AVIATION INTERVIEW

 

UPCLOSE WITH DATUK BERNARD FRANCIS

Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer of PT TransNusa Aviation Mandiri

Aviation industry Datuk Bernard Francis, who hails from Sitiawan, Perak has been with Indonesia’s TransNusa as its Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer since October 2019. He turns 54 this year and brings with him nearly 23 years of experience having worked with various airlines of different countries, including Philippines.

His previous responsibilities covering sales and distribution, marketing, revenue management, communications and events, branding, route development, network planning and ancillary revenue have certainly stood him in good stead.


Tell us how it has been like working in a foreign country and now helming one of Indonesia’s airlines?
Actually, my first experience working overseas was in Indonesia about two decades ago. If I were to describe my working experiences abroad in one word, it would have to be “enriching”. It has been an exciting journey for me working in different environments, cultures and having to abide by the rules and regulations of these different countries.

These priceless experiences have given me a more in-depth understanding of the aviation industry and how specific short- and long-term variables in each country impact the industry.

How have your previous job experiences of working in both premier airlines and low-cost carriers (LCCs) shaped you to manage your current responsibilities?
My past experiences have made me the person I am today where I have learnt to reinvent myself. The continuous agility to reinvent is the key to succeed in this industry. Certain industry practices and regulations cannot be changed but if you strive to re-invent oneself then you will find a winning strategy to succeed.

When was TransNusa officially relaunched from a regional carrier to a LCC?
TransNusa relaunched its operations as a LCC in 2022 after ceasing operations in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, we have developed and relaunched old routes as well as introduced new routes. We have also ventured outside of Indonesia to launch our first international flight on April 14 to Kuala Lumpur.

What strategies have you mapped out for TransNusa?
Owing to the pandemic, our passengers’ needs have changed. They want more comfort and require more attention for their hassle-free and no-delay flight journey. Our overall strategy is to give them what they want. Hence, the launch of our premium services for international flights, which sit in the space between full-fledged and LCC products.

As such, we are offering among other things free baggage of between 15kg and 30kg, excluding hand-carry of up to 7kg, that is similar to a full- fledged airline. We aim to provide our passengers with high levels of comfort and peace of mind both on and off the flights so that they can enjoy the smoothest and most efficient journey possible.

Since the launch of TransNusa’s first international Jakarta-KL service, how is it performing and what segment does it serve?
On average, TransNusa has captured a 75% load factor for this sector. Based on our data, we currently serve the leisure market.

How are your plans to have a direct flight from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport to Jakarta by the end of the year working out?
For the time being, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport is not open for international flights but as soon as the opportunity presents itself, we will definitely be exploring it as this is a prospect we are looking forward to.

You mentioned about TransNusa launching flights to Johor Bahru and other international destinations later this year. What is its timeline?
Since our announcement in April, other airlines have increased the number of flights from Johor, which resulted in overcapacity. As such, we will probably reconsider and move the flight plan from Johor Bahru to Jakarta to a later stage. As for our new international routes, we will kickstart with destinations in China towards the third quarter.

The competition among LCCs is heating up post-pandemic. TransNusa is not only the first LCC offering premium services. How does it distinguish itself from its competitors?
In Indonesia, TransNusa is an LCC but in the international market, we are a premium service airline offering products and services that are comparable to that of a full-fledged airline.

For instance, our legroom is similar to a full-fledged airline. Transnusa passengers are thus able to enjoy 30 to 31 inches of space as we have configured our fleet of Airbus A320s with a 168 to 174 seat configuration. We offer unlimited flight changes and are one of the few airlines in the world to offer refunds.

In Indonesia, how many domestic destinations does TransNusa fly to?
Since its relaunch, TransNusa has started flights to Denpasar Bali, Manado, Jakarta and Yogyakarta. Currently, TransNusa flies from Jakarta to Bali 10 times daily and three times a day from Jakarta to Yogyakarta.

What is its fleet size?
TransNusa will have six aircraft in its fleet by June. We plan to add another two more aircraft to our fleet by the end of 2023. As we increase our domestic and international routes, we will further expand our fleet.

What is TransNusa’s staff strength? With manpower shortage affecting the aviation industry, where do you source for your staff and what are the qualities you look for?
We currently have 250 employees, who keep our airline running. They are the backbone of our company. As a result of the pandemic, many aviation industry professionals have been unemployed worldwide.

As such, we have had the opportunity to employ the best local talents. Focused on absorbing outstanding Indonesian professionals, we look for those with innovative thinking and are not afraid to challenge the norm.

TransNusa is the first foreign operator of the COMAC ARJ21. Where do you plan to use this aircraft and how do you deal with the stigma that aircraft made in China are not up to par?
Data is imperative in eliminating stigmas. Currently, there are more than 100 COMAC ARJ21s operating in China, which have carried more than five million passengers.

The Civil Aviation Administration China has taken many precautions to ensure the safety mechanisms and features of this aircraft are of high standards that they rival that of Western aircraft manufacturers.

Furthermore, feedback on the COMAC ARJ21 performance in April has been positive and passengers are enjoying the experience onboard. This is good news for COMAC, which is well on its way to remove the negative stigma on Chinese airline manufacturers.

What are your hobbies?
I love sports and recently ran the Singapore Sundown Half Marathon. Last October, I participated in the Jakarta Marathon. I also enjoy reading and listening to music in my free time.

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