Articles tagged “low-cost carriers”

We have to agree that there's no such thing as a free lunch, especially not on a plane. Airlines need to turn a healthy profit--and keep investors happy--to pay for product and service improvements. Even so, just saying everything is better doesn't make it so. Airlines will need to work on changing negative passenger perceptions, rather than pretending them away.

Vararadi seems to follow Baldanza’s example for Ultra-Low Cost Carrier success with Spirit to the letter, creating new flyers with little more than low fares and a smile.

We write often about the importance of branding in aviation, the critical need to move away from selling air-service as a commodity or a utility, but we’ve never heard anyone put it as eloquently or as practically as Mr. Dedekoylu has, nor seen any airline 'get it' quite like this bold low-cost carrier has.

Jacobs' enthusiasm for digital is that of the recently converted. Considering the very basic functionality of Ryanair's website and apps in the past, and hearing hints of what is in store for the upcoming launch, it will be a significant leap forward for the airline.

Since the creation of American Airlines’ frequent flyer program, what was meant to be a simple scheme to encourage repeat business has evolved into a shadow currency funding a large business sector that reaches across to all travel products and to banking institutions. It’s difficult to imagine all of that crashing overnight, or that it would be allowed to crash at all. If Jacobs happens to be right, then it’s bound to crash eventually, but there should be time to see the bright lights coming from the opposite direction.

By crushing passengers knees, airlines might just be shooting themselves in the foot.

Here we have the secret of the Spirit ULCC formula for success: butts in seats. Butts in tight seats, even. You can build an entire industry around the 1%--and airline industry has--but the 99% are still going to want to fly.

Perhaps Baldanza spends a lot of time practicing his candor and approachability, but it's working.

By the standards of every other major U.S. airline, Southwest doesn't do anything right. Except prove them wrong on profits quarter after quarter after quarter.

How much inconvenience can you afford for a bargain basement fare?