Peak season sees dogfight among SE Asia carriers

Ahead of the peak travel season, carriers from south-east Asia are mounting additional flights to India and have slashed fares of certain key sectors.

Malaysia Airlines on Monday announced that it will increase its flight frequency from Delhi, to daily seven flights a week from four flights starting October 31, 2005.

Similarly, Singapore Airlines has announced start of services to Hyderabad and has approached the directorate-general of civil aviation for its approval for the operations schedule.

Malaysia Airlines also slashed the fare for a round trip on the Delhi-Kuala Lumpur sector to Rs 13, 999 on these new flights till November end. The normal fare on the route at present is Rs 22, 293.

The airline would continue using A-330, having a seat capacity of 290 seats per flight. This addition would enhance the total seat capacity on Delhi-Kuala Lumpur sector to 2,030 seats from the present 1,160 seats per week.

In addition, Malaysia Airlines would also offer special Diwali fare of Rs 10, 527 from Delhi to Kuala Lumpur, only for travelling on November 1, 2005.

Singapore Airlines also offering special holiday season fare of Rs 10,500 on its day flights from India to Singapore. It will also start direct services to Hyderabad, when the Airline starts its four times weekly service.

The service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using the Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 777-300 aircraft. These aircraft can seat 288 and 332 passengers respectively in a three-class configuration.

The new SIA schedules have been submitted to the DGCA in India and are awaiting their approval.

Also from October 30 2005, Singapore Airlines will mount additional services to Bangalore. The Airline will operate two additional weekly services to Bangalore, making it a five time weekly service.

SilkAir, Singapore Airlines' regional wing, will stop operations to Hyderabad on October 28, 2005, but will continue to serve Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram with 12 non-stop weekly services.

"Singapore Airlines is committed to open new vistas for business and leisure tourism in India. The new services to Hyderabad and increased frequencies to Bangalore will meet the growing demand for travel to and from the new technology capitals," said Tan Chik Quee, senior vice-president for west Asia and Africa.

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Flight of fancy

Malaysia Airlines announced that it will increase its flight frequency from Delhi to daily seven flights a week

Singapore Airlines has announced services to Hyderabad and has approached the directorate-general of civil aviation for its approval for the operations

Singapore Airlines also offering special holiday season fare of Rs 10,500 on its day flights from India to Singapore