BAROMETER SHOWS ASIAN E-FARE DISPARITIES

31 July 2002

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has released its latest E-Fare Barometer which shows the disparity in ex-Frankfurt air fares for 10 Asian destinations booked via the Internet on e-bookers.com.

The aim of the PATA E-Fare Barometer series is to assess the competitiveness of Asian destinations in key tourism source markets by comparing air fares available to consumers through Internet travel portals.

The July 2002 Frankfurt report shows that:

• Per mile, Singapore was this quarter’s least expensive destination from Frankfurt, with an average per-mile fare of US$0.051. Sydney was the second least expensive destination at US$0.052. Tokyo was third at US$0.055.

• Based on the Barometer’s average e-fare measure, Tokyo was Frankfurt’s least expensive PATA destination with an average return economy-class e-fare of US$640. Singapore was the second least expensive, with an average e-fare of US$657.

The ten destinations under scrutiny were Bangkok, Denpasar, Hong Kong SAR, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo and Yangon. All fares quoted were for the travel period September 7-13, 2002. Only airlines with daily flights were considered in the research which was undertaken July 20.

PATA Strategic Information Centre, Managing Director, Mr. John Koldowski, said the E-Fare Barometer was a very valuable tool which travel destinations, airlines, hotels and tour operators could use to better understand online travel trends. "As air fares account for the majority of a traveller’s budget, it is crucial for NTOs and other tourism interests to understand the differences which consumers are finding in the increasingly important online marketplace," he said. 

E-Fare Barometer was researched and written for PATA by Axess Asia, Managing Director, Mr. James Reinnoldt, who has completed similar studies ex-London, Los Angeles and Sydney. 

Copies of the latest E-Fare Barometer are available from PATA at US$100 for PATA members and US$250 for PATA Chapters and non-members.