Thursday Fever

[IMG=20320-6081] Too many charters in the Spanish sky resulted into excessive air traffic volume to Mallorca in July followed by special offers for tour packages for 399Euro (week tour in a 4* hotel), while market value is 700-800 Euro. Meanwhile, such a scenario was forecasted at the beginning of spring when tour operators planned their charter programs. At present Natalie Tours operate a flight to Mallorca by Boeing - 747 once a week; Vremya-tour consolidates a charter to the destination by A-310 (S7 Airlines). Besides, TEZ TOUR launched two weekly charter programs by KD-avia Boeing – 737 and Breeze Line flies to Mallorca by Boeing – 737 (KD-avia) once a week. Moreover, all consolidators (except Breeze Line, aimed at cruise market and operating flights on Fridays) realize at least one flight to the destination on Thursdays. ‘It is a common practice; the majority of tours to Mallorca are planned upon arrivals and departures on Thursdays’, travel market players say. The second ‘charter’ day – Sunday - was added by some tour operators as an alternative for ten-day programs and did not cause problems for the market. Theoretically, the current situation might stabilize by either termination of some flights or joining forces of consolidators. Thus, Alexander Popov, Air Traffic Director Deputy of Vremya-tour, commented: ‘while, people go to Barcelona on business, that allows selling flights at the last moment, Mallorca is only in tourist demand. Therefore, now, when underload of charter flights to the destination is evident, it is reasonable to optimize charter programs’. However, it appears none of consolidators will adopt changes within their charter plans. Moreover, some companies feel optimistic towards the air traffic to the island. For example, Tatiana Chuvilkina, General Director Deputy of Natalie Tours, stated: ‘on the one hand, current air traffic volume results into price reduction for tour packages to Mallorca, that is not good for the destination as in general tours to the island are not cheap. On the other hand, comparing to the same period of last year, sales have increased by 40%. Besides, current sales depth suggests good load for further flights. I believe, the situation will normalize by August’.