Air France to replicate low cost competition?

PARIS (eTN) – Over the last few weeks, rumors and false information on a possible conversion of Air France-KLM short/medium-haul network into a low-cost operation abounded so much that the management

PARIS (eTN) – Over the last few weeks, rumors and false information on a possible conversion of Air France-KLM short/medium-haul network into a low-cost operation abounded so much that the management of the French national carrier decided to reveal a new strategy earlier than planned.

On November 12, Air France highlighted its new structure for its short- and medium-haul routes.

On November 18, Pierre Gourgeon, Air France-KLM Group CEO gave full details on the perspectives of the airlineโ€™s future offer. โ€œWe have seen a slow erosion of our unit revenue since 2002 on short-and medium-haul routes. Despite the fact that we adapted our product and offer in 2003/4 especially with more competitive fares, we continue to see our unit revenue plunging to levels unseen for over a decade. We had to react strongly,โ€ explained Pierre Gourgeon.

Air France will reposition its product from April 2010. The product will be simplified into two new reservation segments: Premium and Voyageur. Premium will integrate both business class and full-flexible economy fares and Voyageur will propose low fares in economy with little flexibility to change. Most importantly, Air France will lower on average its current fares by 5 percent to 20 percent for its lowest fares and by 19 percent to 29 percent for its most expensive tickets.

โ€œPremium will then give full flexibility and quick procedures for passengers. By contrary, Voyageur is conceived for savvy travelers, I am convinced that we will see a rapid turn-around as we will gain market shares again in Europe thanks to our low fares in both leisure and business travel segmentsโ€ predicted Gourgeon.

Is Air France emulating low-cost airlinesโ€™ business model then? โ€œWe are looking to be more competitive. However, our concept is to match the needs of our clients, especially SME and leisure travelers, and not to match at any price the budget airlinesโ€™ model. When asking our passengers about their expectations for our short/medium-haul product, most highlight that they want more competitive fares and a simpler service without becoming a low cost airlineโ€™s operation. We listen to them and act now consequently,โ€ said Gourgeon.

Other measures include the long haul network rationalization with a better offer in terms of product segment. โ€œWith Economy Premium, we close the gap between the normal economy class and the business class. We will now observe how Premium Economy will fit into the market: if we see business travelers further downgrading their travel habits, we could then reduce capacities in business class or we could also decrease economy class seats if we see an upgrading of travel habits from the rear of the cabin,โ€ tells Gourgeon.

The integration of the Airbus A380 will also help to reduce frequencies thanks to bigger capacities. A daily A380 frequency to New York will replace from November 23 two Air France daily flights followed by a daily flight to Johannesburg in February. โ€œWe estimate that the Airbus A380 will reduce our CO2 consumption per passenger/km by 20 percent and help us to save โ‚ฌ 15 million per aircraft,โ€ says Air France-KLM CEO

Air France will continue to streamline operations at its two hubs–Paris CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol. According to Pierre Gourgeon, the company will, however, continue to operate the best connection system in Europe.

The Air France CEO added: โ€œWe have from far the best connection system with 19,727 connection possibilities at Charles de Gaulle and 6,675 connections at Schiphol, at least twice as much as any other airline in Europe. Hubs are becoming indeed an answer to economic crisis. With traffic affected by economic uncertainties, we see smaller unprofitable direct routes weakening and then disappearing. Meanwhile, hubs increase their share as airlines prefer then to concentrate their offer on larger bases.โ€

In total, various rationalization measures should help Air France-KLM to turn around the corner and be able to break-even again by 2010-2011. Various measures in passengersโ€™ activities alone should help to improve the groupโ€™s balance by at least โ‚ฌ500 million by 2011-12.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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