UK low-cost carrier (LCC) EasyJet has made a significant modification to its business model with the launch of a flexible fare specifically aimed at business travellers.
LCCs such as Luton-based EasyJet have benefited from business travellers trading down from legacy carriers' business-class cabins as the recession has hit company travel budgets. EasyJet now hopes to accelerate this trend with its new fare, says a spokesman.
The new fare, which will start from £99 ($148), will allow unlimited changes to ticket details within a four-week window - one week before and up to three weeks after the original booked travel date. Flexible fare passengers will also gain free automatic priority boarding (currently £6), no booking fees (£4.95) and one free checked-in item of baggage (£9 for standard fare passengers).
The spokesman says around 18% of its passengers are currently business travellers. He adds that the flexible fare, although more expensive than its "standard" fares, is still expected to be "far cheaper" than those offered by legacy carriers.
The new fare has a "soft launch" today and will initially only be available through business booking channels including global distribution systems and self-booking tools used by business travel companies. It will become generally available on the company's website "early in 2011".
The carrier will use this initial period for any necessary fine-tuning to the fare that becomes apparent. Among details still to be confirmed is whether any changes to tickets outwith the four-week window will attract a charge.
There are no plans for a separate business-class cabin or additional on-board services for flexible fare ticketholders, says the airline.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
