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Date: October 27, 1999
Creator of British Airways' Low-Cost Airline to Speak at Princeton
Princeton, NJ -- Barbara Cassani, the 39-year-old chief executive officer of Go, the low-cost airline owned by British airways, will speak on "The Gap, Inc., Meets Southwest Airlines - Starting Up a Low-Cost Airline for British Airways" at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs on Monday, October 25, at 4:30 p.m. in Robertson Hall, Dodds Auditorium.
Cassani, who earned her master of public affairs degree from the Woodrow Wilson School in 1984, worked for British Airways in the U.K. and U.S. for 11 years before launching Go in May, 1998. Go's objective is to bring low fares to European travel while offering high-quality service. A typical round-trip fare from London to Rome on Go is $187, compared to $570 for the same trip on British Airways. The airline offers few frills and no meal service, although food is available for purchase on board. Its business has increased 300% since its launch, and its staff has increased from two to 500. It adheres to the same safety and security standards as its parent company.
Cassani's previous positions with British Airways included strategy, sales, marketing, and general management. Before joining the airline, she was a management consultant with Coopers and Lybrand in Washington DC and London.
Cassani's lecture is part of the G. S. Beckwith Gilbert '63 Lecture Series, which brings entrepreneurs to campus to share their insights with students and the community.