Latest news with #RoryBoland
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
May flight fares surge in ‘half-term holiday rip-off'
Half-term holidaymakers are being ripped off by airlines, experts have said. The cost of flights during school half-term holidays has tripled since 2000, a Telegraph analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggests. While the summer months are consistently the most expensive period for air travel, May is now a close second. The problem is worsening every year, with half-term ticket prices now 14.9 per cent higher than they were last April. The cost of flights has substantially outpaced overall price rises, up some 84.2 per cent since the turn of the millennium. This means that parents who used to rely on cheaper half-term fares in May and October because premium summer flights were so expensive now face record costs all year round. Rory Boland, Which? travel editor, called the rise in holiday fares a 'rip-off'. He said: 'Airlines may like to call it dynamic pricing or surge pricing, but if you're trying to take a trip during the school holidays you'll almost certainly call it what it is, a rip-off.' Meanwhile, daily holiday costs, including three-course meals, drinks, sun cream and insect repellent, have also surged. In Marmaris, Turkey, the cost of a 'package holiday bundle' has surged by 90.1 per cent from £45.23 in 2019 to £86 in 2025, according to a Post Office 2025 survey. Nice in France (66.5 per cent), New York (57.2 per cent) and Spain's Costa del Sol (41.4 per cent) also saw significant rises in cost. Industry experts put the rise in flight costs down to the debts airlines incurred during the pandemic, along with the spike in the price of jet fuel amid the global energy crisis. As of last week, it was trading at 225 per cent of the 2000 average. A shortage of skilled labour and slow delivery times for new aircraft have also been blamed, following shortages in the supply of key manufacturing components, like semiconductors and finished castings. However, consumer experts have questioned these reasons, suggesting holiday firms are taking advantage of families who normally choose to travel during half term. Jane Hawkes, a consumer champion who specialises in travel, told The Telegraph that families are being 'held to ransom' by airlines. She said: 'Families are being held to ransom – I think it's appalling and it needs to be addressed. Airlines can set their costs at whatever they want, and the dynamic pricing which exists is particularly unfair. 'It's like a calendar lottery, and it does present a very difficult decision for families with children. 'I've heard from people that are willing to take their children out of school because the fines are far lower than the cost of flights and accommodation.' For many parents who face a fine of up to £160 for taking their children out of school during term time, the threat is rendered insignificant by the savings compared to a half-term break. Absence data from the Department for Education (DfE) showed that 443,322 penalty notices were issued for unauthorised family holidays across England during the 2023-24 academic year. More than nine in ten of the fines issued to parents were the result of them taking the children out of school for a holiday. Paulomi Debnath, 45, a textile jewellery designer from London, said she often considers taking her 14-year-old son out of school the week before the May half term because of the difference in airline prices. 'May half term is so expensive, we have been tempted to skip school - who wouldn't be? Any parent is tempted,' she said. 'We have compared prices, and we could have saved 200 pounds just by skipping May half term and going a week before. 'We considered taking our son out of school in May 2023 because the prices were so high.' Lavania Oluvan, 37, a food technology teacher from Birmingham, says she can now only afford to take short weekend breaks in school holidays with her 7-year-old son. 'I think airlines are taking advantage of parents; a lot of us don't have a choice.' She added: 'We go away for weekends during term time. We finish school at 3pm and drive away to somewhere in the UK. I've done a weekend away for 100 pounds, when in the holidays, the same sorts of weekends away are 500 pounds.' The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said prices rising during school holidays was a function of supply and demand, insisting it is not a deliberate attempt to fleece hard-up parents and families. An ABTA spokesman said: 'Prices in the travel industry are driven by supply and demand – and with school half terms being just one week, and falling at the same time across the UK, as well as often coinciding with breaks in Europe, demand is extremely high. 'It's also early in the season, meaning some resorts might not be fully open. This is where booking early really makes a difference, as people have a greater choice of holidays and price options.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
May flight fares surge in ‘half-term holiday rip-off'
Half-term holidaymakers are being ripped off by airlines, experts have said. The cost of flights during school half-term holidays has tripled since 2000, a Telegraph analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures suggests. While the summer months are consistently the most expensive period for air travel, May is now a close second. The problem is worsening every year, with half-term ticket prices now 14.9 per cent higher than they were last April. The cost of flights has substantially outpaced overall price rises, up some 84.2 per cent since the turn of the millennium. This means that parents who used to rely on cheaper half-term fares in May and October because premium summer flights were so expensive now face record costs all year round. Rory Boland, Which? travel editor, called the rise in holiday fares a 'rip-off'. He said: 'Airlines may like to call it dynamic pricing or surge pricing, but if you're trying to take a trip during the school holidays you'll almost certainly call it what it is, a rip-off.' Meanwhile, daily holiday costs, including three-course meals, drinks, sun cream and insect repellent, have also surged. In Marmaris, Turkey, the cost of a 'package holiday bundle' has surged by 90.1 per cent from £45.23 in 2019 to £86 in 2025, according to a Post Office 2025 survey. Nice in France (66.5 per cent), New York (57.2 per cent) and Spain's Costa del Sol (41.4 per cent) also saw significant rises in cost. Industry experts put the rise in flight costs down to the debts airlines incurred during the pandemic, along with the spike in the price of jet fuel amid the global energy crisis. As of last week, it was trading at 225 per cent of the 2000 average. A shortage of skilled labour and slow delivery times for new aircraft have also been blamed, following shortages in the supply of key manufacturing components, like semiconductors and finished castings. However, consumer experts have questioned these reasons, suggesting holiday firms are taking advantage of families who normally choose to travel during half term. Jane Hawkes, a consumer champion who specialises in travel, told The Telegraph that families are being 'held to ransom' by airlines. She said: 'Families are being held to ransom – I think it's appalling and it needs to be addressed. Airlines can set their costs at whatever they want, and the dynamic pricing which exists is particularly unfair. 'It's like a calendar lottery, and it does present a very difficult decision for families with children. 'I've heard from people that are willing to take their children out of school because the fines are far lower than the cost of flights and accommodation.' For many parents who face a fine of up to £160 for taking their children out of school during term time, the threat is rendered insignificant by the savings compared to a half-term break. Absence data from the Department for Education (DfE) showed that 443,322 penalty notices were issued for unauthorised family holidays across England during the 2023-24 academic year. More than nine in ten of the fines issued to parents were the result of them taking the children out of school for a holiday. Paulomi Debnath, 45, a textile jewellery designer from London, said she often considers taking her 14-year-old son out of school the week before the May half term because of the difference in airline prices. 'May half term is so expensive, we have been tempted to skip school - who wouldn't be? Any parent is tempted,' she said. 'We have compared prices, and we could have saved 200 pounds just by skipping May half term and going a week before. 'We considered taking our son out of school in May 2023 because the prices were so high.' Lavania Oluvan, 37, a food technology teacher from Birmingham, says she can now only afford to take short weekend breaks in school holidays with her 7-year-old son. 'I think airlines are taking advantage of parents; a lot of us don't have a choice.' She added: 'We go away for weekends during term time. We finish school at 3pm and drive away to somewhere in the UK. I've done a weekend away for 100 pounds, when in the holidays, the same sorts of weekends away are 500 pounds.' The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said prices rising during school holidays was a function of supply and demand, insisting it is not a deliberate attempt to fleece hard-up parents and families. An ABTA spokesman said: 'Prices in the travel industry are driven by supply and demand – and with school half terms being just one week, and falling at the same time across the UK, as well as often coinciding with breaks in Europe, demand is extremely high. 'It's also early in the season, meaning some resorts might not be fully open. This is where booking early really makes a difference, as people have a greater choice of holidays and price options.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
The worst airlines for UK flight delays revealed
If you've ever found yourself staring at a departure board wondering why your flight still hasn't taken off, you're not alone - and now it's been revealed which airline is most likely to leave you stranded. A new study, compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has uncovered the worst offenders for flight delays from UK airports, and one airline is leading for all the wrong reasons. Air India has been named the UK's most delayed airline, with passengers experiencing an average departure delay of nearly 46 minutes throughout 2024. The worst performing route was Air India's Gatwick to Bangalore service, which ran an average of more than 80 minutes late across 50 departures - making it the most delayed UK route overall. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, described the airline's performance as 'completely unacceptable.' Air India, which operates from Birmingham, Gatwick, and Heathrow to major Indian destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control.' A spokesperson added: 'Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage drop and automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. 'The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. 'Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.' The airline, acquired by Tata Group in 2022 after years of financial struggles and operational inefficiencies, has faced mounting pressure to restore reliability. Aviation analyst John Strickland said the carrier is still 'coming out of this period of malaise,' noting prevalent issues such as a shortage of spare parts and grounded aircraft caused by lack of funds. He added: 'You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. That's definitely a work in progress for them.' Meanwhile, Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services ranked second-worst in the study, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. Turkish low-cost carrier SunExpress followed closely behind at 29 minutes and 36 seconds, while Air Portugal recorded average delays of 25 minutes and 12 seconds. On the flip side, Irish airline Emerald Airlines had the best on-time performance from UK airports, with average delays of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The CAA analysis considered airlines that operated over 2,500 scheduled or chartered departures from the UK last year. Cancelled flights were excluded from the study. Turkish low-cost carrier SunExpress (pictured) followed closely behind at 29 minutes and 36 seconds, while Air Portugal recorded average delays of 25 minutes and 12 seconds The overall average delay across all qualifying airlines dropped to 18 minutes and 18 seconds in 2024, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds the year before. UK passengers who experience significant delays may be entitled to assistance, including food, drinks, overnight accommodation and even financial compensation of up to £520, depending on the cause and length of the delay. To qualify, delays must arise from issues within the airline's control, such as mechanical faults or crew shortages. Anna Bowles, head of consumers at the CAA, urged airlines to 'uphold high standards of service and reliability.' She added: 'While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. 'Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimise the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies.' Elsewhere, a new survey has revealed which airlines have the best and worst food for passengers. Emirates has the best snacks and drinks and the best inflight meals, according to the survey by YouGov: Self-serve, which found that 84 per cent of passengers rate the airline's snacks and drinks positively while 85 per cent are impressed with the meals. Nearly half (43 per cent) of those surveyed rated the airline's snacks as 'very good'. Qatar Airways, which was named the world's best airline in 2024, comes second on the list with 83 per cent of passengers giving its snacks a positive rating and 82 per cent pleased with its inflight meals. Virgin Atlantic rounds off the top three with almost three quarters (74 per cent) of passengers rating its drinks and snacks well and 73 per cent happy with the inflight meals. When it comes to UK airlines, it's British Airways that tops the ranking with 61 per cent of its passengers prating the airline's snacks and drinks positively.
Observer
26-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Air India ranked the most delayed airline in UK
London - Air India has been ranked the worst airline for UK flight delays. The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bangalore, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel described Air India's performance as "completely unacceptable". The airline said the disruption was "primarily due to factors beyondour control". Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services had the second-worst punctuality record for UK departures last year, with an average delay of 31 minutes and 12 seconds. It was followed by Turkish low-cost leisure airline SunExpress (29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Air Portugal (25 minutes and 12 seconds). Irish carrier Emerald Airlines recorded the best performance last year, with UK departures delayed by an average of just 10 minutes and 30 seconds. The analysis took into account all scheduled and chartered departures from UK airports by airlines operating more than 2,500 of these flights last year. Cancelled flights were not included. The average delay for all these airlines was 18 minutes and 18 seconds, down from 20 minutes and 42 seconds in 2023. Air India was acquired from the Indian government by the Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses. The airline's UK operations are at Birmingham, Gatwick, and Heathrow, with routes to several Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the airline operated 56% more flights from UK airports last year compared with 2019. This is projected to rise to 90% this year after increasing flight frequencies on several routes in March. Aviation consultant John Strickland said there has been "a lot of work going on to put the airline back on track" after it gained a"poor reputation" for delays and cancellations. This was partly caused by a lack of funds to purchase spare parts for aircraft, leading to some of its fleet being grounded. Strickland said: "They're coming out of this period of malaise pre-the Tata takeover, and now have to put in work on their engineering, manpower, spare parts holding, all those factors." He said some of Air India's promotion of its new Airbus A350 first-class product has focused on the quality of its service. He noted: "You can have great meals and a great crew, but fundamentally you've got to operate an airline which is as punctual and reliable as possible. "That's a work in progress for them." Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said: "These latest delay figures will come as no surprise to travellers, who can find themselves paying sky-high amounts for air fares and in return receiving unreliable services. "Air India had an average delay of 45 minutes. This is completely unacceptable. "It's time for airlines to get their act together and start delivering the service their customers are paying for." A spokesperson for Air India said: "During 2024, Air India's flights to and from the UK experienced occasional delays, primarily due to factors beyond our control. "Proactive operational initiatives like self-check-in, baggage dropand automated boarding process have ensured smoother airport touchpoint experience and faster turnaround of aircraft, boosting on-time departures. "The deployment of the new Airbus A350 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft on some of the UK routes has also helped enhance punctuality of our flight operations. "Over the first three months of 2025, Air India's on-time performance has seen significant improvement on our direct flights from the UK to India, which also reflects on our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores." Depending on the distance of the route and length of delay, passengers booked on flights from UK airports that are running behind schedule are entitled to assistance such as a reasonable amount of food and drink, a means to communicate, and overnight accommodation if required. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation of up to £520 from the airline if the reason for the delay is deemed within its control, which could be a fault with the aircraft or pilot sickness. CAA head of consumers Anna Bowles said: "We expect all airlines operating in the UK to uphold high standards of service and reliability. "While the majority of airlines have made progress in reducing delays, with the average falling, delays can cause significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. "Delays occur for many reasons, and we fully expect that airlines minimize the impact by providing timely information and upholding passengers' rights when it applies."
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Air India ranks dead last for punctuality in UK: ‘completely unacceptable'
Air India has been ranked the worst airline for flight delays in Britain The carrier's departures from UK airports were an average of 45 minutes and 48 seconds behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data by the PA news agency. The route with the longest average delay was Gatwick to Bengaluru, with an average of one hour and 23 minutes across 50 departures. Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, described Air India's performance as 'completely unacceptable'. The airline said the disruption was 'primarily due to factors beyond our control'. A passenger arrives after disembarking from a flight at Heathrow Airport in London. Photo: AP Air India was acquired from the Indian government by Tata Group in January 2022 after racking up billions of pounds of losses.
