The launch of flexible fares by no frills carrier Easyjet has been welcomed by business travel bosses.
Easyjet said the fare is aimed at business travellers, and will offer unlimited flexibility for passengers to change their flights, up to two hours before scheduled departure times.
Anne Godfrey, CEO of the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC), said: “I think it’s a recognition that business travellers are a market that they have increasingly been successful with.”
She said the new fare would help both the airline and travel management companies (TMCs) to give better service to travellers.
Easyjet has been “extremely proactive” in talking to TMCs prior to the launch of the new fare, said Godfrey.
“They have come and discussed with us whether this particular flexible fare is something that the business traveller and the TMCs want, and we’ve been very positive in our response and we’re looking forward to working with them.”
The fare will initially only be available through global distribution systems and self booking tools used by TMCs, not for individual travellers via the airline’s website – although this should launch next year.
Godfrey said this is a recognition of the fact that the majority of these fares will be bought by intermediaries.
“[It is] a way of making sure business travellers stay within policy," she added. "Going through third parties and through the GDS is a good way of helping that,”
Nigel Turner, Carlson Wagonlit’s director of programme management, also welcomed the new fare structure.
“Easyjet has got a very good approach to the business travel sector, or are certainly moving towards more understanding of the business travel sector, and this is one demonstration of it,” he said. “It’s a really positive move.”
Turner said he thinks the new fare will entice more passengers to fly Easyjet.
“I think there are a lot of people who already travel on Easyjet for business, who have perhaps got used to the basis of having restricted tickets.
“But I think this will attract some new customers who were perhaps reticent to go on such fares before, who will probably be more attracted.”
He added: “They’ve got a good network, and a good product. They seem to be able to listen to all the requirements of the business travel world... I think this is one of the first demonstrations of that.
“If they can further enhance their product and their relationship with the corporate market, I think that is good for us all.”
Easyjet said it would not comment on rumours that it is considering starting to use IATA’s billing settlement plan (BSP).
Turner said the move would be welcomed by TMCs as it would make paying for tickets and billing clients much faster and easier.
Currently BSP is used by legacy carriers to simplify payments – if Easyjet signed up it would be the first no-frills carrier to do so.