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starvmgopal

It looks like Jet is planning something major in BRU. Along the lines of BA and LH in LHR and FRA/MUC respecitively. Read this preview of what is to come in tomorrows (2 May 2007) Major announcement in BRU.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050201080700.htm

Looks like ....

In addition to

BOM
DEL

also
BLR, AMD,CCU,and HYD---> BRU--->onwards.

Hope to see them continue on to places like ORD,IAD,IAH,MIA from these fligjts. will see tomorrow!!!!!!!!!
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COUGAR · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 986 Location: Bangalore

BOM/DEL etc will be domestic hubs for 9W. However their intl ops will be centred around BRU. 9W clearly has huge plans for 9W: they are taking on SQ now. And they realise that no Indian airport is in a position to compete with SIN in terms of infrastructre.

Then there is the political question. NG has bought 9W to this level by systematically "cultivating" Civil Aviation ministers from Ibrahim to Azad to Pee Pee. But now with KF competing for that same space and with Pee Pee reportedly switching loyalties (NG is no longer Pee Pee's favorite because VM probably pays better), NG realises he cannot get his way anymore the way he used to.

So he has done the right thing by establishing his intl hub abroad: in BRU. And he isnt the only one: other Indian carriers are also considering moving abroad: with unheard of stations Like Sofia and Belgrade being talked about!
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Nimish · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

Are there any updates from the 2/May inaugural? Any place to watch the show online?

VABBy · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 823 Location: DEL

Just wondering if 9W changes its headquaters to BRU does it still remain a flag carrier of India. Isnt there any provision that the airline shud have a hub at indian soil.. I knw it sounds silly

Bt just wonderin that wat factors can derecognise an airline from being a flag carrier
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vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

I guess an airline can remain a flag carrier (or a national airline) as long as it is registered in that country.

e.g. 9W can remain an Indian flag carrier as long as it is an Indian registered company. It can have as many hubs abroad as possible.

abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

...well just some facts about 9W and BRU

Why did Jet Airways choose BRU as their "European Hub"?

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

abn! Welcome to A-I.net, and thanks for valuable links!
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G-BYGB · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:01 pm Post subject:

Is it a temporary move by 9W to have BRU as its hub,till Indian apts are expanded or not?
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XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

BRU doesnt seem right to me... There's only so much of the Diamond Traffic 9W can capture.. But wouldn't they make more money op out of LHR?

G-BYGB · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject:

G-BYGB · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject:

Maybe they could try Manchester or AMS perhaps.
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the_380 · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject:

As of now it looks like 9W is interested to setup its HQs at LHR and operating hub at BRU Exclamation

No more details...will let you know more
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abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

Newark Airport (EWR) is 12 miles southwest and New York Airport (JFK) is fifteen miles from downtown Manhattan , so let us consider EWR/JFK as one destination (like LHR/LGW). In near future we will have the following options ex India to get to the New York/Newark area

1. Air India offers a BOM-CDG-EWR , a BOM-LHR -JFK service and a daily nonstop India-JFK once they take delivery of the 777.
2. Continental Airlines offers a nonstop DEL-EWR and a BOM-EWR from October 31st onwards
3. Jet Airways BOM-BRU-EWR
4.Delta Air Lines is operating nonstop flights between Mumbai and New York
5.Kingfisher is also planing to start nonstop Mumbai-New York flights
6....and finally we have all the other one stop options from EK,EY,QR,LH,OS,AF,VS,BA,AY,KL etc.

So the battle is heating up. I am curious to know if people will favour the nonstop flights over the one stop options....

abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

UPDATED

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Jet Airways don't mess around, do they?

When they do something, they do it in style and go big.

I think that BRU will be a good hub. I've landed there on a flight from IAD and its quiet, even during peak hours. Transfering between 9W flights should be a cinch, in comparison with LHR where your connecting flight is often a mile long walk away.

andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

When yo think about it, BRU as a hub makes a lot of sense for 9W.

Rather than connecting the world to two cities in India likes AI does (BOM/DEL)– it is in fact moving to connect limited locations around the world daily to multiple cities in India. Add to that the dismal <present> aviation infrastructure in India and the reality that its hard to base foreign pilots here because living in BOM is hard and not fun unless one is brought up there…. So a hub to connect MAA/BOM/DEL/AMD/BLR/CCU/HYD to north American and EU locations and a geographically well placed remote home base for international operations is what is required.

FRA/MUC and LHR are well utilised airports. 9W would be just another carrier and fifth freedom competition will be severe. BRU has been ignored since the demise of Sabena. So, they’ve rolled out the welcome matt for 9W and offered numerous sops. At peak capacity, with ten daily connectors using MCLR aircraft – 9W will be the dominant airline at BRU and its colours and uniforms will be everywhere.

The SNB airlines code share will allow for fifth freedom traffic from the US to the seat of the EU Parliament (which would be further enhanced if 9W joins One World). Finally- 9W could start a regional European subsidiary based at BRU (or buy SN Brussels Airlines) for connectivity of its pax to Europe…… making it a truly global airline that can take on CX and SQ and become a preferred carrier for not just Indians.

The BRU is cheaper to live in and locate a large regional ops centre at when compared to other EU /UK locations. AND everyone in Belgium speaks English (unlike MC/FRA).

Lastly – direct versus one stop to/ from India to EU/US? The options will be a crappy service with a US airline or the Indian Flag carrier (AA/US/DL/AI) as a direct option or one stop with a five star airline (IT being the exception, but I don’t see their business model as being really sustainable). Much like with SQ, where people chose to hub thru SIN across Asia to travel most places (eg CGK- SGN, or BKK –MNL, or BKK – SFO and BOM - JNB all via SIN) because of the quality of service that SQ offers over other options on that sector– I’m betting pax will do the same with 9W.

Very far sighted of 9W and therefore I expect this strategy has little to do with diamond traders. Timing is on the side of Mr Goyal and he has capitalised well.

Nice pics of the ceremony at BRU BTW, ABN – thanks for sharing them.

andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

NEWS RELEASE FROM AP on BRU hub

Jet Airways to launch daily flights to Brussels - With Indians investing more than $1 billion in Belgium (the third largest location for Indian money) and a million extra passengers every year, it is right step at the right time:

Brussels: India’s largest private airline Jet Airways said yesterday that it would start direct flights to Brussels this summer, launching itself as a direct rival to state-owned Air India on flights between India and Europe.

Jet Airways said the Belgian capital would be its European hub, linking up with Brussels Airlines to connect to other parts of Europe, North America and Africa. Daily direct flights from Brussels to Mumbai and New York area’s Newark airport would start on 5 August, with another daily service from Brussels to Delhi and Toronto starting later in the year, the airline said.

It said it wanted to run up to 10 daily flights via Brussels to cities in India and North America, it said, and would seek further government approval to also operate from Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Chennai to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York’s New Ark and JFK airports, via Brussels.

Only one other Indian airline, Air India, runs flights to Europe with routes to London, Birmingham, Paris and Frankfurt. Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said the new flights would mean a million extra passengers a year for Brussels airport and a massive boost for Belgian trade with India.

Verhofstadt said Chairman Naresh Goyal was keen on offering passengers a sightseeing tour of Brussels instead of letting them sit around waiting in the airport. Rising middle-class incomes in India are expected to increase tourist numbers to Europe.

Jet Airways said it started to receive in Brussels the first of 20 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The airline already operates 62 aircraft, a fleet that is one of the world’s youngest. It currently operates over 340 flights daily and has a 35% share of the Indian domestic market.

Mulls rights issue to raise $400 mn: Jet Airways is considering a rights issue to raise $400 million it has said it needs in the next few months for international expansion.India’s top private-sector airline is set to launch five new services from India to North America via Brussels by the middle of 2008. It announced it needed the money last month, in the wake of an agreement to buy its smaller rival Air Sahara.

“We are exploring a rights issue,” Vic Dungca, a company director, told Reuters. Jet executives were in Brussels to launch the airline’s use of Brussels Airport from August.

Jet Airways has about 86 million shares in circulation at present and the new finance plan would involve it issuing a further 20 to 25 million, Dungca said. “We don’t want to issue so many shares at the current prevailing price,” he said, adding the company was confident its shares would rise.

“You really have to get the chemistry right ... We also like our shareholding to be diversified,” he said.

Jet Airways is working with seven to eight investment banks that had advised the company before its flotation in 2005. Within a year of the first service, Jet Airways wants to add three further ones linking Chicago, Los Angeles and JFK airport in New York with the Indian cities Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Goyal said the company had no plans to buy a stake in any foreign airline as part of its international push, although it has a code-sharing deal with Brussels Airlines.

“We have enough to do for now,” he said. (!!!)

G-BYGB · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 1:20 pm Post subject:

Will E.U give a go ahead for 9W to have BRU as its hub?
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andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

Already has mate!! Already has.

The Belgian Prime Minsiter specially came to the opening ceremony for 9W at the airport yesterday, outlining in his speech the full support of the Govt. to this plan.

9W's CEO also indicated that the Government is providing sops to the max level allowed by EU regulations..... I expect that none of this would have happened if the support of the EU was not already extended.

Here's what the airport website is reporting:

Jet Airways creates its European hub at Brussels Airport, in partnership with Brussels Airlines

Jet Airways today announced the creation of its European hub in Brussels, which will provide enhanced connectivity between India and Europe, Africa and North America.

Commenting on the set-up of the European hub in Brussels Airport, Jet Airways Chairman, Naresh Goyal, said 'Jet Airways was looking for an opportunity to combine its expansion plan to USA and Canada with an efficient hub in Europe together with a strong national carrier offering a wide network ? we have found it all at Brussels. Jet Airways is also pleased to offer its customers a world class in-flight product, with the latest innovations in the airline industry."

'With the signature of this agreement Brussels Airlines increases its portfolio of long haul destinations to a total of 55. On top of this, the perfect match of schedules allows our European and African passengers to smoothly connect to and from India and North America', says Philippe Vander Putten, CEO Brussels Airlines.

Wilfried Van Assche, CEO of The Brussels Airport Company says: "As the airport of the capital of Europe we want to offer our passengers more direct flights to the rest of the world. A double daily link to India is a unique event in the history of our airport and, therefore, we are extremely proud to welcome the Jet Airways' hub at Brussels. It will not only stimulate the business and tourism links between Belgium and India, but in cooperation with Brussels Airlines, it will also make Brussels Airport a major gateway from Africa and Europe to the Indian sub-continent and North America."

himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

The present bilateral permits only 21 weekly flights to each side. Assuming, Belgium permits 9W to utilize Belgium's quota, it can operate up to 42 flights per week between Indian cities and BRU.
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Nimish · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject:

abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

btw, Will there be a crew change at BRU? if yes, I guess Jet will also setup a crew base at Brussels and recruit European FAs and pilots, right?
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andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

Given the operating hours from India to BRU and also the trans atlantic sectors, I expect that there will definitely be a tech + cabin crew change in BRU. 9W has already annoucend it will base crew in BRU and also be recruiting both foreign tech and cabin crew for international ops. May have been part of the deal with EU authorities.

Interesting point on whether the Belgians would allow 9W to utilise their own qouta of 21 flights/ week. Perhaps this is in fact the case, given the SNB code share arrangement. Also if they are going to do 10 flights a day as announced from 2008, you would expect that half of those would be to India (the balance trans atlantic), requiring the full qouta of 42 flights.

the_380 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 4:55 pm Post subject:

Just noticed the updated pics now...well their First Class Looks like VS First Class....
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andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

You mean the J class is like VS (Herringbone design) (yuck!). Prefer looking out of the window myself...

The First class is miles ahead of any offering glboally and is somewhat similar to EK, but seemingly superior (higher partitions, greater space, better colours).

the_380 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject:

Atleast in terms of looks... hey maybe our Prince of Bharatpur can write a TR on this Wink

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XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

Why is 9W going one stop to NYC, when every other carrier is going nonstop? Its not like 9W doesn’t have the aircraft, they do, so why lag behind?

AI will have new aircraft operating the route nonstop as does CO.. And yet we Jet going one stop...

What would you choose? Nonstop or One stop out of BRU?
Maybe if im a tourist, but I rather see London and Paris first before heading to Brussels..

the_380 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject:

XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

the_380 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 10:24 pm Post subject:

XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

15a · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 271 Location: Bangalore

On the one stop vs non stop and why Brussels debate...here is my 2 cents
a) The economics work against a non stop - they will never have the intra-us feed that an american carrier like continental or delta can pull.

b) Also, atleast 4-6 cities in the US can be proftitably served (with origin traffic) with a daily flight to INDIA but not a daily flight to any one city in India ..and if its a choice between flying one stop via bombay or one stop via europe...i am not too sure people will pick the one stop via bombay (i for one would definitely not)...

c) the non stops go with restrictions whereas the one stops can carry cargo and all...

d) why Brussels - i think the ATW article and numerous others capture it - its a mix of slots, Rights and restrictions (Heathrow must have been first choice..as i am sure for every airline in the world ! - but for costs, rights and slots !) .
I am sure the incentives the govt there is throwing in will help..but i doubt thats the clinching factor. what helps also is that SN brussels airlines is not big, doesnt compete (in a small market, that helps) and will also allow code shares to europe (which have been signed up for) - and these will allow 9W to market cities like geneva, Birmingham, Oslo, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Madrid etc- which it can never profitably serve on its own.

I am sure they would love to do a scissors hub going transpacific as well but the current bilaterals are a constraint (funnily enough the india china ones are probably the most open and even there, only 14 flights a week beyond China are allowed). I am sure given half a chance, they would love to make PVG or HKG a scissors hub...but that will not happen in the near future (hence the choice of going Blr-LAX via Brussels).

COUGAR · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 986 Location: Bangalore

BLR-BRU-LAX? Now where did u get that from?
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starvmgopal · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 11:43 pm Post subject:

It is good that 9W has choosen BRU. It is an underutilised airport with no major national trans continental carrier (like AF,BA orLH) and has plenty of room to expand. A good transit point between contients.

People have been mentioning why BRU---they should have chosen FRA or CDG...

Firstly--LH would have eaten them alive in FRA as LH flies to 20+ NorthAmerican cities that all connect to BLR,CCU,HYD,BOM,DEL,MAA.
Yes there is a huge difference in the seats and amenities b/w 9W adn LH but LH never goes empty regardless of this. Its their strong hub in FRA.

same goes with LHR and BA over there not to mentioned the fact that LHR operations are more costly, prone to delays, and HARD to Get Slots!!!

AMS is already KLM ground to DEL,BOM,HYD and CDG to their partner AF.

Also one day I believe 9W will have Nonstops from BOM-EWR/SFO and DEL-EWR/LAX to th ebig cities...........but they cant just link BLR-ORD with a nonstop right now---maybe that would only work 3 times a week but with several cities feeding into BRU-BOM/BLR/MAA/AMD/DEL they can make their planes fill quite easily.

Much like SQ (SIN-LAX and SIN-HKG/TPE-LAX same with their EWR route)does today they may even keep their one stop flight BOM-BRU-EWR in teh future after they get their 787s and start a BOM-EWR nonstop.

Note this excerpt from the above BRU Airport release:
It states BRU-LAX as one of the in teh pipes flights Smile

"Jet Airways said the Belgian capital would be its European hub, linking up with Brussels Airlines to connect to other parts of Europe, North America and Africa. Daily direct flights from Brussels to Mumbai and New York area’s Newark airport would start on 5 August, with another daily service from Brussels to Delhi and Toronto starting later in the year, the airline said."

"It said it wanted to run up to 10 daily flights via Brussels to cities in India and North America, it said, and would seek further government approval to also operate from Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Chennai to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York’s New Ark and JFK airports, via Brussels. "
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XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

I dont think 9W will sevice BLR LAX thru BRU.

A few months ago their CEO (young Herr. Patrick) had indicated they were investigating two international ops hubs - BRU for trans atlantic ops and PVG for trans Pacific ops (earlier BKK was considered, but it does not seem to have recd much air time lately). I expect we will hear of a possible PVG hub this time next year when a substantial proportion of their 20 new MCLR A/C are inducted.

PVG makes sense for the same reasons BRU does - great airport, limited India facing competition, potential fifth freedom demand aginst a weak domicile carrier and HKG/ SIN/ BKK are already dominated by super carriers......

As for 9W being higher priced than AI. No contest!! Their markets are very different. AI is the NRI holiday carrier whilst 9W is the Indian and increasingly international business traveller carrier. I expect once the Nth American NRIs taste the difference (AI is no different to crappy US carriers) they too will be willing to pay more for 9W service (once you go black, you never go back!!).

9Ws strategy is radically different to AIs - instead of linking two Indian hubs to the world, they are linking limted international destinations at first to numberous cities in India - hence the two international hubs (EU and Asia) are integral to their growth plans.

The strategy as pointed out in one of the posts above is based on a pitch that says- "you gotta stop in BOM or DEL anyway matie - so why not BRU or PVG instead where you get a much better transit - and then we take you straight home to MAA/BLR/HYD/AMD/ATQ/CCU - you name it? We got it!!"

abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

hey guys! I found some pictures from the Jet Airways ceremony.
All credits goes to Mr. Peter Guisset!!!!!!!!! The jet airway 777 looks really amazing!!!!! well, see it yourself......

http://picasaweb.google.com/peterguisset/JetAirwaysSigningCeremony

and Mr. Jean-Marie even took a video!!!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdaout/JetAirwaysProductLaunch

thank you very much!
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andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

Fantastic pics. Thanks for sharing.