Chongqing, China, July 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As the wave of transformation sweeps through the low-cost airline sector, the question airlines now face is whether to transform or not. In truth, the essence of any company’s reform lies in the need for profitability. With the current high number of similar airlines in China, transformation has become a market necessity. And the reason why the low-cost model has gained such popularity in the aviation industry is that it not only meets the travel needs of the general public but also improves seat occupancy rates. At the same time, in-flight service fees have shifted from being included in ticket prices to becoming pure profit, making the low-cost transformation a major trend in aviation.
West Air Traveler
To this end,West Air recently launched a product called the “Super Travel "Plus” package. This offering includes 25KG of free baggage allowance (20KG checked baggage + 5KG carry-on), complimentary in-flight meals, free seat selection, and low-cost change and refund services.
Adding services for differentiated, personalized experiences
As West Air’s home base, passengers departing from Chongqing can enjoy additional gifts such as a travel trio set and convenient slippers, on top of free baggage allowance and complimentary meals.According toWest Air,“This new product is also an extension of the low-cost service philosophy. Just like stripping away unified services to lower ticket prices, its goal is to provide different services for travelers with varying needs. What West Air is doing is continuously developing corresponding products and services based on market demand. The ‘Super Travel Plus’ service, which adds more value, is a great complement to West Air’s overall low-cost differentiated service offerings.” In other words, passengers can now purchase barebones tickets from West Air that include only the base fare for transportation, or opt for comprehensive tickets that come with various additional services. Ultimately, it’s up to each passenger to decide which type of ticket best suits their needs. "The concept of 'adding options' serves as a great complement to West Air’s overall low-cost, differentiated service model. This means that passengers can now purchase either bare-bones tickets from West Air that include only the seat and flight, or more comprehensive tickets that come with various additional services. Ultimately, it’s up to each passenger to decide which type of ticket best suits their needs.
There’s no single standard for the low-cost path,，Grasping the core is what truly matters
Like most airlines, West Air—being among the first to transition to a low-cost model—initially drew on the development experience of many foreign carriers, taking the “reduction” approach to the extreme in its early stages. However, the launch of the “Super Travel Plus” add-on package -- “Super Travel "Plus” has givenpeoplea new perspective on West Air. By responding to continuous market segmentation and changes, and staying attuned to passenger needs, West Air has implemented both conventional reductions and thoughtful additions. Does this transformation contradict the inherently “low” nature of low-cost airlines? In reality, the low-cost model is still a new path for the Chinese market, where learning from others and exploring new directions are equally important. Being low-cost doesn’t have to mean limiting the concept to just “low” prices and fewer services. After all, the global success of low-cost airlineslies in“personalized demand” and “affordability”—these are the true core strengths of low-cost carriers. Therefore, West Air’s new product truly captures the essence of low-cost travel. Although the “Super Travel Plus” offering is still gaining market acceptance, West Air is demonstrating the exploration and "This “add-on” model still has yet to gain full market acceptance, but West Air is allowingpeopleto witness the exploration and development within China’s low-cost aviation industry.innovation happening within China’s low-cost aviation industry.