Low-Fare Airlines Take Asia by Storm
Eight new carriers are the region's latest flying tigers.
Jetting around Asia is getting easier -- and cheaper -- thanks to a flood of low-fare airlines. USA TODAY's Gene Sloan profiles eight of the region's newest flying tigers.
Kingfisher Airlines
Launched: 2005
Aircraft: 11
Background: Backed by the UB Group, one of India's largest conglomerates, the fast-growing airline mimics JetBlue with upscale amenities, including personal video screens at every seat.
Hub: Mumbai, India
Serves: India (Bangalore, Delhi, Goa, Jaipur and more).
Sample fare: Delhi to Mumbai, $195 one way.
On the Web: flykingfisher.com
SpiceJet
Launched: 2005
Aircraft: Six
Background: Indian backers hope to tap soaring demand for domestic flights in India -- growing more than 25% a year. The airline just confirmed an order for 10 more Boeing 737s.
Hub: New Delhi
Serves: India (Bangalore, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata and more).
Sample fare: Mumbai to Bangalore, $36 one way.
On the Web: spicejet.com
Jetstar Asia Airways
Launched: 2004
Aircraft: Four
Background: An Asian offshoot of Jetstar, the low-cost domestic Australian airline owned by Qantas.
Hub: Singapore
Serves: Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar).
Sample fare: Singapore to Hong Kong, $74 one way.
On the Web: jetstarasia.com
Valuair
Launched: 2004
Aircraft: Four
Background: Jetstar Asia took over the year-old start-up in July, but it continues to operate separately, with a focus on Indonesia.
Hub: Singapore
Serves: Thailand, Indonesia.
Sample fare: Singapore to Jakarta, $49 one way.
On the Web: valuair.com
Tiger Airways
Launched: 2004
Aircraft: Six
Background: A joint venture between Singapore Airlines, Ryanair founder Tony Ryan and former America West CEO William Franke.
Hub: Singapore
Serves: Australia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines.
Sample fare: Singapore to Guangzhou, China, $31 one way.
On the Web: tigerairways.com
Nok Air
Launched: 2004
Aircraft: Two
Background: A low-cost spinoff of Thai Airways.
Hub: Bangkok
Serves: Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phuket, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang).
Sample fare: Bangkok to Chiang Mai, $27 one way.
On the Web: www.nokair.co.th
AirAsia
Launched: 2002
Aircraft: 39
Background: A relaunch of an Asian carrier that failed in 2001, expanding at a blistering pace.
Hubs: Kuala Lumpur and Senai, Malaysia; Bangkok; Jakarta, Indonesia.
Serves: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Singapore.
Sample fare: Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, $34 one way.
On the Web: airasia.com
One-Two-Go
Launched: 2003
Aircraft: 13
Background: A low-fare offshoot of Orient Thai, which has operated as a charter airline in the region since the 1990s.
Hub: Bangkok
Serves: Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Surat Thani).
Sample fare: Bangkok to Phuket, $42 one way.
On the Web: fly12go.com
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