How Come Cheap Airlines Are So Cheap? (5W Graphics)


What It Shows

This infographic breaks down the variety of areas where low-cost airlines have managed to cut corner to save money and pass those savings onto the consumer looking for cheap flights.

Why It’s Good

The information is very comprehensive, and you come away with a fairly solid grounding of knowledge as to how low-cost airlines can offer such cheap travel options. As a frequenter of RyanAir, I had always wondered how they could possibly cost so much less. Having seen this infographic, it makes a lot of sense. The employee to passenger ratio is probably the most interesting stat, and I’m glad they’ve included it.

The infographic is a pleasure to look at, too. I like the little icons for each variable, and how they are consistent but differ slightly and constructively between the expensive and cheap sides.

What It’s Missing

This didn’t necessarily need an inforgraphic to portray the data, and it doesn’t really capture any heavily multi-parameter comparisons. That said, I’m glad it was presented as visually as it was, even if the visuals weren’t crucial for the data.

Another infographic for 5W Infographics for which I can’t find the source on their site.

  • http://www.docksidecradle.com Sean Wallace

    Yeah, I agree that a simple list of explanations would work just as well. The graphic isn’t really adding much to the information that could otherwise be presented in a list.

  • http://www.tribaltattooflash.net Kathryn J. Vinke

    I truly find this graph useful. The graph actually shows a fairly solid grounding of knowledge as to how low-cost airlines can offer such cheap travel options. Now I know what to avail and what not to get the next time I plan a trip.

  • Ronni Wilson

    I just got off of Hawaiian airlines back in March for a 5 day vacation. And what was funny, there rates were some of the cheaper ones actually compared to United or Delta, for example. They were hosing people on prices, especially because it was spring break for a lot of colleges around the country. I dunno, I felt like I still got a good deal though and did get real service. They even offered a free meal. Who does that these days lol?

    Regards,
    Ronni Wilson
    Writes about Social Squeezer

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PWZVL3HYXHXHMJPAIK3MOOKBXQ Keith Anderson

    This graph is really very effective. It described very well that why cheap flights are so cheap.  This graph breaks down the variety of areas where low-cost
    airlines have managed to save money and benefited the customers.