SIA badly needs Northeast Asian partners after failed Jeju Air deal

It needs to enter China.

Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) is continuing to search for growth through partnerships and investment in Northeast Asia, two people close to the company told Reuters, days after tie-up talks collapsed with South Korea budget carrier Jeju Air.

The airline, which tried to buy into China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd in 2008, is particularly looking for a way to access China's vast domestic flights market, the people said.

SIA has put money into markets such as India and Australia to boost income as growth in passenger numbers languishes far below the global rate, partly due to Gulf carriers offering an increasing number of indirect flights at lower prices.

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