COVID-19: SIA Group the big winner in Asia-Pac bailouts (UPDATED)

With aviation and travel featuring very high on its government agenda, Singapore Airlines now looks well positioned to emerge from the coronavirus crisis as an industry leader. Other governments across the Asia Pacific region are taking steps to support the airline industry during the COVID-19 crisis, but in most cases the steps taken to date are timid and, so far, inadequate.

Some governments moved early to introduce packages based on waivers of fees and charges, and state-backed loans for airlines have also been offered. A handful are following up these efforts with more direct forms of financial aid for carriers, with more being likely to follow.

Such steps can risk distorting the market, and generally it is not ideal for governments to be picking winners and losers in such a globally connected industry.

But the playbook has been thrown out of the window due to the sheer scale of the industry shock. Governments with the greatest appetite - and capability - to support their airlines could be a major factor in determining which carriers are in the strongest position when the pandemic eases.

Sometimes a blunt instrument is the best weapon available - regardless of the effect on the long term market profile.