Intra-Asia-Pacific air travel eclipsed the number of travelers in North America as the world’s largest aviation market in 2009, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Asia-Pacific’s travelers numbered 647 million compared the 638 million who traveled within North America (including domestic markets). By 2013, an additional 217 million travelers are expected to take to the skies within Asia–Pacific. “Achieving … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: Intra-Asia market eclipses NA as world’s largest

Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), ground handler and inflight caterer at Singapore Changi Airport, has gained certification in Cargo 2000’s quality standards. As part of the audit, SATS had to convince the assessors that it had a proven Quality Management System and an information system in place to track relevant import and export cargo processes and performance data to satisfy the requirements of Cargo 2000. SATS also had to demonstrate its commitment and readiness to … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: SATS attains Cargo 2000 accreditation

China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to sign two air service pacts that are likely to remove barriers to competition in the region, according to Singapore’s transport minister Raymond Lim. He said negotiations between China and ASEAN over the creation of “a liberal air services regime” were expected to be concluded this year after six years of talks. Lim added that a second agreement, which would replace a two-year-old pact allowing … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: Truly open skies for ASEAN nearing reality

Singapore-based, Bank of Chinaowned, BOC Aviation closed 2009 with a portfolio of 142 aircraft saying it continued to deliver on its countercyclical strategy of expanding via purchase and leasebacks since the downturn in the aviation industry began in 2008. The company took delivery of 48 aircraft in 2009, of which 23 were from purchase and leaseback deals closed during the year. BOC Aviation’s total assets exceeded US$5 billion for the first time since it was established 17 years … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: BOC rides high through downturn

Low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has begun trialling cargo services between Singapore and five cities in Southeast Asia as a way of increasing ancillary revenues. The Singapore-based carrier, which operates a fleet of Airbus A320s, began offering cargo space on its aircraft between the island-state and Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Penang on 15 January. It could extend this to other destinations if the trials are successful, Tiger added, which led the carrier to extend the service to … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: Tiger Airways begins cargo trials

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group returned to profit in the three months to the end of December following losses in the two preceding quarters. The group posted a 19.7 per cent rise in quarterly profit to S$403.7 million (US$286.4 million) in its third quarter compared to a net profit of $337.2 million a year ago on a recovery in cargo volumes and improving passenger demand. Group revenue at $3.42 billion was up nearly 11 per cent over the second quarter. The net profit was a turnaround from … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: SIA rebounds from consecutive losses