V Air (威航), TransAsia Airways Group’s (復興航空集團) new low-cost carrier, has recruited an industry outsider as the company’s chief executive as it is prepares to launch operations in September.
TransAsia and V Air chairman Vincent Lin (林明昇) told a press conference yesterday that Eleni Lung (隆章琪), a former director of content programming at media group in Yahoo-Kimo Inc (雅虎奇摩), would take up the post yesterday.
“We hope Eleni will bring new visions to V Air, those that traditional airlines lack,” Lin said.
Prior to working at Yahoo-Kimo, Lung was an assistant vice president of financial information develop at Systex Corp (精誠資訊).
Lung previously worked in management positions at Chinese-language online news provider cnyes.com (鉅亨網) and the Central News Agency (CNA).
Lin praised Lung’s expertise in digital media management and operations, Internet content planning and marketing, and financial services planning and sales.
That would give V Air an advantage in online marketing and sales, he said.
V Air is to run three Airbus SAS 321 series aircraft in its first year of business, with all of the planes scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, Lin said.
The budget airline may introduce two new aircraft next year and in 2016 respectively, Lin added.
During preliminary operations, V Air plans to launch at least three routes, with destinations possibly focusing on countries that have open-skies agreements with Taiwan.
More specifically, Lin said the carrier aims to first tap the travel market in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, including Japan and South Korea. The fleet will initially cover four to six destinations, he added.
V Air yesterday also announced its corporate logo, which depicts the Formosan black bear, an endangered endemic species known for the white V shape on its chest.
Lin said he hopes the logo can convey a corporate image of passion and energy, and promote Taiwan’s uniqueness.
The new budget airline hopes to start making a profit next year as more Taiwanese travelers get interested in the concept of low-cost travel.
Following the launch of V Air, Lin said TransAsia is set to transform its business scale to the next stage, with its first intercontinental route expected to be launched next year or in 2016.
“TransAsia Airways will have the two brands join forces through different strategies, allowing consumers to explore more possibilities in terms of both schedule and price considerations,” Lin said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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