During his visit, Mr Bellew covered future predictions for 2021, the seismic shift Perth will experience as a result of the upcoming Qantas Perth-London service (keep an eye out for this discussion in future editions of Blue Swan), Malaysia Airlines in the Australian market, the performance of Malaysia Airlines' India and Europe routes, as well as his love for the aviation industry.
Mr Bellew was speaking to Blue Swan TV ahead of his Keynote Address on the future of the airline business at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit in Sydney on 1-2 August.
Malaysia Airlines recovers in Australian market
Mr Bellew explores the Malaysia Airlines recovery in the Australian market particular in the business class cabin and transiting customers.
"We have had a really buoyant last nine months, and are operating at load factors we haven't seen in many years in the Australian market, particular in our business class cabin where we have seen a significant increase in business. Our forward bookings for the next six months in business class is up 50% compared to last year. We are also seeing a huge change in the pattern of travel, where we have a lot of people transiting over KL to China."
Performance of Malaysia Airlines' India and Europe routes
Product improvement and ease of transit is assisting Malaysia Airlines tap into the India market to/from Australia, as well travellers onto Europe. The switch to A350's is also around the corner for Europe connections which will add to the product offering.
"We start receiving deliveries of the A350 at the end of this calendar year which have a new lovely lie flat Thompson Vantage product in first class and in business, and its quite spacious in economy as well. We'll have an upgraded food product on board, with 350s starting to operate to London at about the end of January of 2018, we'll have one flight a day with delivery of all aircraft by May/June of 2018."
Love for the aviation industry
Mr Bellew will be a Keynote Speaker at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit on 1-2 August. "I'm looking forward to the CAPA event in August. Sydney is a wonderful city and tremendous venue, so I think people have a great opportunity to see what's going in this very vibrant economy and meet up with a stellar cast of people that seems to be attending".
In case you missed it: Blue Swan TV Exclusive: Airline 'super-profits' likely in the next decade: Malaysia Airlines CEO Peter Bellew