As long as it's fast and safe — low-cost airlines advocate an unluxurious choice

▲ Unlike traditional airlines, low-cost carriers cater to the needs of different passenger groups. The photo shows a plane from Pacific Southwest Airlines. (Photo / from the PSA Pacific Southwest Airlines fan page)



In recent years, a "low-cost airline" craze has swept across Asia. This wave has not only made a significant impact on the aviation market, but has also provided travelers with a wider range of options. But what exactly is a low-cost airline?ETtoday EBC News Cloudhas specially produced a series of reports to help users better understand "low-cost airlines."

Low-cost airlines should actually be called "low-cost carriers" (Low Cost Airline, Budget Airline); the term "low-cost airline" is more colloquial. The world's first low-cost airline was Pacific Southwest Airlines in the United States.Due to the vast geography of the Americas, air travel is the fastest and most time-efficient mode of transportation for those making long-distance trips. For some passengers, they don’t need many extra services or meals — just a safe and quick arrival at their destination. This created the "market demand" for low-cost airlines, prompting companies to launch new airlines or establish low-cost subsidiaries to meet this demand.

"Low-cost airlines," as the name implies, aim to reduce "costs" as much as possible, which is reflected in the ticket prices for customers. In general, there are several ways to reduce costs:
1. Most do not offer free meals; if you want a meal, it must be purchased separately.
2. Since more passengers can be accommodated within permitted limits, costs are relatively reduced. Therefore, increasing the number of seats makes the space narrower.
3. On regular airlines, passengers can watch movies or listen to music during the flight at any time, but such services are not available on low-cost carriers.
4. Fewer crew members are used to serve passengers, reducing labor costs.
5. Flights land at smaller airports rather than major city hubs, reducing airport fees.
6. Most low-cost carriers do not provide boarding bridges, which are often omitted to save costs.
7. To reduce empty seat rates, ticket prices vary depending on the time slot, with off-peak times being cheaper.
8. For tickets, some low-cost carriers only provide electronic tickets or require passengers to print their own tickets.

Currently, low-cost airlines with flights to Taiwan include:
AirAsia, Scoot, Jetstar Asia, Cebu Pacific Airways, Eastarjet, Tiger Airways, Peach Aviation, t'way Airlines, as well as regional low-cost operators such as Air Busan.