Jet Airways, the country’s top private airline, is recasting itself as a network carrier by fortifying its international and domestic
connectivity to make the most of the global economic recovery.
“Jet is looking to explore new destination strategies,” said Jet Airways chief commercial officer Sudheer Raghavan, adding that the carrier will target routes that do not have a traditional gestation period of 18 months to turn profitable.
Jet is likely to add flights on routes like Delhi-Hong Kong, Singapore-Delhi as well as destinations like Bangkok and the Gulf. It will also increase the connectivity to Europe in the coming months. Jet’s strategy is a sign that it is shedding the caution necessitated by the slowdown.
Airlines across the globe have struggled in recent years against surging fuel prices and the slowdown. As costs ratcheted up, the number of passengers fell sharply. But with economies improving, passengers are slowly returning and their numbers grew 20% in 2009 from a year ago.
The Naresh Goyal-owned airline wants to be at the forefront of the revival. The carrier will utilise the sixth freedom right under the aviation freedom rights that allows an airline to use its domicile as a transit point. Jet already uses destinations like Thiruvananthapuram to connect to Mumbai and Dhaka and Kathmandu.
Jet will use its current hub at the Mumbai airport for souping up the network, but as its international operations expand, it will also turn the Delhi airport into a hub, said Mr Raghavan. “We are in talks with GMR Holdings (the Delhi airport operator) for establishing facilities,” he said. Jet’s international operations contribute about 60% of revenues with passenger occupancy levels of up to 84%.
For strengthening its regional connectivity, the airline will add four ATRs to its fleet in six months. Jet will also ask the government to allow immigration and custom clearances at airports in non-metros as well. “Foreign carriers are allowed to offer these facilities,” a Jet official said.
Jet is also revamping its fleet to make the product portfolio more flexible, as more Indian carriers get permission to fly abroad. The airline plans to offer eight business class seats on its low-cost carrier, Jet Konnect.
“We have already reconfigured seven of the 18 Jet Konnect 4aircraft,” said Jet Airways commercial strategy and investor relations vice-president KG Vishwanath, adding that the so-called Jet Select cabin gives the airline an advantage over competition.
|
|
