PALMA, BRITAIN´S TOP NO-FRILLS DESTINATION

FOR many Britons, Majorca is easier and cheaper to get to than London with a total of seven no-frills airlines flying to Palma from no less than 14 airports in England, Scotland and Wales. Malaga is the next best-served European airport from Britain, but Majorca is the number one no-frills destination in Europe, with new routes opening to Ibiza and Minorca as the holiday season nears. Air fares have never been so cheap with competition in the short-haul European market as tough as ever with aviation industry experts sceptical about whether they will all survive. However, tough competition is proving good for consumers with even the schedule and charter airlines, offering more competitive prices. One of the fastest growing markets in Majorca is the residential, second home sector, with home owners making the most of the no-frills boom to visit the island much more often or even relocating to Majorca and commuting to Britain. Last year there was a weekly quota of 16'043 no-frills airline seats available per week between Britain and Palma and, according to the Majorcan Hotel Federation, 40 per cent of visitors to Majorca did not stay in hotels. Instead they were either second home owners, stayed with family or friends or were independent holidaymakers. A further increase is expected this year in the independent holiday sector while package holiday numbers from all satellite markets will fall for the second consecutive year.