Wednesday, 3 July 2013

THE PROSPECT OF NATIONAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY




The Management of Lion .Air, a national airline company was continuously running expansive business strategy. The latest news had it that this national airline planned to operate 1.000 units of commercial air crafts, a no-fooling number of aircrafts to execute a long term business strategy. Naturally because the amount of money invested was tremendously greet.

This airline had previously even make an amazing breakthrough. Pursuant to revised quote of air carrier's right between Indonesia and Australia, Lion Air even stated their readiness to serve some routes between the two countries. Lion Air was even ready to serve two prospective routes, i.e. Kupang-Darwin and Adelaide – Denpasar.

The news was disclosed by Ruedi Kirarie, President Director of Lion Air, by request of Nadjib Rliphat, the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia. The Indonesian Embassy had received many request for direct fight service between some cities in Australia to Denpasar from various circles in Adelaide. Such was statement of the number one man in Lion Air to the press not long ego (7/2).

Today the carrying capacity used by Indone­sia was 12,000 passengers while Australia had used 17,000 passengers per week. The Airline serving Indonesia-Australia route was PT Garuda Indonesia serving Denpaser-Perth, Denpasar-Sydney, Denpasar-Melbourne, Jakarta-Sydney and Denpasar-Melbourne. Meanwhile on the Indonesia side, Air Asia serve Den­pasar-Perth.

Meanwhile on the Australia side, Qantas serve Sydney Jakarta, Qantas core-sharing with Jetsar serve Sydney-Denpasar, Malboume-Denpasar and Perth-Denpasar. Meanwhile Vigin Australia airline serve Adelaide Denpasar.

As released before, the Government of RI and Australia had agreed on revision of passengers quo­ta rights through Air Service Agreement. Hence the airlines of both countries could carry up to 27,540 passengers per week each week for Sydney-Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne.

The agreement was signed between Indone­sian Minister of Transportation EE Mangindaan and the Minister of infra Structure and Transportation of Australia Anthony Albanese. The number of passengers between the two countries had been increasing, therefore the Air Agreement needed revision. This was stated by the Indonesian Minister of Transporta­tion EE Mangindaan.

In regard to Lion Air's expansion plan to op­erate 1,000 aircrafts, this was a big plan worthy of appreciation. The intention was based on increasing market demand and the ambition to command over domestic routes plus Asia.

To realize the plan Lion Air had ordered 468 units of aircrafts from Boeing and ATR. By 2026 all the ordered aircrafts would have come. This company was still processing purchases of new aircrafts to complete the 1,000 unit of aircrafts needed in Lion Air Group.

The company saw that the number of air pas­sengers in Indonesia kept growing each year. Lest year Lion Air carried 32 million passengers (around 50%) of the total domestic passengers which numbered 65 million passengers. To command over the market in ASEAN, Lion Air admitted they had collaborated with a company in Malaysia to set up airline in Malaysia by the name of Malindo Airways, which would start operation next March.

The bright prospect of commercial airline business in Indonesia attracted an airline called Tiger Airways in Singapore which planned to open new routes in Indonesia by 2013. According to the management of Tiger Airways, the two new routes planned for operation was Singapore-Bandung, Singapore-Semarang and vice versa.

The reason for opening new air routes was to serve business activities and tourism which was planned for before mid year 2013. Indonesia is the most potential market for Tiger Singapore. Therefore this year target was set to increase air schedules to Indonesia and from Indonesia to Singapore.

The areas to serve as destinations were Sumatra and Java such as Jakarta, Surabaya and Med­an; whilst for East Indonesia. beside Bali, which was already served, more cities would be probed as destinations.

Tiger Airline passengers of Indonesian origin not only look at Singapore as final destination, many of them used Singapore as transit city before con­tinuing journey to other countries. After opening of the Tiger connection service it would soon serve as connectivity route without hindrances for passengers arriving at Changgi Airport. With services rend areal per January 9 2013 last, passengers could enjoy various facilities of Changgi Airport during transit time.

Passengers who benefited from Tiger Con­nection did not have to pass through immigration procedures or register for Singapore travel visa and needed not to take luggage. Since launching, more than 30,000 passengers had benefited from Tiger Connection services and it was expected that 50.000 passengers would follow before mid-year.

From Indonesia's viewpoint, Tiger Connect was expected to increase arrivals of overseas passengers under Tiger Airline service to fly to Indonesia. In fact many overseas passengers had benefited from the service, especially from Perth, Australia. While waiting on transit, they could enjoy various facilities and services at Changgi airport.

To enjoy the services, passengers would be charged cost of 16 Singapore dollars provided reservations were based on on-line service at Tiger Air­ways site and SIN$ 20 if reservations were made at Changgi airport. Passengers on transit of 2-3 hours could enjoy free internet service or play in soma parks at Changgi airport or they could shop at the hundreds of shops at Chancigi airport.

Meanwhile for passengers on transit for 5 hours or more could have a joy ride in tourist bus operating at Changgi airport for sightseeing in Singapore City for free.

From the above picture it might be concluded that the prospect of commercial airline industry was good. The need of the general public, especially those who use to travel by air, was the main consideration. Economic growth in all of Indonesia means potential opening of new air route services.

Indonesia's economic growth of above 6% in the past 3 years underscored the fact that economic heartbeat was spreading out not just centered in Java. Sumatra and Sulawesi are two big islands of energetic economy centers with dynamic heartbeat thanks to the abundant natural resources supported by constant infra-structure development.

Soon East Indonesia region would be the target of new air route opening in line with the invigorated economy in that region.

The ever bettered connectivity was triggered by the increasing commotion of people who needed to move fast. Today more and more people could afford to travel by air this purchasing power was the fruits of economic growth.

The emerging middle class, the term used for the high income group in Indonesia was growing well and such was a promising market potential. Such was the ground for local and regional airline operators to spread their wings in airline business. Now to travel by air was no longer a terrier need but had become primary need for certain segment of customers in Indonesia.

So if there was any airline which constantly lose business or even go bankrupt, they deserved to be questioned why it could happen. 



Business News - February 22,2013


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