Tough crowd...
Singapore Airlines to square off against Qantas
Qantas Airways Ltd's plans to launch a renewed Asian strategy could face stiff competition from a rejuvenated Singapore Airlines, which plans to offer full-service customers new cabins and lounges and may expand its relationship with Virgin Australia, according to The Australian.
Although Qantas will next month deliver details on its Asian strategy, Singapore Airlines sees an opportunity to capitalise on Qantas' decision to switch its European stopover from Singapore to Dubai.
“I think Australia is a growing market,” Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong said, according to The Australian.
“We certainly want to grow further.”
SIA is using subsidiary SilkAir to bulk-up its intra-Asia full-service network and hopes to develop its focus on the lower-cost segment through long-haul unit Scoot and their stake in Tiger Airways.
The Singaporean airline held 9.4 per cent of the international market to and from Australia in September, which represented the second-highest figure, behind Qantas, The Australian reported.