Singapore travelers will be able to fly to destinations farther afield on a budget airline for the first time by the end of this year.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar announced yesterday it will mount long-haul flights out of Changi Airport, the first such carrier to do so here. Services will be operated using the airline's new 303-seater Airbus 330-200 aircraft, the first of which will arrive in Singapore in November with a second due to be delivered early next year.

Jetstar executives at yesterday's media conference were tight-lipped about routes, saying that several options were being considered, including points in North Asia, Australia and Southern Europe, which includes Rome and France.

Flydubai, the Dubai-based low-cost airline, has announced flights to Lucknow starting June 2 to tap the 'huge' expatriate traffic.

Flights to Lucknow will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing Dubai at 2030 hrs local time and arriving in Lucknow at 0150 hrs local time the following day. The return flight would operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 0235 hrs local time and arriving in Dubai at 0520 hrs local time.

AirAsia celebrated its inaugural flight to Mumbai from Kuala Lumpur on Friday, signifying its foray into Western India.

In a tourism and economic coup for both countries, AirAsia will be servicing the Kuala Lumpur – Mumbai route between the Low Cost Carrier Terminal and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport with four direct flights weekly through its low cost, long haul affiliate, AirAsia X.

Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and founder of AirAsia X said: “We are thrilled to start this much-awaited service to Mumbai and provide the people of this magnificent city with unrivalled low-fare flights to Kuala Lumpur, the Gateway to ASEAN and beyond. AirAsia, the World’s Best Low-Cost airline, is determined to help in enhancing the tourist and commercial links between India and Malaysia. Mumbai is our sixth destination city in India, after Trivandrum, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi and Tiruchirappali.

U.S. and Japanese business travel may be easier after Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines and Hawaiian Holdings Inc. won routes to Tokyo’s Haneda airport, favored by executives flying to the capital.

The U.S. Transportation Department approved four flights for the carriers yesterday while UAL Corp.’s United Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc., which announced a plan to merge this week, were denied the Haneda flights they sought.

Japan-U.S. treaties since 1978 have restricted U.S. carriers to serving Narita Airport, the Japanese capital’s main international airport, about 44 miles (71 kilometers) east of the city by car. A draft “Open Skies” agreement reached in December permits four daily U.S.-Japan round trips at Haneda, 10 miles south of the city, starting in October.

Delta’s two daily Haneda flights will connect Los Angeles and Detroit, AMR Corp.’s American will fly to and from New York, and Hawaiian will link Honolulu, the department said in granting the first U.S. flights to the airport in 32 years.

Qantas Airways Ltd.'s cut-price unit Jetstar and Malaysian discount carrier AirAsia Bhd. said Wednesday they have formed an alliance aimed at cutting costs, pooling their expertise and reducing air fares.

The non-equity alliance between two of Asia-Pacific's largest discount carriers will also see them work together on a proposed specification and joint procurement for the next generation of narrow-body aircraft, the two groups said in a joint statement.

The airlines have also agreed to cooperate on passenger and ground handling in Australia and Asia at airports they both serve, pooling their inventories of aircraft components and spare parts, and joint procurement of engineering and maintenance supplies and services.

The deal is an "important first step," Jetstar Chief Executive Bruce Buchanan said at a media conference, and could result in costs savings "in the hundreds of millions of dollars."

State-owned Air India, the airline that operates domestic and international routes, is losing huge amounts of money a month and urgently needs financial resuscitation. As the new Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jhadav tries to put together a rescue package, fingers have been pointed at Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel for several decisions in his last five years as minister that allegedly damaged the struggling airline’s competitive position. In an interview with senior editors of Business Standard, Patel discusses the airline’s problems and defends his record.

Air India has never operated smoothly. Its history shows that it has run well for some time and then again fallen. The reasons that dog the airline are the high cost of manpower and inefficiencies inherently built into the organization, coupled with external factors like the slowdown.

An attempt was made by the earlier government in 2003 to sell Air India, which did not fructify because Tata-Singapore International Airlines backed off. In 2004, when we took over, A-I was shrinking and it had only 23 aircraft. Indian Airlines was better off. They initially came to us with an order for 24 aircraft. Air India was asked to revisit its order, considering that the market was looking up and we were starting Air India Express.

Cargo flights can leave Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday as soon as shippers and airlines are ready, the head of the airports authority said. "I have authorized pure cargo flights to resume from 0900 hours this morning and it's up to them to start when they are ready," Serirat Prasutanond, managing director of Airports of Thailand PCL, said.

He said passenger flights would not restart until anti-government protesters ended their sit-in, which has halted all passenger and cargo flights for the past week.

Thai Airways International has adopted a new checked baggage policy for flights to and from the US and Canada.

From December 1, the free baggage allowance for passengers traveling with Thai will change to reflect new international standards.

Royal First Class and Royal Silk Class passengers receive a free baggage allowance of two pieces. The weight of each piece shall not exceed 32 kilograms (70 lbs) and linear measurement (length+width+height) shall not exceed 158 centimeters (62 inches).

Bangkok Airways, a leading regional airline in Asia, announced a successful start to their initial Facebook marketing campaign. The recently launched Facebook group has registered more than 1,000 members within the first month of operation and continues to attract more people.

Bangkok Airways in cooperation with Admax Plus recently launched a Facebook group called Asia's Boutique Airlines - Bangkok Airways as a part of the company's marketing campaign to build brand image and customer satisfaction. By creating an interactive community in Facebook, the company is able to communicate directly with customers about news and promotions while members can share their experiences, complaints, praises or suggestions with other travelers.

After its launch, the Bangkok Airways Facebook group has attracted more than 1,000 members in the first few months and the number is expected to grow steadily as members send more invites to their friends.

Lao Airlines on Monday announced the opening of a new route between Luang Prabang, Laos's once royal capital, and Udon Thani, north-east Thailand, radio reports said.

The new route will operate twice a week, every Friday and Sunday, costing 80 dollars one way and 150 dollars round trip, said Radio Laos in a broadcast monitored in Bangkok, dpa reports.

Udon Thani, 450 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, is the closest Thai airport to Vientiane, the Lao capital. It is a major hub for Laos and foreigners living in Laos to catch flights on to Bangkok and abroad.