How have your latest product innovations been received?
The Salon has been very well received, allowing up to four people to work at 300 kph on all our lines, while benefiting from an exclusive service and WiFi. This is a real plus on the journey to Amsterdam, where the 3h18 journey time becomes useful time for holding a meeting. Sales targets have been met, and special corporate fares are being offered. Thalys is also testing MobileTicketing with two of its major corporate customers, with official deployment scheduled for June. Receiving the electronic ticket on your mobile phone meets a demand from our passengers. This will provide greater flexibility, with purchase and exchange possible up to ten minutes before departure.
You seem to be focusing on services?
Following the renovation of our 26 trains, Thalys has repositioned its brand around services, quality and customer care. This has led to an increase in frequencies on Amsterdam, as well as an overhaul of the commercial offers, the loyalty programme with TheCard and the more recent launch of ThePass, aimed at frequent travellers. Not forgetting WiFi, which is very popular: 45 % of passengers connect to it in Comfort 1, where the price of the service is included in the ticket. These advantages of travelling with Thalys are presented in a new campaign entitled "Welcome to our home".
How are you preparing for the arrival of competitors on your routes?
This competition is not expected before 2012 or 2013, but Thalys is preparing for it by making its product stronger and more attractive, and by creating a reflex and attachment to the brand. However, we must not forget that competition stimulates initiatives and develops the market. And we are familiar with it, as it already exists with air services to Amsterdam and Düsseldorf.
