The Hindu Business Line : ‘Our focus is on being among the top five carriers globally’

We are looking at a 12-15 per cent increase in domestic operations. We have started the process of integrating JetLite that would focus on scheduled, flight operations, service quality, such as reliability and also revenue management. MR SUDHEER RAGHAVAN, VP, COMMERCIAL, JET AIRWAYS

Ashwini Phadnis

After working with Singapore Airlines for more than 25 years, Mr Sudheer Raghavan moved to the hospitality industry. He decided to come back to the aviation industry when Jet Airways offered him the position of Executive Vice-President, Commercial, which he took over in September last year. In a free-wheeling interview while flying from Kozhikode to Mumbai, Mr Raghavan outlined the airline’s future plans.

Excerpts from the interview:

What are the airline’s plans for the new aircraft being inducted?

We have ordered 10 Boeing-777s, of which we have taken delivery of nine, although at the moment only eight are flying. In addition, we have options on another 3 Boeing-777 Extended Range (ER) aircraft.

The airline will use this type of aircraft to operate flights to Europe and the United States and also to London. We are also looking at this aircraft for the China-San Francisco sector.

A decision is yet to be taken on what kind of aircraft should be deployed on the Hong Kong route. Should we operate the Boeing 777 or fly that route with the Airbus A-330? The main reason for the dilemma is that the Hong Kong route is a very strong market for first-class travel.

In addition, we have placed orders for 10 Airbus A-330 aircraft and have options on five more that have to be exercised during 2009-11. Besides, we have placed orders for 20 Boeing 737-800 aircraft that will be delivered between 2012 and 2014.

Does the airline plan to operate non-stop services or will it continue with one-stop flights?

Non-stop services are very much needed. At the moment, the only issue is that we have not found any aircraft that we feel is suited for the mission. We have evaluated the aircraft available and feel that there are very few that allow us to be profitable. There may be the possibility of using the Boeing-777 ER to do non-stop to New York but it would not do the mission to the US West Coast. Besides, there is also the issue of cargo.

The timing of the launch of non-stop services will be decided when we get the right aircraft. The operation has to make money.

What are your expansion plans?

Let us look at the international operations. In November last year we were operating to 10 international destinations. With the launch of Gulf operations, this has increased to 15.

The possibility of launching operations to China and onwards to San Francisco, and possibly Hong Kong, would see the network expand to 18 international destinations. And if we are given permission to fly to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, it will go up to 21. Besides, we are also looking at operating to Johannesburg and Nairobi. So, the airline could reach 23 international destinations soon from zero in 2004.

What about domestic flights?

We are looking at a 12-15 per cent increase in domestic operations. We are keen on orderly growth. We have started the process of integrating JetLite that would focus on scheduled, flight operations, service quality like reliability and also revenue management.

The airline would look at expanding domestically by adding some routes and also by offering more services on some existing routes, there are some city pairs that are crying out for additional frequencies.

Will there be any differentiation between JetLite and Jet?

The seat pitch on a JetLite flight is likely to be narrower than a Jet flight, and there will be no in-flight entertainment system on those aircraft. The questions of whether food should be provided or not, and whether it should be part of the ticket price or should be charged separately, are also being looked at. JetLite will not, however, not fly long haul international missions.

Is the airline in favour of a differential fuel surcharge?

A flying time-based fuel surcharge has been considered by many airlines globally but implementing this is a nightmare. We are evaluating it but need to look at how to implement it.

What would be the airline’s focus in the coming years?

Our focus is on being among the top five carriers globally. We want to be the brand ambassador for India globally and for that reason it is essential that the airline have a presence in the global gateways of the world like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Heathrow, Milan, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing and Sydney to name a few.

However, I would like to emphasis that India will always be our focus.

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