OffBlock.aero’s Post

Interesting development. Airlines normally pursue revenue growth despite competition in a two step process: first they create an unnecessarily miserable experience (e.g. by failing to control carry-ons, or eliminating free checked bags), then they manufacture a sliding price scale for passengers to pay for privileged relief from the misery, either over the long term (through the loyalty scam) or short term on ticket classes. Normally they just keep subdividing the middle of the scale so that prices can be stretched from the top (remember when there were only two boarding zones?). What WestJet are doing here is rebaselining the miserableness by adding a new steerage class to the bottom of the scale. Normally, respectable airlines leave that kind of foul behaviour to budget operators of whom no traveller expects much. I should note that if everything else stayed the same, a steerage class without carry-on privileges would improve many things: on-time departures, access to bin space etc. But we all know that the strategy is to stretch the price scale, because that's just how it works.

"Anyone who looks like sleeping, we wake them up to sell them things". That's Michael O'Leary of #ryanair distilling the theory and practice of ancillary selling down to a pithy one-liner. For those unfamiliar with the term, #ancillaryrevenue it refers to everything sold by an airline except the flight itself. Today, aided and abetted by the internet (truly God's gift to ancillaries), this embraces hundreds if not thousands of individual revenue streams ranging from speedy boarding through car hire to scratchcards and everything between. Worth noting that the absence of this income would render pretty much every airline on the planet commercially unviable. The CarTrawler Yearbook of Ancillary revenue, and researched and written by respected #aviation pundit Jay Sorensen is generally regarded as the definitive work on the topic and IMHO is well-worth a read. According to the recently published 2023 edition #Ryanair and #easyJet rank 5th and 7th among the world's #airlines with ancillary revenues of $4 billion and $2.4 billion respectively. This is serious money. easyJet's ancillary sales (which includes the fast-expanding #easyJetholidays) have come a long way since my 1995 contribution (selling space on the back of an easyJet timetable to Luton's Ibis hotel for £100). In those days an in-flight beverage from the easyKiosk would set you back less than a pound and a day's parking opposite the Luton airport terminal cost £4.50. Inflation may have taken its toll over the years but on intra-European flights I remain a creature of habit. A cup of tea and a KitKat form part of my in-flight ritual, typically followed by a 60 minute nap from which I have no wish to be interrupted. So thanks but no thanks Mr O'Leary, I'll pass on the scratchcard.

#WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech announced Friday (Nov. 24) that the airline will return to profit sharing after its “highest ever" quarter. The CEO also touched on other aspects of WestJet's strategy, including ULCC-style fares and the integration of #SunwingAirlines. #aviation #airlines #airtravel #westjetgroup #travelindustry #travelindustrynews #aviationnews

How to book WestJet flights using points and miles

In today's market, both traditional and low-cost airlines face significant challenges in distinguishing themselves and meeting the growing demands of passengers. This is where AirTime Connect (ATC) comes into play, offering a comprehensive and integrated technological solution that can make a significant difference for airlines. ATC is a complete and fully integrated solution, specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of airlines, whether they are full-service, low-cost, or charter. ATC offers a suite of features that help all kinds of airlines operate more smoothly and keep their passengers satisfied. It is user-friendly and integrates seamlessly with your existing operations, simplifying everything from booking to boarding, making processes more efficient. If you’re looking to give your airline a technological boost that makes a real difference, let’s discuss how ATC can assist. Join us in improving air travel for everyone. Let’s start flying! #AirTimeConnect #FlySmarter #AirlinesSolutions #TechInFlight #SeamlessTravel #BoostYourAirline #InnovateAviation #FutureOfFlying #AirTravelTech #EfficientAirline #PSS

Most recently SAS - Scandinavian Airlines announced it will launch a new nonstop #Copenhagen to #Atlanta route in Summer 2024. For many this seemed a rather exotic choice as the O&D market between the two cities is rather limited. However, clearly, it is linked to #SAS's partial take-over by Air France-KLM. We decided to take a closer look on this route, using our Lufthansa Systems state-of-the-art NetLine/Plan Network Planning forecasting tool. #NetLinePlan, in essence, is a leading tool, used by 20 airlines globally, as well as various #OEM and consultancies, that supports decision making related to airline #networkplanning. It forecasts load-factors, as well as profitability, based on global schedules, global market size as well as revenue / cost data. It can analyze impact of any schedules change of and for any airline globally. And it does it really fast, transparent and accurate. Based on some key assumptions explained below, it looks like it may be one of SAS's strongest performing routes on North Atlantic. The preliminary figures suggest a really sound load-factor ca. 80%. This would likely go even higher, once short-haul connectivity in CPH is further adjusted and when respective code-shares of Delta Air Lines and SAS - Scandinavian Airlines are put on the connecting flights. And thoughts? Or comments? Feel free to reach out to me or my colleague Jan Never if you would like to learn more about NetLine/Plan. You will also find us at our booths at #RoutesAsia and #RoutesAmericas. Alternatively, you can find more product details here: https://lnkd.in/e8ezCMu5 Tania Crinion #aviation #lufthansasystems #avgeek

Exciting Milestones in the Future of Airline Success ✈️ Radu Iliescu, Director of Digital Solutions & Consulting at Branchspace - digital reinvented, shares his insights on what success looks like for airlines. Here are three groundbreaking milestones he anticipates celebrating: 1. Atomic End-to-End Flight Offers: Imagine a future where every component of an airfare brand, from basic flight rights to additional services like flexibility and baggage options, is priced atomically. This means each aspect of the fare is individually priced based on a continuous pricing curve, culminating in a bundled final price. Eager anticipation surrounds the moment when this fully atomic end-to-end flight offer becomes a reality, marking a significant leap in airline pricing strategies. 2. Interline NDC Integration: Envision a seamless flow of offers and orders facilitated through Interline New Distribution Capability (NDC). Picture a scenario where a flight search initiated by a travel agent seamlessly connects multiple airlines, each cascading requests to their respective suppliers within their network. This streamlined process, currently in proof-of-concept stages, promises enhanced collaboration between airlines and travel agents, ultimately revolutionizing the booking experience. 3. Legacy PSS Decommissioning: The transition away from legacy Passenger Service Systems (PSS) represents a monumental shift for major airline groups. Eager anticipation surrounds the day when industry leaders like Lufthansa Group, IAG, American Airlines, Air France, KLM, and Finnair completely phase out their legacy PSS in favor of modernized, unified systems. This transition signifies a departure from outdated reservation systems and a full embrace of next-generation technologies like NDC, signaling a transformative milestone for the industry. Watch the video now for a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape in aviation! #airlineindustry #offerandorder #offermanagement #ordermanagement