KLM to open Kigali route

[LJ]

Now you are right about KLM serving Africa, but notice how many of these destinations actually have an P2P profile and which ones have a connecting profile...

The majority of the destinations have a P2P profile. Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania are all P2P destinations for KL. Yes, there is a large connecting market, but without connecting pax Amsterdam - Accra and Amsterdam - Lagos is busy enough (hence why Arik wants to fly to AMS). I agree KL wouldn't fly twice daily to NBO without conencting pax, but Kenya is a very important cargo market (flowers). The same applies to Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) and thanks the Dutch aid link, Dar es Salaam has also plenty of P2P traffic. However, KL did develop their connecting market better than SN. Hence why KL flies the 777 to many destinations and not the A330. EBB and (if the news is correct) KGL are somewhat not Dutch related.

The Dutch may not have had many colonial ties in Africa, the economic ties do exist and there are a lot of Nigerians living near Amsterdam.

[sn-remember]

KL to KGL ... not a surprise (it was in the cards for some time)
AF withdrew from KGL long ago for political reasons and later withdrew from EA mainland for strategic reasons.
KL has the monopoly of EA ops within the group (not mentioning the Indian Ocean which is AF territory)and funnels the trafic from France.

KL has always been king of the connecting flights. SN tried to ape that strategy and miserably failed. ...

Maybe time to think again ?

Now you are right about KLM serving Africa, but notice how many of these destinations actually have an P2P profile and which ones have a connecting profile...

I believe connecting pax is also an important source of income to AF.

AF/KLM is going to announce record losses for the fiscal year 2009/2010 ending 31 March 2010.

Indeed but AFAIK losses are largely on the cargo ops and Africa is till profitable market.

I think a nice and hard retaliation on the part of SN/LH would be to open a route to Madagascar.
That would really fly in the teeth of an over protected AF market and would sure yield good returns for SN.

You really think so ? ...

Africa is probably one of the most lucrative destinations in Y & C for AF. Now if they choose to be agressive in their pricing through KLM and not AF, that means they are keeping their home market safe (France) whilst attacking SN through KLM, the low cost subsidiary that does not have such a big relationship with africa!
Little loss for AF on the high yielding end if you ask me. So little they can ill afford given the size of AF-KLM.

In these days of economy downturn, it's good strategy for the "powerfuls" to try crunch the "weakests". Obviously this is part of the KL/AF current policy in Africa. AF serves FIH 4/wk nonstop, KL now 5/w to KGL (soon daily believe me) using the T7. They are aggressive because LH group has also some views on this market. SN is weak in EA, probably they find it opportune to put pressure on SN ops there.[*]

[RoMax]

In these days of economy downturn, it's good strategy for the "powerfuls" to try crunch the "weakests". Obviously this is part of the KL/AF current policy in Africa. AF serves FIH 4/wk nonstop, KL now 5/w to KGL (soon daily believe me) using the T7. They are aggressive because LH group has also some views on this market. SN is weak in EA, probably they find it opportune to put pressure on SN ops there.

SN made clear that they want to expand in East- and Central-Africa as from the moment they have their sixth A330. I'm pretty sure this "KLM move" will fasten this plans. Maybe SN will increase frequencies to KGL to maintain their market share on this route. It is also a good performing route, so I believe they want to expand to this destinations with or without KLM operating to it. SN/LH said the time is come to expand and compete more aggresivly and competing head to head with AF/KLM is part of that.
AF/KLM is doing the same.

[tolipanebas]

AF/KL are aggressive because LH group has also some views on this market.

That is correct indeed.

The integration of SN in LH is AF's worst nightmare as it combines the know-how of a weak but very able competitor with the sale power and financial resources of their main competitor, so it is no surprise they will try to fight back.

SN is weak in EA, probably they find it opportune to put pressure on SN ops there.

That's right indeed, which is why it is a safe bet to assume the next expansion of SN will be focussed on East Africa. A 6th plane to serve that region better would be welcome for sure, and if they combine that expansion with the Korongo project in Lumumbashi somehow, SN should not only be able to fight back but also differentiate itself from the AF/KL offering.

Who knows, the pressure AF will put on SN in the second half of this year, might make them bite the bullet sooner than they had planned on that 6th plane even? .

[LJ]

KLM today confirmed the new 5 weekly flight to Kigali (AMS-Entebbe-Kigali-Entebbe-AMS) at the IATA slot conference in Berlin. Dutch new website nu.nl mentions that KLM will start flying to KGL at the end of the year (presumably at the beginning of the Winter 2010-2011 schedule. Aircraft will be the A330 (the same as currently on Amsterdam-Entebbe-Amsterdam)

http://www.nu.nl/economie/2263738/klm-v ... k-toe.html

[FLYAIR10]

Maybe SN should now start flying to Aruba,Bonaire and/or Curacao aswell. And twice a week to Suriname and Sint-Maarten would be nice also. And what about Jakarta..?

[sn26567]

The schedule:

Code: Select all

KL563 AMS1015 – 2015  EBB2115   – 2215  KGL 332 x16
KL564 KGL2230 – 0035+1EBB0145+1 – 0815+1AMS 332 x16

With this, KL will fly to KGL more often than SN!

[LJ]

The schedule:

Code: Select all

KL563 AMS1015 – 2015  EBB2115   – 2215  KGL 332 x16
KL564 KGL2230 – 0035+1EBB0145+1 – 0815+1AMS 332 x16

With this, KL will fly to KGL more often than SN!

I reckon that the flights will arrive in Kigali at 21:15 as I doubt a 15 minute turn around time at KGL is feasible and the fact that EBB-KGL only takes approx. 1 hour

[sdbelgium]

The flight will arrive at 21.25, sn26567 just made a typo and switched the 2 and the 1.

[sn26567]

Thanks, sdbelgium, for interpreting my mistake!

[sn26567]

As per GDS display from 27MAR11 to 31AUG11 KLM will increase frequency from 5 to 6 weekly Amsterdam – Entebbe – Kigali.

SN take note: Kigali is one of your historic destinations. Will you remain at 3 weekly flights?

[RoMax]

As per GDS display from 27MAR11 to 31AUG11 KLM will increase frequency from 5 to 6 weekly Amsterdam – Entebbe – Kigali.

SN take note: Kigali is one of your historic destinations. Will you remain at 3 weekly flights?

'Small' detail, SN upgraded Kigali this winter. They are now operating 4 weekly.