Singapore Airlines to stay out of low cost carrier battle

Airline Industry Information, August 18, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Singapore Airlines has said that it would not be competing head-on with budget carriers in the growing Asian low-cost airline market.

A spokesperson for the airline said that although it was aware of the threat the budget airline posed to some of Singapore Airlines' domestic routes it was happy to focus on the premium end of the market.

Although the airline has taken a 49% stake in the low budget carrier Tiger Airways it recently launched the longest non-stop flights available using Airbus A340-500s - a route over the Arctic to Los Angeles and New York from the city state showing its commitment to long haul premium travel, reports Reuters.

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