Bilt Rewards’ Post

PLAY airlines Shifts Focus to Leisure Markets: Here’s Why Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY Airlines is making strategic changes to its business model, focusing on leisure markets and applying for a Maltese Air Operator Certificate (AOC). Here’s how and why this shift is happening: 1. Disappointing Yields: * PLAY’s connecting traffic between Europe and North America has not been as profitable as expected. * Increased competition and capacity on North Atlantic routes have negatively impacted financial results. 2. Focus on Profitable Routes: * The airline will increase point-to-point services to leisure destinations in Southern Europe. * These routes have been popular and profitable since the airline’s inception. 3. Fleet Reallocation: * PLAY plans to base part of its fleet outside Iceland, starting with a partnership in Miami and operations in Tenerife. * The Maltese AOC will allow PLAY to expand its operations in Southern Europe. 4. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with other carriers, such as GlobalX in Miami, will help optimize fleet utilization and expand market reach. 5. Financial Stability: Despite lower-than-expected earnings for 2024, PLAY remains in a secure financial position and does not plan to raise additional capital. This strategic pivot aims to enhance profitability by focusing on routes and markets that have consistently shown strong performance. Read more on Aviation Week Network article https://lnkd.in/dvADRdwU

Huge milestone for Breeze Airways™! I've flown with them a handful of times, here's my two cents on 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 at a time when other discount airlines struggle: 1️⃣ 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲: Starting with smaller Embraer planes to expand quickly while awaiting delivery of the efficient, unique Airbus A220. 2️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: Smart partnerships, like leasing planes from Azul (also founded by CEO David Neeleman), and a leadership team with relevant industry experience. 3️⃣ 𝐊𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: Intuitive website/app, transparent pricing, and straightforward rewards program (seriously... who can keep up with rewards programs these days?). I’ve enjoyed flying Breeze from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) when it made sense for my travel plans, and their unique approach to scaling and customer experience has made them stand out. Read my full take on their strategy and success on my website: https://lnkd.in/e4yQiAsm Have you flow with Breeze? #Aviation #Travel #Airlines #RDU

American Airlines and JetSMART Partnership Takes Off: Expanding Opportunities for Travelers American Airlines and JetSMART have announced an exciting expansion of their partnership, allowing AAdvantage® members to earn miles on JetSMART-operated flights throughout South America. This strategic move enhances the travel experience for customers across the Americas by providing more affordable fares and a wider range of travel options. The partnership, which began with codeshare agreements in 2023, has grown to include flights in Chile, Peru, and Argentina. By combining their networks and loyalty programs, American Airlines and JetSMART are creating a seamless travel experience for customers in North and South America. This partnership demonstrates the growing trend of airline collaborations to enhance customer value and expand market reach. What are your thoughts on the impact of such partnerships on the travel industry? #AmericanAirlines #JetSMART #AAdvantage #Partnership #TravelIndustry #SouthAmerica #AirlineCollaboration #LoyaltyPrograms #CustomerValue #WentWorld https://lnkd.in/eEPVruE6

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have re-established their partnership, launching a new codeshare agreement effective December 9, 2024. This collaboration enhances connectivity for travelers across the Tasman, allowing Virgin Australia customers to book flights operated by Air New Zealand to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. This complements Virgin Australia’s existing services to Queenstown. Frequent flyers also benefit, with Velocity members able to earn and redeem points on these flights, along with access to lounges and other perks. The renewed alliance between the two airlines strengthens ties and provides passengers with seamless travel options across Australia and New Zealand. By offering broader connectivity and enhanced services, this partnership is set to reshape the trans-Tasman travel experience, benefiting both leisure and business travelers. Credit : Flight Drama .

Unveil the complete guide to Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer program. Whether you soar the skies often or are a regular business traveler, this loyalty plan unlocks a realm of perks. Learn more about the program and begin rewards today: https://okt.to/6BJw2T #SingaporeAirlines #FrequentFlyer #BusinessTravel

𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Virgin Atlantic is taking its Flying Club loyalty program to new heights with a series of exciting updates. The airline is introducing dynamic pricing for reward seats, allowing members to use their Virgin Points to book any available seat on any flight. This move, along with increased earning rates for Premium cabin travelers and the introduction of Saver reward seats, provides greater flexibility and value for Flying Club members. These enhancements demonstrate Virgin Atlantic's commitment to rewarding its loyal customers and enhancing their travel experience. What are your thoughts on the impact of these changes on the airline's competitive position in the market? #VirginAtlantic #FlyingClub #FrequentFlyer #LoyaltyProgram #TravelRewards #Points #DynamicPricing #CustomerLoyalty #TravelIndustry #CompetitiveAdvantage #WentWorld https://lnkd.in/ekyDJYxf

Air Astana to transform frequent flyer program 🇰🇿 The largest carrier in Kazakhstan, Air Astana, will introduce changes to Nomad Club frequent flyer program on 17th May 2024. The methodology for point allocation within the loyalty program has been restructured. It will now be allocated based on the expenditure per fare, rather than per flight distance, as previously. Under the new system, program members will receive 15 Nomad points for every 1,000 tenge (US$2.3) spent on a ticket on domestic routes. Additionally, for flights between Zone 1 (Almaty, Kyzylorda, Nur-Sultan, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Shymkent, Taraz) and Zone 2 (Aktau, Aktobe, Atyrau, Oral), 20 points will be awarded for every 1,000 tenge spent. Earnings for international flights will be noticeably lower – three points for every US dollar spent. However, there will be limits on points accumulation – no more than 3000 points for a domestic flight and 5000 points for an international one. The airline has promised to maintain privileges for elite levels of the program: silver, gold, and platinum, which include extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, access to lounges, and several other onboard benefits. During the transition period from 17th to 20th May 2024, Nomad Club services, including those at check-in, the reservation center, sales offices, the website and the app, will be temporarily inaccessible. From 21st to 25th May, intermittent access to personal accounts may be experienced due to the ongoing corporate website upgrade. According to the airline, Nomad Club currently has 600,000 passengers from 155 countries enrolled. Revenue from the loyalty program in 2023 amounted to 5.4 million tenge, which accounted for approximately 1% of the airline's total revenue. Subscribe to @CentralAsiaPlusAero

Delta wants to add a “good, better, and best” fare option for each cabin category over the next few years, starting with its main cabin next year. The new fare would be two steps above basic economy, and one step above its standard main cabin fare. #travel #deltaairlines #airtravel https://lnkd.in/gh8H6KsZ

Interesting article. Is easyJet conflicted? They provide the competitive infrastructure at the airports (slots + flights) and are competing aggressively with other sources of customer choice for holidays, e.g. OTAs. If they are monetising both sides through API fees (suppliers) and transaction fees (flights, holidays, ancillaries) directly with the customer is that good for competition? If they also get API fees from suppliers and take the ancillary revenue in the same transaction they are in a really leveraged position. Are Ryanair - Europe's Favourite Airline, as mentioned in the Telegraph article, not as conflicted? #Choice #Competition #Customer

PLAY Airlines Partners with easyJet to Expand PLAY Connect and Offer Over 350 Unique City Pairs We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between PLAY Airlines and easyJet, marking an exciting expansion of our PLAY Connect platform! This collaboration is a major step in our ongoing mission to provide seamless travel experiences and more destination options for our customers. With easyJet joining PLAY Connect, our travellers can now access over 350 unique city pairs, making it easier than ever to book connected flights to more destinations across Europe and beyond. By integrating Dohop's alternative interlining technology, we can offer more flexible, diverse travel itineraries without traditional interline agreements. This empowers our passengers with more choices and a streamlined booking process. Tatiana Shirokova, Head of Distribution at PLAY Airlines, highlights the significance: "With Dohop’s alternative interlining technology, we are not just expanding our network; we're transforming the way our customers travel. The inclusion of easyJet allows us to provide an extensive range of destinations while ensuring a seamless and cost-effective travel experience." We are excited about the possibilities this partnership brings, and we look forward to expanding PLAY Connect with even more global airlines, bringing the world closer to Iceland and beyond. https://lnkd.in/eK5z-6Ss