Vol. 412 No. 5
211 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the serious discrepancy in the cost of return flights from London to Ireland during the summer and similar return flights during the Christmas peak period, where they can often be three times higher; if he will investigate this matter to determine if these fare rates are reasonable; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that each year, during the peak Christmas period, air carriers operating between Ireland and Britain do not make available the lowest promotional air fares which are available at other times of the year. The airlines have explained to me that it is very difficult to achieve economic loads on services out of Ireland in the pre-Christmas period and into Ireland in the post-Christmas period. This major imbalance between inbound and outbound traffic severely disrupts the normal economics of the airlines' operations and they, therefore, deem it necessary to withdraw the lowest promotional fares from the market for travel during this period.
Seats are available at other promotional fares but, because of the very high level of demand for travel at Christmas, these seats are generally booked out at an early stage. Nevertheless, I am advised by the airlines that they make every effort to accommodate passengers wishing to travel home to Ireland at Christmas by mounting additional capacity and maintaining fares at reasonable levels consistent with their commercial obligations.
