Europe



Airlines are seizing the opportunity of next year’s European football championships in France to charge up to st£1,000 extra for flights on and around big match occasions compared to similar dates a month before the competition kicks off.

Airlines are increasing fare prices substantially for the European championships next summer

Airlines are increasing fare prices substantially for the European championships next summer Image by Steven Depolo / CC BY 2.0

With many hotels and other accommodation already booked, football fans face shelling out exorbitant sums so that they can attend games.  According to analysis by the Daily Telegraph travel section, it would cost close to £1,300 more for two people to stay in the cheapest accommodation while also using the lowest fares in travel during next June’s big tournament compared to the previous month.

England's games agains Russia and Wales and Ireland's fixture against Belgium are proving very profitable for airlines ahead of next year's European Championships in France

England’s games agains Russia and Wales and Ireland’s fixture against Belgium are proving very profitable for airlines ahead of next year’s European Championships in France Image by Dirk Vorderstraße / CC BY 2.0

The scale of the cost comes hot on the heels of the draw for the groupings for next summer’s tournament which takes place across nine French centres. Soccer fans wanting to attend Ireland’s game with top ranked group team in Bordeaux on June 18 will have to fork out £1,567 for such a break which is in contrast to £247 a short holiday from May 17-19 would cost them.

Aer Lingus return flights from Dublin to Bordeaux on June 17 and 19 cost over £1,000 – which is £800 dearer than if they travelled on similar dates in the previous month. British and Irish fans face higher prices whether it is for the Northern Ireland v Poland, England v Russia or indeed the England v Wales games. The carrier says that prices go up and down depending on demand at any given time.

Ryanair say their flights to France have been selling fast since the four teams in Britain and Ireland qualified for the Euros. The low-budget airline says they have put on three extra flights to meet the demand, in particular for the England v Russia and England v Wales games.