TUMBLING fares on transatlantic flights have led British Airways Holidays to reduce prices in its America and Canada 2000 programme by up to £100.
Head of America and Europe Maxine Gayler said 60% of the holidays have been discounted.
“There has been overcapacity in the scheduled-flight market and prices across the programme have been reduced by an average of 6%,” she said. “Competitive pricing has been fundamental to the 2000 programme.”
Prices lead in at £299 for a seven-night flydrive to Boston – £50 cheaper than last year.
The operator said the boom in flydrives, which have increased 24% on last year, shows customers are becoming more independent.
To cater for the growth, six pre-planned tours have been added.
New for 2000 are the southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, with a pre-planned 15-day self-drive tour starting from £839.
Philadelphia is a new city-break option with two hotels featured while the demand for tailor-made holidays has promoted BAH to introduce self-catering accommodation in New England for the first time.
Across the whole programme 53 hotels have been added, 12 of which are in Colorado as the operator looks to exploit the direct British Airways flight to Denver.
In Hawaii, which BAH claimed has increased by 55% on last year, eight hotels are new. Canada, which grew 60%, has a new coach tour taking in Toronto, Niagara Falls and Montreal.
Growth across the programme of 26% has been forecast for 2000.
BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS
Top five add-on excursions
1. Niagara Falls from New York or Toronto
2. Grand Canyon by air
3. Whale watching in Cape Cod or Quebec
4. New York theatre tickets
5. Hawaiian extensions from San Francisco
Top five North American holidays
1. Boston flydrive
2. Los Angeles flydrive
3. San Francisco flydrive
4. Western Discovery coach tour
5. Pheonix flydrive