Discount airlines in AsiaAsian carriers have generally offered lower fares (and better service) than their Discount airlines in Europe|European or American rivals. Now they are starting to catch the wave of discount airlines, pioneered in the US and Europe. In South-East Asia, an ASEAN-wide open skies agreement is in the works, but in the rest of the continent flights are still severely restricted by bilateral agreements. Asian carriers are generally much cheaper than their American or European rivals, and there are great bargains to be had, especially on some domestic routes. The low-cost airline industry in Asia is sure to boom in the coming years. {{disclaimerbox|All fares quoted below are one-way (except where noted), include taxes and charges, and are widely available. Flight destinations may change and airlines may go bust without notice.}} ==China== There are no low-cost airlines yet in this booming market, but this seems set to change in 2005 with a license awarded to '''Yinglian Airlines''' of Chengdu — and you can already fly in from Singapore to Chengdu, Macau, Taipei and Xiamen the LCC way. ==India== India's airline market is rapidly liberalizing. Four low-cost carriers have started operations and many more are on the horizon. ===Air Deccan=== [http://www.airdeccan.net Air Deccan] operate a domestic network in India. Their fares start from INR 500 (US$11.50). However, these prices often sell out several months in advance. ===Air India Express=== [http://www.airindiaexpress.in Air India Express] is the low-cost spinoff of state carrier Air India. The carrier currently operates flights to Middle Eastern destinations Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Salalah. ===Kingfisher Airlines=== [http://www.flykingfisher.com/ Kingfisher Airlines], run by beer and liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, promised models as flight attendants and in-flight entertainment in every seat. The airline currently flies from Bangalore to Delhi and Mumbai. ===Spice Jet=== [http://www.spicejet.com Spice Jet] started operations in May 2005. The airline promises ''Everyday Spicy Fares'' for as low as INR 99. ==Middle East== ===Air Arabia=== [http://www.airarabia.com/ Air Arabia], the largest LCC in the Middle East, are based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. A coach service connects Sharjah with Dubai for US$2.50. They fly to a variety of destinations in the Middle East, East Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. They operate a modern fleet. Their fares are often very good value, starting at 119 UAE dirhams (US$32) on some routes. They offer a connecting flight service. They have just announced that they will be starting daily flights to Mumbai, India from the middle of March 2005. ===Atlas Blue=== [http://www.atlas-blue.com/ Atlas Blue] flies from Marrakech and Agadir in Morocco to destinations around Europe (mostly France). ===Gulf Traveller=== [http://www.gulftraveller.com/ Gulf Traveller] is the low-cost spinoff of Gulf Air, based in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Muscat (Oman). ===Menajet=== [http://www.menajet.com/ Menajet] flies a limited network from Beirut, Lebanon. ==South-East Asia== South-East Asia has the most developed low cost carrier networks in Asia, with many operators and fierce competition. Note that at time of writing, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar are ''not'' reachable by LCC. ===Air Asia=== Malaysian airline [http://www.airasia.com/ Air Asia] has the distinction of having been acquired for 1 ringgit (US $0.25), but they have now grown to the largest (and most profitable) operator in the region. Originally founded by government-owned conglomerate DRB-Hicom, the heavily indebted airline was purchased by former Time Warner executive Tony Fernandes's company Tune Air Sdn Bhd for the symbolic sum of one ringgit on December 2nd, 2001. They operate on the now-classic model — open seating, Internet/phone booking and no complimentary refreshments. They have bases in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru (near Singapore), Bangkok and Jakarta (via '''AWAIR'''), operating flights throughout Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as Macau and Singapore. ===Air Paradise=== [http://www.airparadise.co.id/ Air Paradise] operates from Bali, Indonesia. ===Asian Spirit=== [http://www.asianspirit.com/ Asian Spirit] flies domestic flights in the Philippines. === Cebu Pacific Air=== [http://www.cebupacificair.com/ Cebu Pacific] flies within the Philippines. === Jetstar Asia=== [http://www.jetstarasia.com/ Jetstar Asia] is a Qantas-backed LCC currently flying from Singapore to Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei. Their ambitious expansion plans include Hanoi, Manila and Mumbai. ===Indonesian Citilink=== [http://www.ga-citilink.com/ Indonesian Citilink] operate a domestic route network in Indonesia. Fares start from 125,000 Indonesian Rupiah ($15). === Lion Air === [http://www.lionair.co.id/ Lion Air] flies from Jakarta to domestic destinations and Singapore. === Nok Air === Thai Airlines' low-cost carrier spinoff [http://www.nokair.co.th/ Nok Air] flies domestic flights in Thailand and is planned to expand overseas as well. ===Orient Thai=== [http://www.orient-thai.com/ Orient Thai], who also use the brand '''One-Two-GO''', flies domestic flights in Thailand as well as international flights to Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Seoul from both Bangkok and Phuket. ''Note'': Even by low-cost carrier standards, Orient Thai's on-time record is notoriously poor and their planes, particularly the 747s, are old. ===South East Asian Airlines=== Despite the grand name, [http://www.flyseair.com/ South East Asian Airlines]' network is limited to domestic turboprop flights in the Philippines. ===Tiger Airways === [http://www.tigerairways.com/ Tiger Airways] is a low-cost airline set up in Singapore jointly by Singapore Airlines and the people who started Ryanair. Services currently operate from Singapore to China (Macau), Philippines (Manila), Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket), and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh). Fares start at S$ 63 (US$ 39) one way for Singapore - Bangkok. === ValuAir=== [http://www.valuair.com.sg ValuAir] is the first low-cost airline which was started in Singapore by ex-Singapore Airline workers. Unlike the competition, they offer a few frills like simple in-flight meals. They offer flights between their home base in Singapore and Bangkok, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Perth and Xiamen. ==See also== * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines Wikipedia article: List of low-cost airlines] {{stub}} First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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