SPECIAL deals on flights to the Far East were thin on the ground at the start of this year but discounted fares are beginning to creep back into the market.
Travel 2 air product director David Gibbs said: “In terms of special offers and tactical air fares, there has been less activity on Far East routes in recent months than on routes to southern Africa and Austral- asia. There were a small number of special deals but in general, the airlines maintained their prices thanks to the millennium, early new year business and the demand created by the Chinese new year.
He added: “However, we have now started to see more frequent tactical discounts and these should continue until the peak summer holiday period.”
At the moment, savings in the region of £100 are available for last-minute departures on direct flights from the UK to Asia but some of the best deals are from the airlines operating via mainland Europe or the Middle East.
Not only are these airlines often cheaper than the non-stop carriers from the UK but they are also often more convenient for passengers travelling from regional airports.
Travelpack managing director John Standley said:”For people travelling from the regions it is just as easy to fly via Frankfurt or one of the other European airports as it is to travel via London.
“Agents often forget the number of routings you can take to get to Asia and if they have clients who are prepared to travel via a rather obscure point, they can get them some very good deals.”
Standley said that although the major European airlines’ fares tended to be comparable to British Airways’ offers, some of the lesser-known carriers often have much better deals. “Carriers like Turkish Airlines and Olympic are often quite a bit cheaper and our message to agents is that there are a lot of different options for people looking for the best deals.”
Gold Medal Group managing director Wayne Pearce said he was confident even the major European and Asian airlines would continue to offer some bargain air fares at least until the end of March.
“At the moment, we are selling flights to Hong Kong or Singapore from just over £300 return and we have flights to many destinations in Asia on very good, quality airlines from about £400 which represents excellent value for money,” said Pearce.
But Travel 2 stressed that seat-only travel is not necessarily the cheapest way to travel to Asia at the moment. Gibbs said some of the major airlines’ most competitive fares can only be sold in conjunction with hotel accommodation and, as these often provide the best value for money, agents might persuade clients to upgrade to a package.
While the majority of eastbound traffic is heading for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, new flights to Indochina are expected to attract business to destinations like Vietnam and Cambodia over the next few months.
Travel 2 said Thai Airways new thrice-weekly service from Bangkok to Danang on Vietnam’s central coast and new flights from Bangkok and Phuket to Cambodia should generate interest in the region.
Destination Departure point Fare Airline Consolidator Travel to
Bangkok Gatwick £320 Garuda Travel 2 Mar 31
Bangkok Heathrow/ £367 Turkish Airlines Travelpack Mar 31
Manchester
Hong Kong Heathrow/ £380 Emirates Travel 2 Apr 30
Gatwick/
Manchester
Hong Kong Heathrow/ £323 Air France/Lufthansa Travelpack Mar 31
Manchester/
Glasgow
Kuala Lumpur Heathrow £386 Gulf Air Travel 2 Apr 31
Singapore Heathrow £371 SriLankan Airlines Travel 2 Mar 25
Singapore Heathrow/ £350 Lufthansa Travelpack Mar 31
Manchester