Can Scoot's long-haul routes be viable?

IN an endeavouring move that has diversified its portfolio, local budget carrier Scoot launched its first long-haul flight between Asia-Pacific and Europe on June 20. Its Singapore-Athens debut route saw load factors hovering at around 70 per cent for the summer months.

Consequently, Scoot has announced plans for five new destinations in the next year, comprising four new short to mid-haul routes and another long-haul route. The places will only be announced on July 25, which is also when Scoot and Tigerair will operate under Scoot and come under one company - Budget Aviation Holdings - after the merger.

Scoot is ahead of the game as it is the only airline and low-cost carrier offering direct flights between South-east Asia and Greece, but can this be sustainable for its growth in an increasingly challenging environment in the aviation industry?