FIRST
Choice’s charter airline Air 2000 hopes to break into the no-frills market by
spring next year by adapting its system to sell flexible flight-only trips.
Currently
the charter airline is limited to seven and 14-night durations and cannot sell one-way
tickets because it is left with ‘empty legs’ to fill.
But with 15%
of the programme already made up of flight-only sales, increasing demand for
short breaks and flexibility in the market, First Choice has reviewed its
offering.
UK and
Ireland managing director Dermot Blastland said it was simply a matter of
adapting technology to allow the switch to more flexible tickets.
The system
would also be changed to calculate euros in order to sell flight tickets
through First Choice’s Spanish chain of travel agents, Barcelo.
Blastland
said: “The intention is to move flight-only on to the new system and then we
can sell anything we want.”
Destinations
likely to offer the flexibility would be those from which First Choice could
“get the most revenue”, he added. He also said it would look to develop more
premium-style travel on Air 2000 by introducing more of the popular premium
seats.
“I’m not
talking about delivering club class but if you can have channel entertainment
and nice seats it helps. At the moment we all compete on price,” he said.
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First Choice has awarded Europ Assistance the contract for its travel insurance
business, valued at £28 million. Europ Assistance will provide underwriting
services for the retail business, including Travel Choice, Travel Choice
Express, Bakers Dolphin and Holiday Hypermarkets, and the First Choice tour
operation.