For those who doubted the reality of long haul LCC operations, the evidence is mounting that the future of long haul is changing. There are now 11 LCCs operating scheduled routes longer than 7,000km - and more are on the way, accelerated by the arrival of new 787s and A350s. Significantly too, five are subsidiaries or part of full service airline groups.
Singapore Airlines' (SIA) medium/long haul low cost airline subsidiary Scoot is now preparing to launch services to Europe in 2Q2017. Scoot will likely become the first LCC with flights over 10,000km long since Malaysia’s AirAsia X suspended services to Europe in 2012 (although AirAsia X is talking of resuming Europe service too).
Europe will be Scoot’s focus for the next phase of its expansion as it takes delivery of four 787-8s equipped with crew bunks. Scoot now operates 11 787s and plans to take one additional aircraft in 2016 in the standard configuration, completing its current phase of rapid expansion that features eight new medium haul destinations in just under one year.
