airlines that throw the towel

The arrival of AVE Ha Galicia has completely changed flights between Santiago de Compostela and Madrid. The increase in frequencies and the possibility of reaching the city in three hours has made the train a more than attractive option to travel in the day. That has its direct consequences on the plane: less squares and more expensive.

Four more times. Right now, traveling from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid and returning in the day is up to four times more expensive by plane than by train. According to The voice of Galiciaflying with Iberia early in the morning from Galicia and returning the next day, also early in the morning, you can shoot at 480 euros.

However, going out with Avlo at 5:47 hours and returning to Santiago at 10:19 p.m. on the last train that leaves Madrid to Galicia costs about 123 euro. That is, choosing the plane would be up to four times more expensive than traveling by train.

Not only in the short term. In Xataka We wanted to check if the situation is repeated in the long term. Using the flight comparator Skyscanner To find the cheapest combinations and look for the lowest pricing days, we have gone to Tuesday, July 15.

That day, go by plane From Galicia to Madrid with departure early in the morning and further at night, at least 217 euros is always combined with Iberia and Ryanair. Of course, we would arrive at least at 11:35 to Madrid. To arrive an hour earlier to the capital you have to disburse 311 euros if you travel with Iberia and 395 euros if it is done with Vueling.

Nor is it cheap for those who work in Madrid and want to enjoy the weekend in Galicia. Thento leave Monday early in the morning and return on Friday at the last minute costs a minimum of 169 euros (combining Ryanair and Iberia). If we fly alone with Iberia, it’s 240 euros.

And by train? With an eye on the long term, go and return in the day by train from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid costs on Tuesday, July 15, 76.40 euros, both trips with avlo. If we chose to leave a Monday early and return Friday in the late afternoon, everything stays at 98 euros.

That is, the round trip on the day is much cheaper by train (76.40 euros compared to the, minimum, 217 euros) but it is also cheaper if we choose to spend the whole week in Madrid and travel to Galicia on the weekend, with options that are at least 71 euros cheaper.

What happened? In The voice of Galicia They explain that the price of traveling with Iberia has triggered because they have delegated the service on Air Nostrum, which use aircraft with 80 less seats, which significantly reduces the offer of seats by plane. This makes them more expensive and, they emphasize, more complicated to get.

In Santiago de Compostela they do not understand the change. Carlos García, from Civic Forum, points to the local newspaper that “it is not understood that Iberia’s first flight with Madrid, which was going to the flag every day, become operated by Air Nostrum (…) We are paying the most expensive locations than ever. “

Two business models. To the reduction in the places offered that the plane has lost competitiveness of schedules in front of the train, especially for those who aspire to spend a work day in Madrid in a timely manner but want to return to Galicia that same day.

Right now, the first flight that lands in Madrid from Santiago de Compostela does so at 10:35 am, when the working day is already well advanced. To this you have to add the time of displacement From the plane touches land until you arrive from Barajas to the city. And the time in advance that must be used to get to the airport adds to the last flight of Iberia leave at 19:50, significantly reducing the possibility of taking advantage of the full day.

The train, however, comes out and reaches the city itself. It has an exit from Santiago de Compostela before six in the morning, arriving in Madrid before nine. That is, more than an hour and a half before (to which the subsequent displacement must be added). Although the last avlo leaves at 8:23 p.m., it is also more competitive because it requires less logistics to arrive.

More competitive. Although the plane, in theory, takes an hour and a half less than a journey, the train has become the ideal means of transport for those who aspire to have a work day in Madrid and return that same day. If the time spent to get to the airport is added, pass the security control and embark, the three hours of train are already compensated.

And, in addition, they allow you to take better advantage of time on board if we need an internet connection because, although they continue to have connection problems, On the plane it is completely disconnected If you want to work with some fluidity.

Cases that are repeated. The Santiago de Compostela-Madrid case is another example of how high speed can be eaten to the plane. The reduction of seats and the renunciation of trips early in the morning reflects how airlines have thrown the towel on this concrete route. At least to look for that “worker” audience.

In China they have experienced a very similar case With their high -speed trains that, despite having routes of more than 1,000 kilometers away, have caused airlines to ask for help because they have fewer and fewer travelers. Good Internet connections and the possibility of reaching the center of cities have caused passengers to prioritize this option in front of the plane.

Photo | Miguel Ángel Sanz and Nelson Silva

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