40% Of Scoot's India Passengers Continue Their Journeys Beyond Singapore

Around 60% of Scoot Airline's passengers from India travel point to point, while 40% continue beyond Singapore to destinations like Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Melbourne, as per Brian Torrey, the airline's General Manager for India and West Asia.

Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, operates 80 weekly flights between Singapore and six Indian cities. Singapore Airlines also holds a 25.1% stake in Tata group-owned Air India. Torrey mentioned that during the pandemic, the airline has shifted focus from traffic ending in Singapore to promoting onward journeys, with 40% of Indian traffic now heading beyond Singapore. The change highlights enhanced demand due to network expansion and system improvements. However, Scoot seeks more bilateral rights from India to expand its operations.

Torrey emphasised the requirement for flexibility in response to changes in bilateral air service agreements, expressing hopes for future opportunities to grow Scoot's presence in India. The issue of sixth freedom traffic, where passengers transit through a hub en route to a third country, remains a contention between India and Middle Eastern countries like the UAE and Qatar.

Indian carriers are split on whether to grant more rights to Middle Eastern airlines, with Air India and SpiceJet opposing it, while Akasa Air and IndiGo call for a comprehensive analysis before making a decision.

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