Long Haul Lost Cost Flights

FedEx · Post by **FedEx** » 07 Jan 2006, 16:01

Was wondering, why do carriers like Ryan Air and EasyJet not fly long haul routes? i'd fly with out the frills of full service carriers providing the leg room was sufficient. Wouldn't you if the price was cheap?

FedEx

twinsen · Post by **twinsen** » 07 Jan 2006, 17:07

I wouldn't! Even a 2 hour flight with limited space bothers me. I can't imagine flying a long distance like in a can of sardines. So it doesn't bother me to pay a little extra for better service and more space!

Post by **sn26567** » 07 Jan 2006, 17:57

Some "people" have tried this in the past: Braniff and People Express for example. I know someone whio has flown Brussels-San Francisco (because Braniff flew low cost to Brussels! Also from Dallas) for a mere $49, taxes included.

Both airlines went bankrupt.

Humberside · Post by **Humberside** » 07 Jan 2006, 20:15

Jetstar are going long haul and FlyGlobespan start long haul flights this year, though with a three class cabin

AFApresident · Post by **AFApresident** » 07 Jan 2006, 21:15

There could be low cost long haul flights between major international cities.

But don't expect any LCC flying long haul from Brussels on a scheduled basis. There is barely enough traffic to fill a business/economy aircraft to most long haul destinations out of Brussels, not counting those connecting on other flights. The latter would almost per definition raise your costs dramatically over that of any LCC. So not sure if you can still call it a LCC like we know it in that case.

A Low Cost airline flying London-New York is a possibility though .. and will happen sooner or later.

Humberside · Post by **Humberside** » 08 Jan 2006, 10:36

Emirates have been looking into A380 long haul low cost flights from STN to Hong Kong and Australia via Dubai as Emirates Express

https://www.aviation24.be/article10841.html

PH-RVG · Post by **PH-RVG** » 09 Jan 2006, 15:14

There are quite a number of cheap long distance flights from various airports in Europe:
Air Madrid from Spain to South America
LTU (from Germany) and Martinair (from Amsterdam) to various destiantions around the world.
et.
On the bad side: the legroom is minimal.
On the good side: many of these airlines have a kind of business class at very reasonable prices (much cheaper than regular business class)
You may want to check out http://www.whichbudget.com/

Knight255 · Post by **Knight255** » 09 Jan 2006, 16:17

There are a lot more fees associated with traveling to international destinations (trans-Atlantic and such). Additionally, you must have the appropriate aircraft to fly such routes. (Range may not be necessarily be the issue.) And frankly, if LCC are making so much money in their respective markets, why change?!?!?! If it isn't broken, don't fix it!!!

KiwiKid · Post by **KiwiKid** » 10 Jan 2006, 06:30

You need to sit down and figure out the block hour costs for a given route and airplane. You will soon realise as elapsed time/range increases, the cost of fuel climbs hugely as a percentage.

Only high load factors can offset this but LCCs are very vulnerable to a loss of a mere 10% of their load factor. On short haul over high density routes the odds are stacked with the LCC, but long haul the odds stack with full service airlines.

Oceanic navigation fees may be quite low compared with domestic nav fees, but fuel cost is the killer.

maximus · Post by **maximus** » 17 Jan 2006, 08:39

There is also Qantas's Australian Airlines which offers an all ecconomy service similar to the ecconomy class offered by most full cost airlines (older entertainment system). I have personally flown Australian Airlines and the flight was fine (If you can handle not having AVOD).
Qantas is also gearing up Jetstar for international travel...it will be interesting the public response.
Personally I think they will have a few problems at first but they will overcome them and become a very strong competiator (Look at Jetstar Australia)

n5528p · Post by **n5528p** » 17 Jan 2006, 09:06

Service is not the only reason - though I do not want to take Ryan Air from Europe to Australia...

The crew remains at the destination which costs money (additional pay and hotel), you have to have a technician there or you have to have an agreement with some other airline in regards of technical support. In order to fill long haul flights you have to feed them, aircraft for longer hauls are more expensive (think of ETOPS) and the money you can save by providing or not providing service becomes a smaller fraction of the price.

For example if drinks and food cost 40€ (just an example) that could be 50% of an European fare, but only 3% of a transcontinental fare - you do not gain much price advantage but you have the same costs as other airlines.

Regards, Bernhard