HK's new long-haul budget airline takes off

[White Cap]

Source: airline-news.com

HK's new budget long-haul airline takes off

Oasis Airlines' Stephen Miller plans to take on big carriers
Hong Kong's first budget airline, Oasis, has taken off on its inaugural flight to London.

Unusually for a low-cost carrier, it offers food and business class and concentrates on long-haul flights.

The first flight - to Gatwick airport - took off at 1300 local time (0500 GMT) and was fully booked.

Seats in economy class cost from $200 (£112) including tax while business class is cheaper than economy on established airlines.

However environmental groups have expressed concern about the trend of budget long-haul flights, and say that low-price fares do not reflect the true cost of the environmental damage they cause.

Shake-up promised

Oasis Airlines was set up last year by Stephen Miller. He had earlier founded Dragonair, an airline since bought out by Hong Kong's main carrier, Cathay Pacific.

For his new venture he received financial backing from Hong Kong investors including the Reverend Raymond and Priscylla Lee, who had moved long ago from ministry into property development.

Oasis promises to shake up the airline industry in Hong Kong and beyond as the first budget carrier to focus only on the long haul.

After a few months flying to London, Oasis plans to fly to the US and to destinations in Europe such as Berlin and Milan.

On the London route alone, Oasis will spark direct competition with Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Virgin Airlines.

Industry experts say prices across the board will have to be lowered.

[Diego A. Maradona]

Fliegt man mit denen auch Supersonic? Gibts an Bord Cigaretes&Alcohol? Oder gar rauschende Feste mit einer Champagne Supernova?
Und was ist, wenn der Laden wieder dicht macht, heißt es dann Don´t look back in anger??

[cabfish]

luchtvaartnieuws.nl berichtet, das der Erstflug gecancelled wurde. Die russischen Behörden haben demnach die Überflugrechte zurückgezogen. Nach sechs Stunden Wartezeit mußten die Passagiere wieder auschecken.