EasyJet's half-term flights to the Alps soar above £1,000 return

Exclusive: easyJet and BA are charging more than £500 for a one-way flight to Geneva

Making tracks: half-term air fares serving Europe’s high points are soaring (Simon Calder)

On the eve of many schools breaking up for half term, air fares to the Alps and elsewhere have soared to unparalleled levels.

For a lunchtime flight from Gatwick to Geneva on Saturday 10 February, easyJet is charging £573 one-way, while British Airways’ lowest fare on the key date for ski flights is £518.

The easyJet fare for the 100-minute, 445-mile journey does not include food, drink, seat selection or checked baggage. With a lunchtime flight coming back a week later, on 17 February, easyJet’s return fare is £1,063; the addition of the smallest checked-in bag takes the total over £1,100.

A round-trip on BA is priced at £898, which includes 23kg of checked baggage and seat selection.

There is always a spike in fares at half-term, but The Independent is unaware of prices for holiday flights previously climbing so high.

For the same one-way Gatwick-Geneva flights a week later, easyJet is charging £147, while BA is asking for £35 (without baggage or seat selection).

Tens of thousands of people fly to Geneva, the Swiss airport that is also the main gateway to the French Alps, at half term. From Gatwick alone, easyJet has 27 flights.

Middle-of-the-day departures are preferred for ease of connections at either end of the journey. For its last departure of the day, at 7.55pm, easyJet has a fare of £238.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: “Fares are driven by demand. February half term is one of the busiest times of the year for Geneva, and the flight is departing within 48 hours.

“However we fly from London to Geneva 27 times on Saturday 10 February and fares are still available on our other flights starting from £238 – which is considerably cheaper than BA.

“We always recommend that all customers should book as early as possible to secure the lowest fares.”

BA’s spokesperson said: “The vast majority of our customers book their summer or half term family holidays well in advance to make sure they get the best value deals.

“Generally speaking, ticket prices rise the closer you get to the travel date due to limited availability. We sell flights and accommodation 355 days in advance of travel.”

From Manchester to Munich – serving key Austrian resorts as well as the Bavarian Alps – Lufthansa is asking for £475 travelling out on 10 February and back a week later. The following week, the fare is £222 return.

Half-term prices for many package holidays are more than twice normal levels. The cheapest currently available TUI holiday to the Canaries is a week’s self-catering at the Labranda Oasis Mango in Los Cristianos, Tenerife. Including flights from Manchester, baggage and transfers, the holiday costs £622 per person based on a family of four.

A fortnight later exactly the same deal is just £275, meaning half-term holidaymakers are paying a premium of 126 per cent.

Thomas Cook’s cheapest deal from Manchester to Tenerife costs £886 per person, but includes all-inclusive accommodation.

A spokesperson for Abta, which represents travel firms, said: “The reason prices rise during school holidays and other busy periods is due to supply and demand.

“People planning to take holidays at peak times such as during February half term typically book months in advance to secure the holiday they want at a price that works for them.

“The best way for families to ensure an affordable holiday, with the greatest choice, is to book early.”

The travel association is calling for spikes in demand to be reduced by spreading school holiday weeks, saying: “If school holiday dates were staggered, this would help to alleviate sharp peaks.”

At home, Center Parcs is completely sold out for midweek stays at all five of its locations in England.