Valuair

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.

Singapore market set for more competition and potential over-capacity

Competition in the fast-growing Singapore market could further intensify as Qantas looks at potentially establishing a new full service carrier. The prospect of a second legacy operator for Singapore comes as the country’s flag carrier, Singapore Airlines (SIA), has seen profits significantly erode in recent months due to a combination of weak load factors and high oil prices.

Qantas Group to increase capacity by 11% in 2011 as outlook 'continues to improve'

By contrast with recent slightly downbeat projections from Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce today gave a positive view of upcoming operating conditions, indicating that the group’s capacity was to increase by 11% during the first six months of 2011, “while maintaining flexibility”.

Why don't women run airlines?

IT WAS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY on the 8th of March, 2010, and the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation proudly “acknowledged” flag carrier Air India’s historic flight between Mumbai and New York JFK. It was unique that day in that flight AI-141 operated with an all-female flight crew on the B777-200LR. There was no Air India man in sight. It was different at head office.

(This report, the first in a series of four, is taken from the Oct-2010 edition of Airline Leader.)