Xeque
16th May 2008, 13:37
I’ve been bangin’ on recently about chopping First and Business Class because it’s old fashioned, outmoded and a complete waste of money. It’s not a new idea – the shipping companies that preceded today’s airlines knew it and adjusted accordingly as long ago as 1970. I’ve been championing the cause in several forums for the last couple of years.
The money is in One Class Travel and in giving passengers what they actually want and not what the bean counters think they can get away with.
Changes and exterior influences are affecting the industry now and these will surely impact directly on those of you who make your living in commercial aviation.
I have said many times before that the business models used by the low cost/no frills airlines contain the seeds of the re-evaluation that airlines must make and must make soon. Now consider this.
Tony Fernandes of Air AsiaX is in business today using A330-300’s with 396 one class seats in 3-4-3 x 31 inch seat pitch. His sights are set firmly on the Singapore/Australia and Singapore/Europe markets and he will succeed because there are enough young backpackers and world travellers who are willing to endure the discomfort of 7 to 11 hour sectors in his aircraft because it will cost significantly less than anything the other airlines charge.
More airlines will follow his example when they realize that the business model works.
My own ideas rely not on charging the cheapest fares but providing more comfort in a one-class environment.
I envisage a 38 inch seat pitch for every passenger – 276 pax in an A332, 316 in an A333. By my estimation fares London to Sydney via Dubai or Singapore (or both) will work out at about £170 more than the cheapest fare I could find on the Internet today (£702). Passengers pay the extra for the comfort and the opportunity to break their journey as many times as they wish with no fare penalties! So, you can choose to fly LHR/DUB/SNG/SYD or LHR/DUB/SYD or LHR/SNG/SYD with options to get off the aircraft after each sector and book into a hotel for a night or two if it suits you.
And before you flame me for suggesting that people might not be prepared to pay £170 more for a better deal then let me remind you that £170 represents about three tanks of petrol in the family car at today’s UK prices.
Flight crews? Don’t ‘poo-poo’ the idea. It’s already happening and one day you may find that working for the likes of Tony Fernandes, Stelios or (God help us) MOL, might be your only option.
The money is in One Class Travel and in giving passengers what they actually want and not what the bean counters think they can get away with.
Changes and exterior influences are affecting the industry now and these will surely impact directly on those of you who make your living in commercial aviation.
I have said many times before that the business models used by the low cost/no frills airlines contain the seeds of the re-evaluation that airlines must make and must make soon. Now consider this.
Tony Fernandes of Air AsiaX is in business today using A330-300’s with 396 one class seats in 3-4-3 x 31 inch seat pitch. His sights are set firmly on the Singapore/Australia and Singapore/Europe markets and he will succeed because there are enough young backpackers and world travellers who are willing to endure the discomfort of 7 to 11 hour sectors in his aircraft because it will cost significantly less than anything the other airlines charge.
More airlines will follow his example when they realize that the business model works.
My own ideas rely not on charging the cheapest fares but providing more comfort in a one-class environment.
I envisage a 38 inch seat pitch for every passenger – 276 pax in an A332, 316 in an A333. By my estimation fares London to Sydney via Dubai or Singapore (or both) will work out at about £170 more than the cheapest fare I could find on the Internet today (£702). Passengers pay the extra for the comfort and the opportunity to break their journey as many times as they wish with no fare penalties! So, you can choose to fly LHR/DUB/SNG/SYD or LHR/DUB/SYD or LHR/SNG/SYD with options to get off the aircraft after each sector and book into a hotel for a night or two if it suits you.
And before you flame me for suggesting that people might not be prepared to pay £170 more for a better deal then let me remind you that £170 represents about three tanks of petrol in the family car at today’s UK prices.
Flight crews? Don’t ‘poo-poo’ the idea. It’s already happening and one day you may find that working for the likes of Tony Fernandes, Stelios or (God help us) MOL, might be your only option.