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QINGDAO TODAY
在线翻译:
szdaily -> Business/Markets -> 
Airlines plug ‘all you can fly’ deals to pierce virus clouds
    2020-07-29  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

CHINA Southern Airlines yesterday rolled out an “all you can fly” pass, becoming the latest in a fleet of cash-strapped carriers to join a promotional craze that analysts say has helped revive a coronavirus-ravaged air travel market.

At least eight of China’s dozens of airlines have introduced similar deals since June, often priced around US$500 for, in some cases, unlimited flights. Industry watchers say the packages have been a shot in the arm, with costs offset by otherwise empty seats being filled in a country where daily flights last month recovered to 80 percent of pre-coronavirus levels.

The global aviation industry is keenly eyeing China as a pilot for air travel recovery trends, as the country reopened its economy months earlier than other places after managing to bring the pandemic mostly under control, at least for now.

But You Luya, transportation analyst at BOCOM International, said these promotional packages, ranging from unrestricted flights to an array of terms and conditions, can only stimulate demand when coronavirus risks are already sufficiently reduced.

“While these packages may work in domestic markets, we do not expect similar rollouts for outbound routes anytime soon,” she said.

The “Fly Happily” deal launched by China Southern, the country’s biggest carrier by passengers, allows buyers to use passes for as many flights as they wish for destinations across the country from Aug. 26 to Jan. 6 for 3,699 yuan (US$529.03).

As with other deals, passholders also pay a small tax to the airline, about 50 yuan, per flight.

Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines’ 3,322 yuan “Fly as you wish” deal, launched in June, only applies to weekend travel. Hainan Airlines’ 2,699 yuan package is only valid on flights to or from Hainan Province.

China Eastern has sold more than 100,000 passes, domestic media reported. That helped boost passenger loads on its domestic routes to more than 75 percent on recent weekends, according to aviation data provider Variflight.(SD-Agencies)

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