Originally Posted by
marcusnugg
That's very true. What is an airline without the rights to serve its target market?
On the otherhand, surely the mainland is willing to open up competition, right?
First paragraph: True. The right to access your target market is kind of fundamental to a business plan.
Second paragraph: Cue maniacal laughter.
Originally Posted by
QRC3288
Get ready to start laughing then...the idea that a foreign airline is going to become the LCC of choice to/from China is a pipe dream.
Definitely. Check out Spring Airlines. Any new LCC to/from HK, if/when allowed, will be firmly in Chinese hands. Jetstar would have to find a well-connected PRC partner and likely would have a minority share only.
I have always wondered why Hong Kong Airlines/Hong Kong Express (joint HK-mainland ownership) decided against moving to an LCC model--if it was that the financial metrics just won't work, or big egos, or what. They certainly have the nucleus of aircraft and routes in place to do this.