British Airways seeks to keep business class clients through price cuts

9 nov 2009 Ziarul Financiar

Representatives of British Airways airline, which operates 21 weekly flights on the Bucharest-London route, say they have cut business class fees almost three times in order to stimulate passenger traffic. "This year is the first in which we have introduced airplane ticket cuts in order to attract passengers. Whilst the cheapest business class ticket cost 1,400 euros last year, now one can find tickets even at 489 euros for a return flight departing from Bucharest," said Emil Delibashev, commercial manager of British Airways for the Balkans.
According to data on the company's booking website, a business class return ticket costs 854 euros and an economy ticket costs 366 euros, for the December 18-21 period, booked yesterday. The airline, which has three daily flights on the Bucharest-London route, expects an almost similar number of passengers this year as in 2008, but a turnover decline. Delibashev did not wish to give passenger numbers. "The company's policy does not allow me to reveal these figures." The company also has price cuts for economy class tickets, thus encouraging traffic. "Passengers will be able to buy tickets costing 99 euros (all fees included) for a Bucharest - London return flight for the next fifteen days. In the last five years we had the biggest market share on this route, with Romania being one of the biggest markets in Europe, the sixth-largest in terms of revenues, followed by Poland," said Delibashev, adding that the company's expansion plans on the Romanian market were put off because of the crisis.