A record-breaking summer last year reduced Swedes' bookings for charter trips - more people vacationed at home.
As this summer rolls on at a cooler pace, it's noticeable in the number of last-minute bookings. The concept of flight shame doesn't seem to have any effect at all.
TT has made a round of calls to a few charter companies and the picture that is painted is the same.
”"It's being booked like never before", "few trips left", and "selling like hotcakes in the sunshine".
At the charter company Tui, over 50 percent more trips have been booked in recent days compared to the same period last year, and during the month of July there are not many trips left for those who want to head to more southern latitudes, the company states.
No signs of flight shame
At the tour operator Apollo, bookings started a little later this year compared to last year because people were waiting to see if the summer would be as hot this year, says Ann-Sofie Olsson, press manager at Apollo.
– But since May it has increased steadily. It has increased by 20 percent compared to last year. In the summer it is very clear that the weather has an impact.
Has the concept of flight shame had any impact on travel? According to Ann-Sofie Olsson, there are no signs of this, while she mentions the possibility of climate compensation for your ticket.
Popular destinations include Crete, Rhodes, Mallorca, Cyprus and Antalya. Traveling to the Greek islands results in the emission of approximately 900 kilograms of carbon dioxide per person, if the trip is round trip.
”Like butter in the sunshine”
Charter company Ving had a 40 percent increase in the number of trips sold this week through Friday compared to the same period last year. In the next few days, there are only bunk beds left and for a family of four, there are no trips until Friday, when they will go to Cyprus and Mallorca.
– The weather has an incredible impact. Right now it's selling like hotcakes in the sunshine, says Barbro Holmberg, information officer at Ving.
She finds it difficult to assess whether the company's delay in booking trips ahead of the flight season was due to flight shame, or whether it was simply due to a record summer last year. With the weather now failing, sales are described as a rush rather than a delay.
Source: TT
