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AVE, Avlo and Ouigo leave the price battle for after the summer

The first month of competition on the high-speed lines ends tomorrow with 22 daily frequencies in each direction of the Madrid-Barcelona corridor, compared to the 17 that Renfe provided alone with its AVE; a cascade of offers at prices never seen before, and a demand that is responding as the vaccination campaign progresses.

The incoming player, Ouigo, affirms that in this premiere it is filming with an average load factor of over 80%, while Renfe is finalizing the jump to the scene of its low cost, Avlo, scheduled for June 23. The AVE will drop by then to 16 daily frequencies in each direction of the line; Avlo will have four in each direction, and Ouigo will maintain the five with which it began operations on May 10. Total, 50 daily trains compared to 34 before liberalization.

Sources from the companies agree that it is early to analyze the reception of the new frequencies: the fear of traveling due to covid weighs against it, and the thousands of seats placed at a discount play in favor.

Until the end of September it is impossible to find the starting prices: 7 euros for Avlo and 9 euros for Ouigo

The greater offer of seats, with an increase of 45% when Avlo opens, is the great advance. The prices from 19 euros for the AVE, and from 7 and 9 euros, for Avlo and Ouigo, respectively, are for opportunistic travelers (without date or time requirements), bargain hunters or, simply, for the low season.

A search carried out on Tuesday on the Ouigo website to buy a ticket until July 15 did not give the possibility of paying less than 15 euros, reaching prices of 99 euros each way, especially in the last services of each Sunday.

Nor was it possible to get on an Avlo for less than 15 euros, with occasional peaks of 89 euros, until July 15. It is true that both operators have sold thousands of seats at their minimum price threshold to stimulate demand for their respective launches.

AVE, Avlo y Ouigo dejan la batalla de precios para después del verano

The two low cost, which come to attract public that until now chose the road or, simply, did not travel, base their rates on dynamic prices, which prioritize the purchase on off-peak days and times, as well as advance ticket reservation. As the search for a ticket in Ouigo goes away, that best price appears at nine euros (the first ones appear in the week from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 September). And exactly the same thing happens with Renfe's low cost service, in which the first reservations at seven euros could be made on Tuesday afternoon for September 21. The Avlo, yes, yesterday sold tickets in one of its summer frequencies (July 20 and 27, and August 18, 19, 28, 29 and 30) for nine euros.

Services for euros

The veteran AVE, which will begin a fleet renewal in the coming months with the arrival of the new Talgo Avrils, is the one with the most complete list of services included in a basic ticket, which is not always more expensive. Taking Monday July 12 at random, the Madrid-Barcelona is sold between 25 and 86.1 euros on the AVE; from 25 to 45 euros in Avlo, and the rate in Ouigo ranged from 25 to 35 euros.

In its luggage policy, the AVE allows three packages on board, while its rivals limit it to a handbag and a cabin suitcase. More intermediate stations and number of frequencies, silent car, three classes or the possibility of access to a VIP room, are also part of its exclusive offer.

Renfe's pioneering high-speed service closed 2019 with a growth of 4.9% in passenger traffic, up to 22.4 million in the entire Spanish high-speed network, according to data managed by the CNMC (National Markets Commission). and Competition). He was also surprised by the coronavirus crisis at a maximum in terms of income per passenger: 50.8 euros, only one cent less than in 2018. That income is under pressure on the new game board.

The AVE incorporates free Wi-Fi, while Avlo starts with the same policy, and we'll see, and Ouigo charges three euros. In access to content (movies, music, news, etc.), Renfe also seeks to differentiate itself from Ouigo, with free entertainment compared to the three euros that the French company sets to enter its Ouifon.

The SNCF subsidiary, which arrived in Spain with its double-decker Alstom train, differentiates itself from Avlo by offering a cafeteria car (Ouibar), while Renfe's new proposal has eliminated it in search of gaining capacity: 438 seats compared to the 509 from Ouigo.

Choice of seat, traveling with the pet, extra luggage or the flexibility to change the ticket are attributes that, in general, are paid for.

Ouigo has generated a revolution in rail transport and Renfe has joined it. The struggle between the two will move to the Madrid-Levante corridor, presumably in the spring of next year, when ILSA is also scheduled to start.

Ouigo accounts for 130,000 travelers in its first 30 days

85% occupancy. Ouigo completes its first 30 days with just over 130,000 travelers in a total of 300 services, according to unaudited data provided by the company. The almost 4,350 customers per train show an occupancy factor of 85%. Ouigo claims to have boarded thousands of children under 14 years of age, which would confirm that the SNCF subsidiary has managed to attract families to travel between Madrid and Barcelona.

More Renfe offer. The public company has reinforced its services between Madrid, Barcelona and Figueres, going from 172 to 248 weekly services, which represents an increase of 41%.

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