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SPENDING ON AIR travel has more than doubled in the last week according to figures from Bank of Ireland despite Government advice remaining that non-essential travel abroad should be avoided.
An analysis of debit card spending from Bank of Ireland over the past week – the first week of transactions since Phase 2 of the Covid-19 recovery roadmap kicked in – show that spending on air travel jumped by 139%.
The increase was based on the average spend on air travel during the lockdown between 28 March and 7 June.
Spending on accommodation also increased significantly between 8 June and 14 June with an increase of 101% compared to the average for the previous 11 weeks.
In the most recent advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it warned Irish citizens “against all non-essential travel overseas until further notice. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland [and] also includes all travel by cruise ship”.
In recent days, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was “too soon” to book holidays abroad but said air corridors are being considered, through which Irish holidaymakers could travel abroad to specific countries where the virus has been suppressed to a similar level as Ireland.
Spending
The analysis of debit card transactions also pointed to an increase in spending in other areas, including take aways, but showed a drop off in spending in other areas such as gaming and online streaming.
With more restaurants reopening for take away services, the spend in this area increased by 63%.
Retail stores, including major high street stores, lifted their shutters on 8 June having been closed for almost three months, and spending in this area increased by 56% as a result.
Thousands also returned to work and travel limits were relaxed from the same date leading to an increase in spending on passenger transport including trains, buses and taxis of 115%.
On the opposite end of the scale, the spend on both entertainment and gaming was down by 11% and 21% respectively.
Video streaming services were down 13% and spending on groceries, which skyrocketed during the lockdown, began to decline. It was down by 2%.
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More than doubled in phase two sounds like a lot. What’s the percentage on last year? I’d say it was mostly people stuck here who wanted to get home….like matt damon
@deisecelt: arrival in second wave are being received at gate 2
Can’t wait to head abroad for a break……….next year. Local tourism needs our euros more than ever!
@Cian Nolan: Good luck with that.. Someone I know priced a long weekend in Galway for their Family in a Hotel in August and was quoted €1000 just for the room.
@David Garland: Irish hotels losing the run of themselves was quoted 550euro for 2 nights b&b in Westport!!!.
@Cian Nolan: Good luck with that!!!!! Charging crazy prices in places I’ve checked on line.
@Cian Nolan: Not at the prices that thay are charging !!!
Finally got my money back from Ryanair. Through chargeback though, not direct refund.
@Logan Shepherd: Really? Did you book with Credit or Debit card? I read you could only do that if you paid with Credit card.
@Football in the Groin:
You could try but with credit cards you’re always covered, too.
@Football in the Groin: Visa debit card.
@Logan Shepherd: what’s chargeback? I paid by Credit Card & still waiting for refund
@Shea Carroll: Chargeback is basically where your bank reverses the money transfer from your credit card. Contact your bank and tell them you want to initiate chargeback for that transaction. They will go through the details with you.
@Football in the Groin: no that’s a lie. Chargeback rules apply to all Visa, MasterCard, Amex etc… card product. All card associations have more or less the same rules it is part of their network protection for cardholders and that is free.
@Football in the Groin:Chargeback rules apply to all Visa, MasterCard, Amex etc… card product. All card associations have more or less the same rules it is part of their network protection for cardholders and that is free.
@Football in the Groin: Chargeback rules apply to all Visa, MasterCard, Amex etc… card product. All card associations have more or less the same rules it is part of their network protection for cardholders and that is free.
@Football in the Groin: sorry the app seemed to have posted by comment multiple times
2% of what it was to 4% – wow!
Prices have already gone up on certain routes. All of the normal people who aren’t petrified are booking flights.
It would be interesting to see the Travel period for the flights as booking date can usually be up to a year in advance.
More than double diddle all is hardly a story.
Such a slow news day today
The Percentage is coming from a very low base, according to RTE news it is down 80% from this time last year
The government is advising people not to book holidays abroad plus they have 14 days quarantine when you arrive back NOT for covid19 reasons but economic reasons they want you to holiday at home
Good, everyone will be gone abroad in July & August, France and Spain and Portugal will be packed , oh no thank you. Instead i can have the whole of Ireland to explore. I do not care about the weather. All ready had a month of fabulous sunny dry May! I am as brown as a berry.I Have a good wetsuit and rain gear, electric bike and a waterproof tent. Will be visiting Lovely markets with fresh food and home baked goods. Snorkelling and hiking the whole time,Cant wait!!
One person buys a plane ticket on Monday.
Another person buys a plane ticket on Friday.
Is that spending doubled in one week?
have your say