I was about to express my concern regarding the EZY's prospects in Sweden as it's initial reception in Stockholm (LF's and bookings) has been far from perfect so far. After all, the penetration of lcc's in Sweden is fairly high. However, the bankruptcy of Sterling could change the situation very radically. There are now several routes not served by low-cost carriers anymore. So, bad luck for some means opportunities for others.
Btw., one of the short-haul "monopoly" routes in the area is the popular (and expensive) ARL-HEL link. Both SAS and AY will certainly try to keep the fares high without a competition. Worth a try, presumably!
Concerning Finland, the first EZY route is set to start next Monday and the bookings look somewhat better here. One cannot forget that Finland is one of the countries with lowest low-cost carriers' penetration in the entire EU.
Last week the polls results have been published in Helsinki (the survey was ordered by easyJet) - and the results are:
- More than 75 percent of Finns in general are dissatisfied with the current low-cost flights supply, among Finnish students only 16% said they were satisfied.
- About half of the respondents would use more often low-cost airlines, if the supply was better.
- The most of potential low-cost passengers could be derived from students, as well as directors and high-income senior representatives(!), only so called middle classes were somewhat less interested.
- Finns want the same low-cost flight selection, as other Europeans enjoy.
"The message is clear, as the supply of low-cost flights in Finland remains very scarce. Low-cost carriers transport just 2 per cent of passengers from Helsinki while such a share in the entire EU is 34 percent on average", says easyJet's Regional Director Thomas Haagensen.
Only less than a quarter of all survey respondents consider the current supply of the low-cost airlines as sufficient. In addition, easy Jet study found out that the high incomes of Finnish passengers are no obstacle for them while choosing the airline.
The easyJet survey was conducted by TNS Group during 36 weeks, and it has received the answers of a total of 1,260 persons from different parts of Finland.