Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This Course
Air travel is one of the most important forms of transport in the tourism industry, connecting destinations across the globe. When it comes to flying, there are two main types of services that tourists can choose from: charter flights and scheduled flights. Understanding the difference between these options is essential for tourism professionals who need to match the right type of transport to different customer needs.
Key Definitions:
Charter flights are specially arranged services that don't follow a regular schedule. They are typically booked by tour operators to transport holiday-makers to popular destinations during peak seasons. The entire aircraft is reserved for a specific group or purpose.
Scheduled flights operate on fixed routes with regular timings throughout the year. These flights run according to published timetables regardless of how many seats are sold, providing consistent service for business and leisure travellers alike.
Charter flights have unique characteristics that make them particularly appealing for certain types of tourism. Let's explore what makes charter flights distinctive and why tourists might choose them.
Charter flights often offer lower prices per seat as tour operators buy the entire aircraft and can spread costs across all passengers. This makes them attractive for budget-conscious holidaymakers.
These flights typically operate during peak holiday seasons to popular tourist destinations. They're designed to meet high demand during specific times of the year.
Charter flights are often part of package holidays, with departure times that maximise holiday time. They may offer more relaxed, holiday-focused service.
Charter flights provide direct routes to holiday destinations that might not be served by scheduled flights. For example, a charter flight might fly directly from Manchester to a small Greek island that doesn't have regular scheduled service. This saves tourists the hassle of connecting flights or additional travel from larger airports.
The flexibility of charter operations allows airlines to respond to market demand. During summer months, more flights might be scheduled to Mediterranean destinations, while winter might see increased service to ski resorts or winter sun destinations like the Canary Islands.
TUI Airways (formerly Thomson Airways) is one of Europe's largest charter airlines. It primarily serves the package holiday market, flying tourists from the UK to popular holiday destinations around the Mediterranean, Caribbean and beyond. TUI's business model integrates their flights with their own hotels and resorts, creating complete holiday packages. During peak summer season, TUI might operate multiple daily flights from major UK airports to destinations like Mallorca or Tenerife, while reducing service during off-peak times. This flexibility allows them to match capacity precisely to demand, keeping costs down and planes full.
Scheduled flights offer a different set of advantages that appeal to various types of travellers. Understanding these characteristics helps tourism professionals recommend the right options for different clients.
Scheduled flights operate year-round with consistent timetables, providing dependable service regardless of season or passenger numbers.
Popular routes often have multiple daily departures, giving travellers flexibility to choose convenient times that suit their needs.
Scheduled airlines typically offer extensive networks with connecting flights, allowing travel to virtually any destination worldwide.
Scheduled flights cater to both business and leisure travellers. They typically offer different booking classes (economy, premium economy, business, first) to meet varying customer needs and budgets. This flexibility makes them suitable for a wide range of travellers.
Many scheduled airlines are part of global alliances (like Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam), allowing passengers to earn and use frequent flyer points across multiple airlines. This loyalty system can be very appealing to regular travellers.
British Airways operates an extensive network of scheduled flights from its main hub at London Heathrow. The airline offers consistent year-round service to major cities worldwide, with multiple daily flights on popular routes like London to New York. Their business model focuses on reliability and service quality, with different cabin classes to suit various customer budgets and preferences. British Airways' membership in the Oneworld alliance allows passengers to connect seamlessly with partner airlines for global travel. While their tickets may sometimes cost more than charter alternatives, the flexibility, frequency and reliability of their scheduled service appeals particularly to business travellers and independent tourists who value convenience.
Different types of tourists have different priorities when it comes to air travel. Tourism professionals need to understand these needs to recommend the most suitable options:
The distinction between charter and scheduled flights has become less clear-cut in recent years. Many traditional charter airlines now offer some scheduled services, while scheduled carriers sometimes operate charter flights for tour operators. Low-cost carriers like easyJet and Ryanair have also disrupted the market by offering scheduled flights at prices that can compete with charters.
Understanding the characteristics and appeal of different flight types helps tourism professionals provide better advice to customers and create more appealing travel packages that meet specific needs and preferences.