How would you sum up 2011, a year marked by an unprecedented strike?
Patrick Malval - Last year was a year of transformation. It's true that there was a strike, but that's always the case in a company where there's a change of management. 2011 was also marked by the closure of the Paris-Washington route, which followed a strategic review and then an adaptation of the model. But overall, from a commercial point of view, the results are in line with 2010 and with our objectives, like the Paris-New York route, which performed well.
2012 begins with a small revolution for OpenSkies, with the introduction of an economy cabin: how much of a new positioning is this?
P.M. - I wouldn't say it's a revolution, as the first OpenSkies model already had three cabins, albeit in a different configuration. It is, of course, a response to a change in demand, and a change in the use of OpenSkies within British Airways, following the integration into the transatlantic joint venture. Our airline must be all the more efficient by flying alongside the three other partners, British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines, while offering travellers a complementary product: we are a small Premium airline, with our own specific characteristics, in particular thanks to the interest of departures from Orly airport.
What are the company's major future projects?
P.M. - We think we can do much better in the area of ground service. In March, we will be launching a pre-flight meal service for flights departing from Newark. This will involve offering passengers a dinner in the brand new British Airways lounge, which will then guarantee a real night's rest. We're really going to invest in in-flight sleep.
How do you see the business travel market in this particular context?
P.M. - There's a lot of wait-and-see attitude today, but that doesn't mean that business travel has come to a halt. The trend is towards late booking, but I don't get the impression that demand is decreasing. Nevertheless, we are operating in a very sensitive environment, and everything can change very quickly.
What is the relationship between British Airways and its transatlantic subsidiary?
P.M. - We've been speculating for years about the situation of OpenSkies, about its relationship with British Airways, and the company is still there. Of course, there could always be a change of strategy, but the fact is that investment in OpenSkies continues, and the integration of the company into the joint venture shows that we have a real card to play, because we bring our difference to an atypical clientele.
