Virgin Australia has come out just below Qantas in punctuality for the most recently reported period of April, but the airline's CEO has promised to better Qantas in a matter of months.
Qantas achieved on-time arrivals (within 15 minutes of schedule) 82.4% of the time, while Virgin only managed 79.7%. Jetstar followed closely at 77.9%.
However, it was Tiger Airways that was really shamed by the results, arriving on-time only 60.6% of the time. The Singapore Airlines-owned budget carrier also cancelled one in 20 of its flights altogether.
Virgin Australia chief John Borghetti, formerly Qantas' marketing chief, has pledged to beat his former employer in punctuality by the end of the year.
Addressing a business event in Sydney, Borghetti said, "We will have industry leading performance by the end of this year."
Improving punctuality is perhaps Virgin's greatest challenge in wooing business travellers, for whom on-time performance (especially arrivals) is vital.
Qantas remains on top, so if Virgin Australia wants to to have industry-leading performance by end of this year, it has just seven months in which to make up a lot of ground.
However, the airline is already showing distinct signs of improvement. In March, it only achieved 74% on-time arrivals, so the improvement to 79.7% is already substantial.
Virgin has also dropped the number of flights it cancels by a third.
You can view the full set of government statistics here.
Virgin Blue - Velocity Rewards
12 May 2011
Total posts 66
Time will tell ;), when the entiregame change program is complete we will see a lot more benefits :).
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