KLM Royal Dutch Airlines projects ticket sales worth 23 million euros on the Romanian market for this year, despite the fact that it will not introduce any new flights.
"This year''s ticket sales level will approximately match last year''s receipts, though the number of customers is estimated to rise. The reason is the fact that prices will continue to be relatively small during promotional periods," stated Radu Dumitrescu, marketing manager with KLM Romania.
KLM operates three daily flights on the Amsterdam-Bucharest and Bucharest-Amsterdam route, with 150,000 passengers using the service in 2005.
"We do not intend to boost the number of flights from last year or the transportation capacities (aircraft with more seats). After the current flights mature, the number of flights to and from Bucharest will increase, but will be developed naturally," explained Dumitrescu.
Though the e-ticketing service was introduced in the portfolio of KLM Romania half a year ago, starting this April, the Dutch airline has cut down the price of e-tickets by 20 euros compared with a traditional ticket in order to sustain the use of the electronic ticket buying system.
"At this moment, e-tickets account for 30% in the total volume of tickets sold in Romania.
"By yearend, we plan to exceed the 70% level," said KLM''s marketing manager.
E-tickets include the same elements as the paper ones, the difference being that e-tickets are no longer printed on special paper, but are stocked in the company''s database. "In the near future, e-tickets are due to be done away with and be totally replaced with electronic tickets," considers Dumitrescu.
KLM representatives stated they were in talks with a domestic air operator for the introduction of a code-share flight from Timisoara to Amsterdam and back. In case negotiations do not produce the expected outcome, KLM is considering the introduction of its own flight on this route.
"Timisoara (Banat area) has registered significant growth lately, many international firms have emerged and the demand for air transportation has surged over recent years. In our opinion, Timisoara will shortly become the most dynamic economic pole in Romania and we need to be there," said Dumitrescu.
Pentru alte știri, analize, articole și informații din business în timp real urmărește Ziarul Financiar pe WhatsApp Channels
