Oasis Hong Kong Airlines - London, Vancouver to HKG Flights Suspended
Long-haul budget carrier Oasis Hong Kong Airlines has ceased operations. With oil prices at record highs and tight credit markets Oasis becomes another airline casualty. The last flight was on April 9th 2008. |
Started in October 2006, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines operated a 10-x-weekly service from London Gatwick to Hong Kong and a 6-x-weekly service from Hong Kong to Vancouver in Canada.
Oasis ran Boeing 747-400 aircraft with both business class seats (50" to 60" seat pitch) and economy class (32" pitch).
Oasis Hong Kong's entry into the market with fares form £75 plus tax one-way had caused ripples in the industry, helping to bring down airfares on the popular London - Hong Kong route amongst the likes of Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic.
Oasis' business class service for London - Hong Kong was priced from around at £1,300 (HK$16,000) all in for a return journey, significantly undercutting the legacy carriers. (Although quality of the product was not in the same class as say BA Club).
Prices for Hong Kong to Vancouver flights started at £383 / £1,443 return all-in for economy and business on Oasis Hong Kong respectively.
Oasis had planned to expand to Oakland in the US, Milan, Berlin and Cologne in Europe and Sydney & Melbourne in Australia.
With the demise of all business discount carrier Maxjet and more recently US budget carrier Skybus, trading conditions remain tough in the commercial aviation sector and stock prices have taken a significant haircut. This does put some doubts whether the long-haul budget model can work for a small stand-alone airline in this market.
Air Asia X flies from Kuala Lumpur to Australia and plans flights to the UK from 2009 - it is backed by Air Asia, one of the world's most successful airlines. Jetstar flies from Australia to various destinations in the Asia-Pacific region - it is owned by Qantas.
However the loss of Oasis is a shame for cost-conscious long-haul flyers.
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