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Airline slashes prices to fill its empty seats
3rd April 2009, 6:00 WST
An unprecedented international fare war is expected to erupt after Singapore Airlines slashed ticket prices more than 50 per cent to 82 destinations in a desperate bid to entice travellers to fill empty seats.
The fare sale is the biggest and cheapest offered by the airline, relative to average adult weekly earnings, and is available online today and through travel agents on Monday until April 17 or until sold.
Centre of Asia Pacific Aviation chief executive Derek Subudin said Singapore Airlines’ cut in ticket prices was the “force nine gale” as airlines turned to desperate measures to fill seats.
The West Australian understands that the airline has hundreds of thousands of seats on sale and may add more as required. After the SARS outbreak in 2003, many Asian airlines offered 50 per cent discounts but those sales were heavily restricted.
From Perth, Singapore Airlines is offering London return for just $1488 including all taxes and charges for travel until November 30, taking in the high season and there are no blackout periods, according to the airline.
The cheapest fare with Qantas in July is $2975. These fares include travel on Singapore Airlines’ new A380 from Singapore to destinations such as London, Paris and Tokyo.
Perth passengers travel to Singapore on either the 777 or the new A330, which will be introduced next month, to connect with the A380. Paris return is $1419 and Tokyo $1028.
Singapore Airlines is the biggest international airline operating into Australia and has two flights a day to Perth.
Mr Subudin said he expected other carriers to join in as “passenger numbers dwindled”.
“The international travel market is very soft and the kick-up in the global economy hasn’t come as yet,” he said.
In February, Singapore Airlines recorded its worst decline in passengers, a 20.2 per cent plunge. Cargo fell 15.2 per cent.
Across the globe the International Air Transport Association reported a 10.1 per cent drop in passengers for February with cargo down 22.1 per cent.
IATA chief executive Giovanni Bisignani warned that “gloom continues”. “The priority for airlines around the world is survival — conserving cash and adjusting capacity to match demand,” Mr Bisignani said.
GEOFFREY THOMAS
AVIATION WRITER
Airline slashes prices to fill its empty seats
3rd April 2009, 6:00 WST
An unprecedented international fare war is expected to erupt after Singapore Airlines slashed ticket prices more than 50 per cent to 82 destinations in a desperate bid to entice travellers to fill empty seats.
The fare sale is the biggest and cheapest offered by the airline, relative to average adult weekly earnings, and is available online today and through travel agents on Monday until April 17 or until sold.
Centre of Asia Pacific Aviation chief executive Derek Subudin said Singapore Airlines’ cut in ticket prices was the “force nine gale” as airlines turned to desperate measures to fill seats.
The West Australian understands that the airline has hundreds of thousands of seats on sale and may add more as required. After the SARS outbreak in 2003, many Asian airlines offered 50 per cent discounts but those sales were heavily restricted.
From Perth, Singapore Airlines is offering London return for just $1488 including all taxes and charges for travel until November 30, taking in the high season and there are no blackout periods, according to the airline.
The cheapest fare with Qantas in July is $2975. These fares include travel on Singapore Airlines’ new A380 from Singapore to destinations such as London, Paris and Tokyo.
Perth passengers travel to Singapore on either the 777 or the new A330, which will be introduced next month, to connect with the A380. Paris return is $1419 and Tokyo $1028.
Singapore Airlines is the biggest international airline operating into Australia and has two flights a day to Perth.
Mr Subudin said he expected other carriers to join in as “passenger numbers dwindled”.
“The international travel market is very soft and the kick-up in the global economy hasn’t come as yet,” he said.
In February, Singapore Airlines recorded its worst decline in passengers, a 20.2 per cent plunge. Cargo fell 15.2 per cent.
Across the globe the International Air Transport Association reported a 10.1 per cent drop in passengers for February with cargo down 22.1 per cent.
IATA chief executive Giovanni Bisignani warned that “gloom continues”. “The priority for airlines around the world is survival — conserving cash and adjusting capacity to match demand,” Mr Bisignani said.
GEOFFREY THOMAS
AVIATION WRITER
