Recognition and Change
for Air Gumbo
11/20/06
LAFAYETTE, LA –Air Gumbo was a special guest at
this year’s 15th annual Cannes Airline forum, in
the beautiful Mediterranean city of Cannes, France. The
New Orleans-based starting-up airline was invited by
Jean-Louis Baroux, Director of the Cannes Airline Forum,
as well as Chairman and CEO of Air Promotion Group (www.APG.fr)
of Paris, host of the prestigious event. The forum was
Air Gumbo’s first international airline conference. The
main topic at the forum was Air Transport and Passengers:
restoring trust.
Air Gumbo’s CEO, Ralston Champagnie, stated
that he agreed with the conclusion reached at the
forum that airlines need to speak the truth when
communicating to passengers about delays and that
governments should stop reacting to terrorism by
instilling an unnecessary hassle factor in the air
transporting of people.
The Cannes Airline Forum inducted Mr. Champagnie
into its airline executive gallery. Champagnie
said, “I am very honored to be included among
such high-caliber executives, considering the fact
that Air Gumbo is in its starting-up stage.” He
also stated that he is grateful for the continued
international attention, having received maintenance
job applications from as far away as India, in spite
of being perceived as the underdog by the state and
local community.
Air Gumbo is making changes to the aircraft the
company plans to operate. The proposed airline
will drop the Boeing 737 and use the Bombardier’s
regional jets where it had original planned to use
the Boeing jet. Air Gumbo stated, however,
that it will maintain its original strategy of operating
a two-type aircraft. With the Bombardier regional
jets family, Air Gumbo is adding the wide body Airbus
A330-200/300. Champagnie said that he had been
in discussion with Airbus a few months ago and hopes
to begin formal relations soon. The range capability
of the Airbus A330-200/300 makes it possible to offer
direct flights from New Orleans to Europe.
Several attendees he networked with at the forum
encouraged Champagnie to seriously consider the European
market for New Orleans, some offering assistance.
The Europeans have greater discretionary income,
because of the strength of their currency, for traveling. New
Orleans is an attractive destination to the European
tourists and the city will need those tourists to
aid its rebuilding process.
About Air Gumbo - Air
Gumbo, Inc., d/b/a Air Gumbo, is a low-cost, low-fare,
one-frill airline. With a design-centric culture
and experiential branding, the carrier would serve
Louisiana directly to destinations within the United
States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central and
South America. Its motto is “Louisiana’s
culture in the sky” and Air Gumbo’s invited
guests would be treated to a Louisiana party.
Please visit www.airgumbo.com for
more information or call Air Gumbo’s Information
Center at (337) 781-0034. Email inquiries can be
sent the media.relations@AirGumbo.com.
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