South American airline Avianca has created a new subscription service designed specifically for SMEs.
The airline is targeting smaller firms in Colombia through the Avianca Access platform by offering them benefits such as discounts, ticket changes and more flexibility. It is believed to be the first time that an airline has launched a subscription service dedicated to the B2B market.
The number of subscription services being offered by travel firms is growing, although most are currently targeted at the B2C market. Attempts by travel management companies (TMCs) to introduce a subscription model for clients have also received a lukewarm reception so far.
Avianca Access offers “special pricing” on airline tickets to customers, although this does not apply for flights to and from Europe. Clients can also make unlimited changes to flights without any penalty, as well as being able to change a flight to an earlier departure on the same day.
The airline’s subscription portal also gives individual employees the ability to self-manage their flight bookings.
The cost of subscriptions for SMEs is based on the number of passengers, with the rates for up to 10 travellers of US$10 per month or $96 per year. For firms with 11 to 25 travellers, the price is $25 per month ($240 annually), it then rises to $50 per month ($480 per year) for 26 to 50 travellers, and $100 per month ($960 annually) for 51 to 100 travellers.
The initiative has not yet been officially launched by Avianca with clients currently taking part on an invitation or request-only basis.
Avianca is working on the project with travel technology firm Caravelo, which specialises in providing subscription solutions to the travel industry.
Caravelo is also partnering with European budget carrier Wizz Air to launch a new flight subscription programme in the Italian and Polish markets. Although this initiative is solely targeted at the B2C market.
Other airlines to offer B2C subscription services include Alaska Air, Frontier Airlines and Mexico’s Volaris.