Transportation Industry

Company Watch - Singapore Airlines

AirGuide Business, March 24, 2008

Mar 24, 2008

Singapore Airlines said on Thursday that it was raising fuel surcharges by up to 15 percent for flight tickets issued from March 26, due to the continued escalation in the price of jet fuel. Mar 21, 2008

Singapore Airlines launched its Singapore-London Heathrow A380 service yesterday. Flight SQ308 with 449 passengers took off from Changi Airport just after 9 a.m. local time. The return flight, SQ319, is scheduled to arrive back in Singapore this afternoon. Mar 19, 2008

Airbus A380's first commercial flight to Europe started on March 18 when the big fat Singapore Airlines jet left Singapore for London. The Singapore Airlines flight, carrying 449 passengers, lifted off the tarmac at 9.20 a.m. from Changi Airport, bound for London Heathrow Airport. Passengers paid between SGD$2,000 (USD$1,447) and SGD$20,000 to be the first on the superjumbo's new daily service, which will take off on its return flight on the same day. Among the passengers on Tuesday's flight were 17 customers who had been on the inaugural flight to Sydney, wearing custom-made polo shirts with "A380" emblazoned across the back. Singapore Airlines now has three superjumbos in service, with a further 16 on order and options for six more, and is planning to put the aircraft on daily flights to Tokyo from May 20. Mar 18, 2008

Singapore Airlines said on Tuesday it was still in talks with China Eastern over acquiring a stake, as it seeks to get a foot into the world's fastest-growing aviation market and offset slower demand in the Americas. The world's second-biggest carrier by market value is seeking growth in new markets, after reporting the first signs of a drop in passenger demand in February. Singapore Air's bid for a stake in China Eastern at HKD$3.80 per share was rejected by the mainland carrier's shareholders in January after Air China made a counter-offer of HKD$5. Air China on Tuesday maintained its offer. China Eastern's Hong Kong-listed shares spiked 12.4 percent in early trade, but reversed the gains to lose 3.2 percent by mid-session to HKD$3.36. Singapore Air shares slipped 0.4 percent in line with the broader market, while rival Air China was down 6.1 percent. SIA's Forshaw said Singapore Air was committed to its offer. Mar 18, 2008

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