After setting a first in December last year as the first regional budget airline to fly into Australia, Valuair-Singapore`s budget carrier- will create another first…
After setting a first in December last year as the first regional budget airline to fly into Australia, Valuair-Singapore`s budget carrier- will create another first with the launch of 4-weekly flights to Chengdu from April 20, 2005. Return tickets will be priced at a promotional fare of S$360 (return). Chengdu is Valuair’s fifth destination in addition to its twice daily flights to Bangkok and Hong Kong, as well as daily services to Jakarta and Perth.
With the launch of flights into China, Valuair is moving towards its vision to be Singapore’s second international airline and making significant contributions to Singapore’s economy and tourism sector. Mr. Lim Chin Beng, Chairman of Valuair said, “The launch of our flights into China represents another major milestone in our first year of operations. We are very proud to be the first Singapore budget airline to enter into one of the most highly sought markets in the region.”
He added, “Within our first year of operations, we are starting to fly to our fifth destination with a sixth to be added in a few days. We were the first budget airline in Singapore, the first into Australia and now the first into China. With the support of our customers, we plan to operate to more major destinations. Our entry into China is another step in that direction.”
Chengdu – the capital city of Sichuan Province – is the center of science and technology, commerce, trade and finance as well as the leading hub of transportation and communications in Southwest China. Famed for its Sichuan cuisine and giant pandas, Chengdu generates almost 10% of China’s total visitors into Singapore. Chengdu is also the gateway to the famous tourism destination of Jiuzhaigou.
Singapore remains China’s largest tourism investor after Hong Kong with more than US$600 million in investments. China continues to be the number-two source market for Singapore with 75,000 visitor arrivals in April 2004 which represents a 17% jump from the corresponding period in 2002.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
