star

SIA reported a near doubling of its Q3 operating profit, helped by lower fuel costs, but said intense competition in Southeast Asia will put pressure on its performance. The airline reported an operating profit of SGD288m (US$205m), up 96% from a year ago, while net profit rose 35.5% to SGD275m. The carrier, a benchmark for Asia's full-service airline industry, said it expects the challenging operating environment to persist. "On the competitive front, expansion of other full-service airlines as well as low-cost carriers, particularly in Southeast Asia, will continue to exert pressure on loads and yields," it said. "While more relief could arise from lower fuel prices, which have declined to a 12-year low, fuel continues to make up a significant portion of the Group's expenditure," SIA said. <br/>

United and Delta have offered to re-assign flight crew concerned about contracting the Zika virus from routes to Latin America and the Caribbean. The move shows how the mosquito-borne virus, linked to birth defects in Brazil, looms as an issue not just for passengers but for flight crews as well. In an internal memo Jan 28, United said expectant flight attendants as well as those seeking to become pregnant could switch routes to avoid Zika-affected regions without repercussions. The airline has similar options available for pilots, a spokesman said. Delta has also let flight attendants and pilots switch assignments since Jan 17. "We have immediate concern about our members' health," said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, when asked for comment on United's memo. <br/>