Michel Colleau is the general manager, AirFrance KLM Nigeria and Ghana. In this interview with Ifeoma Okeke, during the airline’s customer appreciation night, Colleau speaks on the company’s performance in Nigeria in year 2018 and its projections for year 2019.
What was your performance is 2018 in terms of customer traffic and cargo in Nigeria?
The performance in 2018 was very good, mostly good for cargo but also for passengers. The economic situation of Nigeria was much better in 2018, which was stable, so our company was able to carry much more passenger out of Nigeria in 2018 because it was a period of revival for the economy in Nigeria and everyone benefitted from it in terms of passenger number.
What number of passenger did the airline carry between Nigeria and other destinations?
Read Also: https://businessday.ng/aviation/article/september-offers-no-relief-for-global-passenger-downturn/
In terms of passenger digits and numbers, the growth is a double digit growth. It was a very competitive year, the market price was probably lower than the year before but in terms of passengers, many more passengers travelled out of Nigeria in 2018 on AirFrance and KLM.
How do you intend to consolidate on your performance in 2019?
We are working on two aspects in terms of the product. For KLM, we have completely refurbished the Airbus fleet, we have now the new business class product everyday on KLM flying to Amsterdam. On AirFrance, we are introducing a completely refurbished Airbus 330, with complete new business class, new economy class and new harmony. Also, what is important is that we will operate a new refurbished aircraft fully connected for our customers after April and more specifically after June because it will be daily. This is how we will consolidate our strength in this regard. Secondly, the flying blue which is our loyalty programme because we completely revamped it last year. It will give more opportunity for customers to redeem and accumulate miles. It is a complete new programme and very effective. It is considered as the best from that of the European carriers.
Thirdly, we will commence new destinations which will be of interest to the Nigerian customers. We will operate to Las Vergas and Boston. We will work together with Delta airlines in a much better way. It is a lot of opportunities for the Nigerian customers because US market is one of the biggest markets, they can get connected to 256 cities in the US together with Delta, AirFrance and KLM.
What is the detail of your partnership with Delta airlines?
We are going to increase the partnership because we are going to completely work together on the corporate account to offer joint opportunity for corporate account. Last year, we were offering corporate fares for AirFrance and KLM on one side and corporate fares on Delta on the other side. Now, we are merging it. We are working together with Delta for the benefit of the Nigerian customers. With the partnership with Delta, this will be the strongest alliance out of Nigeria to the US. We have the best programme for small and medium enterprises which offers them the opportunities on their flights. It is called BlueBiz. This is something all the other European carriers do not have. This is like the loyalty programme for small and medium carriers. Every time you travel, you accumulate points.
How has the Port Harcourt route been to your operations?
We could not operate the whole network in 2018 and it will be the same in 2019. We have crew shortage. Some destinations have been suspended for summer 2019 and Port Harcourt is one of them. We are going to keep an office and representation in Port Harcourt and try to convince passengers to operate via Lagos or Abuja. We expect to come back one day to Port Harcourt but this may not be possible now due to the lack of crew for 2019 to operate Port Harcourt in an efficient and fair way for the Port Harcourt customers.
What is the capacity of your new A330?
There are 36 seats in business class, full flatbed; the premium economy with 21 seats; the economy is also completely refurbished.
