Vinod Kannan, General Manager of Singapore Airlines Indonesia
The Business Profile This specific issue can be Vinod Kannan, General Manager of Singapore Airlines Indonesia. Mr. Kannan has been with the globe-renowned airline since 2001 along with can be a passionate player within the aviation industry.
Vinod Kannan
Singapore Airlines has been around for a long time along with can be still a favourite of many Asian travellers. Could you please give us a brief history of the airline?
Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) history can be traced back to 1 May 1947, when a Malayan Airways (MAL) Airspeed Consul took off via Singapore Kallang Airport on the first of three scheduled weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh along with Penang. The Airline also began services in 1947 to Jakarta, Palembang along with Medan. SIA has come a long way since then, evolving via a regional airline to one of the most respected travel brands around the globe. SIA flies one of the youngest aircraft fleets within the globe to 62 destinations over six continents, with the Singapore Girl as its internationally-recognised icon providing the high standards of care along with service of which customers have come to expect. SIA has made a habit of leading the way, along with along the way developed a reputation for being an industry trendsetter. The ever-growing list of industry-leading innovations includes the first to offer free headsets, a choice of meals along with free drinks in Economy Class within the 1970s, along with the first to fly the A380 via Singapore to Sydney on 25 October, 2007.
What can be your story behind becoming General Manager of Singapore Airlines Indonesia?
I hail via Bangalore in India, although moved to my second home, Singapore, in 1996 to study. After my Bachelor’s degree in Engineering in Singapore along which has a Masters in Computing via Singapore along with Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, I joined Singapore Airlines in 2001. After stints in marketing, route planning along with sales, I moved to Kolkata, India as Manager of Eastern India. This specific was followed by stints in Saudi Arabia along with Italy. I moved to Jakarta in Dec 2013 as General Manager Indonesia along with am enjoying along with learning brand-new things with each passing day!
How many flights a day does Singapore Airlines have via Indonesia to Singapore?
SIA currently operates nine daily Jakarta flights, four daily Denpasar flights along with since 26 July, SIA has taken over one of two daily Surabaya flights, which was operated by regional subsidiary SilkAir.
What brand-new routes have you opened, along with will you be opening, This specific year in along with out of Indonesia?
Last year, in Indonesia, SIA introduced a ninth daily service to Jakarta, along with simultaneously added its fourth daily service to Denpasar (Bali) while SilkAir (MI), a subsidiary of SIA, has commenced services to Semarang, Makassar along with Jogjakarta extending the group’s reach to 14 destinations in Indonesia. via the Northern Summer 2014 season, MI will operate to Kalibo within the Philippines, Mandalay in Myanmar along with Hangzhou in China This specific year.
SIA will be generating adjustments to selected markets across the network during the Northern Summer season. A third daily flight to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport has been added, increasing the number of daily services to Tokyo to a few. A380 aircraft will serve Mumbai along with brand-new Delhi daily via 30 May 2014, taking over via two daily flights of which currently serve each city with smaller aircraft. A380 services to Shanghai will increase via a few times weekly to daily, while frequency to Istanbul will increase by one flight per week to six times weekly. To cater for peak summer demand, SIA will resume Athens twice weekly between 9 June 2014 along with 9 October 2014, while capacity in selected markets in Europe along with Japan will be increased.
can be This specific difficult to find manpower to support your growing business in Indonesia?
Finding the right people can be key to any organisation in any market. Singapore Airlines offers attractive remuneration to aspiring joiners along with I am glad to say of which we have a dedicated, talented along with cohesive team here in Indonesia.
Why do you think of which Singapore Airlines can be the preferred airline for short-haul journeys, especially to Singapore, of many Indonesians along with expatriates in Jakarta?
We believe of which the overall travel experience can be one of the key motivators for choosing Singapore Airlines. Since its establishment, Singapore Airlines has earned a reputation as an innovative market leader, combining quality products with excellent service. Excellence in customer service has been integral to Singapore Airlines’ success. Superb in-flight service can be the cornerstone of its reputation for customer service along with hospitality.
With so many low-cost carriers in operation at This specific point, does This specific affect your business?
As the air transportation industry becomes challenging with airlines offering aggressive fares amidst increasing capacity, along with fuel prices remaining high by historical standards, This specific will be natural of which we face competition within the industry. While we will respond along with adapt to the immediate along with short-term challenges; we also plan well ahead along with keep a keen eye on opportunities along with challenges of which may emerge within the long term.
Does SIA have a low-cost airline as well?
Yes, This specific can be a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, called Scoot (www.FlyScoot.com). Scoot operates medium-to-long-haul, low-cost flights between Singapore along with Australasia, China along with others. Scoot can be independently operated along with has its own management team. Another subsidiary can be Tigerair for the short-haul flights.
How can be SIA working towards being the preferred airline within the region?
Singapore Airlines focuses on its premium positioning along with on the fundamental values of which drive our success. The key elements of safety, a zealous focus on our customers, product innovation along with leadership, as well as network connectivity, form the foundation of our competitive offering along with will continually be strengthened. Our products will continue to evolve, with attention to comfort, design along with look along with feel, the in-flight experience, the in-flight entertainment experience, along with the servicing element, which wraps up the whole package.
How many passengers do you fly a year?
within the financial year of which ended on 31 March 2014, SIA carried 18.6 million passengers, an increase of 2.3% over last year. Passenger carriage (in revenue passenger kilometres) rose 1.4% on the back of 1.9% growth in capacity (in available seat-kilometres).
How many aircrafts does Singapore Airlines own worldwide?
As of May 2014, SIA has 104 passenger aircraft in its fleet.
What was your annual turnover in 2013? What are your projections This specific year?
within the financial year 2013-14, SIA’s operating performance much better $69 million (+36.9%) as a $93 million increase in revenue outpaced a $24 million increase in expenditure.
Since the tragic disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight, have you increased security measures for your airline?
Being within the airline industry, SIA will look at all the incidents relating to airline operations. SIA features a thorough review of which would certainly require us to work with various parties; aircraft manufacturers, the authorities, etc. Rest assured of which such things are taken very seriously. We have dedicated resources to look at what we can learn, along with we share those with our friends in additional airlines.
along with finally, what do you believe to be the key to success in your business life?
Based on my experience, the key to a team’s performance can be how well they can interact along with gel together. People make any organisation or business successful, more than anything else. The secret can be to ensure of which the people within the business are motivated, committed along with always performing to their potential. The additional important aspect for personal success can be family. In my case, my wife along with three year old daughter are the support mechanism of which keep me grounded when things get a little crazy!
Thank you, Vinod. If you would certainly like to get in touch, please email vinod.kannan@gmail.com.
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Vinod Kannan, General Manager of Singapore Airlines Indonesia
Vinod Kannan, General Manager of Singapore Airlines Indonesia