SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines (SIA) has sent teams to Australia to explore the domestic flight market, but any plans it has for "Down Under" are still up in the air, a company spokesman said today.
Asked about rumours that SIA has designs on failed Australian domestic carrier Ansett Airlines, spokesman Rick Clements said the Singapore carrier was "ruling nothing in and ruling nothing out".
"Australia is an important market and we are keeping our eye on its domestic market," he said, adding that the airline had sent teams to Australia to "explore the environment" over the last three weeks.
Nicholas Ionides, a Singapore-based editor at aviation industry magazine Air Transport Intelligence, said Singapore Airlines was clearly studying the possibility of setting up an airline in Australia.
"But you would expect them to. They've long harboured aspirations for Australia," he said.
For decades, Australia's domestic industry was dominated by Ansett Airlines and Qantas Airways. But Ansett collapsed a year ago after a price war with Qantas and newcomer Virgin Blue.
From Singapore Business Times as Latest News 05.09.02
