EASYJET came under fire yesterday for listing its new Paphos-Gatwick flights at nearly double the current fares but the low-cost carrier said it had nothing to do with them.
On New Year’s Day easyJet announced it would be taking over British Airways subsidiary GB Airways, which operates low-cost flights to Cyprus. GB is to stop its flights from March 30 but easyJet is to take over from that date.
EasyJet said that the 32 routes operated by GB Airways for summer 2008 were already available for sale on easyJet’s website although the final takeover of GB has not yet gone through.
But when one wedding organiser from Paphos went to check the price of the flights she found the fares varying between €500 and €600 return, depending on the day.
This was almost double what GB currently charges, said Sue Hall from The Paphos Wedding Company.
Hall said residents of Cyprus have for a long time had a raw deal with flights to the UK, with flight prices tending to be high in comparison with flights from other places a similar distance from the UK such as Egypt, Tenerife and Greece.
She said most expats had been using GB, which offered the most competitive prices and had the best service and seats.
“We were dismayed to hear that GB Airways were being sold, but very pleased when we heard that easyJet were purchasing the company, as we all assumed this would lead to more flights at a much cheaper price, something which is badly needed here both for local residents and also tourists coming to Cyprus,” Hall said yesterday.
She said however when she went to check the prices from Paphos to Gatwick, to say she was extremely disappointed was an understatement.
“The flights appear to be around twice as much as those previously offered by GB Airways, with each return flight working out at about €630 or a whopping ST£430,” she said, adding that easyJet flights to Greece were one quarter the price.
“As a matter of principle most of us frequent travellers will not pay more than about ST£200 per flight unless we absolutely have to, and obviously prefer to pay considerably less than this!
“If easyJet continues to maintain this level of pricing, then I expect that the majority of flights will be empty.”
Hall added that as she runs a wedding company she was looking forward to being able to offer reasonable fares to her clients from the UK. “Unfortunately it looks as if they are going to be disappointed,” she said.
A quick check on the websites of GB Airways and easyJet revealed that currently GB return flights to Cyprus can be had for as little as €270 or CY£158. However winter prices are always lower than summer.
EasyJet will not be commencing flights until summer season, which begins at the end of March, but the fares quoted on the site are close to those quoted by Hall both for April and July this year, €500 to €600.
In addition British Airways will begin flights to Paphos from July 1. However they quote a fare of only €350 for mid-July.
EasyJet responded yesterday by saying they did not own GB even though they were selling seats on their behalf on the easyJet website.
“GB revenue Management dictates the prices for easyJet to sell at this point and they are the only ones who can confirm their price structure,” said an easyJet spokesman.
GB Airways did not respond.
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