Inspired by airlines that have long since found success tapping into the ultra low cost model already in major cities around the globe, Kelowna-based Flair Airlines has plans to change the aviation industry in this country91裸聊视频攁nd they91裸聊视频檙e looking for support from the Okanagan to do it.
91裸聊视频淲e are asking Kelowna to rally,91裸聊视频� said Jim Scott, president and Chief Executive Officer of Flair Airline.
Not too many small communities get an airline based in their town, said Scott, who added that he hopes the community arrives at the conclusion that Flair is the only way to fly out of the Okanagan.
The airline, which currently flies out of Kelowna on daily trips to Edmonton and four days a week to Vancouver, offers cheap fares but few frills.
91裸聊视频淭here are no lounges, no giveaways91裸聊视频攜ou buy a seat and a seat belt and everything else costs money,91裸聊视频� said Scott. 91裸聊视频淲e have extra leg room at the front, and vendors with brand name products you can buy91裸聊视频ut the base price is very low.91裸聊视频�
Research has found that it91裸聊视频檚 just what Milennials are looking for.
91裸聊视频淎s long as they have their device, a seat and it91裸聊视频檚 cheap and on time they91裸聊视频檙e happy,91裸聊视频� he said.
To meet shifting expectations for communication, Flair Airlines website and apps are under construction. They will offer a new level of connectivity. And in the next six months they91裸聊视频檙e working on lowering their prices, so when a competitor tries to enter their corner of the market, they will be ready.
91裸聊视频淗ow all airlines work is, if you want to fill extra seats you lower your price,91裸聊视频� he said.
If we go into the market and we lower our prices they will put some inventory in, but they won91裸聊视频檛 put the whole plane at that rate. They look very competitive, but it91裸聊视频檚 called yielding up. What you get from the customer increases as there is less capacity on the airplane. We always want to ride below what they are charging91裸聊视频攖hat91裸聊视频檚 our mantra.91裸聊视频�
They also want to offer that low price-point with the best customer service.
91裸聊视频淚f they do price match, we want to have such great customer service that (people) choose our brand,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淲e have a young team that91裸聊视频檚 used to doing charters91裸聊视频hese are not the people who have long since decided they don91裸聊视频檛 want the job but they are stuck in it.91裸聊视频�
Once the customer loyalty has been built the sky is the limit for the airline, as has been shown in other areas.
In Asia ultra low cost flying went from a very small percentage of the aviation industry to almost 50 per cent, and in Europe it91裸聊视频檚 been going for years. The US has three low cost airlines.
91裸聊视频淚n a healthy market, 15 per cent of your flying should be at a discount, but if it91裸聊视频檚 not, a certain number of people (because of) price barrier will not fly,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚n Canada that91裸聊视频檚 estimated to be 10 million trips per year that are not being flown. That means there91裸聊视频檚 a market for an airline with at least 60 jets across Canada, to service that market and that91裸聊视频檚 what our intent is.91裸聊视频�
That ambition should also aid Kelowna, he said, comparing it to Vegas.
It91裸聊视频檚 one of the few locations in North America where people want to go for a mini break, due to its reliable weather.
91裸聊视频淚f you have low prices how do you stimulate the market and have a market that can be stimulated?91裸聊视频� he said, noting Kelowna is a market that can be stimulated and if it is, it91裸聊视频檚 bound to help the job market.
91裸聊视频淔or every 1,000 passengers who come in it creates 3.3 jobs,91裸聊视频� said Scott. 91裸聊视频淓very plane that touches down is a job creator. We would like to draw people in from the US. There are 300 million people down there and with the US exchange 91裸聊视频� there91裸聊视频檚 skiing and the sun. Good value for them.91裸聊视频�
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