Free flights for kids not to boost falling demand - Emirates

Emirates Airline has dismissed suggestions that its latest promotion, offering children free flights, accommodation and meals in Dubai, is being launched in reaction to a drop in demand for seats.

The Dubai-based carrier told Arabian Business on Thursday that offering families affordable packages to visit the emirate is the only reason for launching the ‘kids go free’ scheme.

“This promotion has been launched to offer our customers the opportunity to have a family holiday in a unique destination without breaking their budget,” Russell Sheldon, senior vice president for Emirates’ network passenger sales development, said.

“With the summer travel season commencing soon, it is quite normal in the industry to offer promotions,” he added.

Last month, travel agents in the Middle East revealed that advanced bookings for airline tickets were down 50 percent compared with April 2008.

Traffic figures for Dubai International Airport, however, suggest demand is still relatively high amid the economic downturn.

Passenger throughput in April was 3,271,475 – a 6.5 percent increase from the 3,073,479 during the same period in 2008, according to the Airports Council International’s (ACI) latest statistics.

While Emirates is reluctant to reveal its passenger figures, the airline has insisted in recent months that most services are operating with decent factor loads.

Under the ‘kids go free’ promotion, one child aged below 16 can fly free when accompanied by two paying adults on an Emirates flight to Dubai. The offer, which runs from May 15 to Sept. 20, 2009, also sees a maximum of two children receiving complementary accommodation, meals and entertainment during their stay.

According to Emirates, 33 six-star hotels and serviced apartments in Dubai are participating in the deal. Free entertainment is available at various attractions across the emirate, including Ski Dubai, The Lost Chambers at Atlantis hotel and Dubai Ice Rink.

“Given the current economic climate we felt that this was a good time to announce such a family and budget friendly offer,” Sheldon said.

The offer is available to families travelling from “select destinations” to Dubai. No specific details were given.

Sheldon said: “This is a worldwide campaign, however in regulated markets such as the UK and Europe, airlines cannot sell fully-inclusive packages (i.e. flights, plus hotels, plus ancillary products bundled together) directly to consumers. In these markets the package is being promoted via tour operators.” (Reuters)