Singapore Airlines (SQ) to Quit Pakistan!

[B789]

But SQ are serving Dhaka and Colombo too, not premium airline markets, and Sri Lanka had trouble with the Tamil issue for years, which affected tourism and business, even Etihad had to suspend the route at the same time SQ continued flying there uninterrupted.

Are Dhaka and Columbo triangle operations ? If not, you got the answer to your question.

[Pineapple]

I maybe the most effected, than anyone else on this forum, by this action of SQ and CAA's incompetency.

[Abbas Ali]

Apparently Air Services Agreement (ASA) is intact between Pakistan and Singapore. Pakistan's CAA cannot be blamed if Singapore Airlines is unable to operate flights to/from Pakistan due to poor passenger load.

Unsatisfactory performance on Pakistan flights is mentioned (quoted below) as the reason for flights suspension in Singapore Airlines' own press release.

The last Singapore-Karachi-Lahore service will be operated on 17 February 2010 while the last Singapore-Nanjing service will be operated on 26 March 2010. These suspensions are regrettable but are necessary as a result of the performance of the two routes.

Abbas

[kashan]

Could they have dropped KHI and contiuned with LHE maybe using the new A330 instead.

[PIA PIA]

Looks like low passenger loads are forcing Singapore Airlines to suspend Pakistan operations.

Or do Singapore Airlines crew have security concerns forcing the airline to suspend operations ?

Btw, does Singapore Airlines crew stay in Karachi or Lahore ?

Abbas

Surely SQ made this move based on the performance of this route.Remember SQ is a premium and expensive airline,probably last market they can do well is Pakistan because of the low premium traffic and some of the lowest yields in the world.Had they been dropping the routes due to security,they would not have waited until Feb 2010 and would have done it immediately as did BA last year in the case of ISB.

SQ did this once before in the late 90s and resumed later....hopefully we will see better times ahead , a more stable political scenario and The likes Of BA,LH AND SQ will return.
could anyone point out as to why they suspended operation to Pakistan...maybe it was due to low loads as TG has a monoply on the PAK-FAR EAST sectors???...

Though you are right that SQ axed KHI and then resumed few years back with the triangular flights featuring LHE and KHI,i wouldnt keep my hopes up as far as seeing them again is concerned.Airlines such as LH and SQ which gave Pakistan second chances yet had to pack up again will require nothing short of miracle to resume.Its not like the routes were strong performers that the airlines would even consider them given the obvious risks involved in present day Pakistan.

You see KHI is currently served by these East Asian airlines : TG,CX,MH,SQ and CA - outside of the GCC,KHI doesnt see such a high concentration of airlines from any other region.Even though none of the flights from all those airlines are dedicated KHI services (barring TG's Saturday flight) its just not a big enough pie for all these airlines to commercially justify operations.Needless to say the recent terror wave in Pakistan has further reduced traffic therefore the exit of foreign airlines was imminent.

I'm surprised SQ didn't decide to use their new A333's for this particular route. Those are 2-classed planes used for "regional routes". Maybe they'll start later. Regardless, its a shame to see yet another carrier leave.

That being said, I still think BA can serve ISB and/or KHI from LHR.

Jocobin777 if you recall we had discussion on A.net several months ago and i predicted that i see foreign airlines pulling out and SQ to be among the first.I respect your opinion about a possible BA service to PK but i sure dont agree with it.I dont think there is any chance for it.

Well now those semi-educated morons within the CAA and DM can pat each other on the back for a job well done. Complete and utter isolation is what they want and will get the way they're carrying on.

There are still 3 5 star airlines operating here being Qatar, CX and MAS. It was quite surprising that before we actually had 4 of the 6 5 star airlines flying here. Now its just one less.

While i completely see what you mean Moin,but to be fair i dont think CAA's attitude had much to do with SQ withdrawing in this case.If a route is performing well airlines will put up with alot to stay in the market.You can use examples of European airlines in African cities such as ACC and LOS.The fact is that the route was performing badly based on Load Factors and Yields and even if CAA suddenly adopted a progressive attitude,it would not have made much of a difference to their desicion.

Actualy the situation is not like that.SQ is quiting pakistan because caa is not giving them permission to fly to ISB.

soon you will also hear that tk quitting pak.
caa also not allowing them to operate to isb,lhe and increase to khi.

[kashan]

Maybe PIA will resume Singapore now.

[KHI747]

Actualy the situation is not like that.SQ is quiting pakistan because caa is not giving them permission to fly to ISB.

soon you will also hear that tk quitting pak.
caa also not allowing them to operate to isb,lhe and increase to khi.

Well thats quite a claim and im not sure what your source of information is,but personally i find it a little hard to believe SQ wanted more frequencies on a route that wasnt doing well and quit the market altogether since those frequencies werent granted.

As for TK quitting KHI,well if they do (which i dont think they will) it will again have more to do with the peformance of the route.I simply dont see the commercial sense in quitting a route or an entire country (as a means of protest) because more frequencies were'nt granted! I mean these airlines are run by professionals,not by tribal chiefs.

As i mentioned earlier and as Abbas has been pointing out as well,we need to be fair here in reference to laying all the blame on CAA regarding the loss of SQ.The regulatory authority can provide the infrastructure and the facilities for the airline to operate out off but it cant bring in the passengers for them.Without a doubt ours is a regressive CAA overall but in this case even if they werent - SQ would still have left Pakistan for commercial reasons.

[Wasil]

WHAT?????!!!!!

this cant be happening!

[kashan]

But SQ are serving Dhaka and Colombo too, not premium airline markets, and Sri Lanka had trouble with the Tamil issue for years, which affected tourism and business, even Etihad had to suspend the route at the same time SQ continued flying there uninterrupted.

Both are to get A333, CMB from May and DAC from June.

[ilubflying]

Maybe PIA will resume Singapore now.

That's the very first thought came into ma mind too.

[rayyanullah]

Foreigners no longer travel to Pakistan so one factor in SQ stopping flights to Pakistan could be the difficulty for the average traveller from here in getting visas for even developing countries leave alone the developed countries such as Singapore.
It appears thatin the near future this visa restriction will not improve for Pakistani passport holders so PIA may also curtail flights to more destinations as the majority of travellers on PIA are Pakistanis settled abroad and holding foreign passports.

[Jacobin777]

Foreigners no longer travel to Pakistan so one factor in SQ stopping flights to Pakistan could be the difficulty for the average traveller from here in getting visas for even developing countries leave alone the developed countries such as Singapore.
It appears thatin the near future this visa restriction will not improve for Pakistani passport holders so PIA may also curtail flights to more destinations as the majority of travellers on PIA are Pakistanis settled abroad and holding foreign passports.

The extra screening wont' be a deterrent nor a detriment. What's more important is for Pakistan to be a bit more stable. Pakistan has a lot of opportunities if it can at the very least remove the threat of fanaticism.

[Pineapple]

Spoke to a few families here who taking one of the last few flight of SQ into LHE and KHI. Those wid a return date after 17th Feb apparently ... SQ has issued them a new ticket... It shows they will be carried by PIA to DXB and from Dubai SQ will take them to SIN-SYD.

[AP-BGL]

Spoke to a few families here who taking one of the last few flight of SQ into LHE and KHI. Those wid a return date after 17th Feb apparently ... SQ has issued them a new ticket... It shows they will be carried by PIA to DXB and from Dubai SQ will take them to SIN-SYD.

My friend had to travel with SQ on 12th for LHE and his return was scheduled on 14th Feb back to Sydney. His prog. has been rescheduled by SQ, being accommodated as;
SYD-SIN (SQ)
SIN-DXB (EK)
DXB-LHE(EK)

... and same goes for his return journey.

[Pineapple]

^ I think SQ has a codeshare agreement with EK. Such accomodations must have been very smooth.

Oh and now TG is our only option to fly LHE. But TG's fares are mostly $200 more than SQ