New cabin crew uniform for budget airline Scoot

In line with the colours of the airline's bright yellow logo, the uniform will have a black and yellow theme.

Unlike its parent company Singapore Airlines, the flight attendants will sport a more casual look.

Stewardesses will wear fitted black dresses with a yellow strip on one side, while the male attendants will wear similarly coloured T-shirts and dark bottoms.

The low-cost carrier said today that the uniforms were designed by ESTA.

In an earlier interview with AFP, Scoot's CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline will "target the young, the adventurous, and those that wish to save money".

The airline will begin operations in the middle of this year and will fly to long-haul destinations starting with Sydney, Australia.

Fares will be about 40 per cent lower than full-service carriers.

Scoot to debut Singapore-Gold Coast flights from June

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has just announced that Singapore Airlines' low-cost long-haul offshoot Scoot will operate flights to the Gold Coast from June this year.

Five weekly flights will operate from 12 June, with the deal described as a "multi-million blueprint partnership between government and industry which will open up overseas markets and support Queensland businesses and local jobs".

Bligh said the deal would see up to 2000 international visitors per week, injecting as much as $65 million annually into the local economy.

Gold Coast Tourism ceo Martin Winter said the route would position the Gold Coast on a new level as an international destination for Singaporeans, with the deal coming after negotiations by a "cross-agency consortium" also including Gold Coast Airport, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia.

Flights will go on sale in coming months, with Tourism Queensland and Gold Coast Tourism to work together with key industry players in Singapore to "promote the new route and encourage Singaporeans to think of Queensland for their next holiday".

More information in today's Travel Daily.

Singapore Airlines reveals plans for Scoot, a new low-cost long-haul carrier

Singapore Airlines has confirmed details of the worst kept secret in aviation – revealing its new long-haul budget carrier will be called Scoot. The carrier will fly to destinations in Australia and China, with Singapore Airlines outlining longer-term ambitions to reach Europe.

No-frills carriers are booming in the region, with AirAsia X leading the way and established carriers, including Qantas, unveiling rival services.

From mid-2012 Scoot will operate a fleet of four Boeing B777-200 aircraft. It will be wholly owned by Singapore Airlines, but managed independently.
According Scoot chief executive, Campbell Wilson, the airline will operate as many as 14 planes by 2016, charging passengers some 40 per cent less than rival, full-service, airlines.

The airline will operate from Changi Airport Terminal 2, with bookings being taken from early next year. AirAsia X – the long-haul arm of Malaysia-based AirAsia - is likely to be the main competition for Scoot in the short-term. The carrier presently flues to several destinations including London, Taipei, Tehran, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo and a number of cities in China and India. Qantas has also unveiled plans to launch a rival carrier. Singapore Airlines is considered as offering the World’s Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment by the prestigious World Travel Awards.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES WELCOMES ACCC DRAFT APPROVAL OF ALLIANCE WITH VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

Singapore Airlines today welcomed the ACCC's draft approval of its proposed alliance with Virgin Australia. Regulatory approval will enable Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia to build an integrated alliance, an expanded network and seamless service offerings for travellers in Australia.

The alliance will connect Singapore Airlines' global network with Virgin Australia's wide range of Australian and Pacific destinations, offering customers seamless connections, convenient flight schedules, access to more airport lounges and greater opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles.

Singapore Airlines Regional Vice-President South West Pacific Subhas Menon said: "We are pleased with the ACCC's draft approval. We pride ourselves on setting the benchmark for service excellence, product innovation and network connectivity in line with our customers' needs and our partnership with Virgin Australia will enable us to deliver a best-in-class travel experience across Australia. Today's announcement will be welcome news to leisure and corporate travellers alike who will benefit from the more attractive and competitive travel options this alliance will provide."

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia lodged an application with the ACCC in June under which the airlines propose to:

- Codeshare on each other's international and domestic flights;

- Offer reciprocal frequent flyer programme benefits and lounge access;

- Coordinate schedules between Singapore and Australia and beyond to provide seamless connections; and

- Engage in joint sales, marketing and distribution activities.


The proposed alliance is subject to regulatory approvals in Australia and Singapore.