KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Airlines in transition: Hybrid and low-cost carriers push for better airline-airport relationships

Alex Cruz, CEO of Spanish LCC Vueling, spoke passionately at a recent conference of his need to see partnerships between airports and airlines that are deep and long-lasting. Mr Cruz referred specifically to co-operation that permits both partners to benefit from alternative revenue generation. Ahead of the forthcoming CAPA Airlines in Transition conference in Istanbul – which will feature some 30 airline CEOs addressing this and related issues – we consider how these parties have collaborated in the past and how it is shaping up now.

Vueling Airlines has become one of the innovators of the hybrid/low-cost business model that has become more prevalent and is found in other airlines such as easyJet (progressively) and Flybe (one of the originators of the model).

The fast changing airline industry makes life difficult for airport planners – just as change also offers opportunities.

British Airways/IAG with bmi looks to re-establish world leadership – and long term survival

It can be a fine line between survival and success, just as the blowtorch of a threatened existence provides a powerful motive to pursue ambitious goals.

Last month’s International Airlines Group (IAG)/British Airways move on bmi is only one more piece in the strategic kaleidoscope opening out in front of the Group Chairman, Willie Walsh. The world is his oyster at present. Answering a question following the bmi purchase announcement, Mr Walsh said that despite the uncertain economic environment that Europe’s politicians have created, this was a time of opportunity. His airline is well placed now to capitalise and, as bad news for others spells bargains in the marketplace, the time could well be ripe. In the process, London Heathrow Airport is firmly in the spotlight as Virgin Atlantic also remains a sale possibility. Yet for BA and all of its major rivals, the elephant in the room remains how to service shorthaul network connections profitably.

Emirates and Lufthansa growing strongly this summer: World's biggest airlines rankings for August

Lufthansa and Emirates are the fastest growing carriers of the global top ten, increasing their capacity (ASKs) by 12.4% and 8.1% year-on-year, respectively. Delta remains the world's leading carrier by this measure, followed by American Airlines and United Airlines. Combined, United-Continental is roughly 3.3% bigger than Delta by systemwide ASKs.

European carriers move on biofuels; KLM and Lufthansa lead the way

Europe’s largest consumers of jet fuel have made bold steps towards the use of biofuels with Lufthansa launching the world’s first commercial service using biofuels. The move is a great leap forward in the commercialisation of alternative fuels and will ultimately reduce carbon emissions and introduce long-awaited competition to oil as the sole source of jet fuel.