Flying low-cost between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

Received an email from AirAsia this morning. They are promoting their flights to Singapore. At first, I thought: what's that? Six flights daily between KL and Singapore? Is it for the Hari Raya period? Since when could AirAsia suddenly increase their frequency from the present two?

Then it hit me when I read the email more closely. It wasn't for the Hari Raya. AirAsia's promotion was for flights between 1 Dec 2008 and 31 Jul 2009. The operative date is "1 Dec 2008". That's the date when the closely guarded KL-Singapore sector becomes totally liberalised. That's the date when the low-cost carriers can join in the competition and increase their flights between the two cities.

It's not only AirAsia that will benefit from this liberalisation. Singapore's Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia will also be benefiting. The route will no longer be a duopoly enjoyed by Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines. This liberalisation is also supposed to benefit customers who used to pay around RM1,000 for round-trip tickets on this route. Prices are expected to drop to about RM300 to RM400. That's a hefty reduction, reminiscent of fares charged by both MAS and SIA a very long time ago.

From December, AirAsia will have six daily flights between the two cities. I hear that Tiger Airways will be increasing their frequency to five maximum, while Jetstar Asia will probably increase to two or three flights daily too but they haven't announce anything yet. Nevertheless, brace ourselves for competition. The air is going to get more crowded soon.

Now, my wish is simple: I'd like to have the low-cost carriers introduce low-cost flights between Penang and Singapore too.