For the first time airline tickets “at the price of cabbage”

From providing airline tickets at vegetable purchase prices to discounts on multiple seat reservations, Chinese airlines are launching a series of attractive deals to attract travelers during the run-up to Labor Day, the first major holiday since China reached a dead end because of the emerging Corona virus.

 

After registering a loss of RMB 39.8 billion, or $ 5.6 billion, in the first quarter of 2020, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the country’s aviation industry is taking its first steps towards recovery amid relaxation of closure procedures.

 

Source: CNN Arabic

Resume old tracks and add new ones

 

“With the government’s policy to resume work and open factories, domestic flights are slowly resuming operations, and the Chinese civil aviation market is preparing to start again,” an analyst with China-based airline data services VariFlight told CNN.

 

On the other hand, due to the widespread presence of “Covid-19” around the world, in addition to the restrictions imposed on international aviation, it may take more time for international flights to recover.

 

According to “VariFlight” data, airline operations on the Chinese mainland fell more than 80% between the end of January and February.

 

Domestic flights began to recover in mid-February, and as of this week, they have risen to nearly half of the pre-SK levels.

 

As another sign of the recovery of the aviation sector, regional airlines, including Hainan Airlines, are adding new domestic flights for the summer and fall season in anticipation of passenger demand.

The price of “book choi” and “magic box” voucher

 

Currently, airlines are focusing on the upcoming May Day holiday, which starts from May 1 to 5.

 

Some airlines offered “unruly” deals on local flights to attract travelers, and the local media dubbed them tickets for “Pok Choi”, meaning Chinese cabbage, as they are cheap, such as the prices of buying vegetables.

 

For example, the China Southern Airlines Xinjiang branch offers multiple routes at prices ranging from only 10% to 20% of its original prices.

 

The research on the “Fliggy” platform, which is one of the most important online travel booking platforms in China, indicates that the ticket from Beijing to Yantai in Shandong, about 700 km, costs in June 11 USD, that is, at a discount About 90% of its normal price.

 

Shandong Airlines launched a campaign in April and sold 20,000 vouchers called the “Magic Box” voucher, for 199 yuan, or $ 28.

 

Unlike the regular coupon, these “magic boxes” can only be opened in two specific periods during the fourth quarter of this year, and they can be exchanged for any local tickets, regardless of their cost.

 

Although the aviation sector has begun to recover, the Corona Virus pandemic will have a lasting impact on how airlines provide seats, as airlines try to provide peace and comfort to travelers.

 

For example, China Express has offered multiple seat options to passengers since February. With these deals, customers have 6 empty seats at one economy class price, to ensure they can maintain a safe distance with other passengers.

 

The ticket price includes a corona virus insurance plus a package of anti-virus supplies, including face masks and anti-bacterial wipes.