The first day of the CAPA Summit in Singapore this week delivered a powerful punch. Discussions ranged from U.S. Politics to China policy, and the niggling questions which remain about the battle between full service carriers and LCCs.
Do these labels even make sense anymore? ANA’s Senior Executive Advisor to the Chairman, Keisuke Okada made the provocative suggestion that perhaps it’s more important for airlines to think not of themselves and their models as reference points for customer experience strategy, and instead think beyond themselves to their customers: why their customers fly with the carrier, what are their expectations for that journey relative to their travel needs, and how can the airline best retain that engagement?
Okada also likened the decision to pursue a customer-first strategy to marriage. While you might not know whether this is the right decision to make with prior-knowledge that it will be a big success you know you want to commit yourself to your spouse (and to the customer), because you have strong feelings that it will make life better. What a delightful way to look at the question!
Here is are 5 top contentious topics from the event (in brief), with more to follow. (???? means pin this thought because there is more to come.)
1. ????China Has Big Plans. Bigly big.
China’s infrastructural plans add new unexpected layers of complexity to airlines in the region, with implications also for plane manufacturers. Dr. Law Cheung Kwok of the Chinese University of Hong Kong suggested it will be 5 years until China begins pulling from its own aircraft production, with plans to add supporting technologies and materials to sustain mainland supply.
Big discussion on impact of China's 'one belt one road' connectivity policy and growth of Chinese aviation infrastructure. #CAPAsummit pic.twitter.com/kiujmdBoMh
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) November 15, 2016
2. ????Don’t get me started on flagship JVs.
A pretty amazing discussion on JVs at #CAPASummit pic.twitter.com/NRVpHjUMta
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) November 15, 2016
“Airlines are metal neutral but passengers are not” -NUS’ Alan Tan #CAPAsummit
— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
Seabury Bishko: smart airlines turn JV product differences into different products and make it a positive attribute #CAPAsummit
— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
3. LCC Alliances Evolve
Will the Asian LCC alliance model be implemented outside of Asia? #CAPAsummit
No: 50%
Yes in Europe: 9%
Yes in Americas: 6%
Yes in ME/A: 34% pic.twitter.com/1PUq5MKCcz— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
Might this apply to everybody?
Air Black Box (IT for Value and U-FLY) MD Cheong: airlines want to retain brand equity, link-up services, not consolidate brands #CAPAsummit
— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
Attendee Perspectives on Asian LCCs.
In Asia, can smaller stand-alone LCCs prosper outside of alliances? Polling audience at #CAPAsummit
Yes: 77%
No: 23% pic.twitter.com/YW4RUy2Os4— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
4. Worried about the rise of Long-haul LCCs? Well, some aim to go further.
KPMG moderator Stamp: what are the geographical limits for Asia’s LCC alliances, U-FLY and Value? #CAPAsummit
— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
HK Express CEO dreams of selling an LCC RTW ???? ticket. @richardquest proved it can be done. Alliances would make it easier. #CAPASummit
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) November 15, 2016
HK Express Cowen: no limit. Our slogan is "U-FLY the world" #CAPASummit https://t.co/EtVGw2iUXH
— Centre for Aviation (@CAPA_Aviation) November 15, 2016
5. ????Airlines’ RISK strategy endures with world domination as the final aim. Well, boys will be boys.
There is a sense that mass consolidation is coming to global airlines, both legacy and LCCs, based on experts' comments. #CAPASummit
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) November 15, 2016
@designerjet By consolidation, do they mean mergers or failures?
— Peter Evans (@trustaviation) November 15, 2016
@trustaviation Yes. ???? Mergers, JVs, world domination, the end for some. War. Conquest. Very manly things. Eating more than your fill. ????
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) November 15, 2016
It’s busy, busy here in Singapore and the Capella hotel is a delightful location to be busy in! (No. They don’t pay me to say that.)
I’m looking forward to Day 2 and the return flight home.
I’ll leave you with this:
The Scoot Girls are giving the Powerpuff Girls a run for their money. #smartbranding #CAPASummit pic.twitter.com/hpVoQp3mzI
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) November 15, 2016