Ep 40: Airlines & Airports Fight to Survive Across South East Asia

About This Episode

16 Oct 2020 • 31m00s

Well, things certainly seem to be moving, with plenty of travel announcements, gossip and rumours. But the region’s aviation industry is still struggling after several months in international inactivity.

This week, Gary and Hannah discuss two pieces of positive news, the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble and the Philippines enabling its citizens to travel outbound. But airlines in Malaysia and Indonesia are desperately trying to restructure their mounting losses and debts.

Will more big-name carriers fall, or instead will they shift their operations to low-cost subsidiaries? And where are new airline licenses being awarded and new airports nearing completion? Plus, how are South East Asia’s primary and secondary airports faring after months of near-derelict terminals?

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