Eurostar adds extra trains as ski flights for February half term soar above £1,000

Exclusive: The cheapest one-week return for key Saturday flights on British Airways from Heathrow to Geneva during half term is £1,250

Eurostar ski trains trains depart London for the Alps (Eurostar International)

Eurostar is laying on extra trains from London to the French Alps as air fares soar to unprecedented levels during February half term.

Research by The Independent has found the cheapest one-week return for key Saturday flights on British Airways from Heathrow to Geneva is £1,250 – seven months ahead of the holiday.

The fare does not include baggage, advance seat assignment or an inflight meal.

On easyJet, flying out from Gatwick to Geneva on Saturday 16 February 2020 and back a week later, the highest fare is just 6p short of £1,000 return – including one 15kg bag and the cheapest seat selection. Without these extras, the fare is £952 return.

As a result of the high demand, Eurostar has announced a special overnight train from London to Bourg-St-Maurice, serving key French ski resorts including Courchevel, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Meribel and Tignes.

It will run overnight from London St Pancras on Saturday 16 February. The train will run back empty, and then an empty train will be sent out for an inbound day service on Sunday 24 February.

Sales for ski trains go on sale at 8am on Wednesday, 17 July. While the lowest lead-in fare is £160 return, that is for off-peak regular departures between 20 December 2019 and 11 April 2020.

Half-term tickets are likely to sell at £300-£400 return, though a small discount is available for children aged 4-11 and under-4s travel free.

The usual service pattern is for southbound trains on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, with inbound departures on Saturday mornings and overnight on Saturdays.

The journey takes just over eight hours.