 "To take on Vistara, Jet Airways to offer full service on Konnect flights from 1 Dec")
Troubled airline Jet Airways today commenced efforts to create a uniform ‘single brand’with the streamlining of itslow-cost carrier JetKonnect andthe flagship full-service brand.
On the domestic network, the company will offer complementary meals to allJet Airways and JetKonnectpassengers, who bookedtickets on or after 15 September 2014 for travel on or after 1 December 2014, press release said. Sky Caf - the airline’s buy on board service- will also be discontinued.
Passengers currently booked on JetKonnect flights and holding tickets bearing flight numbers commencing with S2 and S2* for travel effective 1 December 2014 will also receive complimentary meals onboard.
The move is aimed at taking on competition from Tata-SIA’s Vistara airline which is yet to start operations and also streamlining and aligning domestic operations into “a single full service product to provide an enhanced and consistent product experience,” the statement said.
A PTI report citing industry sources said the move comes in timely as Air India, after joining Star Alliance, has enhanced its on-board product offerings and the new full-service airline, Vistara, getting ready to launch its flights in the next few months.
With its first-quarter losses narrowing this financial year, Jet Board decided to exit the low-fare segment and phase out its JetLite and JetKonnect or all-economy flight brands by the end of 2014.
Jet Airways’ chairman Naresh Goyal had earlier announced his decision to exit the low cost airline space which is understandable given that JetLite has been bleeding its parent for years.
As of March 2014, Jet Airways posted significantly higher losses than the previous fiscal, and auditors warned of negative net worth. JetLite’s losses stood at almost Rs 430 crore as of March this year, up from Rs 295 crore in the previous fiscal. Until March, JetLite had an all Boeing fleet of 12 aircraft, comprising 5 Boeing 737-700, 5 Boeing 737-800 and 2 Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft.
At the time, Goyal had said, “We as an airline confused customers (with multiple brands) … The main aim in the tie-up will be to increase market share,” Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal said at a press event after the release of the company’s first-quarter results.
with inputs from PTI
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