Do airlines know something we don't?

[chickentikka2020]

Easyjet are planning to resume flight to 75% of its network by August and have jut launched their Summer 2020 sale.

I wonder what makes them so confident everything will be ok travel-wise by that point? Is this a sign that International/European travel will be resuming very shortly?

just curious to get peoples opinions

A combination of factors I think. Firstly, there is absolutely no indication that infection numbers are rising as a result of restrictions easing across Europe. Of course you can argue that they WILL start rising, but no sign of it yet....
Secondly I honestly think there's more of an appetite for returning to 'normality' than some people allow for - just look at the crowded beaches & epic queues every time something new reopens. People do want to live, basically.

Just to add, travel & tourism is so vital to Europe's economy (accounts for 10% of the continent's GDP I think, & of course much more than that for some particular countries), so there's a huge vested interest in having some kind of season this summer.

@SomewhereEast

That is true, even I am desperate for things to get back to 'normal'

I vaguely remember people in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 predicting that air travel would "never fully recover", and we all know how that worked out .

As long as people are willing to travel no matter what, there will be a service for them sooner or later. Risk assessment I suppose.

By year end I can see things picking up a bit provided there are no further surges. Problem is holiday hotspots are welcoming visitors in July and August, the busiest times, but that's a big part of their economy.

I hate airports at the best of times, and personally would be a bit wary until at least October I think. But I don't have young kids so am free and easy about timings. I understand that.

Cynically I would say cash flow may be at least part of it. They will still be having to make lease payments on the planes and possibly on their airport slots. Get some cash in now and if they can’t fly in September process the refunds as slowly as they can, plus assume some people will take vouchers instead so a net cash gain. Along with assuming that even if all routes aren’t open more will be (and more opening up each month) then from a pure cash flow perspective it’s a very sensible thing to do.

I was looking at this today, holidays are massively cheap, and the easyjet flights are amazing, £198 for a family of 4 to Majorca. Holidays I've seen for £3K for £900.

We're really tempted, but as I said to DH, things are often very cheap for a reason. There will probably be queues for the beach, or 3 allowed in the pool at a time or something!

We've decided to resist temptation for now but I'm going to keep an eye on it!

I've got a holiday fully paid for as advised by various experts. I have no desire to go, and now it looks like the airlines are assuring I won't get my money back.

I agree with what @RockNRollNerd said. Airlines are on the brink of collapse they are desperate for cashflow. If things don't start getting back to normal for them soon we're going to see more and more of them collapsing, aircraft cost a lot of money just parked up, Delta is apparently spending $60 million a day for their fleet.

They must be gambling on the hope that things will continue to ease and will deal with the consequences if they have to in a few months.

I would absolutely love a cheap holiday abroad. No way will we be going abroad this year though. Possibly a holiday in the UK but not everything is going to be closed or you have to queue hours to get in.

BA have just cancelled our flights to mainland Europe in July.

It appears they haven’t checked with the local airports who have/don’t have boarder controls, who’s letting in Brits and what their policies are.

I suggest you check out requirements and insurance before you even consider booking.

They are desperate for cash.

I agree with Piggy. I don’t want to go abroad this summer.

It won’t feel like much of a holiday if we have to book pool times etc and queue up for ages to get breakfast etc. I’d feel particularly sorry for people with little kids under those circumstances. And for those who rarely travel and have saved up for ages to go away.

But I don’t want folk who are employed in hospitality/travel to lose their jobs either.

wouldnt get too excited as for the UK we are likely going to be banned from certain countries due to our dealing with COVID. Thinks its greece and some others so far

I agree with Piggy. I don’t want to go abroad this summer.

It won’t feel like much of a holiday if we have to book pool times etc

I agree. Though I feel like I will lose about £900 as Ryanair will fly anyway. To change the dates will cost €35 per person per flight for 4 people!

If they don't have summer holiday traffic then they go under. Therefore they sell seats in the hope that they will be able to fly close to normal routes, lobby, and if that fails then they go under. But it gives them a chance to survive.

Essentially if the worst case scenario does happen then whatever they do they go under, so they are best trying to turn a profit if that doesn't happen whilst asset-stripping in case it does

And they might be hoping that the government or insurance will refund them on seats sold for flights cancelled, again in which case they are best having sold them.

I vaguely remember people in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 predicting that air travel would "never fully recover", and we all know how that worked out

The aftermath of 9/11 was nowhere near as bad as the current situation. Planes weren't grounded for months. It knocked confidence in the USA, but here in Europe, there was barely any short term loss let alone long term. It's nothing like the same scenario.

well it's obvious they are appealing to people who will be willing to take the risk of sitting in a plane and all the hoo-haa of boarding etc.

They know no more than anyone but as a business need to survive.

There are people travelling now for business and judging by the sights in the UK last week on beaches etc, people look as if they don't care about risks and will be on those flights in a shot.

Not really. Anyone who books holidays well in advance and has paid balance is a bit held to ransom...

EzyJet are desperate. They will be trying to "force" the market open to stave off bankruptcy.

They'll probably fail both ways. The economic outlook is extremely poor.

A large part of EasyJet & Ryanair’s operations, possibly the majority In EZY’s case and definitely the majority in FR’s, is to & from airports outside the U.K.

They will be able to fly from Germany to Spain or Poland to Italy or Ireland to France etc etc before U.K. demand returns.

It's a big gamble, huge. There is presently a fierce lobby working furiously to change the govt policy around 2 week quarantine for all arrivals.

If that lobby fails, the receivers won't be far behind.