AirAsia moves to Changi Airport’s new hybrid Terminal 4. Perhaps a new hub for its Fly-Thru product

AirAsia has signed up as the anchor tenant for Changi Airport's T4, a new hybrid terminal which is slated to open in 2017. AirAsia expects to reduce its operating costs significantly in Singapore as it moves from T1 to T4, giving it a better foundation to allow it potentially to resume expansion in Singapore.

AirAsia grew rapidly in Singapore from 2008 through 2013 but cut capacity in 2014 as market conditions became extremely challenging. Lower operating costs, driven by automation of passenger services, and incentive packages should make it easier for AirAsia to add capacity on some of its 15 existing routes from Singapore and launch new routes.

AirAsia could also potentially use T4 as a transit hub by introducing its Fly-Thru product in the Singapore market. Although it is not a hub or base Changi is AirAsia's third largest airport. Only Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok have more AirAsia seats than Singapore.