Cheap flights 'only months away'

The first of Asia's new budget airlines -- Viva Macau -- will have arrived on Australia's eastern seaboard, bringing with it a gamut of ultra-cheap international fares.
Diminutive and without fanfare, Viva Macau's introduction can only be viewed as the tip of the iceberg; a minor glimpse into the flood of cheap fares soon to inundate Australian passengers.
It started with Jetstar's bold leap into the South-East Asia market, a perfectly-timed ploy by bigger brother Qantas to get a jump on its rivals.
The plan worked, with Jetstar Asia offering never-seen-before prices to exotic destinations such as Bali, Phuket, Bangkok and Vietnam's bustling Ho Chi Minh City, with high yields to boot.
Now the real challenge for Jetstar Asia begins as the Asian low-budget carriers, boasting third-world operating costs and cheap labour, move in for the kill.
Viva Macau will be first and cashed-up Malaysian outfit AirAsia X will follow, while Singapore's Tiger Airways will hit the domestic market with 50 new Airbus A320s (announced yesterday).
Hong Kong budget carrier Oasis is also looking in and India's Jet Airways has expressed interest.
Rapidly expanding budget airlines Air Deccan (China), Adam Air (Indonesia), Spice Jet (India), Hong Kong Airways and Manadla Airlines (Indonesia) may follow suit.
23/06/07 Andrew Carswell/Courier Mail, Australia

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Foreign Jun 2007, Low Cost General Jun 2007