Qantas Airways hopes to tempt disgruntled travellers by offering free flight tickets to them. Offers for overseas customers and frequent fliers will be announced soon. Also, the airline met union members on Monday to start off negotiation process.
Qantas Airways is pulling out all the stops to win back customers. One of the world’s largest airlines is offering free air tickets to the travellers who were hit by the airline’s decision to ground the entire fleet in the midst of an industrial dispute.
Qantas, an airline not known for offering very cheap flights, said that passengers whose journeys were affected by the fleet grounding will be offered a free return economy flight within Australia or to New Zealand over a two-year period from Dec. 14. It sure means that the airline is doing all it can to attract travellers.
“This ticket offer is one of a range of initiatives we will be launching as a way of saying sorry as we move forward into this period of stability,” said Alan Joyce, Qantas Chief Executive Officer in a statement.
“Throughout the long period of industrial activity we have been acutely aware of the impact on our customers,” Alan Joyce added. As per the CEO, this is the Qantas’ way to gain back customer loyalty. And if reports are to be believed then ‘customer loyalty’ might cost Qantas as much as A$20 million.
The recent past really has been a troubled time for Australia’s flag carrier. Stung by a string of strikes, the airline decided to halt its operations all over the world on Oct. 29. Around 80,000 passengers were impacted by this drastic measure of the carrier.
Operations resumed as Fair Work Australia intervened. The airline and unions were given 21 days to reach a new contract or face binding arbitration.
Loyalty to be Rewarded
All the passengers will be offered compensation for all reasonable losses resulting from the fleet grounding, said Qantas.
“Now that no more industrial action can take place and the cloud of further strike action has lifted, we are 100 percent focused on what matters to customers, getting them to their destinations, safely, on time and in comfort, and in rewarding their loyalty to Qantas,” Alan Joyce was quoted.
Qantas will be making announcements for its overseas customers and frequent fliers soon. It remains to be seen what the airline doles out for these two very important segments of travellers. Will it be cheap flight tickets, more travel privileges or some other incentive?
Qantas-Union Talks Resume
Even as Qantas Airways is trying to tempt travellers with free flights, the airline met the union members for negotiations. This was the first meeting of the parties after the Australian airline grounded its entire fleet.
Secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association, Steve Purvinas stated that another negotiating session is slated for Thursday.
“By today (Monday), we’ll know whether Qantas are interested in negotiating an outcome or whether they’ll continue to stonewall — which has been the case up until now,” Purvinas was quoted as saying in news reports.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Singapore Airlines Ultimately Finds the Way to Scoot Around
Singapore Airlines has added yet another laurel to its flagship brand by launching a new long-haul budget carrier, Scoot. The airline has joined the bandwagon of Asia's growing no-frills air travel to lure budget travellers.
Singapore Airlines has launched a new long-haul budget carrier, Scoot. On Tuesday, the newly launched airline’s CEO Campbell Wilson put across information that ‘Scoot’ will start operating its flights by June 2012. Additionally he informed reporters that the airline contrives to operate four Boeing 777-200 jets by the end of next year.
As per the online sources, the airline plans to start serving destinations as far as five to ten hours from Singapore, the operational base for Scoot. To begin with, the airline may start flights to four or more cities in China and Australia.
Campbell Wilson said, “This new market segment is growing fast”. He hopes to tap on the emerging market. “We aim to bring new business to the SIA group.” he said.
Singapore Airlines has been long relying on its top-notch onboard services to lead the long-haul first and business class market in the Asia to Europe routes and now the carrier has finally decided to plunge in the developing no-frills air travel market.
However, Singapore Airlines is likely to be rivalled by Air Asia X, under the flagship of Malaysia's AirAsia and JetStar, a unit of Qantas in the region's long-haul budget market. Online sources report analysts of believing that Scoot might introduce extra frills to outperform the opposition.
Scoot Strategies
Campbell Wilson said that Scoot will offer two cabin classes, with economy tickets approximately 40 percent cheaper than air tickets offered by other premium carriers. Additionally, customers will be able to put forth their preference for seats, meals and baggage options.
"We'll offer many other options so people can customize their experience," Wilson said.
Acquiring several Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, which can make a journey of up to 13 hours, is primary on the list of Scoot’s plan in order to start offering cheap flights to European and African destinations. Additionally, the airline plans to hire about 52 pilots, 250 flight attendants and 40 ground staff sometime next year.
Industry Outlook
It has been reported that Singapore Airlines spent approximately 283 million SGD to kick-start Scoot. While this wholly owned subsidiary is the latest addition under the well-regarded flagship brand of Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, a mid-cost regional carrier for popular Asian destinations, is already being operated by the group. SIA also possesses one third stakes of Tiger Airways, a budget carrier that offers cheap tickets.
As per online sources, Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard and Poor’s informed that Scoot has joined this bandwagon to bring home the bacon from the lucrative low cost airline market. He further added that budget and cheap flights perked up Changi Airport’s traffic by approximately 25 percent this year.
"Budget airlines are not a fad. They're here to stay. The market certainly has shifted from legacy carriers to discount carriers," he was quoted.
Singapore Airlines has launched a new long-haul budget carrier, Scoot. On Tuesday, the newly launched airline’s CEO Campbell Wilson put across information that ‘Scoot’ will start operating its flights by June 2012. Additionally he informed reporters that the airline contrives to operate four Boeing 777-200 jets by the end of next year.
As per the online sources, the airline plans to start serving destinations as far as five to ten hours from Singapore, the operational base for Scoot. To begin with, the airline may start flights to four or more cities in China and Australia.
Campbell Wilson said, “This new market segment is growing fast”. He hopes to tap on the emerging market. “We aim to bring new business to the SIA group.” he said.
Singapore Airlines has been long relying on its top-notch onboard services to lead the long-haul first and business class market in the Asia to Europe routes and now the carrier has finally decided to plunge in the developing no-frills air travel market.
However, Singapore Airlines is likely to be rivalled by Air Asia X, under the flagship of Malaysia's AirAsia and JetStar, a unit of Qantas in the region's long-haul budget market. Online sources report analysts of believing that Scoot might introduce extra frills to outperform the opposition.
Scoot Strategies
Campbell Wilson said that Scoot will offer two cabin classes, with economy tickets approximately 40 percent cheaper than air tickets offered by other premium carriers. Additionally, customers will be able to put forth their preference for seats, meals and baggage options.
"We'll offer many other options so people can customize their experience," Wilson said.
Acquiring several Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, which can make a journey of up to 13 hours, is primary on the list of Scoot’s plan in order to start offering cheap flights to European and African destinations. Additionally, the airline plans to hire about 52 pilots, 250 flight attendants and 40 ground staff sometime next year.
Industry Outlook
It has been reported that Singapore Airlines spent approximately 283 million SGD to kick-start Scoot. While this wholly owned subsidiary is the latest addition under the well-regarded flagship brand of Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, a mid-cost regional carrier for popular Asian destinations, is already being operated by the group. SIA also possesses one third stakes of Tiger Airways, a budget carrier that offers cheap tickets.
As per online sources, Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard and Poor’s informed that Scoot has joined this bandwagon to bring home the bacon from the lucrative low cost airline market. He further added that budget and cheap flights perked up Changi Airport’s traffic by approximately 25 percent this year.
"Budget airlines are not a fad. They're here to stay. The market certainly has shifted from legacy carriers to discount carriers," he was quoted.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Lufthansa Adds Gatwick and Aberdeen Routes
Lufthansa, the German airline which is understood to be in advanced talks about selling BMI, has started off new flights to Gatwick and Aberdeen. Number of flights to Heathrow is also pushed up by the airline.
Lufthansa has considerably increased its flight services to the UK with the launch of its winter schedules. Taking advantage of the new fourth runway at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Lufthansa has initiated new routes to London Gatwick and Aberdeen, Scotland.
Lufthansa will now offer a new double daily service from Gatwick and three-times-a-day service from Aberdeen. Moreover, the German based airline will be amplifying its current flight frequency to Heathrow. Lufthansa will now run six additional flights every week to the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the one of the busiest in the world.
Inundated with choices now, travellers would be hoping to net cheap flight tickets on the route much more easily.
Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s commercial director said: “It is great to welcome Lufthansa and strengthen the links between the financial and economic centres of London and Frankfurt.
“The new Gatwick-Frankfurt route isn’t just good news for the business traveller however.
“It will also benefit the leisure passenger who will be able to plug into Lufthansa’s global network and visit destinations such as Mumbai and Johannesburg.
“This is why the route is so exciting, as it helps make Gatwick one of the most globally connected airports in the world and gives passengers the largest choice of destinations to fly to,” Guy Stephenson further added.
Gatwick currently provides over 200 global connections to the travellers and by linking Gatwick to Frankfurt, Lufthansa has opened further travel avenues for the passengers. Not many days ago, AirAsia X (a Malaysian-based low-cost airline) and Vietnam Airlines (the national flag carrier of Vietnam) also started offering their services on the Gatwick route.
The schedule of the Lufthansa’s new routes is as follows:
Flights will take off from Gatwick at 0945 and 1740 and arrive at Frankfurt at 1220 and 2015, respectively. Flights will depart from Frankfurt at 0845 and 1625 and arrive at Gatwick at 0910 and 1650.
From Aberdeen, flights are scheduled to take off at 0605, 0955 and 1740 and to arrive in Frankfurt at 0900, 1250 and 2035, respectively. Flights from Frankfurt will depart at 0815, 1600 and 2135 and will land in Aberdeen at 0920, 1705 and 2240.
Lufthansa & British Airways Reach Agreement on BMI: Reports
It seems that Lufthansa and UK have much going on these days. Apart from new flight launches, Lufthansa is also making news because of the airline’s negotiations with different groups regarding the selling of BMI, a low-cost carrier known for doling out cheap flight tickets.
If reports are to be anything to go by then BMI is all set to be lapped up by British Airways’ parent company, IAG. Budget travellers who prefer to fly with BMI will surely be all ears for the official announcement, if and when it comes!
Lufthansa has considerably increased its flight services to the UK with the launch of its winter schedules. Taking advantage of the new fourth runway at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Lufthansa has initiated new routes to London Gatwick and Aberdeen, Scotland.
Lufthansa will now offer a new double daily service from Gatwick and three-times-a-day service from Aberdeen. Moreover, the German based airline will be amplifying its current flight frequency to Heathrow. Lufthansa will now run six additional flights every week to the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the one of the busiest in the world.
Inundated with choices now, travellers would be hoping to net cheap flight tickets on the route much more easily.
Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s commercial director said: “It is great to welcome Lufthansa and strengthen the links between the financial and economic centres of London and Frankfurt.
“The new Gatwick-Frankfurt route isn’t just good news for the business traveller however.
“It will also benefit the leisure passenger who will be able to plug into Lufthansa’s global network and visit destinations such as Mumbai and Johannesburg.
“This is why the route is so exciting, as it helps make Gatwick one of the most globally connected airports in the world and gives passengers the largest choice of destinations to fly to,” Guy Stephenson further added.
Gatwick currently provides over 200 global connections to the travellers and by linking Gatwick to Frankfurt, Lufthansa has opened further travel avenues for the passengers. Not many days ago, AirAsia X (a Malaysian-based low-cost airline) and Vietnam Airlines (the national flag carrier of Vietnam) also started offering their services on the Gatwick route.
The schedule of the Lufthansa’s new routes is as follows:
Flights will take off from Gatwick at 0945 and 1740 and arrive at Frankfurt at 1220 and 2015, respectively. Flights will depart from Frankfurt at 0845 and 1625 and arrive at Gatwick at 0910 and 1650.
From Aberdeen, flights are scheduled to take off at 0605, 0955 and 1740 and to arrive in Frankfurt at 0900, 1250 and 2035, respectively. Flights from Frankfurt will depart at 0815, 1600 and 2135 and will land in Aberdeen at 0920, 1705 and 2240.
Lufthansa & British Airways Reach Agreement on BMI: Reports
It seems that Lufthansa and UK have much going on these days. Apart from new flight launches, Lufthansa is also making news because of the airline’s negotiations with different groups regarding the selling of BMI, a low-cost carrier known for doling out cheap flight tickets.
If reports are to be anything to go by then BMI is all set to be lapped up by British Airways’ parent company, IAG. Budget travellers who prefer to fly with BMI will surely be all ears for the official announcement, if and when it comes!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Etihad Adds Maldives and Seychelles on Its Global Network
Its time to rejoice for those who love Etihad Airways, those who wish to visit
There is no denying the fact that both these
Etihad flight EY278 landed for the first time in
The airline's first flight to
Traditional water cannon greeted the flight at the airport. Airbus A320 will be used to offer four return services per week from Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Qantas Flights Back to Normal After Chaos
After two days of chaos that left thousands of travellers high and dry around the world, Qantas Airways says its flight schedule is back to normal on Tuesday morning. There are also reports of airline slashing down airfares.
Qantas Airways says its flights were back to normal on Tuesday after the airline grounded its entire fleet on Saturday to counter the continuing strikes that have been marring the company for past few months now.
Qantas said all of its flights were operating on time and as scheduled. The airline said that the backlog of travellers caused as a result of fleet grounding is likely to be cleared by Tuesday afternoon.
In a completely unexpected and startling move, Qantas Airways had grounded all its flights on Saturday to create a scene of chaos at airports all over the world. Australia’s flag carrier took the step as a response to a string of strikes by unions representing pilots, aircraft mechanics, baggage handlers and caterers.
Heaps of passengers - be it budget travellers with cheap flight tickets or passengers with first class tickets - were subjected to alarm and turmoil as every Qantas flight was off the schedule.
Confusion and panic ruled the roost for some 48 hours before an Australian court put an end to 48 hours of travel chaos. The arbitration court ordered to put an end to the strikes and also ordered to call off the staff lockout by the airline. The court has provided the warring parties 21 days to settle their differences and reach for an agreement. And if they fail to do so then they will be forced into a mandatory arbitration.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce advocated his move to ground the flights.
“I'll make whatever tough decisions are needed to be made in order to ensure the survival of this great company,” Alan Joyce was quoted as stating in various news portals.
Incessant union strikes have caused the cancellation of 600 Qantas flights in past few months. This has adversely impacted nearly 70,000 customers and has cost Qantas Airways 70 million Australian dollars ($75 million).
Qantas Airways is said to have infuriated union workers when it stated in August that it hopes to improve its unprofitable overseas business by starting an Asia-based airline with its own name and brand. The five-year restructure plan will cost 1,000 jobs.
Qantas Airways Will Reduce Airfares: Reports
Reports are doing the rounds that Qantas Airways, one of the world’s largest airlines, will start doling out promotional enticements to attract travellers. There is no denying the fact that the airline’s reputation and brand image has taken a grand beating during the last few months of unending industrial action which culminated with airline grounding all of its flights. If reports are to be believed then the airline will offer cheap flight tickets to entice travellers. Certain other plans are also being formulated to tempt passengers during the peak travel holiday season of Christmas.
It will surely require an effort to bring back the lost business for Qantas Airways.
Qantas Airways says its flights were back to normal on Tuesday after the airline grounded its entire fleet on Saturday to counter the continuing strikes that have been marring the company for past few months now.
Qantas said all of its flights were operating on time and as scheduled. The airline said that the backlog of travellers caused as a result of fleet grounding is likely to be cleared by Tuesday afternoon.
In a completely unexpected and startling move, Qantas Airways had grounded all its flights on Saturday to create a scene of chaos at airports all over the world. Australia’s flag carrier took the step as a response to a string of strikes by unions representing pilots, aircraft mechanics, baggage handlers and caterers.
Heaps of passengers - be it budget travellers with cheap flight tickets or passengers with first class tickets - were subjected to alarm and turmoil as every Qantas flight was off the schedule.
Confusion and panic ruled the roost for some 48 hours before an Australian court put an end to 48 hours of travel chaos. The arbitration court ordered to put an end to the strikes and also ordered to call off the staff lockout by the airline. The court has provided the warring parties 21 days to settle their differences and reach for an agreement. And if they fail to do so then they will be forced into a mandatory arbitration.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce advocated his move to ground the flights.
“I'll make whatever tough decisions are needed to be made in order to ensure the survival of this great company,” Alan Joyce was quoted as stating in various news portals.
Incessant union strikes have caused the cancellation of 600 Qantas flights in past few months. This has adversely impacted nearly 70,000 customers and has cost Qantas Airways 70 million Australian dollars ($75 million).
Qantas Airways is said to have infuriated union workers when it stated in August that it hopes to improve its unprofitable overseas business by starting an Asia-based airline with its own name and brand. The five-year restructure plan will cost 1,000 jobs.
Qantas Airways Will Reduce Airfares: Reports
Reports are doing the rounds that Qantas Airways, one of the world’s largest airlines, will start doling out promotional enticements to attract travellers. There is no denying the fact that the airline’s reputation and brand image has taken a grand beating during the last few months of unending industrial action which culminated with airline grounding all of its flights. If reports are to be believed then the airline will offer cheap flight tickets to entice travellers. Certain other plans are also being formulated to tempt passengers during the peak travel holiday season of Christmas.
It will surely require an effort to bring back the lost business for Qantas Airways.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)