UK - Prague routes
As all are aware, Czech Airlines have closed all scheduled routes to the UK. This leaves BA as the sole full service carrier to the UK, with Easyjet owning most of the LCC market to London, Wizzair doing a daily to Luton, and Jet2 with the main routes from northern England. Ryanair tries the UK - Prague market but pulled out.
In comparison to perhaps 7 years ago and also other large European cities, the number of flights between the UK and Prague seems relatively low. In particular CAA stats indicate the number of passengers on the UK - Czech market declined 45 % between 2005 and 2011.
Comparing 2005 and 2011 annual passenger traffic numbers, the UK - Slovakia and UK - Hungary markets are relatively unchanged while the UK - Poland market has grown 27 %. All 4 countries joined the EU on the same date.
Typically, when one carrier exits a market, other carriers will act like vultures and pick over any profitable leftovers.
I know the fad for 20-something years old male Brits going to Prague for a stag weekend of misbehaving has had its day, but what's the story behind this passenger number decline ?
Conscious effort of airlines to avoid flooding the market and keep fares high ? Or something else ?
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 27th Nov 2012 at 02:00.