hkskyline
July 23rd, 2006, 04:38 PM
Americans Flying To Europe In Big Numbers
By MICHELLE HIGGINS
23 July 2006
The New York Times
Despite higher air fares and an unfavorable exchange rate, Americans continue to flock to Europe. In fact, the European Travel Commission expects the number of American visitors this year to surpass the record 13.12 million that traveled to Europe in 2000.
Airlines are responding with more flights. Back Aviation Solutions, an industry consulting firm, said that the number of departures to Europe for June, July and August is up about 7 percent over last year, to 35,223.
To entice even more Europe-bound travelers, a few airlines are adjusting their flight schedules by adding morning departures to the usual overnight flights.
Some airlines are adding same-day flights that depart the United States in the morning and land in Europe in the evening. Just this month, Virgin Atlantic Airways began a flight it calls the Daybreaker, which leaves Kennedy Airport in New York at 7:30 a.m. and lands at Heathrow in London at 7:10 p.m. (The check-in counter is shown above right.) In July, Back Aviation Solutions counted 309 of these same day flights to Europe -- mostly out of the East Coast and landing in London -- up from 273 last July. British Airways plans to start an early-morning flight from Kennedy to Heathrow in December.
And even though American Airlines, which offers morning flights to London out of New York and Chicago, wouldn't discuss load factors or the percentage of seats filled with paying customers, it says those departures are typically lighter than flights that leave later in the day.
There is a tradeoff. A same-day flight can mean one day less of sightseeing or one more night in a hotel. But as Joe Brancatelli, the publisher of the subscription travel Web site www.Joesentme.com , said, ''there is something civilized about getting on that 8 a.m. plane, having a nice meal and getting a good night's sleep.''
By MICHELLE HIGGINS
23 July 2006
The New York Times
Despite higher air fares and an unfavorable exchange rate, Americans continue to flock to Europe. In fact, the European Travel Commission expects the number of American visitors this year to surpass the record 13.12 million that traveled to Europe in 2000.
Airlines are responding with more flights. Back Aviation Solutions, an industry consulting firm, said that the number of departures to Europe for June, July and August is up about 7 percent over last year, to 35,223.
To entice even more Europe-bound travelers, a few airlines are adjusting their flight schedules by adding morning departures to the usual overnight flights.
Some airlines are adding same-day flights that depart the United States in the morning and land in Europe in the evening. Just this month, Virgin Atlantic Airways began a flight it calls the Daybreaker, which leaves Kennedy Airport in New York at 7:30 a.m. and lands at Heathrow in London at 7:10 p.m. (The check-in counter is shown above right.) In July, Back Aviation Solutions counted 309 of these same day flights to Europe -- mostly out of the East Coast and landing in London -- up from 273 last July. British Airways plans to start an early-morning flight from Kennedy to Heathrow in December.
And even though American Airlines, which offers morning flights to London out of New York and Chicago, wouldn't discuss load factors or the percentage of seats filled with paying customers, it says those departures are typically lighter than flights that leave later in the day.
There is a tradeoff. A same-day flight can mean one day less of sightseeing or one more night in a hotel. But as Joe Brancatelli, the publisher of the subscription travel Web site www.Joesentme.com , said, ''there is something civilized about getting on that 8 a.m. plane, having a nice meal and getting a good night's sleep.''