Who hasn't travelled with a low-cost airline? Whether by choice or necessity, surely we've all done it at some point. Some people abhor this type of air travel concept, while others, on the contrary, defend it as a necessary market niche for the development of its own aviation and of other economic sectors worldwide.
The figures speak for themselves. In the last year, there were just over 2,200 million low-cost seats worldwide, which are divided among some 175 airlines, operating in all corners of the world. They represent just over a third of the tickets sold globally each year.
Beyond each individual experience, low-cost airlines have democratised access to air travel, contributing significantly to the growth of global tourism.
Without a doubt, the Low-cost airlines they have a significant influence on the boom in tourism, especially over the last two decades. Tourism has also been, and is, the main driver for that niche market of air transport.
Many airports that were previously stagnating in their growth are now, thanks to these types of flights, flourishing economically, enriching their surroundings and generating many jobs. It is more than evident The link between tourism and the Low Cost concept, which includes not only flights but also the available offers at the destination (hotels, restaurants, fashion, and leisure).
If the concept of low-cost flights had not existed, the current splendour of tourism, especially international tourism, would be inconceivable. A few decades ago, it was not feasible to think about a weekend getaway from one corner of Europe to another, to give an example. But today, entire planes are chartered with people who have taken it almost as a habit.
If we analyse the reason for the rise in low-cost flight offerings, firstly, it is a matter of Accessibility and affordability, given that they represent a drastic reduction in airfares, making them accessible to a greater number of passengers. This has made it easier for more people to afford to travel, both domestically and internationally. Low fares have made flying a viable option not only for business travellers and those with high purchasing power, but also for families, students, and people on limited budgets.
A first consequence has been the new market stimulation, As reduced fares have encouraged demand for flights to regions that were previously not so accessible. As we have discussed, the low-cost model has incentivised people who would not normally travel by plane to consider air transport as a viable option for holidays and weekend getaways to see new places that were previously simply not considered. Regions that previously received few tourists are now experiencing a greater flow of passengers. A practice that is much more common than we think is for citizens to choose a getaway destination based on flight fares to different destinations. This practice was non-existent a few years ago.
Meanwhile, from the airline companies' perspective, this model has provided the possibility to Expand routes and increase connectivity.
low-cost airlines have opened up numerous routes to destinations that were not served by traditional airlines. This has led to a increase in air connectivity and has facilitated access to secondary and tertiary destinations. The most immediate consequence has been that cities and regions that were not previously popular have become new points of tourist interest thanks to the availability of direct and affordable flights.
There has also been an increase in flight frequency, even with different fares depending on the time of day, which offers more flexibility for passengers in terms of schedules and travel options.
All of this is highlighted in a more than evident change in travellers' behaviour. For example, low costs have led to a model where There are more people taking short, frequent trips instead of one long trip a year., as was common a few decades ago. Weekend getaways and last-minute trips have become more common thanks to the flexibility and affordability of low-cost airlines.
Passengers now have the option to explore a wider variety of destinations and experience different cultures and environments. This has led to a diversification in travel preferences and tourist experiences.
The Economic impact This new culture of air travel in tourist destinations is reflected in a an increase in the tourism supply and in the development of infrastructure. The increase in tourism has led to economic growth in many destinations, benefiting sectors such as hospitality, catering, retail, and local services. Destinations experiencing this greater flow of tourists, in turn, see the opportunity to develop additional tourist infrastructure, creating more jobs and business opportunities.
In the realm of air transport, the demand generated by low-cost carriers has encouraged the expansion and modernisation of many airports, especially in secondary destinations, which translates into an improvement in air transport capacity and efficiency.
Like any other developing sector, its own evolution generates a series of challenges and considerations that must be borne in mind from a strategic point of view in order to mitigate adverse reactions.
The popularity of certain destinations, for example, can lead to saturation, which can have negative effects on airport infrastructures in terms of capacity and service quality. Competition between low-cost airlines, among themselves or with traditional ones, has also, on more than one occasion, led to a pressure on profit margins, This may be a risk to the viability of some companies.
There's no doubt that low-cost airlines have innovated their business models, being the most agile in the incorporation of personalised and scalable services for passengers. It has been a matter of necessity. All of this, moreover, would not have been possible without a digitisation and operational optimisation which comparatively has weighed down traditional, larger and generally slower-to-decide companies.
Low-cost airlines have democratised access to air travel, significantly contributing to the growth of global tourism. They have expanded connectivity, stimulated new markets, and changed traveller behaviour. However, their impact also presents challenges that require careful management to ensure sustainable and balanced tourism development.
