"Hungarian Airline Malév carried a total of 3.3 million scheduled and charter passengers in 2009, 6% more than in the previous year (excluding long-haul passengers). This enabled the carrier to up its market share by two percentage points to 43.5%, Malév has announced on Monday.Malév was able to achieve a 6% increase in its passenger traffic despite the fact that in the first quarter of 2009, when Malév was also hit by the impacts of the economic crisis, its passenger numbers declined significantly.
Following this serious loss in turnover the company was able to "take to the skies" again with a new, proactive commercial strategy targeting a wide segment of the travelling public, the airline said in a statement.
The airline reached the most dynamic - more than 10% - increase in passenger number in October and December.
Last year, Malév had a number of new initiatives, including a new pricing strategy, which allowed the airline "to take up the challenge of competing against low-cost carriers", guaranteed best group rate, a five-fold increase in the number of corporate clients, numerous special travel packages offered together with the airline's partners and the opening of three new destinations.
"All our efforts brought the hoped-for results last year, and we were able to increase our load factor on European and Middle Eastern routes by two percentage points to 66.5%," commented Karim Makhlouf, Chief Commercial Officer of Malév.
This year Malév aims to further raise the load factor, to which end it is placing even more emphasis on its new commercial strategy. It is also to come out with new offers throughout the entire year.
"For the 1st quarter of 2010 we expect double digit growth in passenger numbers which brings us closer to our aim to increase further our market share and be the first choice in Hungary and in the region," Makhlouf added."
Source: Portfolio Online FInancial Journal
26.01.2010