told TNW that SAX was
operating the JNB-BFN
route at R1 109 and the
JNB-KIM route at R1 099,
including taxes and agent
commissions. “When CemAir
started flying the JNB-BFN
route two years ago, SAX was
charging around R1 600 for
the flight.”
Rodger Foster, ceo
of Airlink, said SAX had
re-entered the market with
low fares on all its routes
in an attempt to ‘buy its
FLIGHT Centre Travel Group
has unveiled a travel app that
allows South African travellers
to search and book local and
international flights. Other
features include requesting
a quote; viewing travel deals
offered by Flight Centre; a
navigation system; and the
ability to search for activities,
restaurants and shops.
FCTG Middle East and
Africa md, Andrew Stark,
says travel has gone mobile,
citing the widespread use
of smartphones, as well as
customers turning to their
mobile phones for their travel
inspiration, to manage their
trips, checking in online
or sourcing directions.
“Introducing a Flight Centre
App answers the obvious
need among our customers
to engage with us through
mobile platforms.”
Andrew adds that mobile
is FCTG’s largest source
of traffic to its website,
contributing 55% of all visits.
Michelle Bergset, gm
Retail Flight Centre Travel
Group, said the mobile app
suited customers who were
confident, knew what they
were looking for and had
simple flight arrangements.
She added that the group
would encourage travellers
with a more complex flight
booking to speak to one of
its consultants.
Andrew told TNW the
group’s strategy still included
its retail stores. He said while
the group had closed 10% of
its stores over the last few
years, it currently had 110
stores countrywide and he
did not see this changing in
the foreseeable future.
FCTG is not first to market
an app. Travelstart rolled
out its app, Flapp, in 2015.
Although the app initially only
offered the ability to book
flights between Johannesburg
and Cape Town, it now allows
users to book international
flights.
Travelstart ceo, Stephan
Ekbergh, said downloads on
the app were in the millions
and the app accounted for
roughly 12% of the group’s
revenue. However, he said
on some days it could reach
over 30% when the group
ran campaigns. According to
Stephan, the strategy with
Travelstart’s app is to tie its
clients into the agency.
Arthur Goldstuck, founder
and md at World Wide Worx,
suggested that Flight Centre
might have a tough time
driving uptake of its app.
He pointed out that there
were a number of large
OTAs already offering the
ability to make flight and
accommodation bookings
online and Flight Centre
would be competing with
these apps, which already
had a widespread uptake
among South Africans.
However, he said pricing
within the app, together with
heavily marketing the app,
would persuade consumers
to use it .
