Budget carrier Tiger Airways says bookings up in
crisis
SINGAPORE - A Singapore-based budget airline said on
Thursday that bookings are up despite an escalating global economic
crisis.
Matthew Hobbs, a spokesman for Tiger Airways, said travellers are
seeking cheaper alternatives to allow them to fly by air.
"We are not seeing a decline... We are seeing that people are
substituting from premium carriers to budget carriers like Tiger
because they still need to travel," Hobbs told AFP.
"Forward bookings show that people are still booking and they are
still travelling, but they are looking for the best price."
Hobbs said budget airlines had historically experienced growth
during crisis periods such as in the aftermath of the September 11,
2001 attacks in the United States.
While Tiger Airways will monitor the travel market closely, Hobbs
said the airline would proceed with plans to expand flights and its
fleet.
From December 1, the airline will increase service from Singapore
to Kuala Lumpur to five times a day from once a day, he said.
Tiger Airways, which is 49 percent owned by Singapore Airlines
(SIA), said it would increase flights to Bangkok, Phuket and Macau
later this month.
Four more Airbus planes are scheduled for delivery between December
and March, raising the carrier's fleet from 12 to 16, Hobbs said.
"We will continue to monitor the market conditions for
opportunities," he said.
Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific
Airlines, warned on Wednesday that some airlines would not survive
the worsening global economic situation.
He said the biggest challenges were weakening passenger demand, in
particular first and business class travel, and uncertainty over
the economic outlook.
SIA, one of Asia's most profitable carriers, said it was watching
changes in travel demand.
"We are monitoring any changes in demand that may occur as a result
of the deteriorating global economic position," SIA spokesman
Stephen Forshaw told AFP. "We will remain nimble in the deployment
of capacity going forward." - AFP/vm