Wirraway
10th Jun 2003, 02:07
Tues "The Australian"
Cheap air fares for a trip back in time
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
June 10, 2003
TAKING an overseas holiday may be about to cost as little as it did 30 years ago, with some international air fares hitting their lowest levels since the 1970s.
As airlines fight back against severe acute respiratory syndrome and the effects of the Iraq war, fares to Asia and Europe are tumbling.
Singapore Airlines yesterday released accommodation packages from Perth to Singapore starting at $362 and stopover packages to Europe as low as $1144.
East coast residents will pay $1218 to Europe and $468 to Singapore if they can land one of 15,000 packages.
Prices include charges, return airfares, two nights' twin-share accommodation in a choice of 50 hotels, free admission to one of the island's attractions, complementary airport transfers and the use of a Singapore Airlines hop-on bus.
More widely available packages are offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on normal high-season pricing.
Singapore is offering packages with two days' accommodation from $617 to Singapore ($808 on the east coast) and $2218 to Europe, including taxes and charges, and with travel to be completed by October 31.
Qantas packages to Singapore include four nights' accommodation and start at $699 ex Perth or $799 from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Cairns and Darwin.
The prices include taxes and charges, accommodation, airfares, return transfers and a city tour.
Similar packages to Hong Kong start at $899 with the sale on until June 21 for travel until November 27.
And for those who want to travel a different path to Europe, Air Canada is offering a $1599 fare to London (plus $180 taxes and charges) with stopovers in Hawaii or Canada.
Airline officials said yesterday the airfares were designed to stimulate travel to centres affected by SARS but now cleared by the World Health Organisation.
Singapore Airlines' Stephen Forshaw said the fares being offered had not been as low since the 1970s.
"We hope to try and re-establish some confidence, re-establish the destinations that are important, like Singapore and Hong Kong."
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Cheap air fares for a trip back in time
By Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
June 10, 2003
TAKING an overseas holiday may be about to cost as little as it did 30 years ago, with some international air fares hitting their lowest levels since the 1970s.
As airlines fight back against severe acute respiratory syndrome and the effects of the Iraq war, fares to Asia and Europe are tumbling.
Singapore Airlines yesterday released accommodation packages from Perth to Singapore starting at $362 and stopover packages to Europe as low as $1144.
East coast residents will pay $1218 to Europe and $468 to Singapore if they can land one of 15,000 packages.
Prices include charges, return airfares, two nights' twin-share accommodation in a choice of 50 hotels, free admission to one of the island's attractions, complementary airport transfers and the use of a Singapore Airlines hop-on bus.
More widely available packages are offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on normal high-season pricing.
Singapore is offering packages with two days' accommodation from $617 to Singapore ($808 on the east coast) and $2218 to Europe, including taxes and charges, and with travel to be completed by October 31.
Qantas packages to Singapore include four nights' accommodation and start at $699 ex Perth or $799 from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Cairns and Darwin.
The prices include taxes and charges, accommodation, airfares, return transfers and a city tour.
Similar packages to Hong Kong start at $899 with the sale on until June 21 for travel until November 27.
And for those who want to travel a different path to Europe, Air Canada is offering a $1599 fare to London (plus $180 taxes and charges) with stopovers in Hawaii or Canada.
Airline officials said yesterday the airfares were designed to stimulate travel to centres affected by SARS but now cleared by the World Health Organisation.
Singapore Airlines' Stephen Forshaw said the fares being offered had not been as low since the 1970s.
"We hope to try and re-establish some confidence, re-establish the destinations that are important, like Singapore and Hong Kong."
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