three different alliances member companies

Although the crisis head-on air transport, many companies still remain outside the Alliance. Starting with the carriers "low cost". "They prefer to point to point flights and have no interest in joining an alliance, synergies in terms of network being too low." Same thing for companies medium to strong tourist vocation, as Tunisair, which have a distributed traffic between a few countries. "For other companies, alliances are a good way to develop their network at lower cost," said Didier Bréchémier, responsible for transport in Roland Berger Consultants.

Result, among the first thirty global companies by number of passengers (excluding "low cost"), only two have not yet integrated an alliance, China Eastern and, especially, Emirates. The Dubai company (more than $ 1 billion in profits last year) is ugly duckling. Better, she claims this status. "The only justification alliances is economic." This is especially the path open to the poor and a deception for the passenger, which is not always clear on what company it will fly. An alliance we would develop the Emirates product. "We prefer to lead a differentiation strategy," says Jean-Luc Grillet, DG France. To strengthen it, he recalled that a few years ago and while Swissair had to create his alliance, he flew a route Lyon-Istanbul return sold under the code of the Swiss carrier but operated by four different companies! Since then, the harmonization of products and information to passengers have fortunately improved. But Emirates is, officially, to avoid any stumbling block.

Bilateral agreements

His sisters in the Middle East, in the image of Gulf Air, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, also remained out of alliances. "These are mature companies whose network is already highly developed need alliances, to find a new lever of growth for their lines to lower traffic." Conversely, the Gulf carriers are young and have significant progression margins. They have mission to open up the region, attracting tourists and business travellers. "An alliance do bring us nothing if not constraints", explains Eric Didier, DG France Qatar Airways, who admits: "We are however not hostile to the principle." His company does also not completely out of the globalization of the sky. "We develop bilateral agreements on certain axes, with United Airlines and Lufthansa for example." "And we are partners in the loyalty program Miles and More of the German company," he added.

If the Gulf carriers say not need alliances (all so far at least), on the other hand, they are not specifically courted. It is true that with their gigantic hubs connecting long-haul flights to all continents, they do not provide much in terms of network and away from the traffic over that they create. Installed companies perceived as competitors and reconciliations between these new predators are not excluded.

Pragmatism of implementation

Medium-sized companies do not have the same problem, because their network remains confined to a few lines strong and proven, their primary mission being often supply their country in tourists. They have a vested interest in defending their specificity. Still them was more difficult, there still remain isolated. "Can very well be an Alliance." "But we are making agreements on certain axes", says Philippe Brieu, Director France of Air Mauritius. The company has signed late 2008 a new joint-venture with Air France agreement to put its code on flights of the French carrier to the departure of approximately 30 European cities connected to Roissy. The approximation of loyalty programs could follow, current 2009. Air Mauritius will also put its code on Malaysia Airlines flights to capture Asian customer.

"It becomes very hard to move from an alliance when there is a global company and to volume". "For the niche carriers, is not essential, even if cooperation on certain axes may be necessary to extend its offer to lower cost and touch of new markets", complete Jean-Marc Hastings, DG France of Air Tahiti Nui. For example, his company signed agreements "code share" with Japan Airlines, Qantas or Air New Zealand... three different alliances member companies. Out of alliances, pragmatism remains ever more rigorous.