Good news for those who want to go on vacation! Surprisingly, the price of airline tickets is currently cheaper compared to previous years. This is astonishing given the health crisis this summer. But why this change in pricing? The details.
Why has the price of plane tickets decreased?
The reduction in air travel fare is among the few good things about this pandemic. A study by the flight comparison tool Skyscanner for the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) confirms that prices are on average 25% cheaper compared to the last “normal” summer, in 2019, the reference year.
On the other hand, according to a study by the comparison tool Lilligo, airlines have adjusted their margins to attract the maximum number of travelers during this summer period and thus maintain a good level of air traffic. Indeed, many people are still reluctant to fly or to travel for fear of being contaminated by the coronavirus. This is particularly due to the rise of the current Delta variant. An attractive fare can therefore be a good opportunity for vacationers and may influence their decision to travel.
Moreover, it is recommended to book tickets several days in advance to take advantage of this current promotion. If a problem occurs, such as a flight cancellation or even a flight delay, do not hesitate to follow the normal procedure in such situations.
Where did the idea to lower the fare come from?
It was the airline “Royal Air Maroc” (RAM) that influenced the aviation industry regarding revisiting fares. Paradoxically, they initially increased their prices due to the crisis, prompting King Mohammed VI to intervene with the particular aim of facilitating travel for Moroccans residing abroad, as well as for tourists. The JDD notes, “In one night, 120,000 bookings were recorded with the airline.”
From there came the spread of this pricing change throughout European airlines, and recently some African airlines (such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Price drop: by how much and to which destination?
Due to the current pandemic, some countries are not accessible. Moreover, this promotion does not apply to all destinations.
In July 2021, Liligo notes that the top 5 destinations with the most significant price decreases compared to summer 2019 are:
- Portugal (-48% for Faro and -44% for Porto);
- France, including Nice (-37%);
- Spain (-35% for Malaga);
- Malta (at least 30% decrease for Valletta);
- Greece, one of the dream destinations at the moment.
Although traveling to Corsica was more expensive at the beginning of the summer, it is different this month with a decrease of up to -35% for Ajaccio.
However, it is recommended to carefully choose the destination country to limit the spread of Covid-19.
