RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Cheap flights (Was: State Farm Stays)

["Russell Horn" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> Uh...I think you're missing some zeros here on these prices? :-)
> (Or is it really cheaper to fly to Stockholm than to drive to
> downtown London?)

Yep, in all seriousness it is. It works out more expensive because of our
high taxes here in Europe, but those are the prices the airlines charge -
and as I point out are very profitable at.

The airlines work hard at making sure flights are filled near to capacity,
and time on the ground is incredibly short - sometimes as short as 20
minutes.

Easyjet made 71.6 million GBP profit in the 12 months to 30 September 2002 -
possibly the worst 12 months for airlines globally in the last decade. Their
average fair over that period was 46 GBP.

Ryanair who generally have even cheaper flights are predicting full year
profits for their current financial year of $243.2 US.

Both airlines have very modern fleets, usually of 737s or their Airbus
equivalents. It has also forced the big airlines to compete. For example BMI
offer flights from Edinburgh to London Heathrow starting at 10 GBP each way
+ tax. And that's not a no-frills service, in other words you still get your
cup of tea half way through the one hour flight :)

Russell.

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