Singapore Airlines still facing weakened demand due to Hong Kong protests

Singapore Airlines said travel demand to Hong Kong remains weak as months of protests and violent unrest have discouraged people from visiting the city. The airline cancelled some flights when there weren’t enough passengers or shifted the load to other services, CEO Goh Choon Phong said Wednesday. “The impact is probably stronger on the leisure side, because if you are going to Hong Kong for leisure you may actually look at alternatives,” Goh said. While it’s too early to say that travel demand to Hong Kong is recovering, “it has somewhat stabilized,” he said. Protests continue to rock parts of Hong Kong, particularly on weekends, and have occasionally spread to the airport, affecting operations there. Cathay Pacific Airways has lowered its earnings outlook, while Hong Kong Airlines is cutting operations, including its Los Angeles route. Virgin Australia Holdings said Wednesday it is suspending its Melbourne-Hong Kong route.<br/>