High air fares force travelling Britons to make for the tunnel - Business News - Business - Evening Standard
       

High air fares force travelling Britons to make for the tunnel

The massive rise in the cost of flying seems to be encouraging Britons to travel under the sea.

The latest inflation figures showed air fares between November and December last year rocketed by 41%, helping Eurotunnel, which manages the Channel Tunnel and carries car and coach passengers and freight lorries, today to post a 16% rise in revenues last year to 844.8 million (£707.5 million).

Passenger shuttle traffic was up 6% last year as the number of holidaymakers who drove to the Continent rose and haulage firms moved 16% more freight between the UK and France. Demand for tickets on Eurostar was up 2% to 9.7 million.

Eurotunnel's chairman and chief executive Jacques Gounon said: "Our commitment to rail freight is bearing fruit."

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity