(SINGAPORE) Come next week, the Singapore Flyer will play host to the select guests of some of Singapore's biggest corporations, who will be able to usher in the Year of the Rat as they lo hei some 165 metres above ground.

Inaugural flights on the $240-million observation wheel - which will take place from Monday to Wednesday - have been snapped up by more than 30 corporate customers, who are forking out $8,888 a capsule for two rotations on the observation wheel.

The flyer has 28 capsules, each of which will host 26 guests for the inaugural flights.

Bookings for the inaugural flights came in as early as the first quarter of 2007, said Adval Brand Group, the company marketing the rides on the flyer.

Corporations which have booked capsules on Singapore's version of the London Eye are mostly financial institutions such as UOB, OCBC, Credit Suisse, ABN Amro and Societe Generale (SocGen). But companies from other sectors are also represented. Among others, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways have also booked capsules.

In view of the Chinese New Year festivities, guests of these corporations will be able to lo hei, or toss the salad, for good fortune and success when each capsule reaches its 165-metre peak during the rotation. Canapes and drinks will also be served.

SocGen's private banking unit SG Private Banking has made the largest corporate bookings of 11 capsules to celebrate Chinese New Year with its staff.

'It is an annual celebration for us,' said Pierre Baer, chief executive of SG Private Banking for Singapore & South Asia. 'But this year, we will do it slightly differently so that our colleagues will have a different experience, and appreciate SG Private Banking's unique style in doing the traditional lo hei at 165 metres atop the world's largest observation wheel.'

One client that will be a lot more invested in the flights is DP Architects, which has been actively involved in the project from the early stages of development. The firm has booked one capsule for Feb 11, the first day of the flights.

'We have been working on it for quite a while so we are really looking forward to going on it and seeing the view,' said Vikas M Gore, a director at DP Architects. 'We have not gone up on it before, even on the test flights.'

The flyer, which is Asia's tallest giant observation wheel, will be open to the public from March 1. The grand official opening is slated to take place on April 15.

Other than the inaugural flights for corporate bookings, Singaporeans who can't wait for their turn on the observation wheel will have their chance on Feb 14 - Valentine's Day.

The Singapore Flyer is offering lovebirds the opportunity to be a part of a very unique Valentine's Day celebration in the sky. Each couple will pay $399 for one rotation on the flyer - inclusive of champagne, chocolates and flowers.

Despite the strong response from the public, tickets for the flyer for the first few months are still available, said Adval Brand Group. The flyer has made it its policy to reserve 20 per cent of the capacity for each rotation of the wheel for walk-in customers so as not to disappoint them - especially those visiting from overseas.

A 30-minute rotation on the wheel will be featuring breathtaking scenes of Singapore, with a panoramic 360-degree view of Marina Bay, and even parts of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia - all from the comfort of an air-conditioned capsule.

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