EUROPEAN LOW FARES AIRLINES ASSOCIATION president Wolfgang Kurth of Hapag Lloyd-Express told a gathering of his members in London last week that 80m passengers would travel on European no-frills carriers this year compared to 47m last year. By 2005 the figure would reach 100m, twice that of 2003. Two years ago there were just two budget carriers operating in Germany. Now there are 15 he pointed out. He was much more optimistic than another speaker Michael O”Leary, who is forecasting the collapse in the low fare market as fuel prices and stiff competition force out the smaller players. So far, of the major players, only Go has disappeared (into easyJet) and Buzz (acquired for a nominal sum by Ryanair). Now never took off. Established in January 2004 ELFAA currently has 11 members from nine European countries carrying 50m passengers (see also Manston below).
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