easyJet slashes costs in price war

Updated 14.51 Tue May 22 2007
Keywords: slash, price, Bmi, Ryanair, easyJet, fares

The fight for supremacy of the skies stepped up another notch as Budget airline easyJet announced dramatic price cuts.

This latest move in the ongoing price war that has gripped the low cost flights market, indicates that airlines are struggling to fill their planes.

This latest move in the ongoing price war that has gripped the low cost flights market, indicates that airlines are struggling to fill their planes

The group is slashing ticket prices by up to 30 per cent on flights throughout June and July - at the height of the group's busy summer season.

EasyJet's sale comes weeks after rival Ryanair made a similar move, selling one million seats from just £10, inclusive of taxes.

Ryanair reported its "load factor" - the share of seats filled - fell by 2 per cent in April, while easyJet saw a 3.3 per cent decline.

UK flag carrier British Airways also posted a fall in its load factor last month, down 2.1 per cent, suggesting the sector's malaise is not just affecting the "no frills" airlines.

Nearly 200,000 fewer passengers went through UK airports last month, according to BAA, and airlines are blaming some of the tough trading conditions on the doubling of air passenger tax at the beginning of the year.

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