SIA looks at slow road to recovery after SARS

Singapore Airlines has blamed the SARS outbreak for an almost 60% drop in the number of passengers in May and has warned that talk of a real recovery in demand is premature.

The Star Alliance airline carried 506,000 passengers in May, down from 1.25 million in the same month last year, representing a 59.5% drop. Passenger load factor fell 18.9% to 53.1%.

SIA Cargo reported a 6.3% drop in the amount of freight carried.

The airline adds that while there is "anecdotal evidence of some pickup, loads are still far from the pre-SARS levels and it is still too early to conclude that a recovery is on hand".

Source: Flight Daily News