p30 Air Mar13 10/3/09 17:34 Page 30
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
For the latest news about flights, airlines and airports, visit
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Profile Eric Odone, Cathay Pacific
Trade sales: Almost all of Cathay Pacific’s UK
ourism Board
sales come through the trade, and the airline
o
ng T
has about 2,000 registered agents
Hong K
It has revamped its UK trade website, at
CXagents.com, to ensure that all information is
no more than three clicks away.
Odone said most agents booked customers
on flights via Hong Kong to south-east Asia or
Australia, but there was a growing market to
China, using Cathay’s sister airline Dragonair,
which serves 20 Hong Kong routes to China.
Cathay is increasing business with UK operators
specialising in China, including Wendy Wu Tours.
Odone believes gives Cathay a clear competitive
advantage.
“We’re a product-led airline. People do not see
it as just about price. It’s the quality of the
product and customer service, and the fact we
continue to upgrade the product across three
Cathay upgrades
classes,” he said.
The arrival of the fourth B747 will give Cathay
12% extra capacity on the London-Hong Kong
route compared to a year ago when two of the
seats in economy
four aircraft were A340s.
Passenger numbers have risen at about the
same rate of just over 10%, meaning load factors
have held fairly steady.
The Hong Kong-based airline believes keen pricing and customer
Bookings show the increase in volume will
remain until at least June. But Odone does not
service will help it maintain double-digit passenger growth on its
try to pretend that revenue will fare as well, as it
London-Hong Kong route despite the downturn. Chris Gray reports has been hit by a drop in business travellers,
caused by the global financial crisis, and Cathay
AN IRATE Cathay Pacific without intruding into the space of the person has warned of potential losses of more than £650
customer became a cult behind them. By the end of the year, the seat will million in 2008, when the airline was badly hit
internet hit this week when be added to the fourth daily flight, when a by the oil price.
she was filmed losing her Boeing 747 replaces an Airbus 340. Oil prices pushed Cathay’s London-Sydney
temper with staff after The 32-inch seat pitch is the return fares up to £799 last
missing a flight at Hong same as before, but Odone,
Eric Odone
year, but a February sale saw
Kong airport. Cathay Pacific’s UK and Ireland
Job
the same route on offer at £529.
Unhappy passengers are sales and marketing manager,
Cathay Pacific UK and Ireland
The price is not quite in the
the last type of publicity the airline wants at said the extra room at face level sales and marketing manager same league as Virgin Atlantic’s
the moment, as it hopes to persuade long-haul had been a big hit with passengers. eye-catching, if brief, sale of £325
travellers it has the edge on customer service. It goes with other touches,
Previous career
return to Hong Kong, or last
Air France pricing and
Eric Odone (pictured) smiles wryly when the more familiar to business class
marketing manager for 18 years
week’s £315 return to Beijing
video is mentioned; he prefers to talk about the passengers than economy, such from China Southern Airlines.
service received by those passengers who do as personal travel kits, with socks,
Family
But Odone argued Cathay’s
turn up in time to catch their flight. toothbrush and toothpaste.
Married
fares still represent better value
Those passengers flying economy on three of Some competitors have the
Home
for money because its economy
Cathay’s four daily flights from London to Hong seat in premium economy, but
Lives in Hammersmith, close to
product is superior, which can
Kong now have a “mini-business class” seat Cathay claims to be the only Cathay Pacific’s UK office be the clinching factor in a
with a fixed-shell back, allowing them to recline airline with it in economy, which long-haul traveller’s decision.
30 13.03.2009
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