[caption id="attachment_990" align="alignright" width="214" caption="Sam Sridharan, COO, SpiceJet"][/caption]

In the past year, I’ve featured interviews with a number airline executives and branding experts. Here’s one with a person I feel has a very good grasp of the airline industry and is not afraid to speak his mind. In his crisp answers, Sam Sridharan, Chief Operating Officer of SpiceJet, one of India’s foremost low cost carriers, speaks of what makes SpiceJet so good, and why branding is a work in progress.

No Indian LCC has a distinct brand positioning, yet

Sam believes that since LCCs in India are only 3 years old, in the consumer’s mind, they’re all the same. Most of the LCCs are still very price driven, and have not built a distinct brand positioning yet. Full service carriers certainly have cues that come to mind, like Jet Airways signifies efficient service, and Kingfisher Airlines bring forth their flamboyant image. Air Deccan was probably the only one with a strong brand positioning – make the common man fly, but it’s now dissolved.
The SpiceJet Brand
When asked what customers feel the SpiceJet brand stands for, Sam answers, “warmth, Indian-ness, “Masti”(fun) and vibrancy.” SpiceJet …

In this second part of the interview with Sanjay Kumar, the Chief Commercial Officer of Indigo Airlines, we talk about my favorite topic – airline branding. Sanjay believes that branding is all about how customers experience Indigo as a brand, not just how they perceive as a brand. And there is a conscious effort at Indigo to translate the brand promise into a great experience through systematic implementation.
Consistency not only in the sky, but also on the ground
When someone flies Indigo Airlines, what he looking for? Sanjay believes that it’s not a five star flying experience. He’s looking for an easy, hassle-free travel experience. And Indigo lives up to the expectation. Not only do they have Queue-busters – mobile check-in counters that Sanjay mentioned in the first part of his interview last week, but they are also the first airline to have welcome announcements on the “coach” that takes passengers to the aircraft. It makes them feel that the journey has begun.
Why low pricing isn’t sustainable?
Sanjay feels that the current spate of low airfares in India is a short-term phenomenon and it’s a ploy to get …

I flew on Indigo Airlines for the first time about three weeks ago. This was a flight from Bangalore to Jaipur, via Ahmedabad, in India. All airline staff seemed to have a spring in their step that morning, from the point of check-in, where I was greeted by a lady smiling ear-to-ear. But the best seemed to be reserved for in-flight.

When the stewardess, Neha Shenoy, came to ask me if I wanted any drinks or sandwiches, she greeted me by name. Yes, you read that right. I was asked, “Mr. Nigam, how’re you doing today? Would you like to have some sandwiches…?” I was bowled over. It was the first time I was being greeted by name, in an Economy Class on a domestic sector in India. Something that’s usually a feature of international Business Class on reputed carriers like Singapore Airlines had somehow made its way to this Indian budget airline. And very simply too. Neha was carrying a copy of the passenger list on her cart, and just read out my name from there. A simple method. But very, very effective. I got a drink from her.

But that was …

Image via Wikipedia

…

Jet Airways recently hinted that the worst is over for them and they expect to break even again in the middle of this year. And this is mostly because of the drop in fuel prices (obviously!) as well as the prudence shown by the management in cutting unprofitable routes, including that the San Francisco. And I don’t see this as an isolated case.

After my recent interactions with key airline executives in India, including the CEO at SpiceJet, it is my belief that airlines in India will not only be one of the first few to emerge from the recession, but also come out the strongest. Here are three key reasons for this conviction.
1. Airlines that stand by their customers in bad times win hearts – brand matters
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Just look at what’s happening in the western airlines in this recession. US Airways recently started charging for blankets, and they already charge for water (which can …

Re-posting here one of my favorite posts, originally published in early-2008, at the peak of the competition in Indian skies. Enjoy!
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Sometimes, competition can lead to funny outcomes. Here’s what happened at a major crossing in Mumbai, India, when Jet Airways announced their makeover.

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[caption id="" align="alignright" width="284" caption="Jet Airways employees protesting"][/caption]

Last week, Jet Airways in India fired almost 1000 employees (and then re-instated them after a huge furor). In bad times, it’s natural for companies to cut costs, and reducing headcount is one of the ways to do that. But it was the method of communication that infuriated employees and resulted in widespread public protests.

Just like airlines cannot treat customers badly, they cannot treat employees badly too. After all, happy employees make for happy customers, who then form positive impressions of their interaction with the brand. One of the most successful airlines in the world, Southwest, treats their employees like customers and the results are there for all to see. Here are a few things other airlines can do to keep employees happy, by treating them humanly.
No surprises, please!
Most of the Jet Airways employees were hardly given any notice of the upcoming lay-offs. They were informed either a day before they were asked to leave, or on the day itself, in some cases. The news came to them as a shock, especially from …

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="202" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption]

India’s leading private airline, Jet Airways has just decided to sack 1900 employees following their wide ranging alliance with Kingfisher Airlines. The move is intended towards cutting costs for the carrier struggling with high costs in an unfavorable economic environment. But that’s stuff everyone already knows about.

Here’s something interesting I encountered this morning. A leading Indian news website, Hindustantimes.com carried the story of this sacking, along with pictures of protesting employees. Ironically, there was a Jet Airways banner advertisement placed right next to that news, introducing their new flights between Bangalore and New York (which also may just follow the San Francisco flight into oblivion). Be sure to check out this interesting post on another blog, with a similar issue about the A380.

Isn’t it so interesting? How do you think airlines can save their brands from such incidents like above? We all know that with the advent of online media and Web 2.0, it’s …

Key Flight Facts
Airline: Jet Airways
Travel purpose: Moving to Singapore to begin college studies
Departure from: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India
Arrival at: Changi International Airport, Singapore
Date of travel: 27 July 2008
Contributor: Shitij Nigam
Flight rating: 8/10

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Image courtesy Flickr user Guido Haesevoets"][/caption]
Check-in
The check-in was process was swift and painless, and partially so because the airport was slightly empty (morning flights not exactly being the craze). The airport staff were also familiar with my Students Pass, something I’d been worried about previously, as to whether or not it would end-up causing unnecessary delays. The Jet Airways staff at the baggage check-in counter was nice enough to ask me about my college and course (and I was nice enough to explain. In detail.)

Sometimes, competition can lead to funny outcomes. Here’s what happened at a major crossing in Mumbai, India, when Jet Airways announced their makeover. Enjoy!

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