Company Watch - Singapore Airlines

AirGuide Business, Jan 14, 2008

Jan 14, 2008

Singapore Airlines which had hoped to gain access through the acquisition to China's fast-growing air travel industry, said in a statement it was disappointed but would continue to build a relationship with China Eastern. The collapse of a deal two years in the making and blessed by the Beijing government highlights the unpredictability of a Chinese corporate scene that usually bows to politics. Cathay Pacific, which already has an alliance with Air China, has bolstered the airline's case by saying it would seriously consider teaming up on a joint investment in China Eastern. Jan 8, 2008

Singapore Airlines is no stranger to failed acquisitions. In 2000, it took a quarter of Air New Zealand in a bid to expand its Australasian foothold, but the carrier faltered and Singapore Air had to cut back its stake years later. It is also considering selling a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic that it bought for GBP600 million pounds (USD$1.2 billion) in 1999, after the alliance failed to blossom. But some analysts say don't count Singapore Air out -- yet. "This is really about politics, not economics, so it's hard to predict," said Teng Ngiek Lian, chief executive of Target Asset Management, which manages about USD$3 billion in Asian equity and owns Singapore Airlines stock. Jan 7, 2008

Singapore Airlines at Changi T3. Singapore Airlines will be the first carrier to operate from Changi Airport (Singapore) Terminal 3 beginning on January 9. Flight SQ001 is the first scheduled to arrive at the terminal at 11:50 hours and SQ318 to London will be the first to depart T3 at 12:50. With the expansion of services, customers departing from Changi Airport will check-in at T2 or 3 depending on their destination. The airline says inbound flights may arrive either at T2 or 3 - but information on the correct terminal will be available at least two hours prior to the estimated arrival time. The airline has released a table showing customers which terminal to use for outbound flights. It will also print the correct check-in terminal on e-tickets and boarding passes (including those printed at home before arriving at the airport). More at www.changiairport.com or www.singaporeair.com Jan 7, 2008

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