Singapore Airlines 2003 Annual Report Download - page 14

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Operating Review
NETWORK
The highlight of the year in terms of network
expansion came with the launch of Las Vegas
services in August 2002. The famed
entertainment and conference centre, which
is also an important gateway to America’s
southwest, was served by a three-times
weekly B777-200ER service, equipped with
SIA’s new SpaceBeds, stopping at Hong Kong
en route. With the outbreak of war in the
Middle East and SARS, this service was
subsequently suspended in April 2003.
In October, SIA’s China services received a
significant boost with the introduction of
a third daily flight to Shanghai. The increase
in capacity coincided with the shift of SIA
flights from Shanghai’s Hong Qiao airport
to the new Pudong International Airport,
45 minutes from the city.
PREPARING FOR
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
SIA continued to grow steadily in terms
of fleet size and destinations served during
the early part of the year. Recovery from
the downturn in demand in the aftermath
of the events of September 11 2001 was
encouraging, and nearly all of the services
suspended at the end of 2001 or the
beginning of 2002 were restored. In addition,
SIA launched the first-ever direct service
between South East Asia and Las Vegas.
The second half was plagued by events
beyond the control of the Airline. With the
economic slowdown continuing to weaken
the travel and tourism industry, consumer
demand was further dampened by the
bomb attacks in Bali, the worsening situation
in Iraq leading to the eventual war, and at
the end of the financial year, the sudden
and devastating outbreak of the Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Asia.
As the year in review ended, the outlook
for the industry was uncertain.
12 SIA Annual Report 02/03