Singapore Airlines’ new medium- to long-haul low-cost carrier Scoot (TZ) has made its inaugural commercial flight from Singapore to Sydney, putting even more pressure on Qantas and other incumbents. The airline operates Boeing 777 aircraft leased from Singapore in a two-class configuration, Economy (including extra legroom seating, branded S-t-r-e-t-c-h seats) and ScootBiz. The seating features 32 ScootBiz seats in a 2+4+2 configuration, with a seat pitch of 38 inches, while the Economy cabin has a 3+4+3 configuration with 31-inch seat pitch.
Scoot has also plans to introduce services to Australia’s Gold Coast (five times weekly, 14 June). Dates for Bangkok (daily) and Tianjin, near Beijing (four times weekly) have not been yet announced.
The airline plans to fly to Tokyo and Taipei in the third quarter. TZ, which competes with Air Asia and Jet Star Asia, is marketing itself not so much as a low-cost, long-haul carrier but a change in the way people travel long distances. These changes include offering iPads to passengers with a system to be fitted on the aircraft later in the year. The iPads will be available for rent onboard at S$22 (US$17) and, once available, wi-fi access will be on a pay-per-flight basis in Economy and in the ScootBiz package. www.flyscoot.com
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum