Passengers flying Singapore Airlines (SIA) from Singapore can expect to pay more for their tickets from October 1, 2010.
An Economy class seat could cost S$200 (US$148) more, while premium seats could cost up to S$1,000 (US$743) more.
An airline spokesperson said that global demand for air travel necessitated SIA’s third hike since April. Prices vary from route to route, depending on the market, and a range of prices offered in different booking classes is available, he said. It is expected that other carriers operating in Singapore will follow suit in raising fares to pre-recession levels.
Local travel agents have noticed that traffic is picking up both ways, with residents leaving the country and visitors arriving, eager to see Singapore's new slew of attractions such as the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa complex. In July, foreign arrivals to the Lion City were recorded at over a million.
The overall travel picture looks bright. The International Air Transport Association (Iata), representing about 230 carriers, noted that in July, Asia-Pacific carriers outperformed the industry average with a 10.9 per cent growth in passenger traffic against that of a year earlier.
Margie T Logarta
