Valuair

Valuair Limited (Chinese: 惠旅航空; Thai: แวลูแอร์) is a Singapore-based budget airline. It was launched in 2004, offering initial services to Bangkok and Hong Kong. It differentiates itself from other budget airlines in that it offers frills such as a baggage allowance of over 20 kg, in-flight food, allocated seats, and 32 inch seat pitch. It now mainly operates scheduled services to major cities in Indonesia.

History

Valuair is the first low-cost airline to begin operations in Singapore, although some do not consider it as such by other definitions. Launching its first flight on 5 May 2004, it was funded by local businessmen, and had the expertise of an ex-Singapore Airlines employee as its CEO.

On the 24 July2005, Jetstar Asia and Valuair and Qantas merged to form Orange Star, in the first major consolidation of Southeast Asia's crowded low-cost airline industry. Jetstar Asia and Valuair said they would continue to operate their normal routes under their own brands in the meantime, with little or no change to the service offered by either airline. Qantas chief executive officer and Jetstar Asia chairman Geoff Dixon chairs the new company. Jetstar Asia chief executive officer Ken Ryan has been appointed as the chief executive of both airlines. The new company is to expect a cash injection of around more than 50 million Singapore dollars in fresh capital into the new entity, largely to be provided by Qantas. Shareholders of Valuair, including airline industry veteran Lim Chin Beng, Malaysia's Star Cruises and Asiatravel.com, have now become minority shareholders in the merged company.

Destinations

A Valuair Airbus A320 at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1

Valuair currently offers flights between its base in Singapore to Jakarta and Surabaya, with Bangkok as a codeshare with Jetstar Asia. The Airline will begin to fly to Denpasar, Bali, from the 27 January 2006. Since the merger with Jetstar Asia, the airline has cut routes to Perth, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Chengdu and Bangkok, as part of a consolidation exercise between both budget carriers.

Asia

Southeast Asia

• Indonesia
  • Denpasar (Ngurah Rai Airport) from 27 January 2006 (To be reviewed)
  • Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport)
  • Surabaya (Juanda Airport) from 23 October2005
• Singapore
  • Singapore (Singapore Changi Airport), Home Base

Suspended Destinations

Asia

East Asia

• People's Republic of China
  • Chengdu (Chengdu Shuangliu Airport) till end of 30 October2005
  • Xiamen (Xiamen Gaoqi Airport) till end of 30 October2005
  • Hong Kong (Hong Kong International Airport) as of 23 October2005

Southeast Asia

• Thailand
  • Bangkok (Bangkok International Airport) (now temporarily offered as a codeshare with Jetstar Asia)

Oceania

• Australia
  • Perth (Perth Airport) till 9 October 2005

Fleet

As of August 2006 the Valuair fleet includes ^[1] :

• 2 Airbus A320-200

Although initially having a fleet type similar to other budget carriers, the airline announced the unusual move of acquiring wide-bodied aircraft, which may be either from the Airbus 340, Boeing 767 or 777 family in February 2005. This was in-line with the airline's plans to serve beyond the five hour radius to include destinations in Eastern Australia and Northeast Asia. ^{[citation needed]}

Flight Numbers

Data correct as of 27 January 2006.

Events in 2005

• On 24 July, 2005 the carrier announced plans to merge with Jetstar Asia. Both Jetstar Asia, a Qantas-backed airline, and Valuair were planning to operate their respective routes normally for the foreseeable future. The announcement came after several weeks of speculation about consolidation within South East Asia's budget airline industry.

• From 11 September2005, Valuair will fly twice daily from Singapore to Jakarta. The new daily flight would be VF208 from Singapore to Jakarta and VF207 from Jakarta to Singapore. VF202 currently flies Singapore-Jakarta daily and VF201 v.v.

• From 23 October2005, Valuair will commence daily flights from Singapore to Surabaya VF531 will operate from Singapore to Surabaya and VF532 will operate from Surabaya and back. Flights to Hong Kong will also be suspended.

External links

• Valuair
• Valuair Fleet Detail
• Valuair Passenger Opinions

References

1. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006

[edit]</small> Airlines of Singapore

Orange Star (Jetstar Asia Airways, Valuair) | Singapore Airlines (SilkAir, Singapore Airlines Cargo) | Tiger Airways

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