Asia's budget airlines have grown rapidly in recent years. And while some are faring well, the sector faces a bumpy ride as economic turbulence hits both domestic and international travel.
近年来，亚洲的廉价航空公司发展迅速。尽管有些公司经营不错，但是由于经济震荡对国内和国际旅行造成冲击，亚洲航空业面前的道路十分坎坷。
Asia's low-cost airlines, which took off in good economic times, are facing the stiff headwinds of the global economic downturn.
亚洲的廉价航空起步于经济繁荣之时，但由于全球经济下滑，它们正面对重重阻力。
The International Air Transport Association warns that Asia's aviation industry is in "survival mode," with airlines forecast to lose over $3 billion this year.
国际航空运输协会警告说，亚洲航空业正在苦苦挣扎之中，预计今年航空公司的损失将超过30亿美元。
Some air carriers focus on domestic market to prevent losses
But some low-cost carriers are doing a bit better than average as more travelers seek to cut costs.
但是，随着越来越多的旅客努力节约开支，一些廉价航空公司的业绩显得好于平均水平。
"That's pretty much what we're seeing in the airline business. We've seen premium traffic down - we're seeing the value-based airlines up and succeeding and doing well," says Bruce Buchanan, the chief executive officer of the Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar.
澳大利亚廉价航班运营商捷星航空的首席执行官布鲁斯.布坎南(Bruce Buchanan)说：“这差不多就是目前航空业的状况。高价位航班的客运量明显下降，但物超所值的航空公司却在上升，他们做的不错，正在取得成功。”
But he says budget carriers in Asia face several obstacles, especially tough regulations and government control over airports and fees.
但是他又说，亚洲的廉价航空公司也面临着一些障碍，尤其是严格的监管体制以及政府对机场和收费的控制。
Still, he says, budget airlines are adapting to the challenges, and working with governments to create opportunities. Jetstar, for one, plans to expand its Singapore operations, creating a strategic hub.
尽管如此，他表示，廉价航空正在适应挑战，与政府合作，创造更多的机会。比如，捷星航空正计划拓展在新加坡的业务，建立一个战略中心。
In May, Singapore allowed more flights to the Philippines, especially for low-cost flights, targeting smaller markets such as Cebu and Davao. Traffic between the two countries grew 12 percent last year.
5月，新加坡批准了更多飞往菲律宾的航线，尤其是针对诸如宿雾和达沃等小市场的廉价航线。两国间的客运量去年增长了12%。
And relaxed regulations have led to more budget flights connecting Singapore and Malaysia.
政府放松管制也给新加坡和马来西亚之间带来了更多的廉价航线。
New policies help financial recovery of some low-cost airlines
Malaysia's Air Asia has been a success story in turbulent times. First-quarter net profit rose by more than 25 percent this year, buoyed by a jump in passenger numbers.
马来西亚的亚洲航空公司已成为经济动荡时期的一个成功典范。由于旅客人数增加，亚洲航空今年第一季度的净利润增长了25%以上。
John Koldowski, a spokesman for the Pacific Asia tourism Association, says Air Asia's gain must mean pain for some higher-cost competitors.
亚太旅游协会发言人约翰.科尔多夫斯基(John Koldowski)说，亚洲航空公司的增长是那些成本较高的竞争者的噩梦。
"One would assume in a climate where the pie is not growing that rapidly - if at all - that for them to still be improving their numbers, then they're taking market share from someone else," he said.
“人们会认为，在市场规模没有增加的情况下，仍然想发展，那就需要从其他人那里抢夺市场份额。”
But not all budget carriers are doing as well. In Thailand, most airlines struggle because of the global economic slump, domestic political tensions and the threat of swine flu.
但是，并非每一家廉价航空公司都运行良好。在泰国，由于全球经济迅速下滑，国内政治紧张，以及甲型H1N1流感的影响，大多数航空公司陷于苦苦挣扎中。
Nok Air, Thailand's state-owned low-cost carrier, has had to refocus on the domestic market, overhaul routes, cut overseas services, reduce its fleet and shed staff. From a loss of $16 million last year, it recently reported a six-month profit of over $4 million.
泰国国营的廉价航空公司泰鸟航空，已不得不将重点放在国内市场上，并大规模调整航线，削减海外服务，减少航班和人员。去年泰鸟航空亏损了1600万美元，但是最近的报告显示，过去六个月来其利润超过4百万美元。
Sehapan Chumsai, a Nok Air executive vice president, says the airline's attention will be on the domestic market for the foreseeable future.
泰鸟航空执行副总裁塞哈潘.楚姆塞(Sehapan Chumsai)说，在可预见的未来，航空公司的重点将放在国内市场上。
"At the moment we have already passed the financial crisis from the fuel crisis last year - at the moment we are back into a good balance sheet," said Sehapan Chumsai.
“目前，我们已经从去年的燃油危机导致的金融危机中走了出来。我们的资产负债表已经好转。”
Budget airlines in India also face tough times.
印度廉价航空公司的日子同样不好过。
"India is most certainly going through a difficult stage of repair after a surge in growth, which hit a ceiling of a combination of infrastructure, too many airlines in too short a time," said Peter Harbison, the executive chairman at the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation in Sydney.
位于悉尼的亚太航运中心的执行主席彼得.哈比森(Peter Harbison)说：“在一次迅速的增长过后，印度几乎肯定要经历一段艰难的修复期。因为不论是基础设施建设，还是在那么短的时间内出现了那么多航空公司，都意味着航空业的发展过头了。”
Because of high fuel prices, hefty taxes, and the economic downturn, India's Kingfisher Airlines lost over $200 million in the nine months that ended in December.
燃油价格居高不下、赋税沉重和经济下滑等因素，使印度翠鸟航空公司在截至去年12月的九个月里，损失超过两亿美元。
Low ticket prices, tough economy cause fierce competition among all airlines
Despite problem areas, the growth of budget carriers across Asia has forced full-service airlines to compete hard.
尽管问题成堆，但是亚洲各国廉价航空公司的不断成长也给传统航空公司带来了更多的竞争。
"The legacy [full-service] carriers are fighting back to regain market share they'd lost previously to the low cost, by offering extremely good deals," said Brian Sinclair-Thompson, general manager in Thailand for Swiss International Air. "The fares we've got on Swiss, the prices are the lowest - I've been here 10 years - we've never had lower fares than we've got today. So I think we're meeting the low-cost challenge."
瑞士国际航空公司驻泰国总经理布赖恩.辛克莱尔-汤普森(Brian Sinclair-Thompson)说：“通过提供特别优惠的全套服务，传统航空公司正努力夺回那些被廉价航空公司抢走的市场份额。瑞士航空目前的价格是最低的。我在瑞士航空工作十年了，从没见过像今天这样低的票价。我们正在迎接廉价的挑战。”
He says the comfort and service of the big airlines will keep customers coming back.
他说，舒适的环境和一流的服务会使消费者重新选择大航空公司。
Still, low-cost airlines have established a special place in Asia's travel industry. But having grown rapidly during the boom years, many budget carriers find the tough economy forces them to rethink expansion plans.
尽管如此，廉价航空还是在亚洲的旅游市场获得了自己的一席之地。但是，在经历了经济高速增长年份的迅速增长后，很多廉价航空公司也意识到，面对艰难的经济形势，他们不得不重新思考扩张计划。
While hoping for an economic recovery, many of them are focusing on domestic markets and short-haul flights to secure a future in the region's skies.
在寄希望经济复苏的同时，很多廉价航空公司将把业务重点转移到国内市场和短途航线上，以确保在当地未来的天空中， 保持自己的一席之地。 |