SINGAPORE travellers are reaping the benefits of cheaper flights as airlines battered by the economic crisis struggle to fill their cabins.
Fares in economy class were down by as much as 10 per cent in the last three months of last year, compared with the July to September period.
Across all classes, the overall dip was 2 per cent, said American Express in its latest travel report, which looks at fares out of the Asia-Pacific region.
Compared to the rates in October to December 2007 though, year-end fares last year were still about 6 per cent higher. It means, for example, that if you travelled in October last year, chances are your fare would have been cheaper than what it was in July, but higher than in October 2007.
According to American Express, holidaymakers and business travellers zipping within the region benefited the most from lower fares.
Intra-regional fares - from Singapore to Thailand and Hong Kong for example - fell by 4 per cent in the last three months of last year, compared to the quarter before that.
But long-haul fares, to Europe for instance, were up 2 per cent.
Industry watchers say the prominence of low-cost carriers has been a catalyst for lower fares in the region.
Despite the general business downturn, airlines like Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia and AirAsia, continue to expand capacity and add new routes.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.