Budget airlines overtake full-service carriers in Asia

Singapore: Asia-Pacific budget airlines AirAsia Bhd. and Qantas Airways Ltd.'s Jetstar overtook full-service carriers in a brand-reputation survey as more passengers in the region turned to cheaper options amid a global economic slowdown.

Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., among the world's 10 biggest carriers by market value, were ranked below the two low-cost air-travel operators, according to the report compiled by Nielsen Holdings NV and Campaign Asia- Pacific, a marketing industry magazine.

Global airline profits are set to fall in 2012 by more than half to $3 billion from $7.9 billion last year, according to the International Air Transport Association, as recessions in the UK, Spain and other European countries damp demand and erode gains from lower fuel prices.

"It's an economic reality," Therese Glennon, managing director of consumer insights for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Nielsen, said in an interview yesterday. "As the demand for budget travel increases, as the economic situation deteriorates, you see a lot of these bigger airlines adjusting their business models."

"While we cannot comment on the validity of this specific survey, being unaware of its exact methodology, we can share that for more than 65 years, Cathay Pacific has been serving travellers from around the world," the airline said in an e- mailed response to questions.

Singapore Air, which posted an unexpected fourth-quarter loss of S$38.2 million ($110.94 million), started a low-cost carrier that completed its first flight last month. Nicholas Ionides, a spokesman for Singapore Air, declined to comment because he hasn't seen the report.

Other full-service airlines that were ranked lower include Qantas, Australia's largest carrier that forecast last month annual profit may fall as much as 91 per cent, and Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest flier that slumped to a surprise first-quarter loss.

Samsung Electronics Co., Apple Inc. and Sony Corp. were the top three brands in the survey.