Cheap fares 'encourage US tourism'

Cheap flights are a bigger draw than favourable exchange rates when it comes to people deciding to take a holiday in the US, an industry expert has said.

Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Zoom Airlines, said that cheaper flights meant that more people could afford to consider the US as a suitable family holiday location. The strong pound was simply an additional bonus.

Indeed, Mr Hinkles explained that cheap transatlantic flights were attractive to people who could have been planning trips to Europe.

"What we're seeing is that perhaps people who would have taken a short-haul break and maybe gone to Venice or Rome or something are now going to New York because they can do it for not a dissimilar price," he added.

"So I think it's more actually airfare pricing and promotion of the route that's helping, rather than people instantly thinking: 'the exchange rate's bloody good at the moment, let's go to the States.'"

Earlier this year, Zoom launched flights to New York for as little as £129 one-way.

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