Mainland transit offers alternative for Europe trips amid Middle East war
Industry leaders expect more Hongkongers to choose Europe via mainland transit, but warn cheaper fares may be offset by higher fuel charges.
Source excerpt
Transiting through mainland China for long-haul destinations from Hong Kong has become an alternative to stopping off in the Middle East amid safety concerns brought about by the US-Israel war on Iran, the city’s travel agents have said.
Alex Lee Chun-ting, general manager of Miramar Travel, told the South China Morning Post that the war in the Middle East had initially reduced interest in long-haul tours to Europe in summer, but he now expected a 3 per cent increase year on year.
Lee said safety concerns over flying through the Middle East and pricier airfares had made residents hesitant to travel, with many forgoing routes via the Gulf region and opting for direct long-haul flights, pushing up demand and prices.
“[Some mainland airlines] noticed this trend, too, and offered us group discounts for tours departing from Hong Kong, with stopovers in Shanghai or Beijing before heading to Europe,” Lee said, adding that this had absorbed some of the demand for Middle Eastern airlines.
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