Singapore Airlines to selectively grow on U.S and European routes

Singapore''s national carrier Singapore Airlines has indicated that it is not ready to call it quits or scale back operations in either the United States or Europe despite the economic sluggishness in these markets. The airline has made it clear that it will keep on strengthening its Southeast Asian network.

Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive of Singapore Airlines, said, “”The airline has not retreated from U.S. or European routes. The airline will continue to selectively grow into those areas where it considers the prospects for good traffic is worthwhile. The best example is that of London where the airline has significantly increased its frequencies in 2012 with the addition of a fourth daily service.””

A study by an aviation industry consulting firm said that Singapore Airlines had in recent years added flights to Copenhagen and Munich. However, it has reported a sharp and gradual decline in its market share because of stiff competition from Middle East carriers such as Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, which have increased the number of seats by nearly 20 percent over the past year alone.

The carriers from Middle East countries are offering efficient and seamless connections to the United States, Europe and other worldwide destinations through the hub airports like Doha and Dubai. This has resulted in these airlines cornering a major share of the traffic from these regions that would have otherwise come to Singapore.

Media reports quoted Goh Choon Phong as saying that the competition and slack demand though may have adversely impacted the business of Singapore Airlines on the U.S. and European routes, but the effects of economic slowdown on air travel is not going to be permanent.