LJ wrote:Do you want a profitable SN or a big SN?
Actually, we want/need both. So far, the African routes have kept b.air afloat. As I once wrote on luchtzak : 4 aircraft keep 40 aircraft flying. Generally speaking, we see that intercontinental flights are the ones that make money (I don't know why, but that seems to be an established fact now). So, b.air needs to grow in markets with still a reasonable yield. North America is low yield, but LH lets (or encourages) b.air to fly to North America as there still is a potential for these flights to feed the African network. Africa is what b.air does best, so there is a logic to this approach. However, a day will come where yields to Africa will go down because of increased competition, not only from AF (KL or BA), but EK, EY, QR, TK and ET.
In addition, outgoing KLM boss Peter Hartman declared that Africa will become the next growth market for airlines and that KLM always believed in Africa's potential since it invested in Kenya Airways in 1995. (this is a short summary of :
http://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/nl-NL/Ar ... groeimarkt
Reading between the lines, this probably means KL will continue to develop its African network, too.
In other words, b.air needs to diversify (and quickly)
crlhub wrote:Very sad to see SN not present in three BRIC markets like China,India and Brazil
I agree. Although I don't see much potential for b.air to India, except perhaps :
b720 wrote:5xweek daily high season to BOM, with a deal with Antwerp diamond couriers for diamond shipments
As to China, Chinese airlines are getting mature with a good safety record in the last ten years and service getting increasingly better. These airlines will be able to offer the lowest fares and might even, pricewise, become a threat to the 3G (three main Gulf carriers). So, I wouldn't bet too much on China to make money.
Leaves us with Brazil. I won't repeat what I wrote already a couple of times on luchtzak about Brazil (but will not mind repeating it if a member asks me to). TAM leaving Star Alliance. Nobody knowing what's going to happen with TAP. Aerolineas Argentinas joining Skyteam. Fortunately, Star has Avianca Taca and Copa, but that's more Central America (perhaps with Avianca as a gateway to Andean countries), but none of these airlines fly to BRU.
In summary : b.air needs to diversify (and faster than adding one long-haul aircraft per year to its network).
In favor of quality air travel.
