Trans-Tasman airlines have among world’s biggest differences between economy and business fares, study shows

Air New Zealand and fellow trans-Tasman carrier Qantas have among the biggest average price differences between economy and business class tickets in the world, a new study has found. Analysing price data from 33 of the world’s biggest airlines, European holiday rental company Holidu found that business class tickets are 250% more expensive on average than economy tickets. To determine this, the company calculated the average prices of economy and business tickets from a sample of short-, medium- and long-haul flights on the same day. They then ranked airlines according to the average discrepancies between business and economy fares. Three of the four airlines said to have the smallest difference between economy and business fares hailed from Asia. Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) came out on top with business fares costing 82% more on average than economy fares. The research highlighted a flight from Tokyo to Seoul which was £823.50 ($1722) for economy, and GBP289 (NZ$604) more for business. Japan Airlines was ranked second, with an average price discrepancy of 94%, and was followed by South Korea’s Asiana Airlines with 120% and Algeria’s Air Algerie with 137%.<br/>