C.M.D. Air India gets....sets....ready to go

Chocks-on                                                            

 

The Air India Platter

The CMD’s Brand Building Mission for Air India ........

We from Chocks-on , and also from our Face Book platform, “ OUR AIR INDIA”, are extremely delighted to learn that Mr. Avinash Lohani, has identified AI brand development and strengthening, as one of the core focus areas to resurrect Air India, back to its coveted global presence. YES, this is precisely what we have been vociferously advocating for the last couple of years, particularly after the media badgering that AI has been subjected to in the past. The Air India brand has suffered enormous damage with all the adverse publicity, that has been heaped upon it. But it is the intrinsic strength of the brand Air India, that continues to still enjoy a wide global patronage and a strong brand loyalty that still attracts its patrons even today.

Mr. Lohani, we firmly believe, that sprucing up the brand Air India, will bring back the business that has diverted away to other airlines. This is one area that is crying for attention and action. Your identification of this as a focus area will certainly yield rich dividends. We from  Chocks-on , would like to assure you of our full support and co-operation.

The CMD while.....outlining his priorities in a letter addressed to employees, last week had said there wouldbe concerted focus on improving the efficiency of the entire engineering set-up to ensure higher reliability and availability of aircraft.

True to his word, now .......

                             Air India to dry lease 14 A320 jets from Kuwait. 
                  (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/air-india-dry-lease-14-a320-jets-kuwait-881 ) CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Excellent Marketing Strategy by AI for Revenue Enhancement........all airlines the world over during lean season offer incentives and inducements to passengers to spur demand. This can be both in kind and price. The success lies entirely, on how smart and value-for-money these inducements are. In the case of AI, it will give the passengers a first hand experience of AI’s prestigious First & Business Class travel.

Air India special offer 'Get Upfront'……

                  ( http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/air-india-special-offer-get-upfront-115091700938_1.html )     CLIK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

 A Delicate Turf to Tread Upon........... Well this concept is today prevalent on many International Airlines. With First Class being abandoned by many airlines, this concept of Premium Economy Class is gaining wide currency. Lufthansa have virtually written the rules of this new service vertical, maintaining a cautious balance between the Executive Class on the one hand, and the Economy Class on the other. But they did feel the pinch of cannibilising of their Executive Class traffic, till they tweaked it suitably to arrest the erosion.

                 Air India maylaunch premium economy class...
  http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-may-launch-premium-economy-class/articleshow/48943159.cms )   CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Even Air India is in the net.............. This is a massive sub-poena against various airlines operating to / from / and through USA, when airlines levied fuel surcharge on the basic rates of cargo. This was perceived by the Federal Authorities as cartellisation, and penalties running into millions of dollars were and are being levied on the airlines, including Air India. It will be a big financial blow to Air India that is already struggling with a very fragile financial health.

Multi-Billion Dollar Air Cargo Price Fixing Litigation Headed to Trial in Brooklyn………………

( http://www.globaltrademag.com/global-trade-daily/news/multi-billion-dollar-air-cargo-price-fixing-litigation-headed-to-trial-in-brooklyn ) CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

Our Competitors Platter

Vistara might cut business-class seats………

( http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/vistara-might-cut-business-class-seats-115091600851_1.html ) CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY

Well the much hyped Singapore Airlines and Tata’s combine VISTARA after operating in the treacherous Indian Aviation Environment, are modifying their product strategy midway to build market share, which has stagnated at 60 odd per cent. Anyways course correction is an important attribute of any progressive business, that regularly conduct market audit to evaluate their product profile and tweak it suitably for wider market acceptance.

Indian start-up airline Vistara plans Gulf growth........
( http://www.arabianbusiness.com/indian-start-up-airline-vistara-plans-gulf-growth-606289.html ) CLICK TO READ THE FULL STORY
While competition is part and parcel of any open industry, but if the market size per-se is good, there is no fear. But it can become challenging if the market size is limited and over capacity driven. Tata / SIA’s plan to mount operations into the Gulf can become a real hot potato for Air India to combat with, unless.......

 

KEEPING YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST “

AIR INDIA UPS THE ANTE

Chocks-on                                                                  08 FEB, 2015

….with Designer Inflight Menu on a Cricket Theme During the World Cup !!!

 

A brilliant move ! Great imaginative thinking in a Long Time !! Excellent BRAND BOOSTING initiative by Team Air India.

Whilst the generative effect – revenue and traffic - may not be apparent immediately, but it marks the beginning of a SHIFT in the staid thinking of a ‘Sarkari ‘ mindset. Commercial thinking, Publicity and Brand Building, is an urgent imperative for Air India. Air India in one master stroke has accomplished multiple objectives, and proved its smart thinking viz., :

Sports have always been a favourite with Global Airlines for Brand building and Publicity. At last Air India joins its global peers to announce its arrival .

Indian Food, enjoys a ‘ GOURMET’ status all over the world.  Air India,  as India’s Flag carrier, enjoys an enviable distinction, of being the true custodian of the ‘ Original Indian Taste & Flavour ‘ . Exploiting this unique distinction, is a smart move, that will help AI in boosting Brand Air India, and once again re-establishing its credentials it was once famous for.

In-flight meals of Air India were once renowned globally. They were reckoned as AI’s USP. Food festivals on board Air India flights were a regular event at one time, and offered a unique inducement to passengers to ‘ taste ‘ ( fly ) Air India.

Air India should leave no stone unturned now, to highlight this initiative  in all the media in India. In a country where Cricket is an obsession, anything to do with CRICKET will definitely attract the maximum and widest attention in India and amongst all Indians, spread across the globe.

Lastly and most importantly, the Master Stroke !! Air India has, emphatically and loudly UNDERSCORED its arrival and long term presence on the Australia Route & in the Australian market. This message is more for Singapore Airline, who are the biggest player on this route. And now with VISTARA as their JV partner, they are getting more bullish and aggressive in this market.

Its time to check mate competition…….

Air India designs special menu for upcoming Cricket world cup

Raina's Cheesy Pull Shot, Sachin's Sweet Drive, Dhoni's Swashbuckling Super Sixer and Captain Smith's Catch of the Season are only some of the innovative dishes christened after the names of cricketers, which have been included in national carrier Air India's special menu, designed to celebrate the World Cup.

The menu will be served for the duration of the tournament – February 14 till March 29. Designed by the Oberoi Flight Services, the menu includes lunch, dinner and desserts. A beverage being introduced on their flights is the smoothie in a variety of flavours. Indian wines will also find a place on these flights.

At an event held in Delhi on Friday to mark the special menu, Rohit Nandan, CMD, Air India said: "The airline takes pride in its culinary offerings across the network. Now, with the increasing number of international travellers on Air India flights, along with the opening up of new destinations in the recent past, the airline will include more of the Indian cuisine."

Also launched on Friday, was a specially designed menu card for the occasion and cricket-specific nightwear for Business Class passengers.

Air India management has been making several efforts to turn around the airline into profitability. The airline reported a surprise net profit of Rs14.6 crore in December, from a loss of Rs168.7 crore in the previous year.

 

KEEPING YOU UPDATED WITH THE LATEST

source : DNA
 Our Credo….”Network & Be Informed “

VISTARA - ALL SET to REWRITE INDIAN AVIATION

Chocks-on                                                                   10 JAN, 2015

NEWS OF AIR INDIANS ; BY AIR INDIANS ; & FOR AIR INDIANS

VISTARA

Enviable Credentials !

Impeccable Pedigree !!

A Rock Solid Brand – TATA’s & Singapore Airlines !!!

VISTARA, true to its promise, takes off on 09 JAN, 2015, writing afresh the history of Aviation in this country.

VISTARA – your TRIUMPH & SUCCESS is a foregone conclusion.

 

Cheers, lamps and Swiss chocolates mark Vistara’s first flight…….

CHARITY…..For 12 street children Vistara’s inaugural flight from Delhi to Mumbai was a tad more special than the rest of the passengers on board the Airbus A-320 aircraft. Adopted by the Salaam Balak Trust, they were among the 148 passengers on the flight that took off from Delhi at 12.52 pm and reached Mumbai about an hour and fifty minutes later.

PAX……The inaugural flight had on board, among others, Prasad Menon, Chairman, Vistara, and NS Rao, Chairman, GMR Group. Earlier, they were joined by Ajay Mehra, Senior Airbus official, at Delhi airport, where a ceremonial lamp was lit just before the check-in process.

INAUGURATION…. By Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma cut the ribbon at the gate before the passengers boarded the aircraft. Sharma joked that in India there were hardly any divorces after couples married (hinting at the tie-up between Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons) to which Goh Choon Phong, the CEO of SIA, immediately quipped that “this marriage will not break.”

THE FIRSTS……Vistara is the first domestic airline to offer premium economy on domestic flights. It offers 36 inches of leg room space in premium economy compared with 42 inches in business class.

MENU…….Passengers who opted for non-vegetarian food on the inaugural flight were served quiche and prawns with leek, and mini Frey Swiss chocolates.

VISTARA COLOURS………At the Delhi airport, the area right behind Gate 1 was done up in Vistara’s aubergine and gold colours.

GREETINGS & FIESTA …..Those checking-in for the first flight were greeted with Cadbury chocolates and addressed by name. Mother Dairy’s Shahi Meva Malai Ice-cream was also offered.

As the aircraft began taxiing for take-off from Delhi, there was loud clapping on board.

As soon as the captain announced that the aircraft had started its descent into Mumbai, Prasad Menon and Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara, walked out of the business class cabin and inquired of passengers if they had enjoyed the flight.

MEMORABLIA…….To help remember their first Vistara flight experience, all the 148 passengers on board were given personalised certificates.

 

What they said…..

Ratan Tata…

"It has been a long-cherished dream for the Tata Group to establish a world-class full service airline in India, in partnership with Singapore Airlines, and today that dream has come to life. I would like to dedicate this day to Mr JRD Tata, the man who started it all, and established India's first international airline. His futuristic vision continues to inspire us and we salute his spirit and dream. I would like to extend my best wishes to the Vistara team as they embark upon a remarkable journey today."……….

Prasad Menon- Chairman, VISTARA

“Today marks the start of a new exciting chapter in Tata group’s history as we take to the skies again,” He clarified “being full service doesn’t mean you’re lavish or you’re over the top. It means serving different customers’ needs differently”.

“You can’t start a business by being worried about competition but by believing you have a space. Competition is good for customers,” ……..

Krishnalekha Ghosh, director of Globe Travels.

“They (Tata-SIA) are selling well. Much of the response is from corporate clients. While rival low-cost airlines are offering economy seats for Rs 4,800-5,500, some clients have gone for the brand Vistara. The fact that Kingfisher has shut down has helped. Moreover, the promise of being full-service has attracted a lot of corporate executives,”……

Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara

Vistara is harnessing the legendary hospitality of the Tatas and the service excellence of Singapore Airlines to give customers a very different service experience. They will travel with Vistara… Our New Year gift to India because of slew of unique and delightful experiences like auto check-in, mobile app. No lines, dedicated counters…