Competition significantly reduces plane tickets to 10-15 euros, but don't leave them for the last day

The increase in competition among low cost operators in the country has again significantly reduced flight tickets from and to Rinas, after the increase they recorded in the first months of the year.

With the entry of the Irish Ryanair from the end of October, the competition has increased as there are already two low-cost operators, including the Hungarian Wizz Air, which has been operating for several years in the domestic market.

If you want to buy a ticket for a trip in three or four weeks, you can find tickets for certain destinations and times starting from 10 to 15 euros for one way, or 30-50 euros for round-trip tickets from both of these operators.

Tickets are much cheaper than in the first part of the year, where they increased significantly and averaged over 100 euros, while Wizz Air, which initially entered with cheap prices, made them more expensive, after taking over 60% of the flight market . But, the increase in competition, after the news that Ryanai would enter, "forced" Wizz to lower prices again in the second half of the year.

Italy is the cheapest, and England is down

A return trip for December 2-5 in Milan costs around 50 euros with Wiiz Air. With Ryanair for the same dates Milan is reachable for 36 euros. Milan is the destination with the most daily flights, 5 times a day with Wizz and twice a day with Ryanair.

To Rome, on the same dates, the return to Rome with Wizz Air costs 10 euros and the return 18 euros, for a total of 28 euros (this is the cheapest option). With Ryanair for the same dates, the ticket costs 30 euros.

England is also accessible with cheap tickets. Even in London, for the same dates, the ticket costs 30 euros round trip with Wizz and the same with Ryanair. The latter has two other destinations to the United Kingdom, Edinburgh and Manchester. With Edinburgh, for the same dates, the return ticket is 37 euros,

Towards Germany it is a little more expensive, as the number of flights is lower, generally 3 times a week. For December 4th to Berlin, the ticket costs from 45 euros and the return on December 8th 50 euros, in total 95 euros. In Frankfurt on the 2nd and 5th, a return ticket with Wizz costs 70 euros.

In addition to traditional destinations, the geography of flights to Prague, the cities of Poland (promoted by tourist flows from this country), Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Romania (Bucharest), etc., has been significantly increased. To Bucharest, for example, on December 5 and 7, the ticket costs 30 euros round-trip with Ryanair.

Do not leave the tickets for the last day because you will pay dearly (up to 300 euros)

A search on the websites of two low cost operators shows that the best time to book a ticket is 3-4 weeks before you travel.

If you leave the ticket for the last day, or you have an emergency and you have to travel suddenly, the prices are expensive.

For example, if you will buy a ticket to Milan on November 18, the return trip to Rinasi costs at least 55 euros and the return on November 20 around 28 euros, with Wizz Air. With Ryanair for the same dates, the departure starts from 37 euros and the return 20 euros.

If you buy the ticket two days in advance, the prices start from more than 100 euros one way up to 300 euros for both operators.

Free for holidays too

As the end of the year approaches, tickets become more expensive due to the high demand for holiday travel. But this year, the trip to Milan on December 24 and 25 with Wizz fluctuates by 10-15 euros. From Milan to Tirana tickets cost 30-50 euros. Ryanair has similar tickets.

Tickets start to become more expensive in the first days of January, at 70-150 euros to Italy (the period when emigrants return home), while from Milan to Rinas the cheap tickets follow.

5.4 million passengers flew in January-September 2023

Cheap prices have significantly increased the flow of air travel. According to INSTAT data, for the 9th month, about 5.4 million passengers flew to and from Rinas, with an increase of 36% compared to the same period a year ago.

Cheap plane tickets have been one of the main reasons that have boosted tourism, which reached an all-time high this year.

Wizz Air has 62% of the market

Low-cost operator Wizz Air had 62% of the market by passenger numbers in September 2023, according to data from Tirana International Airport. Wizz has consistently taken market share from other operators such as Air Albania and Alba Wings, which had respectively 7.8% and 6.1% of the market at the end of September.

The entry of Ryanair from the beginning of November this year is expected to reshape the market again, putting more pressure on operators who have been steadily losing ground over the past two years. For example, in September 2021, Wizz had 37% of the market, Air Albania about 14% and Albawings about 8%. MONITOR