Definition of Low Cost Airlines

Conventional airlines have maintained normally high price levels. However, in recent years new companies have appeared that sell tickets at very cheap prices. These new airlines are known by the label of low cost airlines, also called low cost airlines.

Why is the price of tickets so low?

These companies have to respect air navigation rules like any other. Despite this, low cost airlines have a strategy very specific commercial.

First of all, ticket sales are based on a large volume of passengers that allow to reduce the prices of the passage. Second, they operate with alternative or secondary airports and with lower expenses.

On the other hand, the services offered by low cost companies are very basic, since a ticket is sold and the Passenger cannot carry luggage with a high weight, nor can he choose his seat or eat something during the flight.

In short, the ticket price is not associated with the traditional services that conventional airlines include. In this way, the extra services in the low cost have to be paid with an additional complement. All these measures are aimed at reducing costs and this is what allows the very cheap price of tickets.

The question of security

The low price of these airlines has caused several controversies. One of them is related to safety. The reduction of expenses in food, in luggage or in a series of amenities has nothing to do with air safety issues. Despite this, a part of the savings comes from the lower salaries received by the pilots of these companies. This aspect generates a certain concern, since normally a salary low is related to less professionalism and efficiency. For this reason, there are experts who argue that the low cost strategy implies a greater risk for the safety of passengers.

The low cost phenomenon

The low cost phenomenon goes beyond the airline sector. In fact, low-price policies occur in all sorts of areas.

Like all social and economic phenomena, it has its supporters and detractors. Some of the consumers value very positively that a service has a very cheap price.

On the other hand, the low cost idea is rejected by some with all kinds of arguments (precariousness labor of workers, deceptive business strategies to attract customers or the suspicion that cheap can not be good quality).

Photos: Fotolia - Anton Gvozdikov / Joyt