Some Asian carriers are reporting a slight improvement in demand as the SARS outbreak eases. They are slowly restoring suspended services, although most expect the recovery to take months. Cathay Pacific Airways says demand has picked up since the World Health Organisation lifted an advisory warning against travel to Hong Kong at the end of May. The airline suspended nearly half its scheduled passenger services in June and grounded 22 aircraft, but plans to return some to service in July, when frequencies will be increased across its network. Singapore Airlines, reporting a 60% year-on-year drop in the number of passengers carried in May, says loads are far from the pre-SARS levels and it is "still too early to conclude that a recovery is on hand".
Source: Flight International
