Scoot selects Sydney as first route

Scoot, the Singapore based low-cost long-haul airline, selected (01-Dec-2011) Sydney as its first international route. The carrier will operate daily between Sydney and Singapore from mid-2012, adding 400 seats per day into the market. The new service is expected to inject around AUD150 million (USD154 million) p/a into the NSW economy. NSW Minister for Tourism George Souris said Scoot selected Sydney ahead of strong competition from Victoria and Queensland. Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson commented: "As the first true no-frills airline operating between Sydney and Asia, we can't wait to bring a whole new way to travel, even better airfares to shake up the industry. Sydney, here we come." Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said there would be a two-year marketing partnership to promote the new service. "Destination NSW in conjunction with Sydney Airport, Tourism Australia and Scoot will be investing in a two-year marketing and promotion plan for the airline's new Sydney route," Ms Chipchase said. Scoot will be the first airline to come to Sydney under a partnership agreement between Destination NSW and Sydney Airport to promote Sydney actively to new airlines and compete for new routes.

Scoot stated that other destinations will be progressively announced as negotiations with airports and tourism bodies progress. It is working with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore for its Air Operator's Certificate, and is proceeding on track to award around the end of 1Q2012. The first commercial flights are targeted to begin in Mid-2011, and they will be open for booking in the early part of 2012. First year destinations include Australasia, China and others - with some routes being completely new, others new to LCC operations. Scoot will operate initially operate with a fleet of four B777-200s to be purchased from its parent Singapore Airlines, and plans to increase it to 14 by 2015. [more - original PR]