SIA to launch budget carrier for medium and long-haul routes

Singapore Airlines yesterday announced its intention to establish a new no-frills, low-fare airline operating widebody aircraft on medium and long-haul routes.

The new airline is being established following extensive review and analysis. It will enable the SIA Group to serve a largely untapped new market and cater to the growing demand among consumers for low-fare travel.

Operations are expected to begin within one year. The airline will be wholly owned by Singapore Airlines, but will be operated independently and managed separately from SIA.

“We are very excited about what our new low-fare subsidiary will offer to consumers. We are seeing a new market segment being created and this will provide another growth opportunity for the SIA Group,” said SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong.

“As we have observed on short-haul routes within Asia, low-fare airlines help stimulate demand for travel, and we expect this will also prove true for longer flights.”

Goh added: “At the same time we remain fully committed to the further growth of SIA, which will continue to offer the highest-quality products and services to our customers.”

More details will be announced by the new airline’s management team in due course, including its branding, products and services, and route network.