CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES DISCOUNT PACKAGE BOOSTS TOURISM, HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 -- Over 150,000 people enjoyed flights under the ‘fly at will’ air ticket discount package offered by China Eastern Airlines (China Eastern) during the past two weekends.

As the first-ever air ticket discount package launched in China that allows passengers to enjoy unlimited weekend flights till Dec 31, the package was released on June 18 at 3,322 yuan (about US$473.72). (US$1 = RM4.26)

As the COVID-19 pandemic has been effectively brought under control in China, 150,000 passengers flew to enjoy holidays or visit their family by using the ticket package, which has become a hot topic and a phenomenal economic activity in China.

The average passenger load factor of the China Eastern flights from Shanghai to more than 10 destinations rose by nearly 20 per cent, with the figure of some flights even surpassing 90 per cent, according to a statement.

Some popular flights have seen the proportion of ‘fly at will’ passengers exceed 90 per cent. Although the company has dispatched wide-body aircrafts like B777 and A350 to the hot flights, it still cannot fully meet passengers’ growing travel demands.

Other airlines in China have also launched similar products following the package. China Express recently launched similar air ticket packages, while Hainan Airlines announced its 12 airline companies would jointly launch an air ticket package with limited destinations.

China Eastern hopes its ‘fly at will’ can help boost businesses in tourism and hospitality, so that relevant industries can tide over the tough times together, said an executive of the service department of China Eastern.

-- BERNAMA