Hector Sandoval. Head of the Alliance Department at Spanair
To begin with, can you tell us briefly about your professional career in the realm of tourism? How long have you been in Spanair?
I joined Spanair in October 2000, at the request of its front office, to support and execute the strategy of Commercial Alliances and other projects linked to Spanair’s growth and evolution as a top-rated airline with a global profile.
Before this magnificent opportunity came my way, I worked for United Airlines in different areas such as operational planning, passenger services, marketing, plus a last stint as head of Commercial Alliance programs for Europe and Latin America. I’ve been linked to the sector since 1986, serving in different international airlines.
What advantages does the incorporation to Star Alliance –one of the world’s three huge mergers- mean to Spanair?
Joining Star Alliance, the largest and most successful global alliance in the industry, will provide Spanair with advantages and benefits in three levels:
As far as quality is concerned, we believe both standards and shared processes by Star Alliance’s members will enhance the preference of frequent travelers in each flight operated by Spanair, adding our well-known Punctuality Warranty, the addition of the airbus fleet, and the tradition of our service and assistance to passengers, something that has turned our company into the alternative of choice for our major markets.
For our employees, it means an opportunity to exchange experiences and develop competition in an array of initiatives and projects aimed at easing, improving and offering a peerless travel experience to our end users to make Spanair the number-one choice. Reps from all companies at all levels take part in these projects, and that allows us to expand the professional horizons for our employees. By harmonizing and assuring the compliance with those standards in force at Star Alliance, we enhance the qualitative aspects that make Spanair an interesting, stimulating workplace brimming with opportunities to move up the ladder professionally.
Our employees have done a great job to achieve the goal of joining Star Alliance, and I think they’re very proud of the fact that the alliance acknowledges this effort by inviting us to be a part of the team.
Finally, for our stockholders, it means the creation of added value for Spanair’s trademark and products, thus rendering in an increase in the number of passengers and revenues mutually allotted by alliance partners in the different networks. The positive result in the accounts has been amazing in all of the associated airlines, and we’re confident these new accounts will add equal or even bigger contributions for Spanair.
And for users and passengers?
From the word go after our joining the alliance, our clients –especially frequent travelers- will have direct access to a global mesh offering more than 10,700 daily flights at 730 airports in 124 countries. For travelers associated to the Spanair Plus program, the same level of recognition to their faithfulness will be offered all through the whole service chain –from the assistance in booking offices, ticket counters for Gold-class travelers, invitations to the more than 500 VIP halls around the world, and the opportunity to score and claim points in the Spanair Plus program in any of the flights operated by the 17 would-be associated airlines.
In addition, there are new products and services now in development that will start hitting the market in line with a joint working plan aimed at meeting the most demanding clients’ expectations as to information, customized service, frequent traveler incentives, availability of specialized fares, and the like.
Can you explain to us, in general terms, what criteria are considered to sign an agreement with another airline?
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