Airwaves

Austrian Airlines’ strategy focuses on specific client segment

Reema Sisodia - Mumbai

Amey Amladi Regional Sales Manager (Western and Southern India) Austrian Airlines

Aviation in India is booming, giving rise to competition across segments, whether domestic or international. Airlines are increasing frequency from India into Europe giving rise to increased seat capacity. To meet this increasing competition and to ultimately get real business, Austrian Airlines is concentrating on the corporate segment, the diamond merchants and also sea-men (sailors) business. Working closely with the travel trade, the airline has also worked out plans to procure business of trade fair delegates and incentive travel clients.

Speaking about the plans of the airline and its USP, Amey Amladi, regional sales manager, western and southern India, Austrian Airlines, says, "Austrian Airlines has its plans in place to meet the current challenges in the aviation sector. The market is definitely wider with regard to increase in seat capacity as westbound carriers have increased their frequency into Europe. Segmenting ourselves is one of the ways of meeting the challenging market dynamics. We also have our USP in terms of convenient timings into Europe, for example we are the first airline to touch down into Brussels from India, hence have an edge with regard to the diamond market business segment. With an early landing in Vienna, we have immediate connections in offering to any point in Europe. We are also very well connected with points in Central as well as Eastern Europe."

He further added, "We are making steady efforts in highlighting the tourism specialties of central and eastern Europe within the Indian travel trade which is yet to be tapped. We also have special promotional offers for business travellers which has worked in our favour. Hence, we believe in tapping our clients in a focussed approach. The sea-men traffic is yet another client segment which we are focussing on."