Valuair

Valuair
IATA ICAO Callsign
VF VLU VALUAIR
Ceased operations 2005 merged with Jetstar Asia
Hubs Singapore Changi Airport
Fleet size 0
Destinations 0
Parent company Westbrook Investments
Headquarters Singapore Changi Airport
Key people Barathan Pasupathi (CEO)
Website Valuair.com.sg

Valuair (Chinese: 惠旅航空) was a Singapore-based low-cost carrier. It was launched in 2004, offering initial services to Bangkok and Hong Kong. It differentiates itself from other low-cost carriers in that it offers frills such as a baggage allowance of over 20 kg, in-flight food, allocated seats, and 32 inch seat pitch. Acquired in 2005 by Jetstar Asia Airways, the Valuair brand was retained for Jetstar Asia's scheduled services to major cities in Indonesia until October 2014.

The Southwest Finger of Level 3 of Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi Airport housed the head office of the airline.[1]

History

Valuair and Jetstar Asia merger

Valuair Airbus A320 at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya

On 24 July 2005, Jetstar Asia and Valuair merged to form Orange Star, in the first major consolidation of Southeast Asia's crowded low-cost airline industry. Jetstar Asia and Valuair said they would continue to operate their normal routes under their own brands in the meantime, with little or no change to the service offered by either airline. Qantas chief executive officer and Jetstar Asia chairman Geoff Dixon chaired the new company. Jetstar Asia chief executive officer Chong Phit Lian was appointed as the chief executive of both airlines. The new company was to receive a cash injection of more than S$50 million in fresh capital into the new entity, largely to be provided by Qantas. Shareholders of Valuair, including airline industry veteran Lim Chin Beng, Malaysia's Star Cruises and Asiatravel.com, have now become minority shareholders in the merged company.

From 11 September 2005, Valuair began flying twice daily from Singapore to Jakarta. The new daily flight began as VF208 from Singapore to Jakarta, and VF207 from Jakarta to Singapore. As of 1 February 2008, flights to Jakarta increased to four times daily. From 23 October 2005, Valuair commenced daily flights from Singapore to Surabaya, VF531 operated from Singapore to Surabaya, and VF532 vice versa. Flights to Hong Kong were suspended.

From 26 January 2006, Valuair commenced three weekly flights from Singapore to Denpasar Bali. As at 1 February 2008, the service has been upgraded to become four times per week.

Valuair today

Until 2014, the airline flew exclusively to Indonesian destinations - namely Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya and Denpasar. In response to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's rejection of AirAsia-backed airline Indonesia Air Asia's application to fly to Singapore, Indonesia embarked on a policy of protectionism. This prohibited low-cost carriers of Singapore and Indonesia from adding more flights. Jetstar Asia had not yet established routes into Indonesia, so the merger is seen as the airline's strategy to get an early entrance into the lucrative Indonesian market.

Valuair flights are operated by Jetstar Asia crew, with the in-flight menu and entertainment virtually the same as Jetstar Asia's. Sometimes, JetStar flights are used with Valuair aircraft.

In February 2008, Jetstar Asia announced that it would begin flights to Medan later in the year. As existing protectionism policies are in place, the flights were operated under Valuair's code.

Jetstar Asia is a majority Singapore-owned and -based company. The company is managed by Newstar Holdings Pty Ltd, majority owned by Singapore company Westbrook Investments Pte Ltd (51 per cent), with the Qantas Group holding the remaining 49 per cent of shares.

In October 2014, after the Indonesian Government lifting operational restrictions on foreign owned low cost carriers into Indonesia, Valuair was dissolved and its flights were taken over by Jetstar Asia on 26 October 2014.[2]

Destinations

A Valuair Airbus A320 at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1

Valuair offered flights between its base in Singapore to Jakarta, Denpasar and Surabaya, with Bangkok as a codeshare with Jetstar Asia. After the merger with Jetstar Asia, the airline cut routes to Perth, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Chengdu and Bangkok, as part of a consolidation exercise between both airlines. The last flight under the Valuair brand landed on 25 October 2014, and all flights thereafter were operated under the Jetstar Asia brand.

The following list shows all current and former destinations, including the city served, the country, the airport, and the begin and end year of the service.

City Country Airport Begin End
Singapore  Singapore Singapore Changi Airport (base) 5 May 2004 25 October 2014
Denpasar  Indonesia Ngurah Rai Airport27 January 2006 25 October 2014
Jakarta  Indonesia Soekarno-Hatta International Airport23 October 2005 25 October 2014
Medan  Indonesia Kuala Namu International Airport25 July 2013 25 October 2014
Surabaya  Indonesia Juanda International Airport23 October 2005 25 October 2014
Medan  Indonesia Polonia International Airport30 March 200824 July 2013
Bangkok  Thailand Bangkok International Airport5 May 2004November 2005
Chengdu  China Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport20 April 200530 October 2005
Hong Kong  Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport 7 May 2004 23 October 2005
Perth  Australia Perth Airport1 December 20049 October 2005
Xiamen  China Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport25 April 200530 October 2005

Fleet

A Jetstar Asia Airways Airbus A320 with Valuair titles at Ngurah Rai International Airport

As of February 2015, all of Valuair's Airbus A320 aircraft has been transferred to Jetstar Asia Airways.

In-flight services

Passengers would purchase food and beverage on board from the cabin crew as part of a buy on board programme. On flights operated by Valuair, passengers were only allowed to consume food and drinks purchased onboard unless they had special dietary needs.[3] Prior to merger, meal and drinks were included in the ticket charge.

References

  1. ↑ "Singapore Air Operators." (Archive) Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. Retrieved on 31 October 2012. "#034-30 Passenger Terminal Building 1, Level 3, Southwest Finger, Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore 918141"
  2. ↑ Jetstar Asia takes over Valuair flights to Indonesia retrieved 24 October 2014
  3. ↑ "In the air." Jetstar Asia Airways. Accessed 10 November 2008.
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