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Singapore means business, will undercut Qantas | NEWS.com.au
SINGAPORE Airlines plans to cash in on the highly lucrative route to the US by introducing a business class-only service across the Pacific.
And in the process it will undercut the equivalent Qantas business fare to New York by almost $7000.
For business travel this week on its 747-400 service, Qantas is charging $16,927 before tax - or a whopping $17,365.11 when tax is included.
The Pacific route is a virtual fiefdom for Qantas and until recently was protected by an Australia-US treaty.
While those arrangements changed last month, the route remains under the command of the national carrier.
Peter Harbison, the executive chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, said Qantas charges what it does because it has little competition.
"It averages year-round load factors of 82 per cent and virtually controls the route," Mr Harbison said.
United Airlines, the only other carrier to operate non-stop Australia-to-the-US services, has much older aircraft.
The new business-only service from Singapore Airlines (SIA) will cost Australians $10,222 before taxes.
SIA is banned by Australia from competing with Qantas on direct Australia-US flights.
But it will evade the ban by using ultra-long haul planes to fly the 19 hours non-stop from Singapore.
SIA announced yesterday that it will use its five Airbus 340-5 series jetliners on the route.
Each is being converted to four abreast seating, with passenger numbers cut from 181 to 100 people - who will travel on 76cm wide armchairs that convert to beds for sleeping.
The seats are the same design as those fitted to SIA's new A380 superjumbos and on its Boeing 777-300 long-range fleet.
SIA's executive vice-president, marketing and regions, Huang Cheng Eng, said the decision to reconfigure the planes recognised the popularity of business travel.
But Australians who choose to fly business with SIA will spend up to 27-hours in the air.
This compares with 19 hours from Australia with Qantas, because of the eight hours flying time from Australia to Singapore to meet the New York connection.
Qantas charges the most expensive business class fare of any airline operating to New York from Australia.
A ticket to New York via London can be bought for less from British Airways.
Who charges what to get to the Big Apple
Singapore via Singapore $10,222
JAL via Tokyo $7038
Thai via Bangkok $7561
United via LA $9702
British via London $13,500
Qantas via LA/SF $16,927
Singapore means business, will undercut Qantas | NEWS.com.au
SINGAPORE Airlines plans to cash in on the highly lucrative route to the US by introducing a business class-only service across the Pacific.
And in the process it will undercut the equivalent Qantas business fare to New York by almost $7000.
For business travel this week on its 747-400 service, Qantas is charging $16,927 before tax - or a whopping $17,365.11 when tax is included.
The Pacific route is a virtual fiefdom for Qantas and until recently was protected by an Australia-US treaty.
While those arrangements changed last month, the route remains under the command of the national carrier.
Peter Harbison, the executive chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, said Qantas charges what it does because it has little competition.
"It averages year-round load factors of 82 per cent and virtually controls the route," Mr Harbison said.
United Airlines, the only other carrier to operate non-stop Australia-to-the-US services, has much older aircraft.
The new business-only service from Singapore Airlines (SIA) will cost Australians $10,222 before taxes.
SIA is banned by Australia from competing with Qantas on direct Australia-US flights.
But it will evade the ban by using ultra-long haul planes to fly the 19 hours non-stop from Singapore.
SIA announced yesterday that it will use its five Airbus 340-5 series jetliners on the route.
Each is being converted to four abreast seating, with passenger numbers cut from 181 to 100 people - who will travel on 76cm wide armchairs that convert to beds for sleeping.
The seats are the same design as those fitted to SIA's new A380 superjumbos and on its Boeing 777-300 long-range fleet.
SIA's executive vice-president, marketing and regions, Huang Cheng Eng, said the decision to reconfigure the planes recognised the popularity of business travel.
But Australians who choose to fly business with SIA will spend up to 27-hours in the air.
This compares with 19 hours from Australia with Qantas, because of the eight hours flying time from Australia to Singapore to meet the New York connection.
Qantas charges the most expensive business class fare of any airline operating to New York from Australia.
A ticket to New York via London can be bought for less from British Airways.
Who charges what to get to the Big Apple
Singapore via Singapore $10,222
JAL via Tokyo $7038
Thai via Bangkok $7561
United via LA $9702
British via London $13,500
Qantas via LA/SF $16,927
they may want to put the price up. 
