The usual lack of excitement in the Canadian aviation scene is about to change.
Air Canada’s new low-cost carrier (LCC) Rouge will take to the skies in July next year. It will start with two Boeing 767s and two Airbus A319s, flying initially from Toronto and Montreal to leisure destinations in Europe and the Caribbean, with plans to expand the fleet to 50 aircraft eventually and to also fly to destinations in Asia.
In a way, Air Canada is re-attempting to do what it failed to achieve with previous budget projects Tango and Zip. The appointment of former chief executive of Thomas Cook North America Michael Friisdahl with expertise in the leisure industry to head the new carrier may be a plus.
Cost is obviously the key driver of the strategy, and Air Canada expects cost savings to be derived 50/50 from lower wages and staff benefits and from the high-density aircraft configuration. Having an independent budget offshoot makes it easier to start with a lower base of staff costs and focus on the price-sensitive niche leisure market. There will be 20% more seats on Rouge than the normal configuration.
For some time now, Air Canada has been struggling with costs and red ink. It faces stiff competition from key rival WestJet and other leisure operators such as Transat A.T. and Sunwing that offer much lower fares. Increasingly, airlines are ditching a one-size-fits-all modus operandi for a separate and more focused niche market strategy.
WestJet launches regional carrier Encore
WestJet for one is launching a new regional carrier Encore in the second half of next year. The new carrier will offer fares up to 50% lower than normal for short hauls, in direct competition with Air Canada Express. WestJet chief executive Gregg Saretsky does not anticipate a price war, as he prefers to call it a process of “rational pricing”. It is ironical that short-haul flights should cost as much as they are now. Saretsky told analysts at a recent briefing: “If you’ve ever tried to buy tickets for a short-haul journey in Canada, you’ve had to open your wallet and dig deep. Short-haul fares in Canada are very, very high.”
Apparently Air Canada president Calin Rovinescu had anticipated WestJet’s regional initiative. A price war it is that has begun and is expected to intensify. Both airlines are looking to expand their network to cover outlying business communities, for example, in the oil exploration region.
WestJet’s Saretsky hoped that by lowering fares, travellers would fly more often and there would be new customers. He said: “When we lower the fares, it’s not carrying the same people at lower fares. It’s lowering the fares so that we can make the market expand.”
WestJet reported a stellar 2012 third-quarter performance with profit increasing 80% to C$70.6 million (US$71.2 million). Higher load factors more than made up for the rise in fuel prices. According to Saretsky, fuel makes up a third of WestJet’s operating expenses.
Meanwhile, the premium economy concept has been somewhat of an uncertain development in the industry. Not many airlines are quick to embrace it, and Canadian carrers may be said to be latecomers in the game. But really the increased segmentation within the legacy configuration is a reflection of the uncertain demand for premium seats. Is the premium economy an enticement for upgrading, or a safety net to catch any fallout from the upper class – whether intra or inter-airline? At worst, it may be deemed hedging in an uncertain market; at best, a competitive edge in offering options and alternatives amidst the uncertainty.
Air Canada plans to introduce the new in-between class on its new Boeing 777s next year and on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners which are expected to join its fleet in 2014. Its Asian competitors such as Cathay Pacific Airways and Eva Air are already in the game. WestJet also has plans to introduce its version of the premium economy next year. Both Canadian airlines are eyeing the growing Canadian business travel market.
Travellers should benefit from an active competition between Air Canada and WestJet, but do not expect drastic differences. The two airlines are apt to stay close to each other’s range. The real competition will play out beyond Canadian borders when Air Canada commences Rouge operations. Budget long-haul is not a tested concept although one-hop sun destinations are likely to prove popular. The good news is that analysts are optimistic about Rouge turning in a profit even in its first year. But will this be at the expense of the parent airline’s performance?
Air Canada’s new low-cost carrier (LCC) Rouge will take to the skies in July next year. It will start with two Boeing 767s and two Airbus A319s, flying initially from Toronto and Montreal to leisure destinations in Europe and the Caribbean, with plans to expand the fleet to 50 aircraft eventually and to also fly to destinations in Asia.
In a way, Air Canada is re-attempting to do what it failed to achieve with previous budget projects Tango and Zip. The appointment of former chief executive of Thomas Cook North America Michael Friisdahl with expertise in the leisure industry to head the new carrier may be a plus.
Cost is obviously the key driver of the strategy, and Air Canada expects cost savings to be derived 50/50 from lower wages and staff benefits and from the high-density aircraft configuration. Having an independent budget offshoot makes it easier to start with a lower base of staff costs and focus on the price-sensitive niche leisure market. There will be 20% more seats on Rouge than the normal configuration.
For some time now, Air Canada has been struggling with costs and red ink. It faces stiff competition from key rival WestJet and other leisure operators such as Transat A.T. and Sunwing that offer much lower fares. Increasingly, airlines are ditching a one-size-fits-all modus operandi for a separate and more focused niche market strategy.
Image Courtesy of Air Canada
WestJet for one is launching a new regional carrier Encore in the second half of next year. The new carrier will offer fares up to 50% lower than normal for short hauls, in direct competition with Air Canada Express. WestJet chief executive Gregg Saretsky does not anticipate a price war, as he prefers to call it a process of “rational pricing”. It is ironical that short-haul flights should cost as much as they are now. Saretsky told analysts at a recent briefing: “If you’ve ever tried to buy tickets for a short-haul journey in Canada, you’ve had to open your wallet and dig deep. Short-haul fares in Canada are very, very high.”
Apparently Air Canada president Calin Rovinescu had anticipated WestJet’s regional initiative. A price war it is that has begun and is expected to intensify. Both airlines are looking to expand their network to cover outlying business communities, for example, in the oil exploration region.
WestJet’s Saretsky hoped that by lowering fares, travellers would fly more often and there would be new customers. He said: “When we lower the fares, it’s not carrying the same people at lower fares. It’s lowering the fares so that we can make the market expand.”
WestJet reported a stellar 2012 third-quarter performance with profit increasing 80% to C$70.6 million (US$71.2 million). Higher load factors more than made up for the rise in fuel prices. According to Saretsky, fuel makes up a third of WestJet’s operating expenses.
Meanwhile, the premium economy concept has been somewhat of an uncertain development in the industry. Not many airlines are quick to embrace it, and Canadian carrers may be said to be latecomers in the game. But really the increased segmentation within the legacy configuration is a reflection of the uncertain demand for premium seats. Is the premium economy an enticement for upgrading, or a safety net to catch any fallout from the upper class – whether intra or inter-airline? At worst, it may be deemed hedging in an uncertain market; at best, a competitive edge in offering options and alternatives amidst the uncertainty.
Air Canada plans to introduce the new in-between class on its new Boeing 777s next year and on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners which are expected to join its fleet in 2014. Its Asian competitors such as Cathay Pacific Airways and Eva Air are already in the game. WestJet also has plans to introduce its version of the premium economy next year. Both Canadian airlines are eyeing the growing Canadian business travel market.
Travellers should benefit from an active competition between Air Canada and WestJet, but do not expect drastic differences. The two airlines are apt to stay close to each other’s range. The real competition will play out beyond Canadian borders when Air Canada commences Rouge operations. Budget long-haul is not a tested concept although one-hop sun destinations are likely to prove popular. The good news is that analysts are optimistic about Rouge turning in a profit even in its first year. But will this be at the expense of the parent airline’s performance?
Image Courtesy of Reuters
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