SilkAir

Outlook for Asia's full-service sector dims as Singapore Airlines reports rare quarterly loss

The outlook for the normally buoyant Asian market has further dimmed following a rare quarterly loss for Singapore Airlines (SIA). The SIA Group’s first net loss since the global economic crisis of 2008 could be seen partially as an indication of its weakening market position. But in reality it is probably more indicative of the broader challengers facing Asia’s full-service airline sector.

SIA has reported for the three months ending 31-Mar-2011 (4QFY2012) a group operating loss of SGD5 million (USD4 million) compared to an operating profit of SGD166 million (USD132 million) for the same period last year. The group’s net loss for 4QFY2012 came in at SGD38 million (USD30 million), compared to a profit of SGD171 million (USD136 million) the previous year. SIA was widely expected to report a decline in profits for the sixth consecutive quarter, but the small loss – the first since 2QFY2010 – came as an unpleasant surprise.

Myanmar set to become Asia’s next big aviation growth market

Myanmar’s aviation market is poised to enter a major period of growth as the country begins to open up following landmark elections earlier this month that were won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. The election was seen as a turning point for Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and the start of a more favourable business environment, including for aviation. Several Asian carriers and airport operators have identified near-term opportunities in Myanmar. The opportunities for all types of carriers – local and foreign, domestic and international, low-cost and full service – face no limitations in the medium term as the Myanmar market is now the most underserved market in ASEAN and perhaps all of Asia.

Myanmar’s two existing international airports, at Rangoon and Mandalay, are to be partially privatised while a recently opened new airport at the new capital of Naypyitaw will soon start to handle international flights. There are also plans for upgrading several domestic airports, many of which lack basic infrastructure.

New Darwin routes from SilkAir and Virgin Australia show potential of alliances

As alliances have become more complex, and perhaps seemingly anti-competitive, airlines have been eager to promote any new route additions as direct results of alliance authorisation. Recent examples include Japan Airlines (JAL) opening the first Tokyo link to Boston – and with the Boeing 787 – and attributing it in part to its alliance with American Airlines while All Nippon Airways (ANA) will open a 787 link to San Jose, which the carrier also attributed to its alliance partner, United. In contrast to the glamour of these long-haul routes with high profile aircraft are the new Darwin-Sydney and Darwin-Singapore routes to be respectively started by recent partners Virgin Australia and SilkAir, the subsidiary (subsidiary!) of Singapore Airlines (SIA). Yet what the routes lack in public visibility they make up for in opportunity.

Jetstar-JAL LCC, "Jetstar Japan" to commence service by Dec-2012

Japan Airlines Corp, Jetstar Airways and Mitsubishi Corp confirmed plans to establish a LCC JV in the Japan market by Dec-2012. Jetstar Japan will be Japan's third new LCC announced this year, following hard off the heels of All Nippon Airways' announcement last month that it plans to establish a JV with leading low cost airline AirAsia, AirAsia Japan, in addition to its previously announced LCC, Peach. The JAL JV would add another piece to the complex jigsaw that is now transforming the Asian airline market. The potential market growth as these successive ventures are introduced can be measured in the hundreds of millions of new passengers. Removal of highly restrictive regulatory conditions and the scale of opportunities as new city pair market options emerge mean literally that the sky is the limit for growth upsides.

SIA short-term outlook bleak as profits drop further to two-year low

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has recorded a further reduction in profits due to high fuel prices and weak load factors. The SIA group on 28-Jul-2011 reported a net profit for the three months ended 30-Jun-2011 (first quarter of FY2011/12) of SGD45 million (USD37 million), an 82% drop compared to the same period last year and its smallest quarterly profit in nearly two years. The airline itself also fell into the red for the first time in seven quarters, incurring an operating loss of SGD38 million.

Jetstar's new North Asia focus leaves room for Qantas Singapore expansion to Europe and India

Jetstar is planning to expand its Singapore-based fleet by 50% over the next six months as the low-cost carrier group looks to North Asia for the next phase of its dramatic expansion. As the largest low-cost airline group in the Asia-Pacific region continues to expand at a rate of about 20% per annum, additional capacity will not be directed west towards South Asia, the Middle East or Europe but primarily to North Asia, where Jetstar sees the most opportunities given North Asia’s very low LCC penetration rate. This strategy could signal growth for the Qantas brand in South Asia and Europe as the group looks at potentially announcing next month the launch of a new Singapore-based full-service carrier.