Singapore Airlines increases flights to Gulf

ABU DHABI, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) is increasing flights to the Gulf Arab region to tap growing demand despite the global downturn, its regional head said on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Straits Times newspaper quoted an airline circular issued to travel agents as saying Singapore Airlines would reduce the numbers of flights to China, India, Australia, London and Zurich in response to falling passenger numbers. [ID:nSIN348289]

Meow-Seng Lim, the airline's Gulf general manager, said the flag carrier expected to boost its passenger load factor due to a surge in tourism to and from the Gulf
The weakening currencies of Australia and South Korea have proven themselves attractive to Hong Kong, with the majority of Hong Thai tours to the regions filled.

"With the expansion, we will be operating 38 flights a week to the Gulf, of which 28 are to the United Arab Emirates alone. We are seeing growth in demand due to the growing trade links between the Gulf countries and the Far East," Lim told reporters. (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho; Editing by Lin Noueihed and David Holmes)

Reuters