In Reply to: Too late to close the stable doors now, posted by Filo on Saturday, 20. September 2008 at 10:05 Bali Time:
I think you may be right Filo...although if it gets to a pricing shootout, that may have a completely different effect. People can be very forgiving when it comes to saving a dollar or two: I'm sure you'd recall the extraordinary number of people who were pepared to kiss and makeup with Air Paradise when there was talk of that airline getting up again. Who'd of thought!?! I was astonished at the response to that news. But Garuda's problems won't just be in Adelaide, Brisbane and Garuda's cashcow: Perth! I see they are also offering connections via Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. I wonder where the connection is at...surely not Adelaide? I think Garuda may also have underestimated just how many people out of Adelaide and Brisbane have been prepared to go via the Singapore option. It may not have been direct to Bali...but at least it was direct OUT of those Australian ports and the layover in Singapore was just enough time for a toilet break! From a personal perspective I have always been disppointed with Garuda's abdication from Adelaide as it was a fantastic travel option that made you feel as though Bali had actually started from the moment you boarded. Beyond that, the arrival time was fantastic. But, they shut their office, burnt two states and with the exception of Perth, pretty much axed lots of flights from the remaining ports. They chose short-term savings over long-term prosperity. I suspect that should they decide to try and re-enter those markets and develop good share... the cost will be significant. Oh well...we tried to tell 'em! Cheers - kevin