SilkAir to stay amid looming merger

CEBU, Philippines — Singapore Airlines (SIA)-led SilkAir’s presence is here to stay in Cebu amid its impending merger with its parent brand as it remains bullish on its traffic here.

SilkAir Philippines manager Jake Jeow said yesterday operations of the SIA Group will remain present in Cebu amid this change.

“We remain very positive on our traffic here,” he told The FREEMAN in an interview Monday after he announced the company’s upcoming travel sale with BPI on January 11-13 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

Jeow said the merger aims to ensure closer product and service consistency across the SIA Group’s full-service network.

It was May last year when the Singaporean carrier announced that it was upgrading its SilkAir cabin products to prepare for the merger of its regional wing.

Jeow noted the merger will take probably about two-three years.

SIA had announced that aircraft cabin upgrades are expected to start in 2020 “due to lead times required by seat suppliers, including to complete certification processes.”

The merger will take place only after a sufficient number of aircraft have been fitted with the new cabin products, and specific details will be announced progressively as the program develops and timelines are finalized, the firm had said.

SilkAir is one of the foreign carriers operating in Cebu, flying directly to its hub in Singapore where it flies to various destinations in the US, Australia, Europe, Asia, among others.

When asked if the airline plans to expand its frequencies in Cebu, Jeow said it’s possible.

Presently, the foreign carrier flies from Cebu to Singapore 12 times weekly.

He said the Cebu market remains robust, citing both leisure and corporate travelers.

Singapore, he said, remains among the top destinations of Cebuano travelers.

Jeow pointed out the growing interest of the Cebuanos abroad, owing to the relaxing of visa requirements of some countries for Philippine passport holders.

The increasing number of direct flights from Cebu to various destinations overseas is also boosting this interest, he said.

Meanwhile, SilkAir’s annual travel fair in Cebu is already on its sixth year.

“At the travel fair, our customers will have the opportunity to enjoy attractive deals and the best of what SilkAir has to offer.  (FREEMAN)