Air Transport
Article | July 6, 2022
The airline industry has been an extremely tough marketplace. It takes a lot of effort to stand out from the competitors and to run business amidst everyday challenges to become top airlines in the country or worldwide. Yet, out of all this, the airline industry has maintained its dignity and has been successfully driven through market challenges.
Aside from the unique dynamics of the current COVID-19 crisis, marketers before used aviation marketing tactics in a standard way. But, the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic made aviation marketing exceptionally challenging for airlines worldwide to forecast demand and kickstart airline businesses in the future.
But, as of now (after a year and half months from the pandemic outbreak), there is a lot of excitement about airline branding, airline marketing strategies, airline advertisements, and more. As a result, businesses are becoming confident that revitalizing their strategies would now take off effortlessly. Yet some challenges and many other uncertainties need to be addressed regarding the fast-changing business models, travel demand, revenue generation, sales, stability, and a lot more in the restart period.
Let’s put some light on those uncertainties in the airline industry.
The Uncertainties
As per IATA (2020), the change in the airline business model creates additional uncertainty. It has been observed that the present state of the economy is the ultimate game of risk to airline revenue management and planning. This includes airline marketing strategies, airline advertising campaigns, and prospects of branding as well.
The recent shift in business patterns have been caused and triggered by various events such as:
A sharp decline in demand stimulation techniques applied by airlines
Signs of disruption entering the market in the wake of the COVID-19 situation prevailing in countries
Disruption of profitable plans for future
Changing consumer behavior
Missing data connections and collection
As a result, these uncertain events demand a call for action across the entire airline sector value chain. The call must be initiated based on creative marketing strategy, prioritizing personalization, sustainability, and profitability.
Now, the question ascends, why does your marketing team need to think out-of-the-box altogether to re-create airline marketing strategies.
Read about it next!
Why Airline Marketing Strategies Need to be Out-of-the-Box
With the changes occurring in airline market dynamics, airline businesses have to reshuffle their marketing strategies. They have to be quick as novel opportunities are continuously pouring in. Despite the current situation that has put the airline market under stress, it has provided the foundations for a range of new blue ocean opportunities. This is where you can hop on those opportunities to re-scale your business.
Therefore, the internal and external variables have to be considered in any forecasting activities of airlines, including revenue management, pricing, network, and marketing planning. In other words, game-changing strategies are born of thinking out-of-the-box—a leap into the unexpected.
Here, creating effective aviation marketing strategies will fulfill the need to pursue a new product differentiation and revenue management angle. Doing so will also instill confidence back into the base of your airline business, including stakeholders. This is how your business can become successful again.
By now, you must have understood that this is where the power of marketing in aviation can play a vital role in diminishing all the challenges. But before your marketing head towards creating robust aviation marketing strategies, you should first know about the approach of 3 Cs to make a successful marketing venture.
3 Cs to Consider While Marketing Your Aviation Business
Marketing, as per the current scenario, will require rock-hard strategic preparation. Similarly, in aviation marketing also, your team needs to ensure consistent preparation. This continuous process will help the business build progressively in a constantly changing aviation business environment and fluctuating demands.
Following this approach will help better in building innovative strategies and simultaneously exploring a wide range of possibilities.
Contrast
Before your marketing team heads to the stage of the plan, consider the assumptions bracing up in the current airline industry’s status. Then, your strategists should get hands-on to identify the possibilities to come ahead along with its results.
Constrain
Keep a look at the limitations stirring in the current airline market scenario. Then consider how the prevailing weaknesses can be converted into strengths to become successful among your competitors.
Context
To create out-of-the-box airline marketing strategies, which include airline advertisements, airline advertising campaigns, and more, you should plan to have a different context to stand out terrifically among other airline companies. In addition, marketing this way will give you surprising insights and help you emerge afterward through challenges that occurred due to the pandemic.
Now that you are aware of the critical things to consider in creating airline marketing strategies. It is time to go ahead with creating strategically planned strategies.
Here are some effective strategies discussed that would help to revitalize your airline business.
6 Airline Marketing Strategies
Introduce Loyalty Programs
The airline business is known for its range of offers of loyalty programs according to the target audience. Nearly all airline businesses create their ways to cater programs to a particular audience group or in general. However, loyalty programs work the same at the core, but to encourage audiences in the current time, you can offer different perks to them. So, be creative in creating campaigns, and you will find that your loyalty programs are capitalizing on your revenue and benefiting customers together.
Distinguish your Brand and Position Yourself
Branding and positioning have become essential for businesses operating in this pandemic time, where the market is now hugely competitive. So you have got to be quick to get your company identified by your customer base as well as the target ones.
While proceeding in this manner, your best strength will distinguish you from your competitors serving in the same area. To make your brand image outstanding, you need to study customer demographics related to airline services.
On the other hand, depending on the brand image you want to cultivate, you may need to create airline advertisements accordingly. It is because your brand will communicate a message to the worldwide population. And it’s important to consider how you want your target audience to think of you before you brand and position yourself through advertisements, social media platforms, and more. This is how you will be able to position yourself in every day changing aviation market dynamics.
Be Creative with an Airline Advertising Strategy
Out-of-the-box airline advertising strategies can help your business outshine amidst insane competition arising. It is because now you have to adjust according to the modern world scenario. Here, creative content plays an important role. Moreover, as you must be working remotely, the idea of using content marketing will massively support your advertising strategy. It would engage and inspire customers to leverage your services, and, ultimately, your revenue will take off once again.
Introduce Paid Ads
Now that you have a planned airline advertising strategy, you can also consider introducing paid ads in it. Yes! With the help of paid ads, you can target a location-wise audience more precisely.
Paid ads also help in revenue generation and collaborations. These aspects are directly proportional to the profit earned out of implementing strategies. For example, paid ads may involve videos creation on YouTube to create brand awareness on your website, landing pages, or content (articles, blogs, etc.) page. By doing this, your brand value is going to skyrocket than what was it before.
Set a Strategic Social Media Campaign
Social media campaigns are the best ways to reach your customers and target audiences under airline marketing strategies. Spreading your brand voice through different social media platforms will help you humanize your brand and deepen relationships with a larger population. In addition, other airlines use social media to reward customer loyalty, so you can also indulge in activities for the same.
For this, your marketing team should study which platforms your customer base visit frequently. Then, based on your research, you can do promotions, provide updates, make announcements, expand services or give some behind-the-scenes look of your company to customers as well as targeted audiences. It is because they appreciate participating in such events and get satisfied by relying on your company.
During an interview with Media 7, Didi Horn, Chief Executive Officer at SkyX, made a statement. He told,
“We have found that Linkedin has contributed the most to brand awareness over the years. In our business, there’s a very specific and niche target customer that we want to reach, so we don’t hesitate to invest in doing what it takes to build strong, lasting relationships.”
Marketing leaders like Didi Horn and more are becoming successful with their marketing activities on LinkedIn. Similarly, you also use LinkedIn—as one of the most influential social media platforms to spread the word about your business activities and reach out target audience easily.
Practice Influencer Marketing
Yes, you heard it right! Influencer marketing is booming in the current pandemic scenario. This is the best way of earning better ROI. Implementing influencer airline marketing strategies would help realize your business goals.
So, what goes under this marketing strategy?
The formula of storytelling through content is considered beneficial to increase airline business. Adding transparency in the strategies can also be one formula while practicing influencer marketing. Implementing this strategy will attract more audiences because they get influenced by interesting content, storytelling, company behind the scenes. This humanizes the brand altogether, giving audiences a factor of trust and loyalty.
As you have entered a completely different business scenario in the airline industry, your company needs robust marketing strategies.
It’s important to understand that change may be predictable, but growth isn’t. Business growth highly depends on all the little things you do consistently to make it happen. Since you’re competing with many other airline companies, developing a strategic aviation marketing plan can boost sustainable business growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an airline marketing strategy?
An airline marketing strategy is a well-planned method in action that businesses create to fulfill goals such as boost revenue, surge engagement with customers, create brand visibility, positioning, target potential audience, and a lot more. Companies invest time and money to create a robust plan so that businesses can run effortlessly.
Why is airline marketing strategy important?
Airline marketing strategies are important for airlines to stand out firmly among the competitors, position their brand, create awareness among the existing customer base and attract more and more potential audiences through various online platforms.
What are the top 3 marketing strategies for the airline?
Although the marketing strategies involved in a business are critical, the top ones can be the following.
Email marketing
Social media
Paid media advertising
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Defense and Space
Article | June 8, 2022
The pandemic has fueled the private aviation segment boom. It has raised many new aviation business bodies.
While the private aviation segment was once reserved for millionaires and A-listers, it now has aircraft that look for more quick and secure gateways.
“We’ve flown more for businesses now than ever, based private jet travel provider PrivateFly.This is the time to use capital to travel safely. We’re seeing sales year-to-date matching with 2020. The sales are outperforming in the private jet market. And since the pandemic hit, we have seen striking changes in clients’ profiles and buying habits."
- Adam Twidell, CEO and founder of UK
Despite the ongoing dimness of the growth of the aviation industry, there has been a fresh influx of customers for private jets.
The pandemic empowered the private aviation companies. As a result, the private jet market has noticed a higher demand of 72% healthy since 2019.
About this, Adam Twidell mentions that private aviation is cautiously hopeful about the future for private jet travel.So, how is the private aviation market growing? How is private jet travel becoming popular? Let’s understand it.
Why are Private Jet Companies Taking Off?
Today, many business travelers are seeking a safer way to fly due to the ongoing effect of the pandemic. As a result, the term ‘safer’ fly has turned to private jet travel.
Its appeal in the present time has been evident. But some reasons that support the answer behind arethe taking off of private aviation companies are as follows:
The Uncertainty of Commercial Aviation
A drop in airline operations throughout the pandemic is one of the reasons. On the other hand, the pandemic facilitated an increase in the number of new business travelers in private aviation.
A Shift in Consumer Behavior
The surging number of first-time flyers have learned to invest in safety. Consumers are beginning to understand that investing in safety is essential today. Consequently, private aviation is not considered a luxury but a common choice as a reliable travel solution.
Control & Flexibility
The evolving new technologies in aviation have now created controllable operations. Such advancement has enabled aviation businesses to recover rapidly. Similarly, the private aviation sector is passing the power to customers to choose scheduled flights. The flexibility of the travel segment has added a value in terms of safety for business travelers.
“For companies looking to fly more frequently, they may get a jet card membership award. It will be a one-off charter and the commitment of jet ownership. You get a consistency of aircraft services like fixed prices and flexible terms."
-Twidell
More Options for Domestic
The domestic aviation sector is recovering compared to the international sector, which is still down by 20% as compared to 2019 as per IATA. All of this is due to the innovation by private aviation companies.
What do these key reasons show us? First, private aviation has constantly been reaching extraordinary heights and serving outstandingly in the new normal.
In this case, some prominent private aviation companies are doing wonders in the aviation industry. They are bringing innovative ideas and reshaping global businesses effectively.
So, who are they? What are those private aviation companies doing? Let’s know further.
The Best of 4 Private Aviation Firms Reshaping Aviation
Business aviation is expected to reach a valuation of more than 2 billion in 2022. This would be more than twice the valuation recorded in 2019, as per the Global Insights Market research study.
So, let’s study some of the most sorted-out private aviation firms. And how they are making innovatory inclusions in the aviation industry.
XOJET
Xojet is known as “Uber for the airways,” being the third-largest North American private aviation company. Xojet partnered with JetSmarter – the world’s largest mobile marketplace for private jets. They aim to bring novel opportunities, ways, and ideas to reshape the industry once again.
Xojet took advantage of digitalization and made the idea of “Uber for the airways” on-demand and straightforward. JetSmarter now serves as the exclusive digital distributor for XOJET’s aircraft, which has provided access to a new technology player—an unparalleled supply of premium jets.
“This shared venture is all about efficiency, which makes us more successful in assisting our clients.” And we will be able to accelerate the process of providing a digital solution for them.”
-Brad Steward, CEO of Xojet
The real opportunity is to put the 11,000 private jets in service in the US. And most of them would fly at an average of 200 hours annually at 30% capacity. As a result, XOJET generated more than $300 million worth of revenue in the second quarter of 2020. So, it is undoubtedly the digitization of private aviation that is concreting the pathway of growth of the industry for the future.
NetJets
NetJets has been serving as one of the oldest and largest private aviation companies. It accumulated a fleet of around 700 jets globally. NetJets’ plans for the first supersonic business jet with its sizeable fresh capital front. It plans to build a supersonic aircraft and is working with innovative and creative partners and private jet manufacturers.
Additionally, NetJets has received a delivery of 25 new private jets so far in 2021. It expects to spend around $2.5 billion to add another hundred jets by the end of 2022.
VeriJet
VeriJet started offering aircraft engines based on cruise missiles and carbon-fiber fuselages. With the help of low emission techniques, the engines are more durable and promote efficient flying. In addition, it has involved artificial intelligence assistance with one pilot. AI helps the jet with landing and other flight operations.
Richard Kane, VeriJet’s chairman, and CEO is counting on “carbon shaming” and promotes go-green emission and fly efficiently.
Clay Lacy Aviation
Clay Lacy Aviation has earned a reputation among other prominent private aviation users for its Waterbury-Oxford (KOXC) operations and maintenance facility. It has actively provided jet charter and looks after maintenance, aircraft management, repair, and renovation capabilities.
“We have offered solutions for clients by providing the first charter to professional aircraft management. From heavy maintenance inspections and cabin upgrades. We offer all at the best value.”
-Clay Lacy Aviation
With this, Clay Lacy experienced an 80% growth over the first 18 months. The growth was recorded by word of mouth spread rapidly across the region based on the East Coast at airports from New Hampshire to Florida.
Apart from this, a data-driven approach to private jet manufacturers and management constantly compares clients’ operating parameters. The process thus ensures that the asset is well-maintained and operates efficiently.
The Demand for Private Aviation is Still Rising
Experts say that the private aviation sector saw an uptick in 2021. In addition, the private aircraft firms witnessed a gradual rise in business from August 2021.
The aviation industry has been tested for a long time when it comes to adapting to diverse requirements. But, in the end, the industry has smartly evolved through challenges over technology and innovation. And the numbers should only proceed to grow now as global businesses recover their positions in late 2021.
“While the business aviation industry continues to experience a thriving market, the longer-term picture will clear step-by-step. Well-known issues such as the pilot shortage, collapse in values of used jets, lack of OEM innovation, rising operational costs have been recognized well, and the industry will cope soon. As a result, the overall environment is prepared for bringing in innovation from every aspect.”
-Peter Maestrales, CEO, Airstream Jets
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the valuation of the private aviation market?
The private jet aircraft’s market size was $24.4 billion globally in 2019. But during the pandemic, the valuation diminished by $20.1 billion. According to recent calculations, for the first quarter of 2021, the private aviation sector grew to a share of $23.6 billion.
What countries have the most private jet operations?
The United States occupies first place in private jet operations. But then, Europe is counted for having a big part of private jet operations.
Why is the private aviation sector becoming more popular?
Private flying has gained popularity because it has fared better than commercial operators. In addition, it has offered convenience, safety, time-saving, flexibility, and costs.
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Air Transport
Article | July 26, 2022
The COVID-19 effect has been tendered on business aviation than commercial aviation. However, it is the operations that reported a surge in demand for business aviation. The demand has been witnessed from new businesses and and those who revamped their operations amid travel restrictions.
In 2020, the airline industry experienced a heavy loss of worth USD252 billion, reports IATA. The industry players were at risk, which included accounting with direct economic destruction. Prompted by other risks factors such as restrictions on movements, especially travel limitations due to COVID-19, there is a serious need for the industry to access its operations competently.
So here are two crucial questions that took the heat. First, how is the industry going to manage economic uncertainties, travel restrictions, and market instability? And second, how may these affect aviation business conclusions in the coming years?
Such considerations may include some crucial aspects. They are changes in valuation methods, revision of future investments with existing liabilities, re-assessment of forecasted fuel consumption, revision of manufacturing, marketing, and others.
This blog is aimed at capturing the impact of COVID-19. And how business aviation can proceed to bridge gaps across multiple travel restrictions, both during and after the COVID-19 crisis. To delve into detail, let's go further.
The Level of Airline Business Drop and Recovery
Globally, the aviation businesses were severely harmed by 80% in 2020. The industry players found it extremely complex to navigate the commitments. Also, their work with collaborations is slated for the same year.
Customers seemed uninterested in discussing new business acquisitions due to COVID travel restrictions on business. However, some operators preyed on lower prices and increased demand for aviation services and products. These were mainly in the manufacturing and marketing fields. The reason is some corporate clients easily adapted to the emergence of digital platforms. They switched to zoom calls to replace personal contacts and connections.
Michael Walsh, CEO of Aer Mobi, says,
“OEMs have now announced a major drop in production capacity. Potential buyers could be from booming sectors financial services and online sales as they may seek to purchase high-profit products. These will be only a few brilliant spots for new aircraft purchases for OEMs.”
On the same note, Shaun Quigley, Managing Director, Volantair Air Charter, says
“In the time of crisis, the ability is to “pull one’s head in." This is what will happen at least until the final quarter of 2021.”
Business aviation in 2021 will hover around 25% to 30% globally, says Jose Rego, Senior Director – Market Intelligence and Strategy, Embraer Executive Jets. The rebound will be sluggish until 2025.
While the travel businesses' situation in the pandemic is not up to mark, its believed that digital transformation is viable to conduct airline operations. Such transformation will drive sales eventually following the rise of trending technologies simultaneously.
Aviation Business by 2030
A major transformation is promised by an array of powerful new technologies and corporate clients’ pressure. The industry plays that turn this trend to their advantage have the opportunity to redefine, restructure, reform, and reshape their business amid air travel restrictions.
So how will the key players of the aviation sector take their businesses forward by 2025 and beyond? Here is the outline of vital forces that the sector will see transforming.
Robotics Maintenance
Currently, airline operations maintenance accounts for approximately 20% of the operating costs. However, as the pandemic happened, market players and novel inventions are placing big hopes on the intelligent automation of maintenance.
For example, Airbus uses two seven-axis robots on the new fourth A320 line in Hamburg to conduct 80% of their business operations, thus improving functional aspects for employees.
Intelligent automation is fueled by terabytes of data. The data could be stored and used by businesses to manage operations easily. The addition of robotics and AI in aviation has increased the digitalization shift landscape for established players. From automatic scanning, data mining to improved diagnostics, robotics has a significant role in the future of aviation operations and maintenance.
Use of Alternative Sources of Energy
The shifting of environmental sentiments has made the aviation industry include greenhouse gases, electrofuels, hydrogen, and even batteries. The industry has set a target of cutting down high energy emitter fuels by half by 2030.
Companies like Airbus have impressive plans to develop hydrogen planes in the next 15 years. Even for eleven years, SkyNRG has been known for supplying "advanced waste" biofuels to airlines. These fuels are recycled from industrial waste, cooking oil, agricultural and forestry residues.
New technologies from engineering and manufacturing of aerodynamic are going to play a significant role in upcoming airline trends like specialized and improved designs and the use of carbon-efficient biofuels and electric
In this case, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) research found out that around 5.5% of aviation fuel could come from sustainable origins by 2030. Basically, it would be primarily from advanced waste biofuels.
Aviation Business: Witnessing Some Hope
There is an anticipation that the established aviation businesses will pick up their pace by 2022 amid COVID 19 restrictions.
Interestingly, there has been a pick up in air travel (essential air travel) in a specific part of the world. However, in some Asian countries, travel activity is estimated to be less than 40%. But the travel demand is expected to be higher in the years ahead.
Aviation business operators expect expanded business with new criteria of sales—digital. They might witness growth due to new prospect acquisitions that have adopted the digital workforce. The businesses expect green shoots of growth in the travel industry. Especially from business travel classes as these are seeking to experience fly again.
Business aviation traffic in 2021 highlighted the growing interest from buyers. On this, Jose Rego, Senior Director – Market Intelligence and Strategy, Embraer Executive Jets elaborates,
“There may be a peripheral surge in demand from first-time buyers; I expect this to affect fractional sales initially.”
Therefore, now IATA estimates that governments globally will provide $160 billion in support, loans, and tax breaks so that airline businesses can cover current costs.
Safety is Priority, so is Business
The aviation industry acclaims that business aviation might be on track sooner. In this context, the presence of a qualified team and fast-track applications, software, and platforms could help operators to function in a safe and well-maintained way.
As the aviation industry continues to plan new air travel rules (essential), aviation business is at an optimum point. Its crucial role in supplies, sales, business development, and essential air travel services has redefined the face of business. Thus, in this way aviation business has paved the way to make a strong comeback in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can future measures due to the pandemic suggest for the aviation industry?
Airline businesses must have a robust plan which establishes the core of business aviation. The future is for market leaders. How they will manage roles and responsibilities responding to the crisis. Finally, national authorities will have a crucial role in stimulating demand and fostering the rapid recovery of the airport business. Restoring consumer confidence will be an essential part of this effort.
What is the COVID-19 advice for the aviation industry?
The global market leaders are actively managing the impact of COVID-19 to ensure aviation safety and to support the industry’s return to normal safety assurance activities. They have put efforts on surveillance approach on every business operation to increase accuracy by introducing technologies.
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Article | April 13, 2020
When operating aircraft above the Arctic Circle (66.5° N latitude) there are certain hazards to be aware of. We decided to take a look at what aircraft are best suited for Arctic flight.A huge problem with flying in the Arctic is not just icing, but the visual restrictions that are placed on pilots. During the spring and fall, whiteout or flat light can distort what a pilot sees. The horizon can suddenly disappear making objects appear as if they are floating in the air. This can make things like mountain ranges extremely difficult to judge.
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