airBaltic reveals most popular ancillary revenue products
airBaltic has attained its highest-ever revenue for the first half of a single year, helped by a surge in ancillary revenues
airBaltichas revealed that announces that the airline’s most popular ancillary products during the first half of 2023 were checked baggage, advanced seat reservation, and heavy hand baggage.
In comparison to the same period last year, purchases of these products have increased by 10%, 24%, and 40% respectively.
“We see a consistent demand for various ancillary products, designed to enhance passenger comfort and the whole flight experience, said Eva Plakane, SVP Revenue Management of airBaltic in an August 22 press release. “In the first half of this year, the total revenue from the additional products has surged by 39%, compared to the same period the year before.
“Overall, air travel is not just a flight anymore – it is a more in-depth engagement with customers by offering full travel experience from start to finish. Passengers want to make flying comfortable and enjoyable. Therefore, we are constantly following their feedback to improve our existing products and evaluate new options,” Plakane added.
The airline’s ancillary product service Advanced Seat Reservation, offering to select specific seats for upcoming flights, is also gaining popularity. According to the airline, which operates more than 100 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere, the demand for purchases of preferred seats has seen a notable increase of 24%, with over 14% of the total passenger amount opting for this feature. Specifically, the 15th row stands out as the most favoured one. However, those, whose seats are included in the ticket price, show a preference for the fifth row, located right behind the business class, along with seats next to emergency exits that offer added legroom. newly designed seat menu is available on the airBaltic website, offering transparent seat categories, appealing prices, and clear explanations.
There has also been a notable surge in demand for the transportation of special equipment (+83%), indicating the return of passengers' sports routines to the pre-pandemic level. Travelers are flying together with such personal items as skis, golf bags, and even surfboards.
