F4F,
Bit of a silly comment suggesting NetJets (private jet charter) instead of Easyjet, don't you think?
Airbourne-Adamski,
You paint a very
PR speak picture of budget airlines from and EZT/Ryanair perspective, and the market they operate in. You also greatly oversimplify the nature of budget airlines. Not everyone wants cheap rubbish.
Budget airlines in Europe meet the needs of some pax, but not all, and many choose not to fly with them whenever possible. Sadly some people believe the hype, and assume budget airlines are always cheaper, which in fact is NOT the case.
Let's also consider the way the marketplace is maturing. For example, in Australia, VirginBlue (which is actually rather good), launched some years ago, with the usual stuff about one class, cheap fares, and how they culd beat the two class 'legacy carriers etc.... But in 2008, guess what, they will launch Virgin blue premium economy, which for a higher price offers bigger seats with more legroom in the front few rows, food included, and lounge access etc... Is this just not re-inforcing what the so-called legacy airlines said all along. There is always money to be made from premium travellers. not everyone wants to fly easyjet 'cramped' class.
Another example Jetblue in USA, aother excellent airline, that is head and shoulders way above the likes of EZY,Ryanair(who isn't) and other european budget carriers. not only is some food and drinks included, but more legroom, and live TV/movies via seat back screens.
Or let's consider the recently launched Virgin America, again two classes, with first and economy, all seat back tvs, music and movies, more legroom etc..
The difficulty is that most people who sing the praises of European 'budget' carriers, have zero experience of budget carriers anywhere else. In my opinion, consumers in Europe get a rotten deal from the likes of EZY and Ryanair, which is why they make such ridiculous profits. Hopefully sometime soon, pax in Europe will wise up to the rotten service they get from budget airlines in Europe, and also get over the notion, that just because an airline doesn't offer food, it must be the cheapest. It just ain't so.