For the first time in the history of Malev, the airline recorded three million passengers travelling on its scheduled services in the course of one year. Malev, on the threshold of membership of the…
For the first time in the history of Malev, the airline recorded three million passengers travelling on its scheduled services in the course of one year. Malev, on the threshold of membership of the oneworld alliance, estimates annual growth of more than 9% in passenger traffic for this year.
To mark the record achievement, Malev actually welcomed its 2,999,999th, 3,000,000th and 3,000,001st passengers. The airline’s CEO, Dr. Janos Gonci, presented the winning passengers at Budapest Airport with cards entitling them to special travel concessions across the Malev network.
The three lucky “millionth” passengers received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from the airline. Each of the three winners receives annually one free air ticket valid for scheduled flights operated by Malev. In addition, each year they may purchase an unlimited number of air tickets with 90% discount off the base fare on scheduled, economy class flights operated by Malev.
The airline began registering positive traffic data in the first half of 2006. Malev welcomed its one millionth passenger at the end of May, and its two millionth passenger on 31 August. Both events occurred about a month earlier than in the previous year.
During the first 11 months of 2006, Malev scheduled traffic expanded by more than 9% in comparison with the identical period in 2005. The airline also registered an increase of 13% in revenue in the period January-November. Most of its customers fly to destinations in West Europe, although the most dynamic growth was seen in the turnover of Central and East European flights. In addition, there was considerable demand for Malev’s North American services; these flights operated with an average load factor of 79% across the first 11 months of the year.
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