New security checks at Brussels Airport, where suicide bombs killed 16 people, are creating huge queues and causing passengers to miss flights, a situation even the airport operator described as "bizarre". Belgium's main airport reopened part of its main departure hall on Monday, bringing capacity up to about 80% from 20% when operations initially restarted a month ago, after the attack on March 22. But passengers complain that police checks at the entrance to the building are not only causing delays of several hours but have created a new security risk by making a huge crowd of people congregate outside. Among the stranded passengers was former Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme who missed his flight to Budapest after queuing for two hours and 40 minutes. "In the coming weeks I'll think twice about choosing Brussels Airport," Leterme said. "I think Paris is the better option." With major airports in Paris, Amsterdam and Duesseldorf easily accessible by train from Brussels, the chaos in the Belgian hub could have a major economic impact. The airport's manager blamed the police unions, which took the decision to screen all passengers and their luggage at the entrance. Police union VSOA blamed a lack of staff among private security firms which carry out the initial checks. Belgium's interior ministry, ultimately responsible for security, said it would hold talks on Tuesday to address the situation and come up with an improved procedure.<br/>
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A low-cost, low-fare carrier such as Spirit Airlines makes its living on passenger fees. That those fees, known as non-ticket revenue, dropped by more than $2 per passenger in Q1, compared to a year ago, might suggest a shift in travellers’ tolerance for additional charges. Spirit blames its sagging fee tally on low fares: Travellers seeking out the lowest fares have had plenty of choices, with a raft of bargain flights, some below $50, departing from cities nationwide. Those price-sensitive travellers enticed by the lowest of low prices tend to avoid racking up additional fees. Fare skirmishes have extended to the full spectrum of pricing, aided by the collapse of advance-booking windows for tickets once aimed solely at business travellers. In many cases, buying a ticket to fly the following day is no more expensive than buying one a month early. What’s more, lower fuel prices have boosted airline seat supply beyond demand in many markets, curbing fares for both corporate and leisure travellers. The industry refers to this narrowing as “fare compression.” It has played a central role in airlines’ unit revenue declines and reduced stock prices. Five of the six largest airlines, excluding only Southwest, have experienced share declines of 12 to 19% this year due to the negative revenue news. “In this current fare-compression environment we are seeing consumers who previously wouldn’t fly, now choosing to fly because fares are so low,” Spirit spokesman Paul Berry said. “Many of these consumers are foregoing purchasing optional items.” <br/>
Travellers this summer are in luck: Airfares will be cheaper than they've been since 2009.<br/>Fares for advanced-purchase tickets are likely be down about 12% compared to last year, and down 20% from two years ago, according to airfare prediction app Hopper. That means fares this summer will be at a seven-year low, according to Hopper. Average fares during the summer will range from an peak of $240 in June, and then drop to $211 by August. Hopper tracks the fares generally used by leisure travellers, who have some flexibility on when they buy tickets and when they travel. Last minute ticket purchases by business travellers typically result in higher fares, but fares are declining for them as well, said Patrick Surry, Hopper's chief data scientist. Lower jet fuel prices are a big part of why plane tickets are cheap. But even if fuel prices start to climb, flyers don't have to worry. Cheaper jet fuel prices have lead to increased industry capacity and competition, Surry said, and that's what's pushing down prices. "Because it's a profitable business to be in now, everyone is trying to expand," he said, adding that only a big jump in fuel prices would cause airlines to cut back on capacity. The major airlines have all been reporting lower fares in their recent earnings reports, with expectations that fares aren't likely to rise until next year. The carries have also been reporting record profits thanks to billions in fuel savings.<br/>