Unconfirm rumour according to CathyTalk.com
http://www.cathaytalk.com/showthread.php?t=2745
http://www.cathaytalk.com/showthread.php?t=2745
Had lunch with two of SQ's marketing team member two days ago. In our chat together, they provided information that SQ is planning to aggressively lobby to fly SIN-HKG-YVR-HKG-SIN. Currently with the bilateral situation between Singapore & Canada, SIA is only allowed to operate 3 weekly flights which it currently does SIN-YVR via ICN. But soon talks will take place to change that and SQ is highly optimistic that it will gain more access to the Canadian market. In that SQ to be granted to fly with freedom between HKG & YVR and AC in return will be granted to fly to SIN via a north Asian city (most likely extending YVR-NRT to SIN with freedom between NRT-SIN). Once access is successful, SIA plans on launching daily flights from SIN to YVR and back via HKG with full 5th freedom between HKG & YVR. A 744 is planned for the route at the beginning which can come as early as DEC 07 and in the long run, the 777-300ER will take its place. The timing of these flights will be similar to that of SQ2/1 to/from SFO. At the same time, it will still maintain the 3x weekly 772 flight via ICN, making it a 10x weekly frequency on the YVR market.
If this becomes a reality, I wonder how much of a threat will this be to CX? How many passengers will actually defect from CX to SQ in their trip plans for YVR-HKG. The two SQ folks tell me that their airline brand is very popular with native HK residents and with a highly frequented route like HKG-YVR, they are highly optimistic they will have no problems filling the planes. Wow this market is getting crowded with CX, AC, O8 and now possibly SQ.
If this becomes a reality, I wonder how much of a threat will this be to CX? How many passengers will actually defect from CX to SQ in their trip plans for YVR-HKG. The two SQ folks tell me that their airline brand is very popular with native HK residents and with a highly frequented route like HKG-YVR, they are highly optimistic they will have no problems filling the planes. Wow this market is getting crowded with CX, AC, O8 and now possibly SQ.
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