Charter companies are once again heading for warmer latitudes. Booking pressure for summer travel is on the rise – but demand is a fraction of what it usually is.
”"Current new bookings are mainly for next summer," says Anna Hagberg, press officer at Ving.
After several long months on the ground, charter companies have one by one taken to the air again.
A few weeks ago, a Tui aircraft touched down on the runway in Rhodes for the first time in a long time. And since international travel has slowly started to pick up after the pandemic hit the industry, there has been a clear interest from holidaymakers.
”"The flights that are available are fully booked. We should have put in more flights - we have underestimated the demand," says Adam Györki, press manager at Tui Sweden.
Although it is certainly being booked and the available places are running out, the supply is currently only about a tenth of normal.
”"We notice that people are listening very much to what the authorities say. And when things open up more, people are ready to travel."”
The booking situation for the fall and winter is also starting to get underway, but there too, capacity is significantly lower than usual.
”"Thailand trips are selling well. People seem to want to travel to Asia rather than Spain this fall," says Györki.
And Tui are not alone in the skies.
This weekend, Ving restarted charter operations. The first planes set course for Greece, Spain and Croatia.
The upcoming flights are "almost fully booked," according to Anna Hagberg.
”There is definitely a desire to travel among Swedes and many want to go,” she says.
”"We are seeing a steady increase in customers wanting to book a trip. Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' travel restrictions were eased, the proportion searching for a trip has increased even more - customers are more likely to search for a trip now than a month ago," continues Anna Hagberg.
While the desire to travel attracts Swedes to vacation abroad, Ving sees a wait-and-see booking situation for late summer, autumn and winter trips.
”"We expect the pressure to increase as more guests come down and see how everything works, and as the summer holidays here at home begin to end and the longing to secure a sun-protected holiday later on becomes apparent."”
”We are also seeing a big rush in travel for the summer of 2021, where every week we are selling more than the previous year.”
There is also high pressure on last-minute trips, which shows that people are waiting closer to departure to book a trip to a greater extent than usual.
”But for new bookings, it's mainly next summer that matters,” says Anna Hagberg.
”"The great uncertainty surrounding the travel advice and the general development surrounding corona has, for obvious reasons, affected summer travel. Many people had time to make holiday plans at home before the travel advice was lifted for certain countries in Europe," she adds.
Source: TT
