With the largest chunk of growth coming from Asia, Singapore Airlines on Tuesday said that it considering adding more flights into the Indian market.
The airline said that it is also looking to its regional airline and subsidiary, Silk Air, to start services to cities in North India. These new flights will be subject to regulatory approvals.
Silk Air currently operates 42 flights a week to eight destinations, including Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Kochi.
SIA Executive Vice-President Mak Swee Wah said: “We will add capacity into the Indian market. Markets are increasingly witnessing competition. We intend to have a good position with both products and services.’’
Wah, however, did not give a timeframe by when this capacity would be added.
Air services bilateral
Governments of India and Singapore recently exchanged an air services bilateral that allows airlines from the both countries to operate more flights between them. Both the governments are yet to take a call on which of the airlines that operate between them will get to operate how many more flights between India and Singapore.
India allows Air India, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo to operate between India and Singapore while the island nation’s Government has permitted Lion Air, Singapore Airlines and Silk Air to fly to India.
‘Scope to increase bilaterals’
Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of the launch of its next generation cabin products, Wah said that there is also scope to increase the bilaterals which allow more routes to covered. “Bilaterals will create opportunity in the markets. Authorities are in talks to work on the same.’’
The airlines also said that it is closely monitoring the Jet-Etihad deal and AirAsia’s entry into the Indian market.
Speaking on the new cabin products, the airline said that it is investing nearly $150 million to introduce the new products on an initial eight Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft.
The new product will be introduced on select flights between Singapore and London. It will progressively be launched on other routes as well.
Inflight entertainment, designs
BMW group Designworks USA and James Park Associates have developed the inflight entertainment and designs.
Wah said the airline has invested significant amount to capture a slice of the premium full service air travel market. According to him, about 40 per cent revenue comes from business class.
Singapore Airlines said that extensive research was conducted to determine how best to increase the passenger comfort.
“We are constantly looking to improve the inflight entertainment experience. Last year we introduced Internet and mobile data connectivity and with the next generation Krisworld, customers can expect advanced hardware, and interactive user interface and curated content,’’ SIA Senior Vice-President, Products and Services Tan pee Teck said.
(The correspondent is in Singapore on a trip sponsored by the airline).