I had a row to myself on this plane. In fact, United has decided to halt the evening run next month and inaugurate service to Bangkok, now the darling of bargain-hunting Hong Kong shoppers. On the ground in Singapore, it is not hard to spot the economic crisis.
Shuttered storefronts abound.
Hawker centers may still be full, but many restaurants are hurting. Eating good food plays such a critical role in everyday life that if Singaporeans are cutting back on this beloved pastime, the economy must indeed be in bad shape. Walking down the red-brick Boat Quay promenade on a Friday evening, I am besieged by restaurateurs. Bar, a yuppie expatriate hangout. Further down along the river, I can peer through the windows of the Singapore Town Club, once a tony meeting place for Raffles Place executives.