Singapore Airlines unveils long-haul budget carrier

Singapore Airlines on Tuesday launched a budget carrier that will fly on medium and long-haul routes, including to Australia and China. Called "Scoot", the new airline will begin flights from mid-2012 with a fleet of four Boeing B777-200 aircraft, company officials said. "Scoot is for you," said the new carrier's chief executive Campbell Wilson. It is "not an everyday airline name because this is not an everyday airline," he added. Scoot will have its first commercial flight by the middle of next year, initially with four B777-200 aircraft purchased from parent company SIA. It is expected to have 14 planes by 2016, with longer term plans to fly to India, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Officials said the budget carrier will be managed independently from SIA.