Video of the week – Airline perspectives from the CAPA Americas Aviation Summit

23 April, 2019

In Mar-2019 delegates at the CAPA - Centre for Aviation Americas Aviation Summit discussed many of the key issues impacting the aviation and travel sectors across North America, examining key commercial and operational issues affecting airlines and airports in the Americas, focusing on both US domestic issues and growth prospects in key international markets.

In line with previous editions of the Americas Aviation Summit, CAPA challenged leaders of North America's aviation industry to reflect on what is needed to drive the industry forward, using examples of innovation in outside markets as a benchmark to follow.

The Blue Swan Daily spoke to some of the attendees to learn their views on the industry, the key factors impacting their own businesses and their development aspirations.

Last week we featured insights from Delta Air Lines, LATAM Airlines Group, American Airlines and Orlando International airport. This week we feature interviews with Air China, Lufthansa, Sun Country Airlines, VivaAerobus and Japan Airlines

You can watch all these video interviews and more via CAPA TV.

Air China sees VFR traffic to the US holding steady

Air China VP and GM for North America Zhihang Chi discusses how trade tensions are affecting demand between the US and China, and the effects of currency fluctuations on travel between the two countries.

VFR traffic is a strong growth segment for Lufthansa

Lufthansa's director, sales steering and business development Thomas Dionisius discusses the growing VFR, leisure and bleisure passenger segments and harmonising a seamless customer experience with Lufthansa's JV partners.

Sun Country: going forward, three to six aircraft per year is optimal from a growth perspective

Sun Country Airlines CEO Jude Bricker talks about investments the company is making in aircraft configurations and IT infrastructure, the airline's growth plans and Sun Country's network strategy.

VivaAerobus: currency pressure has some affect on transborder VFR demand

VivaAerobus CEO Juan Carlos Zuazua talks about demand in in domestic and international markets, the performance of the Airbus A320neo and growth prospects for Toluca in light of cancellation for a new airport for Mexico City. In that context, he explains that VivaAerobus operates from several bases, and the airline is not reliant on a hub and spoke system.

Japan Airlines is still evaluating potential US routes or its new LCC Zipair

Japan Airlines VP Marketing, Strategy and Research Akihide Yoguhchi discusses the airline's strategy for resuming expansion, the company's excitement about new service to Seattle and route evaluations for its new LCC Zipair.