Airlines set to launch promotions

he trade to restore consumer confidence in air travel following the terrorist attacks in the US.

Carriers are bracing themselves for a slump in air travel and huge financial losses and will be battling to woo passengers back in the air with a flood of lower fares and promotions.

City analysts and aviation experts believe airlines have no choice but to launch a sales and marketing blitz through all distribution channels.

Sales and marketing departments at British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and many other carriers are understood to be working on a series of trade and consumer initiatives in a bid to restore consumer confidence.

“Airlines have an instant capacity problem right now and the biggest challenge is to fill seats,” said independent aviation consultant and former Manchester International Airport director of business development, Bill Savage.

“Inevitably there will be deep discounting. Airlines will want maximum distribution and we are likely to see seats dumped at glorious offers on their websites and through the big consolidators such as Airline Network, Gold Medal and Trailfinders,” Savage added.

No airline was prepared to comment on their plans, only to say the priority was to restore operations to a normal schedule.