Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, rejected United CEO Scott Kirby’s claim that the low-cost airline model is no longer viable, describing it as “alive and well” globally.
Kirby had claimed at a Wall Street Journal event that ultra-low-cost airlines fail to attract repeat customers due to poor service.
Walsh’s rebuttal was made at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon. The debate reflects differing perspectives on the sustainability of low-cost carriers in a competitive global market. Walsh’s stance is supported by the continued success of low-cost airlines outside the crowded US market.
Willie Walsh shared: “The sector is alive and well and continuing to thrive globally.”
Scott Kirby shared: “It’s dead. It’s a crappy model. The model was, screw the customer… the problem is they got big enough that they needed repeat customers [and]they don’t get them.”
