Business
RedJet attains 20 percent of market share in 10 months
During a press briefing in Bridgetown last week to mark the launch of ticket sales to its newest destination, St Maarten, the airline Business Development Officer, Robbie Burns boasted, “It was a fantastic year”. He added that the many challenges faced by REDjet in launching this revolutionary product in the Caribbean, failed to thwart the airline’s thrust. “We achieved 20 percent of the market share in the first six months of operation and that can only be described as a “fantastic achievement.”
Ian Burns, speaking at the same function, said that Caribbean governments were finally beginning to recognize the value of an LFA operating in the region. He reminded his audience of what he had said when the airline was launched.
“We said, we would work with stakeholders in the region and try to understand their what their issues are and see that they are addressed. That is what we said we would do to ensure that REDjet is going to bring substantial benefits to those countries,” added Burns.
Burns said the LFA model was working and the sales tell the story. What it also showed according to Burns were the major benefits that was being accrued to Barbados, it being the center point of our root network and our home base.
He also indicated that it was never the intention of REDjet, because of its low fares policy, to “monopolize the market”. He further explained that competition in any market increased efficiency and profitability and added he would like to see more airlines flying the Caribbean skies.
“REDjet’s policy to aviation in the region is that there should be an open skies policy in every country in the region on a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) integrated basis and that is to the REDjet policy and that is anything but monopolistic, or trying to drive anybody out. We are trying to grow markets,” chairman Burns added.
Robbie Burns took the opportunity to air his concern about the high taxes being placed on regional carriers. “The cost of the tax is higher than the ticket.” He said there was something wrong with this situation. He said while he understood that the high taxes are aimed at the long haul passengers, it was preventing inter-regional travel from building and strengthening regional economies.
Source: NewsDay
