Number of Low-Cost Flights Worldwide Has Doubled over the Past Five Years

Budget airline flights have more than doubled over the past five years, with no-frills operators enjoying a huge increase in market share, according to figures from the travel information company OAG shared recently.

As per the information available, in Europe, low-cost carriers are responsible for 24 percent more flights in April 2006 than a year ago. Globally, their flights have more than doubled to 300,000 compared with five years ago.

OAG says the total number of flights in and out of the UK in April 2006 is five percent up on the same month last year. Also, the number of intercontinental flights to and from Europe is 10 percent higher than in April 2005, while the number of flights within Europe has been steady.

Nearly 266.3 million airline seats go on sale this month of April, two percent more than in April 2005, on about 2.3 million flights –the same as a year ago. Flights to and from the Middle East are 16 percent up, with the number of low-cost flights to the region double that of last April. US domestic flights –by far the world´s largest air transport market- are six percent down on the year.

The continuing high cost of fuel is clearly having a significant effect on the world´s air transport industry. Although fuel prices obviously affect all airlines, the budget carriers have lower cost bases. Because they are generally smaller than their full-service counterparts, they can react more quickly and effectively to market trends.