Travelling by air has become increasingly expensive globally, with the last few months' inflation and fuel prices going through the roof. In Belgium, the price of tickets increased by around 10% last year.
In Belgium, the increase in air travel prices is very much in line with inflation in the country. "Despite these increases, we can see that Belgians, no doubt helped by the automatic indexation of salaries, continue to book," Sarah Saucin, the spokesperson for Tui said. Tui conducted a survey in December of last year, in which it was recorded that one in two Belgians is sure to go on holiday in 2023.
Non-European destinations have gained traction thanks to their value-for-money deals for hotels and activities which give Belgian travellers more freedom with their predetermined budgets.
Prices will remain high
In general, ticket prices will remain a lot higher than they were in 2019, before the Covid-19 crisis, according to La Libre Belgique. Even low-cost airlines will become more expensive, with Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary previously stating that the airline's fares will most likely increase by 10% in the coming year. "The era of ten euro tickets is over," O'Leary added.
Until the industry returns to the pre-Covid-19 level of activity, the situation is not likely to change. The demand in the airline sector currently outweighs the supply, as airlines had to reduce their costs in the past few years which has resulted in a lower number of flights available.
Since the reopening of borders, travellers have been eager to set off again, but airlines struggle to keep up with the demand. Therefore, knowing that the flights will be full, the carriers did not hesitate increasing their prices to fill their coffers which were hit by the Covid-19 crisis. Their efforts have been fruitful, with airlines from Ryanair to Brussels Airlines boasting great results in recent months.
