Far from the posh of the Singapore Suites, and pretty much at the back of the bus by comparison, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is doing well by being cheap. According to this morning’s edition of The Standard, Oasis is celebrating its first birthday, having flown approximately 350,000 passengers this past year on its two routes (Hong Kong-London, Hong Kong-Vancouver). As “the world’s first long-haul budget operator,” the carrier has been successful to the point of forcing stalwarts such as Cathay Pacific and British Airways to slash prices on competitive routes.
But the more intriguing story is in the company living out its mission, which, according to one of its founders, Raymond Lee, is to not only “set up a successful airline, but to harness it as a force for social good.” Examples of their walking the talk include offering heavily discounted fares for teachers and the elderly. The company reportedly measures its IRR right alongside its “mission rate of return,” or the good it does for society by facilitating the exchange of cultures. Lee, who is a pastor in a local church, is also said to quote “examples of the kindness they have experienced from passengers” in his sermons. Talk about flying the friendly skies….
Posted by: Colin Mangham