Scoot, a low-cost carrier based in Singapore is planning to expand its long-haul routes to accounts for a significant part of its network. First, it is gearing up to launch its first long – haul service, from Singapore to Athens, Greece. This will be launched in June 2017, and will be the first longest flight of Scoot. According to Scoot’s website, the fares begin from $334, pretty much affordable for budget travelers.
This airline is also looking forward to an ‘’aloha’’ getaway by plans to fly from Singapore to Hawaii. Still in a process of approval, the new flight could be launched by the end of the year with a stop in Osaka, Japan. The service is expected to take about 14hr 30min in total, with Singapore-Osaka leg takes six hours and 40 minutes, with another seven hours and 50 minutes to reach Honolulu.
Scoot which currently flies within the Asia-Pacific, Australia and India, and this seventh Singapore-US link will be a boon to Changi Airport which is out to establish itself as the preferred airport and hub for both full-service and budget travelers.
Supporting this plan, Scoot has collected its second Boeing Dreamliner fitted with crew bunks as a requirement for its long-haul operations. As it predicted, that in the next two or three years, the long – haul offerings could be added more and more.
As part of plans to strengthen the Singapore Airlines (SIA) group amid intense competition especially in the premium sector, the airline has been expanding its budget operations through subsidiaries Scoot which operates medium- and long-haul flights, and Tiger Air which operates shorter flights within the region. Both are in the midst of an integration and by the end of July, are expected to operate under a single brand.
Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Executive of Budget Aviation Holdings, which operates Scoot and Tiger Air said that the move to merge Scoot and Tigerair into a single airline makes it stronger.
"We have a strong network in Asia, supported by the Tigerair A-320 flights. We are able to carry the passengers not just to Singapore but also to Bali, Phuket, and that capability is something we feel is not so easily replicated," said Mr Lee.
Source : sraitstimes.com || flyscoot.com
