Less expensive air transport

Published:

Passenger air transport prices were 10.6 per cent lower in the 1st quarter of 2017 than in the same quarter last year. Compared to the 4th quarter of 2016, prices decreased 4.5 per cent.

The price index for passenger air transport decreased to 113.1 in the 1st quarter of 2017. Flight tickets that have little or no flexibility after purchase are regarded as targeting private travellers, while flexible tickets are considered to be aimed at business travellers. Compared to the same quarter in 2016, prices for “leisure travel” decreased 12.0 per cent, while prices for “business travel” decreased 6.4 per cent. Compared to the 4th quarter in 2016, there was a decrease of 6.2 per cent for “private trips” and an increase of 1.0 per cent for “business trips”. Prices for domestic flights decreased 11.1 per cent, while prices for foreign travel decreased 7.5 per cent compared to the 1st quarter of 2016. Compared to the 4th quarter of 2016, there was a decrease of 5.7 per cent for domestic flights and 1.4 per cent for foreign travel.

Figure 1. Price indices for for freight transport by road and scheduled air transport. 2010=100

1Q 2006 1Q 2007 1Q 2008 1Q 2009 1Q 2010 1Q 2011 1Q 2012 1Q 2013 1Q 2014 1Q 2015 1Q 2016 1Q 2017
Freight transport by road 83.0 83.8 85.1 86.5 88.5 89.8 90.8 91.7 95.0 97.1 99.0 99.8 99.8 99.1 99.4 99.3 99.6 99.6 100.1 100.7 102.0 103.2 103.7 104.1 106.2 106.4 107.3 107.9 108.4 108.4 109.6 110.1 111.0 111.1 111.0 112.0 112.8 113.6 113.6 113.4 113.6 113.7 114.4 113.6 114.9
Scheduled air transport with passengers 102.4 101.7 100.9 106.6 106.4 105.2 100.4 104.4 102.7 111.5 115.6 120.3 113.8 110.2 108.5 108.7 101.9 102.7 94.5 100.9 94.7 96.8 89.1 89.6 93.6 98.9 100.4 104.6 104.9 112.3 107.4 106.9 106.0 111.7 116.7 118.6 113.8 119.1 117.0 122.2 126.5 123.4 116.9 118.4 113.1

Figure 2. Price indices for auxiliary transport services and postal and courier services. 2010=100

1Q 2006 1Q 2007 1Q 2008 1Q 2009 1Q 2010 1Q 2011 1Q 2012 1Q 2013 1Q 2014 1Q 2015 1Q 2016 1Q 2017
Storage and warehousing 84.6 85.3 85.6 86.5 88.9 89.7 90.6 92 94.3 95.9 96.8 97.8 100 100.4 98.4 98.6 99.8 99 98.5 102.6 100.2 98.9 98.5 98 94.6 93.5 93 92.9 95.2 95.4 95.5 96.4 97 96.2 96.6 96.6 99.3 98.9 99.3 99.8 103 103.2 103.6 102.4 103.8
Cargo handling 82.9 83.5 85.3 86.2 88.1 89.5 89.6 91.5 93.9 93.9 93.9 95.3 98.7 98.7 98.7 98.8 99.2 99.2 100.7 100.9 103.5 103.9 104 104.6 106 106.9 108.2 108.6 108.5 107.7 107.7 107.7 107.9 107.9 108.7 108.7 111 111 110.9 110.8 111.5 111.4 111.4 111.5 113.3
Postal and courier services 90 90.4 90.4 90.4 91.4 91.9 94.7 94.7 97.8 97.9 98 97.9 99.5 100.2 100 100 100.3 100.5 99.5 99.6 101.1 101 101 101.1 100.7 100.4 101 98.5 98.5 94.7 95.2 95.6 99.4 99.5 99.3 99.6 105.1 102.7 102.5 102.7 106.4 106.4 106.3 105.8 110.5
 

Price increase in postal and courier activities

The price index for postal and courier activities increased to 110.5 in the 1st quarter of 2017. The total index rose 3.8 per cent compared to the 1st quarter of 2016. From the 4th quarter of 2016 to the 1st quarter of 2017, prices increased 4.4 per cent. Compared to the same quarter in 2016, the sub-index for postal activities under universal obligation went up 4.3 per cent. From the 4th quarter of 2016 to the 1st quarter of 2017, this index increased 5.4 per cent. The sub-index for other postal and courier activities showed a price increase of 2.2 per cent from the 1st quarter of 2016 to the 1st quarter of 2017. Compared to the 4th quarter of 2016 the increase was 1.0 per cent.

Higher prices in freight transport by road

The total index for freight transport by road increased by 1.1 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2016, reaching a total of 114.9. Also from the 4th quarter of 2016, the prices rose 1.1 per cent.

More expensive storage

The total index for storage and warehousing rose to103.8 in the 1st quarter of 2017. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2016, prices increased 0.8 per cent. Storage prices increased 1.4 per cent compared to the previous quarter.

Increased prices for cargo handling

The total index for cargo handling totalled 113.3 in the 1st quarter of 2017. In comparison to the 1st quarter of 2016, cargo handling prices increased 1.6 per cent. Also from last quarter the index rose 1.6 per cent.

The Service Price Index for passenger air transport and the Consumer Price Index

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Service Producer Price Index for passenger air transport (SPPIA) differ as follows:

  • SPPIA describes developments in the price of the producer, which together with volume creates the turnover. CPI describes developments in the price for the consumer. Deviations are due to fees and charges collected by the producer, e.g. VAT and security fees.
  • SPPIA consists of list prices and volume. CPI collects prices by imitating supposed consumer behaviour, i.e. simulating an order for certain journeys that remain constant between periods.

 

Contact