By Travel Editor Carsten A. Andersen in Singapore

What is Singapore Airlines strategy in Scandinavia?
“We hope we can expand in Scandinavia beyond Copenhagen. Our partnership with SAS is very important. This cooperation means that we could go from three flights a week to five flights per week.
Now that we have it and more efficient aircraft, I believe that the expansion in the future is very real.”

What other cities in Scandinavia will SIA fly to?
“We have always flown to Copenhagen and the question is not whether we will replace Copenhagen with another city. The question is where else we can fly to in Scandinavia.
The large cities, as f. ex. Stockholm, is certainly one of the possible cities in the future” said Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines, to TTO Scandinavia during the premier flight of the new Airbus 350 from Toulouse to Singapore.

Is Airbus 350 to fly Copenhagen – Singapore?
“It is an option. But we do not say that it is the only aircraft that can be used on the route. What new aircraft we will use for new destinations and expansion is something we will inform about later. “

Is the goal to get daily flights Copenhagen – Singapore?
“It would be logical to work towards daily departures from Copenhagen. But it will not be determined by us alone. Before we go on with daily departures, double daily flights etc. we should talk to our partner SAS,” said Goh Choon Phong.

When do you think the A350 is coming to Copenhagen?
“I can not say at the moment. As we get A 350 delivered we must look at how quickly we deploy the new aircraft. We have A 350, we have Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 777 – 300 and we have A 380. We have to look at, how we best can use the fleet we have, so we get the best overall yield.”

How important is the Scandinavian market for Singepore Airlines?
“We have been in Scandinavia …….., I do not know how many years. It is 20 years ago I myself was in Copenhagen as GM for Scandinavia.
Scandinavia is a very important market for Singapore Airlines. It’s actually the reason that SAS was the first airline we had a very deep cooperation on joint venture basis.
In the last five years we have had very little expansion on long haul destinations. This is because we not have had the right plane, so we could expand into an effective commercial way.
A 350 is a “game changer” for us because we now have new efficient airplanes. Now we can add more capacity on long haul flights and fly to the thinner areas.”

SIA gets more Premium Economy to replace the Economy?
“Yes it’s true. There will be more Premium Economy. We’ve listened to our customers, which is now ready to Premium in the SIA.”

SIA own low-cost carrier Scoot flying regionally with Boeing 787. Should Scoot also fly long haul?
“I would not rule out using Scoot on long haul operations incl. Europe.”
“Do SIA get fair competition from Middle Eastern companies, Emirates, Qatar and Ethiad?
“For me the competition equals competition. It will always be there. My focus has always been that the competition is there. My job is to make sure, that I do the right things to ensure that the SIA group can have a good basis for future growth.”

How is the future for SIA?
“The question is how we create a foundation together, so we can grow and be successful in the future. It is not a question of the next one, two or four years. It is a question of the next 10 – 20 years.
It is not easy to change what we have done the last 60 years to do something which is now the opposite.
A lot of credit must go to our staff. Without their support, acceptance and commitment that this is the right thing to do, we cannot do it.
The second equally important is the support of SIA´s board. Credit goes to both of them.”

How was it to be in Copenhagen?
“It was really lovely. If I had any complain it was, that my stay there , one year, was too short. People – and my staff – was very nice.
“Over the next 18 months SIA gets 18 A 350. Should one of them fly to Copenhagen ?”
“Be patient. We will announce where the new aircraft deploy as we get them, “said Goh Choon Phong.