Low-cost UK carrier Debonair has emerged from its meeting to discuss setting up a joint frequent flier programme for the independent airline sector, declaring that it has up to 15 European carriers on board, including Virgin Express and Air Malta. Potential deals are also in place to extend the scheme to North and South America.
Debonair strategic planner Barry Zorn confirms that the aim is to get the venture tied up this year, possibly for launch next March, and then to move towards broader co-operation on a range of other issues, including fuel and even equipment purchasing, maintenance and scheduling.
The 15 airlines, which met in Munich on 21 July, "unanimously" agreed to pursue the project and a steering committee has been set up including Virgin, Air Malta, BASE and VLM. The aim is to report back by the start of September with a feasibility study.
The plan could also spread to Italy, with Alpi Eagles, and to a range of Eastern European carriers including CSA Czech Airlines and Air Moldova.
Zorn says that links are in place to South America, where smaller carriers have already formed the Latin Pass frequent flier programme, which he says is a blueprint for the European scheme. A major US carrier is also ready to "come aboard", he says. "We know from day one that we can get Europe, South and North America and they the key will be to find an Asian carrier to join," adds Zorn.
Source: Flight International
