, are: Boston-London £76 and Montreal-London £71 in winter. Typical summer fares are £118 for both Boston-London and Montreal-London flights. These rates are still lower than advance-purchase fares already filed by TWA and Pan Am of between £83 and £125, according to the season. These The second A300B, which should fly shortly, has been painted in Iberia colours on one side and in Air France colours on the other. The second aircraft is a 8/ version like the first. Iberia has ordered the extended- range B4, while Air France is buying the B2—basically the same as the bl, but with a slightly lengthened fuselage latter would apply both eastbound and westbound if approved. Controls on the individual advance-purchase fares are a requirement to book three months in advance of the flight, plus a minimum stay abroad of from ten to 14 days. The fares compare with the £171 of an lata economy return between London and New York and the £88 of a 22- to 45- day excursion. The Laker Airways instant-purchase Sky- train service between Stansted, London and New York— approved by the CAA but at present held up because the carrier has not been designated for the route—has single fares of £32-50 in the low season and of £37-50 in the high season. This service is also due to be started on April 1 if designation is granted and subsequent CAB hearings go in favour of the airline (see leading article). ATLANTIC CHARTER TRAFFIC DROPS DUBING 1972 the total number of passengers carried by all operators—scheduled and charter—between North America and Europe showed a major growth of 15-6 per cent, from 11-29 million; in 1971 to 13-04 million in 1972 Non-Iata charter traffic, however, dropped, its market share falling from 21-3 per ceiit in 1971 to 16-6 per cent last year. An lata spokesman said' last week that the figures show an increasing preference for the services offered by the lata airlines, which carried 71 per cent of the total. A large proportion of passengers have been taking advantage of lower-cost promotional and special vacation fares. Of the total market, the lata first-class traveller represented 4
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
