WORLD AIRLINE FARES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 10

WORLD AIRLINE FARES

FEW INCREASES, SOME REDUCTIONS AGREEMENTS AT RECENT CONFERENCES Few recommendations for fare increases on the world’s airlines came out of the 1954 sessions of the International Air Transport Association traffic conferences at the Lido, Venice, last month. There were, even some reductions, although operating costs are rising. “The public will get still more air transport for its money, in terms of its real purchasing power, next year than ever before," said the chairman of the conferences and vice-president of Air France (Mr Michel-de Villeneuve) in his report after the sessions ended. “We have managed to hold the line on fares and rates . . . where we have had to give way, adjustments have been kept to a minimum—increases will seldom exceed seven per cent, and average a good deal less, while agreed reductions will run as much as 20 per cent, below fares charged in the routes concerned. s "The world-wide fare structure has been made more -flexible and responsive to the needs of particular regions by the expansion of special B or excursion fares, lower than tourist, for service in older and non-pressurlsed aircraft.

“Any reductions in our own net incomes as a result of these decisions will, we hope, be compensated by expanding services, by more aggressive sales and development, and by plugging up the revenue leaks in our commercial practices and procedures.” Trans-Paciflc fares over all routes between the Far East and Australia and New Zealand, and the Americas, will be generally unchanged during the coming year. A new list of fares agreed on was that for the Scandinavian Airlines System route over the North Pole joining Europe and the West Coast of North America. The North Pole fare will be about 18 dollars (about £6) less than the normal North Atlantic crossing. Excursion Fares Most of the reductions came from the introduction of the excursion fires. On South Atlantic routes airlines operating between Spain and South America will offer B class fares about 20 per cent, below tourist rates in non-pressurised aircraft. Similarly, a new class of round-trip excursion fares (running about 12.5 per cent below tourist levels) has been agreed for services within the Far East on equipment inferior to four-engined, pressurised aircraft.

In Europe, the Middle East, and “ frlca, fares will remain generally the same, except for Increases of five per cent, or less between Europe and Dakar (North Africa), and between Europe and Madagascar, Beunion and Mauritius, mainly to first class services. Some reduction on routes between the Eastern Mediterranean and points within the Middle East were agreed to. Passenger fares over the North Atlantic, between United States east coast gateways and Europe will remain unchanged, except for slight adjustments in through fares to interior points in Europe, caused by alterations to continental tariffs. All I.A.T.A. traffic conference agreements must be approved by the governments concerned; details are expected to be completed by November 26.