Exclusive: Asia's best airlines

Business Asia, Dec, 2000 by Nadia Cameron

Eva Air (Taiwan)

Korean Air

Japan Airlines-JAL

Malaysian Airlines

Philippines Airlines

Qantas

Singapore Airlines

Thai Airways

Best Bulk Cargo

Bax Global

Emery

FedEx

KML Cargo

Korean Air Cargo

Polar

Qantas Freight

Singapore Cargo

Best Freight Forwarding

Ansett Air Freight

Cargolux

DHL

FedEx

Qantas Freight

TNT

UPS Parcel Service

AIRLINES: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

IT HAS BEEN a turbulent year for Airlines.

Faced with rising aviation fuel prices, increasing competition and airline globalisation, new openings into Asian countries and additional flying routes being launched, there has never been a dull moment "on board".

Asian airlines are campaigning aggressively to ensure passengers have the latest technology and the best available service at their fingertips. Having dealt with the detrimental effects of the Asian economic crisis and embracing global competition, the Asian airline industry this year is looking up. According to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), the recovery growth rate of air traffic on Asian-based airlines will reach 11-12 per cent in the short term, with figures expected to sit around eight or nine per cent in the next 18 months. Passenger and freight loads have already indicated this anticipated boom in Asian airline travel, despite the 11 per cent increase in airline tickets over the last three years.

Several fresh initiatives throughout the course of the year are set to accelerate this growth. A new group of Asian and Pacific Airlines has formed to launch a joint on-line travel centre for both business-to-customer and business-to-business services. The nine airlines, including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines, are using the web-based exchange to expand customer service and provide new technology-based solutions for assisting travel in the Asian region.

Mergers and alliances have also played a prominent role in the airline industry this year. Several nations have contributed to the corresponding "open skies" pacts across the Pacific, which will streamline international aviation accords by reducing the number of negotiations made between countries. In November, the US signed the first multilateral aviation agreement of this kind with Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore.

The already impressive strength and scope of the Star Alliance has also been boosted this year with the introduction of Singapore Airlines into the group. The Qantas Oneworld alliance however, has not been so successful, with Qantas' biggest partner, American Airlines, announcing its decision to quit the group in October.

The most significant alliance to affect the Asian region was Air New Zealand's purchase of News Limited's 50 per cent stake in Ansett Australia. Aiming to create a globally competitive Australasian airline group, Air New Zealand's acquisition, undertaken in February this year, will give both brands a wider range of aircraft deployment and financial backing, and present a powerful base to cater for the growing airline trade presenting itself in the Asia-Pacific region.