One in three take low-cost flights to Spain

23 August 2006

MADRID — The number of people flying to Spain with low-cost carriers has risen by 15 percent this year, a report said on Wednesday.

Since January, nearly 10 million people have taken easyJet, Ryanair or other low-cost airlines.

This means one in three people flew to Spain with a low-cost carrier, according to a report by the Institute of Tourist Studies.

In comparison, traditional airlines saw a rise of only 4 percent, with 21 million people arriving in Spain with companies like Iberia, British Airways or Air France.

In July alone, the number of budget fliers rose 13 percent, compared with the same month last year.

This meant nearly 2 million people – or 32 percent of all air travellers – took budget flights at the height of the summer.

By comparison, traditional airlines saw a 1.7 percent rise in the same month, with 4.2 million getting on full-cost flights.

Iberia was the most popular airline, taking 12.4 percent of Spanish market  – or 3.8 million passengers.

But the three most popular low-cost fliers saw much higher increases in passengers.

Ryanair recorded a 17 percent rise in passengers, with 2.09 million taking their flights, while easyJet were in second place with 2.05 million customers – a rise of 9.6 percent.

Air Berlin saw a rise of 6.6 percent with 1.8 million people choosing to fly with them.

Britain was the biggest market for airlines, with 10m of all passengers to Spain coming from the UK (32 percent of the total).

This was followed by Germany, with 6.1 million, then Italy with 2.3 million (up 16.3 percent).

Madrid was the most popular destination, followed by Catalonia.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news