Few people consider financial stability of airline when booking flights – Skyscanner

The recent collapse of British tour operator Goldtrail has highlighted the challenging conditions that continue for the travel industry, yet despite this and the failure of several airlines over the last 18 months, price is still by far the most important deciding factor when it comes to buying a flight, according to the latest survey from cheap flights comparison site Skyscanner.

Over 500 people voted in the poll, with 47 per cent stating that price was the most important factor in their decision. Twenty-two per cent said that the reputation and reliability of the airline (in terms of safety and comfort) were the most important factors; 13 per cent stated that the departure and arrival times were most important; 11 per cent said the distance to and from airports was the decider, whereas the financial stability of the airline was by far the least important factor, with only six per cent stating that it was important to their decision.

Barry Smith, Skyscanner co-founder and business director commented:

“As long as you have adequate travel insurance, there is little point digging through an airline’s financial records before booking your flights to Malaga or London, trying to predict whether it will still be flying in six months time – the chances are it will be.

“It’s been a tough time for the travel industry, but proportionally, the number of carriers that have gone bust over the last two years is actually very small compared to those that are still operating.”

A similar poll conducted by Skyscanner in May last year revealed that 37 per cent considered flight price the most important factor, suggesting that the economic downturn has made price an even more vital consideration to air passengers.

Skyscanner is a leading travel search site providing instant online comparisons on flight prices for over 670,000 routes, including flights to Orlando, and on over 600 airlines.