Singapore Airlines to cut flights as COVID-19 outbreak hits demand
18 February, 2020
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will temporarily cut flights across its global network in the three months to May, it said on Tuesday (Feb 18), as a coronavirus epidemic hits demand for services to the Asian city state, and through the main element transit hub.
In the announcement published on its website, SIA provideda connect to the set of flights which will be affected by your choice.
Key influenced destinations include Frankfurt, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo, the airline said.
"Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will temporarily reduce services across our network due to weak demand therefore of the COVID-19 outbreak," the carrier said.
"We will continue steadily to monitor the situation and make further adjustments as necessary."
The airline added that influenced customers will be "notified and re-accommodated onto other flights.
"If you have booked your tickets through a travel agency, please contact your agent for assistance. If you have booked your tickets directly with Singapore Airlines, please contact the SIA reservations team at (+65) 6223-8888 if you want any assistance," the airline said.
The cuts follow major reductions already announced in services to mainland China and Hong Kong. In the Dec quarter, flights to mainland China made up 11 % of capacity for the airline, and a lot more than that for budget arm Scoot.
"It isn't a surprise to see some cuts in flights, given the weak forward bookings which can be expected from the existing environment," said DBS analyst Paul Yong.
Demand on flights to South Korea and Japan have been hit hardest after China, Yong quoted Singapore Airlines' management team as having told analysts at a results briefing on Monday.
Those were the regions of the largest cutbacks in Tuesday's announcement.
Singapore's tally of 77 cases of the virus is one of the highest outside mainland China, where a lot more than 1,800 people have been killed in the epidemic.
Last week, the Asian tourism and travel hub said it expected visitor numbers to drop by a quarter or even more this season, hit by the virus outbreak.
Besides people to the city-state, Singapore Airlines also relies heavily on transit traffic. Premium travel has suffered after many business events were cancelled across Asia because of the virus.
Hong Kong-based rival Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has said it really is cutting 40 % of capacity across its network, up from 30 per cent earlier, because of weak demand.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com