Airlines are slashing prices because no one wants to fly during the coronavirus crisis

Airlines are so desperate to get bums on plane seats during the virus crisis, they’re flogging fares as low as the price of a large coffee.

Airlines are offering basement-bargain flights for as cheap as a cup of coffee as millions of people face travel restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chinese airlines are flogging one-way fares for as little as $6, while Air New Zealand has just announced trans-Tasman flights for as little as $128 as it tries to get people flying despite coronavirus fears.

And the dirt-cheap prices could keep coming as airlines struggle to fill planes due to the virus outbreak, an Australian analyst says.

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Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier, has advertised a one-way flight from Shanghai to Chongqing for just 29 yuan, or $6.30, the South China Morning Post reports.

Bargain-hunting travellers will need to be a frequent flyer club member with Spring Airlines to score the $6.30 tickets that cost even less than a Starbucks latte in China, which is typically priced at 32 yuan or $6.95.

The airline is also offering a one-way flight from Shanghai to Harbin – a 1600km trip – for 69 yuan, or $15.

Meanwhile, on Shenzhen Airlines, travellers can buy a 100 yuan ($21.75) ticket from Shenzhen to Chongqing, a 1000km journey, the South China Morning Postreported.

An almost empty flight from Bangkok to Shanghai waits to take off on Monday, February 24. Picture: Hector Retamal/AFP

“Considering lower average costs of operating in mainland China, carriers could potentially offer deeper discounts while making slim profits or just breaking even,” Luya You, an aviation analyst with Bank of Communications International, told the newspaper.

Australian travellers have been warned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to avoid travelling to China due to the risk of coronavirus, which has now infected more than 82,000 worldwide.

It comes as Air New Zealand announced a flash sale on Friday that offered return flights between Australia and New Zealand for as little as $128.

The “ridiculously good deals” were due to a downturn caused by coronavirus, the airline’s chief revenue officer Cam Wallace said.

“Like all airlines we have seen some softness in demand on routes like the Tasman where we now have some empty seats due to travellers mainly from Asian destinations not connecting between Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Wallace said.

“Aussies and Kiwis are going to be able to head away for holidays or to see family and friends or do business for cheaper than a night’s accommodation at most hotels.”

Seat-only return fares in the sale include Brisbane to Auckland for $138, Brisbane to Christchurch for $136, Melbourne to Christchurch for $130, Sydney to Wellington for $135 and Sydney to Auckland for $136.

Fares cost about $20 more to check in luggage and more information can be found on the Air New Zealand website.

‘THERE WILL BE GOOD OFFERS GOING’

The low fares could be the sign of things to come as coronavirus fears put people off international travel.

Peter Harbison, the executive chairman of CAPA Centre for Aviation, predicts airfares may continue to fall as demand for travel remains weak.

He told Traveller “bad news for the airline is usually good news for consumers”.

“The airlines are going to have to respond to that with lower fares,” he said.

“Beyond Easter there will be some good offers going out because airlines are very hungry for cashflow, so they will be wanting to fill up those seats.

“You can only stimulate people back into the market with lower prices.”

The cheap flights come after a report found nearly half of China’s population, more than 780 million people, were impacted by travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the illness, according to CNN.

Australian travellers have been warned against going to China.

The virus has infected more than 78,000 people in China and caused at least 2718 deaths in the country.

China’s busiest airports have seen a massive 80 per cent drop in traffic since the coronavirus outbreak began and global capacity has fallen more than it did after the September 11 terror attacks in 2001 and the SARS outbreak in 2002-03.

The International Air Transport Association projects that globally, airlines will lose $44.7 billion in revenue this year due to government-issued travel bans and general anxiety around international travel during the virus crisis.

Qantas and Virgin Australia are among the carriers that have slashed services to China and across Asia in response to weaker demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

— with the New York Post.