V Air Cancels Low-Cost Service between Manila and Taipei
Taiwanese low-cost carrier V Air announced that it will be cancelling its only route to the Philippines, less than four months after the service began. The subsidiary of TransAsia Airways will operate its last flight between Taipei and Manila on July 14.
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| Image Source: Wikimedia |
Last October, V Air announced that it would launch low-cost flights between Manila and Taipei, competing directly with Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific. The carrier launched four weekly flights on March 27, 2016 utilising its fleet of A321 aircraft.
It is believed that the route cancellation stemmed from intense competition from full-service carriers including China Airlines, Eva Air, and Philippine Airlines, who also compete on the route along with budget carrier Cebu Pacific. Both China Airlines and Eva Air responded to the entry of V Air by heavily discounting prices and increasing capacity, which negatively impacted sales for V Air.
It remains unclear if V Air will attempt to compete in the Philippine market in the near future. Shortly after the launch of V Air's service between Manila and Taipei, executives from the Taiwanese budget carrier revealed that the carrier was also interested in launching direct flights from Taiwan to Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, and Cebu by April 2017. Airlines officials have not disclosed if the previously planned Philippine expansion will proceed.
It is believed that the route cancellation stemmed from intense competition from full-service carriers including China Airlines, Eva Air, and Philippine Airlines, who also compete on the route along with budget carrier Cebu Pacific. Both China Airlines and Eva Air responded to the entry of V Air by heavily discounting prices and increasing capacity, which negatively impacted sales for V Air.
It remains unclear if V Air will attempt to compete in the Philippine market in the near future. Shortly after the launch of V Air's service between Manila and Taipei, executives from the Taiwanese budget carrier revealed that the carrier was also interested in launching direct flights from Taiwan to Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, and Cebu by April 2017. Airlines officials have not disclosed if the previously planned Philippine expansion will proceed.
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