Singapore Airlines’ latest disappointing financial results are ringing the alarm bells (“Singapore Airlines disappoints“, 20th May, 13). At first glance, Singapore Airlines (SIA) posted a 12.8% increase in FY2012/13 full-year profit to S$379 million (US$299.8 million) from S$335.9 million in the prior fiscal year on a 1.4% rise in revenue to S$15.1 billion from S$14.86 billion a year earlier. The operating profit for its namesake unit also improved by 3.3% …Read More
Tag Archives: Emirates Airline
Singapore Airlines disappoints
Singapore Airlines (SIA) prefaced its report on its annual performance for FY2012/13 with attribution to high fuel prices and lower yields owing to a weak global economy for its lacklustre results. The announcement concluded with an equally dismal outlook, saying very much the same thing, warning that “the global economic outlook remains uncertain with the ongoing weakness in the eurozone and sluggish recovery in the United States” and that “yields …Read More
The best is yet to come for Virgin Australia
Time flies. Three years into chief executive John Borghetti’s “Game Change” programme which has now evolved into the “Game On” phase, Australia’s second-largest carrier Virgin Australia transformed itself into a very different animal. Having uprooted from being a low-cost carrier (LCC) as Virgin Blue, the Brisbane-based carrier is now embarking on a portfolio strategy that promises to compete fiercely with flag carrier Qantas Airways in every single segment in the …Read More
Qantas pushes ahead with Asian strategy
While rivals such as Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines (SIA) report lacklustre performance, Qantas seems to be upbeat about making headways with its Asian strategy to turn around its loss-making international operations. The Australian flag carrier took another step forward to enhance its presence in the region when it expanded its codeshare agreement with China Eastern Airlines (CEA). Qantas International manager China Andrew Hogg said, “We said we would …Read More
Cathay Pacific builds flexibility while embracing opportunities
In posting an 83.3% drop in its 2012 full-year net profit to HK$916 million (US$118 million) from 2011′s HK$5.5 billion (US$708.5 million), Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways has ridden through a turbulent year that saw Asia’s largest international carrier posting a HK$935 million 2012 first-half loss, its first since the 2003 SARS crisis, amid a cargo conundrum, softening passenger yields in premium classes and stubbornly high fuel prices. The result …Read More
Boeing 777X to spark mini-jumbo war
GE9X to feature 16 blades, versus 18 on GEnx engines Folding wingtip to be operated hydraulically Folding wingtip to improve lift-to-drag by 12% Folding wingtip 800lbs weight penalty, against 777-200′s 3,200lbs 777X to remain ICAO Code E aircraft on aprons 787-styled tail fin, elimination of overwing exit confirmed Elimination of overwing exit saves 1,000lbs of weight 787-styled larger dimmable windows, lower cabin altitude being studied 777-8X & -9X range boosted …Read More
Is the premium economy trend finally catching on?
Is the premium economy trend finally catching on as Air Canada becomes the latest airline to announce its introduction as “a new class of travel”, starting with the Montreal-Paris non-stop route in July 2013. New, perhaps for the Canadian carrier, but not quite globally. Eva Air of Taiwan was one of the first carriers to introduce the premium economy class, when it launched its operations in 1991. There was a …Read More
Is Qantas back on track?
Judging by its FY2012/13 first half performance, Qantas looks like it is back on track. The Australian flag carrier reported a net group profit of A$111 million (US$114 million), which is almost triple last year’s A$42 million. This was achieved in spite of the continuing show of red ink for its international operations, which one may even say was an impressive result considering the reduced losses of A$91 million from …Read More