SINGAPORE, Nov 16 — Plans by low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia to break into the long-haul market with flights to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport have suffered a setback.
All the rights available to Singapore carriers — two flights a day — have been given to Singapore Airlines (SIA) instead.
Jetstar said last week that it had applied to Singapore’s Air Traffic Rights Committee, which decides who gets to fly where, to begin services to Haneda.
A day later, SIA announced it would make twice-daily flights to the airport starting in October next year. The new services to Haneda are possible because of an expanded Singapore-Japan air deal that was inked in September last year.
Both governments agreed to increase services between Singapore and Tokyo with more flights to Narita, which SIA already flies to, and with the opening of the new link between Singapore and Haneda.
Narita is the main international airport serving Tokyo, while Haneda is used mainly for domestic flights.
Jetstar is “most disappointed” that it has not been given the rights to Haneda, its chief executive officer Chong Phit Lian told The Straits Times. “This will have some impact on our plans to develop long-haul low-cost operations out of Singapore as a hub,” she said
In evaluating the applications and awarding the rights to SIA, the Air Traffic Rights Committee, which is chaired by the Transport Ministry permanent secretary, had considered several factors, including the proposed business plans, the contribution of the air services to Singapore’s air hub, and benefits to consumers.
A ministry spokesman said that in view of Jetstar’s interest in operating a Tokyo route, the committee is prepared to allocate airline slots at Narita and is currently awaiting Jetstar’s application.
Chong declined to comment on this development, but said the airline will consider other feasible options to develop long-haul operations out of Changi. — The Straits Times
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