Brussels terror attacks hit Eurostar sales
Travellers remain cautious following the terrorist attacks in Brussels and demand is dampened, reports Eurostar.
The high speed rail operator said the impact has been particularly felt in international markets, with a slowdown in travellers from the US and Asia.
As a result, passenger numbers in the first three months of the year were down 3% to 2.2 million and sales revenues were 6% lower year on year to £201 million.
But Eurostar reported strong forward bookings for the Euro 2016 tournament when nearly half a million passengers from across the UK are scheduled to France.
It claims it has seen a surge in ticket sales in the last two weeks, with June 10 proving to be the busiest day as the hosts open the tournament in the Stade de France in Paris.
Meanwhile, plans are progressing for the launch of Eurostar’s new route between London and Amsterdam.
Commercial services expected to start at the end of next year and will have journey times of around four hours.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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