Airlines slashing fares as pandemic continues but passengers unlikely to bite, say industry watchers

From generous discounts to flexible schedules, airlines are doing all they can to nudge pandemic-weary travellers towards the skies again. Last week Emirates launched a global sale on its economy and business class seats for flights booked between Jan 19 and Feb 2 for travel until Jun 15 to destinations such as Los Angeles, Moscow and Istanbul. The carrier is also offering "generous rebooking terms" that would allow customers to change their travel dates or extend their ticket validity for up to two years. Turkish Airlines is offering a 40% discount on all ticket types for international flights, while other airlines such as China Eastern are offering travel passes that allow for unlimited flights for a single price. "It varies from airline to airline but many are offering steep discounts amidst the worsening flying environment to get some revenue," said Shukor Yusof, who heads aviation consultancy Endau Analytics. With countries beginning to roll out COVID-19 vaccinations for their populations, some may think that it is safer to travel now, said Ngee Ann Polytechnic senior tourism lecturer Michael Chiam. Chiam expects that more travellers will take a wait-and-see approach and hold back on their travel plans until the pandemic comes under control. <br/>