India’s full-service carrier Jet Airways is strengthening its steps to improve its cost structure. Naresh Goyal, chairman, Jet Airways pointed out that the airline is looking at joint fuel purchasing with partner airlines as an effort to improve the cost structure, alongside joint-efforts in MRO. Jet Airways recently signed an enhanced co-operation agreement with Air France and KLM for strengthening their services between India and Europe. Firt signed in 2014, the co-operation was extended in 2016 with a codeshare agreement for connections between Europe and North America. As part of the lastest development, the three airlines will work together to develop their product offerings, across their combined network spanning 44 cities in India and 106 destinations across Europe. Goyal said, “This partnership will be very good for us, travel and tourism industry and trade. It will also help to improve our cost structure.”
Goyal further informed that Jet Airways is also lookig for a slot to operate Delhi-London flights.
Jean-Marc Janaillac, chairman and CEO, Air France-KLM, commented, “We are focused on serving our Indian customers; India is a tremendous growth market for us. The economic power of India is increasing and there is positive climate for business, making India a fast growing market for civil aviation. This agreement will also deepen Indo-European bilateral relations. Our goal is to carry 1.7 million passengers from India in 2018, which is a 40 per cent increase over the present figures, and this agreement is an important step to achieve this growth.”
Owing to Jet Airways’ position as a leading airline between India and Gulf, Goyal also reaffirmed Jet Airways’ partnership with Etihad Airways.
Peter Elbers, president and CEO, KLM, stated, “Last month KLM reintroduced its Mumbai-Amsterdam service. We are committed to the India market. There is a lot of investment happening in the Netherlands from India, which is a growth factor for air travel between the two countries. Our focus remains on offering more travel options and stepping up frequencies.”
