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Asian
budget airlines launch price war
SINGAPORE(AFP) - Asian low-cost airlines are offering
dirt-cheap tickets to perk up travel during the summer
holidays amid the global economic downturn.
Singapore-based Tiger Airways, which flies to destinations
in Southeast Asia, Australia and China, announced Tuesday
it would launch summer fares starting at about 16 US
dollars, including taxes.
The carrier, which is 49 percent owned by Singapore
Airlines, said in a statement it would offer its “biggest
ever network of seats” and was adding new destinations
for its summer schedule from March 29 to October 24.
“Tiger Airways is bucking the global aviation trend,”
the airline said, referring to declining passenger numbers
for full-service carriers worldwide.
Rosalynn Tay, managing director for Tiger Airways Singapore,
said the airline would “demonstrate that we will
continue to grow our business even in these difficult
trading conditions.”
Jetstar Asia, another Singapore-based budget airline,
said it had extended until August 16 a promotion to
beat the cheapest price offered by rivals.
Under the promotion, should a traveller find another
published online fare cheaper than the lowest available
on www.jetstar.com, the airline will beat the price
by 10 percent if the customer makes an instant reservation
by phone.
“The current economy makes it a tough operating
environment where competition will be intense and fares
will be under pressure,” Jetstar Asia’s commercial
head Leslie Ng said in a statement.
“People are going for cheaper fares as they become
more cost conscious and want to get value for money
deals.”
Malaysian budget airline AirAsia also has its “take
me away” promotion.
Among its offers is a one-way flight from Singapore
to Bangkok starting from 43 dollars, inclusive of taxes,
for travel from March 23 to September 11, according
to its website.
Comparatively, a return flight to Bangkok on Singapore
Airlines costs 337 dollars, inclusive of taxes.
AirAsia is also offering a number of tickets starting
from 26 cents for travel within Malaysia.
Indonesia’s Lion Air is selling a one-way trip
from Singapore to Bali for as low as 5.80 dollars for
travel from June 1 to September 30, according to its
website.
Thailand’s Nok Air is offering one-way fares for
as low as 25 cents, excluding taxes and fees, for domestic
flights for those travelling from May 15 to September
30, its website showed.
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