Singapore Air adds 6th flight from Bangalore

Singapore Airlines launched its sixth weekly flight service from Bangalore on Tuesday.

The airline, in addition to the US market, is now exploring servicing traffic to Australia and China sectors from Bangalore.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Foo Chai Woo, general manger-India of Singapore Airline, said the sixth flight is expected to increase capacity from Bangalore by almost 20 per cent and offers more connection options to several cities in the airline's network.

"Currently, Singapore Airline is offering ex-Bangalore 1,618 seats a week. Our endeavour to encourage passenger growth and make travel to Singapore as well as other parts of the world more convenient," he added.

Karnataka is fast becoming a key market for Singapore Airline and the airline is bullish on additional flight for its Bangalore-Singalore sector as it currently operates on 70 per cent load factor.

Despite entry of low-cost carriers and competition from other full service carriers, Singapore Airline has maintained a healthy 65:35 corporate travelers to free independent travel (FIT) segment.

"We have been seeing a significant growth in the passenger traffic from Bangalore to south-east Asia, China and Australia. Seeing this trend, we over the past three years, have doubled our capacity from operating three flights a week in 2003 to six flights currently," said Foo.

To lure traditional south Indians to travel on Tuesdays, the airline has come out with a package 'SIA hits a six'.

Explaining this special package, C K Loh, manager Karnataka, Singapore Airlines, said: "We are offering return fares to Singapore for as little as Rs 6,666 as an introductory offer."

The offer is valid for sale from November 28 till December 2 and for outbound travel from November 28 to January 31, 2007.

Also as part of the sweet deal, the return fares for Kuala Lumpur and Penang is Rs 7,777 and Bangkok is Rs 8,888, he said.