No-frills leads aviation recovery

“No-frills” carriers are leading a strong recovery in the aviation industry, allowing traffic to surpass levels set before the 11 September terror outrages. According to the travel data company OAG, there will be nearly a third more low-cost flights to and from the UK this month than there were in April 2004, with no-frills carriers accounting for some 12 per cent of scheduled flights. The Independent newspaper, reporting the figures, states that no-frills carriers’ share of the market has now doubled since 2001 – specifically, 300,000 flights out of 2.27 million worldwide. Duncan Alexander, managing director of OAG business development, is quoted as saying: “The low-cost phenomenon continues to break all records. After two truly turbulent years in 2002 and 2003, the world’s airlines have clawed their way back to pre-September 11 levels. China and low-cost carriers are leading the overall recovery.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd www.newsfromabroad.com