Hi

I know this has come up before and people have made a few comments but for me it has become virtually a daily topic of discussion. So many people, knowing my interest in cheap airfares, have asked me recently whether I think there will be cheap airfares. People's principal interest is airfares to Europe. There have already been some good deals to the US. I have often given my ten cents worth but my opinion is as worthless as everybody else's. I'd like to be able to give some more qualified advice in future.

So I'm raising the topic again but this time instead of people's opinions I'd like to see if anyone knows any hard facts or inside information. Surely some of our readers are 'insiders' or have friends who are insiders in the Airlines and have some idea of what their policies will be (not may be - will be) regarding backfilling for the olympics.

It's time to get on the coconut wireless and find out the truth about backfilling between Australia and Europe. Does anyone have any actual knowledge of what the airlines policies will be in this regard.

My coconut is tuned and ready.

cheers Peter

Hi again


I'll start the ball rolling with some very hard facts.

I visited the following Australian Tourism Commission web site
http://www.atc.net.au/news/olympic/olympic.htm

The page contains the following;

"Games organisers are forecasting an additional 111,000 international visitors during the Olympic Games period and want to make sure that athletes, spectators and all visitors enjoy their stay"

In addition there is a booklet for download with contains the following

"Sydney International Airport

Sydney Airport has released a plan for Olympic and Paralympic Visitors.The blue-print foresees up to 720,000 additional international and domestic passengers from
August to October 2000. International passenger arrivals and departures are expected to rise from the current daily peak of 33,500 to 45,000. Domestic passengers are likely to rise from 68,000 to 74,000 on peak days. Combined international and domestic aircraft arrivals will rise from 860 to 1,100 a day."

Unfortunately there is no breakdown of where the visitors will come from but it is still a substantial number of visitors - and nearly all of them will be coming by plane.

Note that the 110,000 is the EXCESS over the normal number of visitors.

cheers Peter

More information

From the FAQ at
http://www.2000.australia.com/questions.htm

"2. Flights will be booked out, even if I could afford them

Only into Sydney and only for a few days will flights will be busier than usual. According to airline experts the expected peak travel dates are

the day prior to the Opening Ceremony � 14 October 2000 (and the few days prior)
the day after the Closing Ceremony � 2 October 2000
Options include travelling to an alternate entry point into Australia or staggering travel schedules so that arrival into Australia is prior to or after these dates.

There are direct international flights into most major cities in Australia Perth is the �Western Gateway� for the Games and all other Australian mainland capital cities offer similar alternative gateways.

The airlines have indicated that their usual yield management practices will be in place during the Olympic period. Therefore the usual range of discounted fares will be available for those who book early enough."

cheers Peter

Well, there are 4 'real" airlines that fly Oz-USA all of whom have dumped a lot of backfill to mediocre result. I sure bought some on UA!

However, there must be 30 or 40 airlines that fly to Europe outta Sydney. No real dumping deals seen YET. Do the maths .. there will be deals like we will not believe to Europe soon!

Yes it's early days yet but based on the number being 110,000 visitors - that is a heck of a lot of jumbo jets.

I can only coem to one conclusion. Notwithstanding what the airlines, travel agents or some people have said, there is going to be a bloodbath of cheap seats ex Australia shortly. Given that the exodus to Australia starts in August and it's now July 12 my guess is that the cheap seats will be released in the next 14 days. Paris here I come - that will be two Eiffel towers I will have gone up on one year.

But as I said earlier I'm trying to use the Coconut wireless to flesh out hard facts. Somebody must know something.

Calling

Qantas/BA/Lufthansa/United/KLM/Alitalia/AOM/Singapore and other airline moles...

cheers Peter