Americans have embraced low-cost airlines for their efficient service, relatively high standards of quality, and—by definition—reasonably priced fares. Carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest have become not only staples of the American travel market, but best practices models for other airlines.
Other countries provide the same alternatives, with low-cost offshoots of existing government-subsidized carriers or new airlines joining the ranks to offer travelers within these regions additional options. While some have been in operation for decades, they are only recently hitting the radar of American travelers—that makes them alternatives planners should know about. What follows is a roundup of international low-cost carriers. Depending on a group's specific destination, it is worth exploring regional options, but be aware that low-cost carriers often use secondary airports, so ensure that the distance from airport to actual destination is acceptable before taking groups on an unexpected scenic tour.
AirAsia
AirAsia, based out of Kuala Lumpur Inter-national Airport, bills itself as an airline for the people. Cost-saving measures include first-come-first-served boarding and seating, no frequent flier programs, and all paperless tickets—a program AirAsia was the first in Asia to implement. AirAsia operates a fleet of 21 Boeing 737-300s. A sample one-way fare from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur runs about $44. www.airasia.com
Air Berlin
Air Berlin is Europe's third largest low-cost carrier and the best short-haul airline according to British daily The Guardian's 2005 Travel Awards, besting direct competitors Ryanair and easyJet, as well as such big names as Lufthansa and British Airways. Air Berlin launched in 1979 and now operates a fleet of 51 planes with extensive schedules to both Europe and Africa. A round-trip fare from Zurich to Barcelona costs approximately $257. The carrier has also established a partnership with retired Formula One driver Niki Lauda, who recently launched his own low-cost carrier called Niki. www.airberlin.com
Air Scotland
Air Scotland is actually run by Greece Airways, but uses the Glasgow Airport as its hub. The carrier currently serves Scotland, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, and France, and reportedly hopes to add additional service to the United States, Cuba, and Iraq—an odd grouping to be sure. A one-way trip from Glasgow to Athens runs about $60 under the nonrefundable Budget Fare. www.air-scotland.com
bmibaby
A British Midland Airways (bmi) subsidiary, bmibaby serves the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Ireland, and the Netherlands, along with additional destinations through bmi. The carrier operates a fleet of 16 aircraft based out of the Nottingham East Midlands Airport. Flights begin around $44 each way and the carrier, which began operations in 2002, was a finalist for the 2004 "Best Airline for Groups," chosen by U.K.-based Group Travel Organiser magazine. www.bmibaby.com
Centralwings
This Poland-based low-cost carrier, a division of LOT Polish Airlines, prides itself on flying to destinations that other low-cost carriers do not and uses "Pay less, expect more" as its motto. Centralwings serves nine European countries and 28 destinations, and passengers can fly from the U.K. to Poland for as low as $17 each way. Although relatively new to the scene—the airline began operations early in 2005—Centralwings has already established a partnership with Lufthansa and its low-cost brand Germanwings, under which they share frequent flier miles and scheduling. Centralwings offers group bookings for parties of 10 or more. www.centralwings.com
Click Mexicana
Click Mexicana is the first Mexican low-cost carrier and flies round trip from its Mexico City hub to destinations around Mexico. The name was chosen after extensive research found it is easy to pronounce in any language and conveys the image of speed. Click Mexicana is actually the rebranded Aerocaribe, which first launched in 1975; the overhauled company relaunched in July 2005 and a sample fare runs about $79 one way from Mexico City to Merida. At presstime, Click Mexicana's Web site was only available in Spanish. www.clickmx.com
dba
dba, a German-based low-cost carrier, is one of the few international low-cost airlines to continue to offer refreshments—beverages, snacks, and a chocolate heart. It began life in 1992 as Deutsche BA, a British Airways subsidiary, and currently serves 23 destinations around Europe. A one-way trip from Dusseldorf to Athens costs approximately $96. www.flydba.com
easyJet
This London-based low-cost airline is Ryanair's primary competition. Fares from London to Budapest begin around $40. With 217 routes serving 65 European airports, easyJet can get you and your group virtually anywhere, both to major airports and to less expensive secondary airports. To facilitate group and corporate travel, easyJet offers easyJet B2B, a site dedicated solely to serving business travelers. The carrier also offers airport lounges, self-check-in kiosks, and an in-flight magazine—the July issue of which profiled a prominent British conference planner. www.easyjet.com
flybe
U.K.'s Exeter Inter-national Airport-based flybe offers a flybe.com site to handle corporate travel needs and offers booklets of Business Express tickets, to be used by an individual or business as needed. The carrier operates 99 routes to seven European countries on its fleet of 36 planes, and has placed orders for additional aircraft, which could help further expand its list of destinations. It often uses secondary airports instead of major hubs and advertises fares from Belfast to London beginning at $35 each way. www.flybe.com
Germanwings
Lufthansa's subsidiary, Germanwings, is based in Cologne, Germany, and services both Eastern and Western Europe. Ger-manwings offers dirt-cheap pricing, beginning at around $34 each way, but does so with an emphasis on passenger comfort, seamless check-in procedures, and punctuality. In June 2005, Germanwings increased its fleet by agreeing to purchase 18 new Airbus aircraft, with an option for an additional 12. The carrier offers a variety of information for business travel including corporate packages with and without minimum expenditures. Germanwings is a partner of Centralwings, and has a similar motto: "Fly high, pay low." www.germanwings.com
HLX
Hapag-Lloyd Express (HLX) wants passengers to "Fly for the price of a taxi" on one of its 15 taxi-themed planes. Based in Germany at Hanover Airport, HLX flies to 28 destinations around Europe and its fares also run about $35 each way. The carrier allows bookings for groups of up to 20 via the Web site; larger groups can be accommodated by sending requests directly to HLX. "Happy HLX Hours" is a promotion that offers significantly discounted fares every Tuesday at 5 p.m., local time. www.hlx.com
Orange Star
The result of a merger between Valuair and Jetstar Asia, Orange Star is approximately half-owned by the Australian airline Qantas, which invested slightly under $18 million in the company. The airline expects to add additional routes in Asia following completion of the merger, as well as increase the size of its fleet, which currently numbers eight aircraft. The combined company will be based in Singapore, but Valuair and Jetstar Asia will continue to operate as separate entities until the integration process can be finalized. A Jetstar Asia flight from Singapore to Phuket costs approximately $13; a Valuair flight from Bangkok to Singapore runs about $73.
www.jetstarasia.com; www.valuair.com.sg
Ryanair
The granddaddy of low-cost foreign carriers is Ryanair, which runs a serious no-frills operation from its Ireland headquarters. Ryanair serves 95 destinations (primarily secondary airports to keep costs down) in 19 countries. The airline served nearly 25 million customers in 2004, which is reportedly likely to rise to 70 million in 2011 following the addition of 70 new Boeing jets ordered in 2005, with an option for 70 more. Passengers should not expect reclining seats, window shades, meal vouchers for delayed flights, or other accoutrements, but they can rest assured that Ryanair vows never to charge passengers a fuel surcharge—which it has dubbed "skyway robbery." Certain Ryanair flights begin around $0.50, plus fees that add about $25. www.ryanair.com
Sterling
Earlier in 2005, the merger of Sterling and Maersk Air created the largest low-cost carrier in the Nordic region. Sterling has been flying the foreign skies since 1962, when it became the first low-cost Scandinavian carrier. Its name came from founder Ejlif Krogager, who remembered that his mother gave sterling silver as gifts because she felt it represented a certain level of quality. Sterling offers special rates for groups of 16 or more, is based in Copenhagen, and offers flights to 19 European countries starting at around $56.
www.sterlingticket.com
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways, based in Singapore, was the first low-cost carrier in Singapore. It runs 11 regional flights within a four-hour distance from its hub. Tiger operates a tiered pricing structure, whereby it sells tickets at three levels, beginning with the least expensive. When those have sold, it begins selling tickets at a higher price, so it benefits the consumer to book as far out as possible; promotional pricing begins around $0.60, though fees bump the price up to about $18. www.tigerairways.com
VirginBlue
VirginBlue runs a fleet of 50 aircraft and employs a conference sales team in addition to encouraging routine group booking opportunities. Operating in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, this member of the Virgin group encourages an informal and entertaining atmosphere. Prices begin around $90 and VirginBlue, like HLX, also offers "Happy Hour" discounted fares from 12 to one p.m. daily, local time. www.virginblue.com.au
SIDEBARS
Banned Airlines
Four European countries have taken it upon themselves to further examine smaller airlines based on concerns regarding safety or insufficient government supervision. The following countries have banned these airlines:
France
Air Koryo, North Korea, Air Mozambique (LAM) (including Transairways subsidiary)
Air Saint-Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
International Air Service, Liberia
Phuket Airlines, Thailand
Belgium
Africa Lines, Central African Republic
Air Memphis, Egypt
Air Van Airlines, Armenia
Central Air Express, Democratic Republic of Congo
ICTTPW, Libya
International Air Tours Ltd., Nigeria
Johnsons Air Ltd., Ghana
Silverback Cargo Freighters, Rwanda
South Airlines, Ukraine
Switzerland
Air Van Airlines, Armenia
Flash Airlines, Egypt
United Kingdom
Air Mauritanie, Mauritania
Phoenix Aviation, Kyrgyzstan
Phuket Airlines, Thailand
Aircraft operated by airlines from or registered in: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tajikistan
Can I See Some ID?
According to U.S. Census and State Department records, a mere 23 percent of Americans hold valid passports, which is one of the reasons why it has long been a struggle to hold meetings outside of the United States. However, adjustments to passport requirements are poised to change all of that. New restrictions are scheduled to go into effect regarding accepted identification at borders on December 31, 2006, for air and water travel, and December 31, 2007, for land travel. They will require Americans to use passports when visiting virtually anywhere—including Canada and the Caribbean, which have long been refuges for the passport-less traveler.
According to a recent survey of 392 Successful Meetings and MeetingNews readers, 85 percent of respondents believe the number of international meetings and events they plan in 2006 and 2007 will increase or stay the same. Similarly, 90 percent believe that the number of attendees at their international meetings will increase or remain the same during 2006. So with a greater interest in international destinations, and a greater number of qualified attendees, not much is stopping planners from exploring the globe.