Lack of cheap flights to Faro from regional airportsi in sept 2022

BPL

Hi
We're going as a family group to near Faro 10-17 sept from Manchester Belfast London Bristol Oxford Plymouth Dundee. The more regional flights are near £300 return direct. Cheapest seem to be about £160. This is 7 months before departure. So wait for more flights to be put on or grab whatever? I'm assuming the number of regional flights were cut due to COVID. Anyone in the business have any insight?
TIA

Alan_Bowen

This is due to 'pent up demand' from 2 years of no holidays, demand is high at present and most airlines got rid of staff in the Covid period, so that precludes many more flights appearing. Most airlines are suggesting they will only be able to operate around 70-80% of previous levels of service, so that is why flight prices are high. The tensions in Ukraine are pushing fuel prices higher which only ensures even higher flight prices, so the perfect storm for customers.

Final slot arrangements are completed at the end of this month which will fix the timetables for most airlines for the summer, you might want to wait 3 weeks and see if anything else appears, but waiting is probably even riskier this year than normal. Either your family is split up around the country or you are looking far and wide, Oxford has no commercial flights to anywhere, Plymouth Airport closed more than 10 years ago and Dundee has nothing more than flights to London City, much loved by "Lorraine" at £199 return which makes your prices to Faro seem cheap!

skycatcher

If the Belfast people's can get to Dublin airport there are Ryanair flights on those dates for £139.

zagfles

There are loads of cheap deals around. Usually flights to typical holiday destinations are cheaper the later you book, as long as you don't book very last minute, also if you avoid flying Sat-Sat it can be a lot cheaper, just checked Easyjet from Manchester and it's about £90 each way 10-17 Sept Sat-Sat but it's half that price if you go 11-18 Sun-Sun

bagand96

A quick look on Skyscanner:

Bristol £130 easyJet
Birmingham £130 easyJet/Ryanair
Manchester £81 Ryanair

As above though its supply and demand. Saturday is also a premium day. 

BPL

Thanks for all the help. I'm wondering if they will add extra flights as the regional ones are already booking up fast. Sadly most will have to travel Saturday for work and accommodation is booked.

onashoestring

BA flights from LGW and LHR are around £130 with 20kg luggage for those dates - but no availability at regional airports on those Saturdays 

BPL

Lgw and lhr no fun ££££ to get there

Thrugelmir

Jet fuel is currently priced 68% higher than a year ago. May yet rise even higher. 

Airports will be charging more for landing slots to compensate for the loss of income over the past two years.

The true cost of the pandemic is now only beginning to hit home. 

onashoestring

@BPL wizz air have new routes from Cardiff with availability and reasonable prices (£98 rtn )on those dates - not too far from Bristol ? 

BPL

Wow thanks that looks great.