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《時事英語》V Air eyes social media to boost ridership

威航著眼於利用社群網站提升載客量

  (from Nownews.com)

V Air, Taiwan's first low-cost carrier, said at a promotional event on Saturday that it has relied heavily on social networks to pitch its service, which is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2014.

台灣第一家廉價航空(low-cost carrier)威航在周六的宣傳活動(promotional event)上表示他們非常仰賴(rely heavily)社群網站來達到宣傳行銷的(pitch)目的。而行銷活動也預計(be expected to)在今年的第四季(fourth quarter)展開。

“The business models of legacy carriers and low-cost carriers are very different, and V Air's potential customers are more likely to do business with us directly online instead of through travel agencies,” said Tommy Tang, V Air's head of marketing.

威航行銷主任Tommy Tang表示 「傳統航空(legacy carriers)與廉價航空的商業模式(business model)大不相同，威航的淺在客群(potential customer)相較之下更有可能直接在網路上購買機票，而非透過旅行社(travel agency)。」

That's why the carrier, which is wholly owned by Taiwanese airline Transasia Airways, has launched several campaigns to boost visibility, Tang said.

「這也是為什麼威航要一直持續地舉辦活動(campaign)來增加能見度(boost visibility)的原因。」

More online campaigns are on the way to target younger travelers, who are more likely to be heavy Internet users, and consumers drawn to budget airlines, he said.

「更多鎖定(target)年輕旅客的網路活動也正著手進行中，這些年輕旅客多是重度網路使用者，因此也相對的更有可能成為廉價航空的客戶。」

Though V Air may have an early advantage in the local market as Taiwan's only home-grown budget carrier, it will not have that edge for long.

雖然威航擁有搶先進入本土市場(local market)的優勢，但這個優勢(edge)並不會持續太久。

China Airlines, Taiwan's largest air carrier, said it will launch a new budget airline in a joint venture with Singapore-based Tiger Airways later this year.

台灣最大的航空公司華航也表示在今年底前會和新加坡航空公司旗下的虎航合資(joint venture)創立新的廉價航空。

Source:　 http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/06/16/410256/V-Air.htm