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The UK is experiencing significant cutbacks in airline service, both domestically and internationally, according to the latest statistics from OAG, the world’s leading aviation data business and part of UBM Aviation. Frequencies and capacity within the UK for April are down year on year by 13% and 14% respectively, representing a drop of 5,078 flights and 476,000 seats. Airlines have scheduled a total of 33,783 domestic UK flights this month; the last time the April figures for the UK were lower than this was in 2001.
International services to and from the UK are down by 10% (11,237 fewer flights) with a 9% fall in capacity, or 1.6 million fewer seats. The UK low cost sector is not escaping the cutbacks, with a 16% drop in domestic services and seat capacity. Internationally, the low cost airlines have scheduled 4,887 fewer flights to/from the UK with 12% reduction in capacity of 853,000 fewer seats.
These figures are revealed in the April 2009 edition of OAG FACTS (Frequency & Capacity Trend Statistics), the dynamic monthly market intelligence tool providing the latest data on current passenger airline activity around the world.
On a global scale, the world’s airlines have scheduled 6% fewer flights for April 2009 compared with the same month last year, with a 3% drop in seat capacity. David Beckerman, VP Market Intelligence at OAG, said: "The sharp drop in UK flights compared to last year reflects the fact the UK has been particularly hit by recessionary effects."
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
