Is Scoot’s first loss in 12 quarters a worrying sign for SIA shareholders?

[SINGAPORE] Scoot, the budget offshoot of Singapore Airlines (SIA), has been adding routes to its network, including some that were previously served exclusively by Jetstar Asia.

These are Okinawa in Japan and Labuan Bajo in Indonesia – formerly Jetstar Asia’s “monopoly” – as well as Chiang Rai in Thailand, and Da Nang and Nha Trang in Vietnam. 

But would the former routes of its now defunct peer be a boon or bane to Scoot? After all, Jetstar Asia had failed to be profitable for years before it exited Changi Airport for good. Would Scoot be able to reap economies of scale from other routes as well?