Hunnu Air introduces new destinations Manzhouli, Paris and soon Singapore

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
With input from Bertrand Mouchmino, Paris
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Hunnu Air, Mongolia's largest domestic and international airline, has introduced new destinations from the period 21 October  through 2014 including more flight frequencies to Bangkok from Ulaanbaatar from 15 December 2013.

On 21 October 2013, Hunnu Air started direct twice-weekly flights between Mongolian city Choibalsan and the Inner Mongolian city of Manzhouli, China's busiest port of entry, using its Fokker F50 aircraft to meet the demands of Mongolian, Chinese and Russian traders importing from and exporting fur and other products to Eastern Europe. The aircraft will be replaced by either an ATR 42 or ATR 72 aircraft by winter 2014.

Hunnu Air has cancelled its twice-weekly commercial flights to Shanghai from Ulaanbaatar without mention of a resumption date.

Hunnu Air maintains its thrice-weekly direct scheduled flights to Hong Kong.

On 15 December 2013, Hunnu Air returns to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok when it begins its red-light flight at 12.10 am from Ulaanbaatar and touches down in Suvarnabhumi at 5.10 am under flight MR21. It returns to Ulaanbaatar from Suvarnabhumi on 16 December 2013 with flight MR22 departing for Ulaanbaatar at 1.35 am and arriving in Ulaanbaatar seven hours later at 8.35 am.

Currently, Hunnu Air operates once-weekly flight to Don Mueang, the city airport of Bangkok and previously operated limited flights to Suvarnabhumi.

Hunnu Air confirmed to French media at last month's International French Travel Market (IFTM) in Paris that it will launch its first long-haul direct flight from Ulaanbaatar to Paris in the second quarter of 2014 using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The new aircraft to be received in the second quarter of 2014 will also operate on its second long-haul flight to Singapore from Ulaanbaatar as early as the fourth quarter of 2014 or early 2015.

Other destinations to be opened by Hunnu Air include Hailar, Huh Hot in China, and Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk in Russia.

Besides Hong Kong, Manzhouli and Bangkok, Hunnu Air operates domestic flights to Bayankhongor, Choibalsan, Dalanzadgad, Murun, Uliastai, Altai, Khovd, Oyu Tolgoi, Ovoot and Tavan Tolgoi.

Nanchang flights to Singapore begin on 29 October 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Nanchang will be linked to Singapore with a fifteen minutes' layover in Nanning when China Eastern Airlines operates its first Nanchang flight to Singapore on 29 October 2013.

On 29 October, China Eastern flight MU2005 departs from Nanchang at 8 am, arrives in Nanning at 9.30 am. At 9.45 am, it leaves for Singapore and touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 2 pm.

One hour later, flight MU2006 takes off at 3 pm for Nanchang. It has a brief layover in Nanning at 6.30 pm before departing for Nanchang at 6.45 pm, arriving in Nanchang at 10 pm.

Nanchang is a convenient destination for budget onward flights to Shijiazhuang with Hebei Airlines and other second-tier Chinese cities.

Currently, China Eastern Airlines operates scheduled flights from Singapore to Shanghai, Kunming, Nanjing, Nanning, Xian and Wuhan. With the additions of Jinan (via Shenzhen Airlines), Lijiang (via Tigerair on 29 October) and Nanchang (via China Eastern), there will be 580 weekly flights to China from Singapore Changi Airport from 29 October.

Shenzhen Airlines extends its Singapore-Shenzhen route to Jinan on 27 October 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Shenzhen Airlines, one of Air China's subsidiaries, is extending its Singapore-Shenzhen route to Jinan, capital of Shandong Province, China, on 27 October 2013, for convenience of travellers to Shandong. The Singapore-Shenzhen-Jinan routes were previously operated by another Air China's subsidiary Shandong Airlines, which were terminated at least 4 years ago.

Shenzhen Airlines' first commercial flight from Jinan to Singapore via Shenzhen takes place on 26 October today. At 1 pm, ZH9791 departed from Jinan and has just arrived in Shenzhen at 3.45 pm. It will depart for Singapore at 6.20 pm and arrive in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 10 pm on the same day.

On 27 October, ZH9792 takes off from Singapore at 8.15 am and arrives in Shenzhen at 11.55 am before departing for Jinan at 1.55 pm and touching down in Jinan at 4.45 pm.

Daily flights to Jinan via Shenzhen subject to changes are operated by Shenzhen Airlines' Airbus A320 aircraft.

The other way to travel to Shandong is by flying with Scoot, which has flights to Qingdao, Shandong, via Shenyang.

For further information on Singapore-Shandong flight schedules, refer to www.shenzhenair.com and www.flyscoot.com.

Vietnam Airlines announces third daily flight frequency between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Vietnam Airlines has announced in ITB Asia 2013 that from 27 October 2013, it will fly between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore three times daily. The adjusted flight schedules are as follows:-

Ho Chi Minh City - Singapore
Flight VN651 1) 9.15 am to 12.15 pm ;
Flight VN655 2) 2.25 pm to 5.25 pm ;
Flight VN659 3) 4.25 pm to 7.25 pm.

Singapore - Ho Chi Minh City
Flight VN650 1) 1.15 pm to 2.15 pm ;
Flight VN654 2) 6.25 pm to 7.25 pm ;
Flight VN658 3) 8.25 pm to 9.25 pm.

Vietnam Airlines will maintain twice-daily flights between Hanoi and Singapore. The existing flight schedules are as follows:-

Hanoi - Singapore
Flight VN663 1) 8.10 am to 12.25 pm ;
Flight VN661 2) 10.50 am to 3.05 pm

Singapore - Hanoi
Flight VN662 1) 1.25 pm to 3.35 pm ;
Flight VN660 2) 4.05 pm to 6.15 pm.

All Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City flights to and from Singapore are operated by Airbus A321 aircraft.

Contact Vietnam Airlines Singapore office at #08-08 The Heeren 260 Orchard Road for fares and other Vietnam travel enquiries. Tel : 65-633963552.

Low-fare Surprises from Air India and Marketing Plans of other Airlines at ITB Asia 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Surprises await everyone! Below are the surprises from airline exhibitors and co-exhibitors of ITB Asia 2013.

Air India markets low-fares to India, Saudi Arabia, London and New York

Air India appears under the India Tourism Board booth during the last minute to promote its B787-Dreamliner aircraft flights to Sydney, London and Frankfurt  (via Delhi) and market low fares to Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh from Delhi (from 250 Singapore Dollars one way, from Singapore around 800 Singapore Dollars). It is also promoting low-fares to Delhi from Singapore from 89 Singapore Dollars and to Chennai from Singapore from 50 Singapore Dollars per way. Promotion fares end on 31 October 2013.

An Air India's B787-Dreamliner fare to London from Delhi costs from 300 Singapore Dollars while an Air India's fare to New York from Delhi costs from 500 Sigapore Dollars without taxes and surcharges. Promotion for the London and New York flights end on 31 March 2014. For updated information, email Air India Singapore office at sales@airindia.com.sg.



Airlines of Nepal plan flights to Singapore

Yeti Travels and its airline units, Yeti Airlines, Yeti Airlines' subsidiaries Tara Air and Air Dynasty Helicopters, appear at ITB Asia for the first time.

Yeti Travels which distributed many unique Nepal itineraries such as exclusive Nepali bird-watching tours, Annapurna Circuit biking tours and 12-days Kali Gandaki Gorge jeep tours said Nepal Airlines plans to begin flights to Singapore and Japan sometime in 2015. Email Yeti Travels at info@yetitravels.com for future information.

Yeti Airlines said there are many Singaporean passengers onboard its domestic flights. It plans to open international flights to Singapore in three years' time from Kathmandu. This is why it has exhibited in ITB Asia for the first time.

Yeti Airlines distributed the company group flight magazine "Yeti World" and Jetstream 41 aircraft brochures to the travel trade and media.

Corails Helicopteres and Air Austral at Reunion Island Tourism Board

Reunion Island Tourism Board exhibiting Reunion, the overseas territory of France, for the first time at ITB Asia showcases the domestic Reunion helicopter flight services of Corail Helicopteres through Corail Helicopteres' special flight magazine "GC Traveller" and distributes limited Bangkok flight schedules of its international airline Air Austral.

Corail Helicopteres operates daily sightseeing flights from Reunion Airport to the famous three cirques of Cilaos, Mafate and Salazie. The cirques are a trekker's paradise. Cilaos is the starting point for the ascension of the Piton des Neiges (the central summit of the Reunion mountain), an ideal site for canyoning and climbing. In Mafate, enjoy lush natural beauty while in Salazie, see beautiful waterfalls such as the Voile de La Mariee as it cascades down a lush mountainside covered in chayote plantations in the Belouve forest which has great tracks to the Trou de Fer, a settlement of beautiful Reunion villages, one of which is Hell-Bourg recognised as the most beautiful village in France.

Air Austral has opened flights linking Reunion with Bangkok and Chennai since 19 February 2013 using Boeing B737-800ER aircraft, flying on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It appeared at ITB Asia 2013 to market its Bangkok-Chennai-Bangkok flights to the local travel trade.


Air Rarotonga exhibits for the first time

Air Rarotonga has been robed in by the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CITC) to market domestic flights and tours in the Cook Islands to trade visitors and media.  The airline of the Cook Islands distributed limited postcards, its inflight magazine "Escape" and its JETX Air Cargo game cards. It also markets its Aitutaki Day Tour packages to the travel trade.

CITC has recently opened a new office in China to market the islands and Air Rarotonga to the Chinese, as well as Hong Kong, Korea and Japan travel trade and tourists. CITC hopes to strengthen ties with Singapore's travel agencies in order to boost travel to the Cook Islands via Auckland.

Samoa Air links up with Samoa Tourism Authority

                                  

Samoa Tourism Authority, which also exhibits at ITB Asia for the first time, reveals that Samoa Air, the little airline well-known for generous legroom for fat passengers and very high baggage allowance  on its 10-seater aircraft, has linked up with the tourism board to market local flights from Fagalii Airport near Apia,  the capital of Western Samoa, to American Samoa and Maota Airport near Salelologa and Asau Airports on the northwestern coast of Savai'i. Samoa Air's web-site can be accessed to at www.samoa.travel.

Virgin Samoa, Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways fly from Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Nadi, Fiji to Apia.


Jet Asia Airways to fly to Tokyo-Narita on 3 November 2013

Jet Asia Airways, one of Thailand's new airlines, appeared in ITB Asia for the first time this year to generate awareness of the new airline and is eager to seek fresh B2B co-operation and  GSA partnerships with travel agencies outside Thailand. It plans to open scheduled flights to Tokyo-Narita on 3 November 2013 using its Boeing B767-200 aircraft. The airline hopes to tie-up with local travel agencies for connection flights from Singapore to Tokyo via Bangkok.

Jet Asia Airways will inaugurate online bookings in two weeks' time.

Currently, Jet Asia Airways flies from Bangkok to a diverse range of destinations in China such as Shenyang, and Chongqing, as well as Seoul, Busan and Osaka and domestic flights from Bangkok to Phuket.

For further information on Jet Asia Airways' schedules, please refer to www.flyjetasia.com.

Other airlines turning up at ITB Asia 2013 include Qatar Airways, Qatar Executive (at Catalunya Tourism Board booth), Latam Airlines Group, Garuda Indonesia and Korean Air.

The sixth edition of ITB Asia 2013 ends on 25 October 2013. The seventh edition of ITB Asia will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 29 to 31 October 2014.

Facts and Figures from ITB Asia 2013 Opening Press Conference

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

At the opening press conference on 23 October, Dr Christian Gloke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, reported that 37% of trade visitors this year came from non-Asian countries. Last year, 25% of trade visitors came from continents outside Asia.

In the first eight months of 2013, Myanmar registers a 46% increase in international arrivals. Malaysia is second, witnessing a 25% increase in international arrivals compared to last year. Thailand (21%) and Singapore (8.5%) follow. In contrast, China registers a fall of 5% in international arrivals after a few years of increasing travel expenditure by Chinese tourists abroad.

ITB Asia 2013 opening keynote speech stresses on importance of re-invention

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
               / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The opening keynote speech of ITB Asia 2013 was delivered by Philip Wolf, the founder of PhoCusWright and numerous other companies in the world. He shared with the audience on the formula of creating an enduring company in the travel trade and hospitality industry.

Philip advised companies in the travel and hospitality industries, low-cost carriers included, to re-invent themselves to create new consumer products. He stressed that there should be a change in organization strategy without change in vision, which is to generate revenue for the survival of the companies.

Currently, many travel companies in Asia know they need to change but they do not do so. The top management is afraid of implementing plans or changes. Philip cautioned that the more arguments and blockages there are, the higher market share companies will lose. The travel industry of Asia-Pacifc region must reach a critical platform of transformation in order to generate revenue and eventually increase fortunes.

Philip said that travel companies are basically companies driven by high technology. These companies include travel agents and even hotels. For instance online booking engine TraveloCity bought in Expedia such that the latter has generated more bookings than other online booking engines. The revenues of online booking engines come from online page searches and bookings.

The future of Asia-Pacific hotels is to go mobile. For instance, China online booking giant Ctrip which has traditional online booking for flights, rooms and tours now generates fifty per-cent of its revenue from mobile bookings such that now it has the highest market share in China (US$7.4 billion) ahead of Expedia (US$6.7 billion).

Currently, Priceline commands the highest market share in online bookings for flights and rooms, US$55.4 billion.

Finally, Philip encouraged creators to share their content on on-line sites like Facebook. He reminded everyone that the past is a poor protector of the future. The travel trade and hospitality industry need to re-invent themselves to stay alive in a growing challenging environment.

ITB Asia 2013 attracts 825 exhibitors from 73 countries

Press Release from ITB Asia

Asia Pacific has become the world’s largest travel market and is expected to reach US$351.9 billion this year according to industry research authority, PhoCusWright. These latest figures were released today at the sixth edition of ITB Asia, ‘The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market, which takes place at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre till Friday, 25 October.

Backed by the emergence of economic powerhouses, especially China, India and Southeast Asia, the region has confirmed itself as one of the driving forces in world travel and has set another all-time high record. The Asia Pacific travel market ousted Europe to become the world’s biggest regional travel market in 2012, earning gross bookings of $326.2 billion and the impressive figure is expected to grow another 8% in 2013.

The positive growth numbers on the travel market are reflected at this year’s show as ITB Asia also reports a strong showing of 825 exhibiting companies from 73 countries. The show completely sold out four months ahead with many exhibitors increasing their presence.

“The show has evolved tremendously from when it first made its debut in 2008 and has now gained an even greater international dimension. Now that Asia Pacific has taken the crown as the world’s largest travel market, it becomes even more critical for us to maintain our position as an effective platform to network and gain insights about the region’s travel market. Our partners rely on us to gain up-to-the-minute overview of the Asian travel industry’s value chain to stay at the forefront of trends and developments,” said Christian Göke, CEO Messe Berlin, organiser of ITB Asia.

Nations represented among the record 50 international pavilions includes first time exhibitors Greece and Russia, clear evidence of the importance that these key emerging players place on ITB Asia as a gateway to the Asian travel market. This year’s show also sees the largest representation ever from the United States taking up an increase of 90% of booth space with 30% more exhibitors compared to 2012. Exhibitors from Europe have also taken 20% more floor space this year and there are almost 60% per cent more first time exhibitors representing emerging markets in 2013.

More important than the number of delegates, ITB Asia maintains its strong focus on ensuring a well-balanced mix of geographical markets and sectors such as MICE, leisure, and corporate travel to uphold the quality of buyer-seller experience.

ITB Asia 2013 is seeing a stronger focus on the MICE sector this year. The business travel segment has more than doubled in 2013 compared to last year and representation from Conference and Meeting venues has also tripled since 2012.

“Asia is propelling the growth of the global travel and tourism industry. This in turn leads to more demand for quality platforms like TravelRave that offer Asia-focused networks, insights and knowledge,” commented Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board (STB). “STB has worked closely with Messe Berlin to grow ITB Asia as an anchor event of TravelRave, and this strengthens the value proposition of TravelRave as a dynamic marketplace of ideas and business opportunities.”

The PhocusWright study also reveals projected growth figures for the countries within the Asia Pacific region over the next three years led by China, Japan and the Pacific region.

“We expect Asia Pacific travel market to maintain its growth through 2015 to reach US$407.3 billion and China will account for a third of that. The Indonesian market is also poised for rapid development in the next three years and double-digit growth is forecast for several Asia Pacific markets through 2015,” said Chetan Kapoor, Research Analyst – Asia Pacific, PhoCusWright.

ITB Asia represents the full spectrum of tourism at all levels including the hospitality sector, tour operators or travel agencies, National Tourism Organisations, Convention and Visitors Bureaus, travel technology firms, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and corporate travel representatives.

Over the next three days, the show is expected to attract over 8000 attendees from 90 countries. ITB Asia is also a partner event of TravelRave 2013, a mega travel and tourism festival week organised by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Source : Messe Berlin GmbH, Singapore

Bangladesh's United Airways launches flights to Singapore from Dhaka on 4 November 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

United Airways, currently Bangladesh's largest private airline, launches flights to Singapore from Dhaka on 4 November 2013, a delay of about two months from its intended launch in September. The inaugural flight date is also confirmed by Changi Airport.

According to a fare release by United Airways' Singapore General Sales Agent, Serangoon Air Travels, United Airways' first flight to Singapore will depart from Dhaka at 3 am on 4 November, arrive in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 9.10 am under flight 4H0589 before taking off from Terminal 1 at 10 am and touch down in Dhaka at 12 pm under flight 4H0590 on the same day.

United Airways' flights to Singapore on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays will be operated by its latest MD-83 aircraft, which was inducted to its fleet on 17 September 2013 and has 167 Economy class seats. The new route will be followed by new flights to Doha and Yangon by end of this year.

United Airways will open its office at Changi Airport Terminal 1 Level 4 and will be managed by its Singapore branch, United Airways BD (S) Pte Ltd.

United Airways started operations on 10 July 2007. Currently it flies internationally to Jeddah, Dubai, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur-Sepang, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Kathmandu and Kolkata and on domestic routes from Dhaka and Chittagong.

For fares and updated flight schedules after the inaugural flights, contact Sales, Marketing and Reservation of United Airways BD (S) Pte Ltd at 65917168, fax 62971884. Email : arpan@uabdl.com.sg.

Airport Review : Kualanamu International Airport

Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

                                           

Kualanamu International Airport is of one hour's taxi ride and a 45 minutes' ride on an Airport Railink service to Medan city centre. It is located outside Medan city proper, in the town of Kualanamu. It has the same status as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang.

Kualanamu is the important town with rich soil sources and expensive land. Medanese (the people of Medan) say that Singapore gets reclaimed land and constructs flats thanks to soil imports from Kualanamu. The coastline of Kualanamu as a result is dirty and not conducive to be exploited as a beach haven like Phuket.

In general, Singapore imports oil and natural gas from Pekanbaru, water from Johor and Batam and soil from Kualanamu.

The Airport Railink Services started operations in August 2013. There are only directions and Timetable signs in Bahasa Indonesia.

There are no Medan tourism board counters. Hence, travellers must have perfect knowledge about destinations in Medan and Kualanamu before buying any ticket to Kualanamu.

There are absolutely no airport offices of airlines and therefore no station managers of airlines to handle baggage matters and disputes with airlines on ticketing, inflight sales and inflight services. There is only an air ticket lounge for ticket purchases but no refunds. Disputes over ticketing and baggage matters can only be settled by head offices of airlines in Jakarta, Singapore and other countries.

Unlike the closed Polonia International Airport of Medan, international airlines such as SilkAir, Tigerair Mandala, AirAsia, Valuair, Malaysia Airlines and Mihin Lanka have no airport offices at Kualanamu.

Before departure, check-in counters of airlines issue 2D boarding passes that have to be scanned before travellers proceed to the less than 11 departure gates. Boarding passes issued during web-check-in on Internet and airline check-in kiosks outside Kualanamu and Medan are useless at Kualanamu for check-in verification.

The only one main Terminal building of Kualanamu is three storeys tall and the size is as big as the two-storied Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3. It handles domestic and international flights at the same time. It is the tallest airport building of Indonesia.

The journalist of Sayacinta - Airport began the debut return one-day shuttle to Kualanamu on direct flights via Singapore with  Tigerair Mandala and AirAsia Indonesia on 5 October 2013 for this review.

Mihin Lanka operates Asia's first budget flight to Africa from 16 November 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Asia will have its first budget flight to Africa when Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka's state-owned low-fare airline, launches cross-continental flights to Mahe, the capital of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean region of Africa, on 16 November 2013.

On 16 November, Mihin Lanka's Airbus A320 departs for Mahe from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at 1.30 pm and arrives in Mahe at 4.10 pm under code MJ707. One hour later at 5.10 pm, MJ708 leaves for Colombo from Mahe and touches down in Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at 11 pm.

Mihin Lanka's return flights to the Seychelles are on Saturdays and Wednesdays only. However, the new Asian-African flight connection will be attractive to Southeast Asian passengers arriving in Colombo on commercial flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Medan and Jakarta who wish to visit the nearest African corridor, which is the paradise nation of the Seychelles.

Mihin Lanka currently operates budget flights from Colombo to more than seven destinations worldwide such as Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Gaya, Madurai, Jakarta and Medan. It has code-sharing flights with SriLankan Airlines to Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

ITB Asia 2013 airline exhibitor Air Seychelles withdrew direct flights from Singapore in 2010 but maintains marketing activities on the Seychelles travel and tourism in Singapore in cooperation with the Seychelles Tourism Board.

The Seychelles is home to many well-known national parks, resorts, beaches, the coco-de-mer and many indigenous flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean region of Africa. It is well-known as the Garden of Eden in Africa.

AirAsia Thailand flies to Krabi from Singapore from 25 November 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

AirAsia Thailand is commencing daily flights between Singapore and Krabi on 25 November 2013.

The first AirAsia flight  under code FD2320 leaves Krabi at 10.15 am and arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 12.55 pm before taking off for Krabi at 1.20 pm and touching down  in Krabi at 1.55 pm under FD2321.

Promotion fares start from 10 Singapore Dollars one-way.

AirAsia is the second airline to link Krabi with Singapore after Tigerair.

Scoot flies to Perth from 12 December 2013 instead

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Scoot, Singapore's long-haul budget airline, commences scheduled services from Singapore to Perth, Western Australia, on 12 December 2013 (moved forward from 19 December), complementing existing Tigerair flights to the City of Lights. It will fly between Singapore and Perth and return to Singapore on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

The inaugural Scoot flight to Perth takes off at 12.50 pm on 12 December, arrives in Perth at 6.20 pm before ascending to the skies at 7.30 pm for Singapore and touching down in Singapore at 12.45 am on 13 December.

Perth is the third Australian destination of Scoot after Sydney and Gold Coast. Meanwhile, Scoot is conducting feasibility studies on possible direct flights to Dubai, Male and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region where there is a great demand for budget travel.

Scoot currently flies to Sydney, Gold Coast, Taipei, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul-Incheon, Shenyang, Qingdao and Nanjing and will fly to Hong Kong from 15 November 2013. It has connection flights from these cities to Tigerair's network of destinations.

Asia in Abu Dhabi's focus as arrivals from East Asia lift

Press Release by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

Edited by Gan Yung Chyan

              / KUCINTA SETIA

Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The Arabian Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi is to sharpen its focus on the outbound Asian travel market as arrivals from the continent record a double-digit lift in the first eight months of this year.

Figures from ITB Asia 2013 exhibitor Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) say the number of Asian travellers checking into the emirate’s 146 hotels and hotel apartments from January to August rose 26% on the same 2012 period with growth being primarily driven by a 40% upsurge in Chinese arrivals. In all, some 313,221 Asians checked into Abu Dhabi accommodation in the first eight months delivering over a million guest nights – which was up 34% on 2012.

China and South Korea currently rank among Abu Dhabi’s top 25 international source markets with 27,378 Chinese staying in the emirate’s hotels in the first eight months of this year, delivering 50,246 guest nights – a 43% year-on-year increase. Some 9,879 South Koreans stayed in Abu Dhabi accommodation over the same period – a rise of 27% on 2012 and delivering some 25,712 guest nights, which was up 45%. Japanese guests, meanwhile, grew 16% in the first eight months of this year compared to last to last year to 8,158 and delivered a 13% uptake in guest nights to 24,680.

Now the authority and its key industry stakeholders are looking to hone the momentum with a seven-strong delegation participation at ITB Asia which runs in Singapore from October 23-26.

“Our participation will be dual-pronged targeting both the leisure and business tourism segments,” explained Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions & Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi. “On the leisure front we will be out to get the message across that there is now so much to do and see in Abu Dhabi given a strong surge in our hotel and resort portfolio, the opening of new attractions, including stunning malls selling at tax-free prices and a powerful line-up of major sporting and entertainment events. We also want to correctly position the destination as a luxury yet highly affordable choice where the average room rate is currently running at just under US $120. Currently Asian guests are staying with us, on average, for just over three nights and we’d like to see this increase and now have the product base to make it happen.

“We have a particular challenge with the length-of-stay of Chinese guests – which is currently less than two nights and we are working closely with our stakeholders to provide specific tailored product for these guests. South Koreans stay longer – they’re particularly fond of our expansive and diverse golf offering. Golf is proving productive for us with figures revealing that our trio of world-class, championship-ready golf courses hosted a record number of overseas rounds in Q1 this year.”

The figures show Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links recorded their best-ever quarterly overseas rounds returns during Q1 this year, with 9,215 overseas rounds ensuring 89% growth on the comparative three-month period last year.

Having amassed 20% of the UAE’s overseas rounds January-through-March last year, Abu Dhabi’s three championship-ready clubs’ quarterly contribution this year constitutes almost a third of the nationwide total. With other emirates suffering marginal dips or gains, Abu Dhabi’s sterling Q1 performance ensured the number of overseas rounds played across the country was 90% up on the corresponding period last year.

Major players in Asia’s highly-lucrative golf tourism sector praised Abu Dhabi’s success in attracting Asian golf tourists at the 2nd Annual Golf Tourism Convention – an annual trade event founded by the International Association Golf of Tour Operators – in Pattaya, Thailand. 

“We are hearing great reports from the clients we are sending to Abu Dhabi,” said Kevin Wang, Vice General Manager, Grand Tours, one of China’s biggest outbound golf tourism specialists. “These word-of-mouth endorsements are making Abu Dhabi an even easier sell for us and I expect the emirate’s popularity to continue rising. I foresee sending ever-larger volumes of Asian golf travellers to Abu Dhabi over coming seasons.”

According to the annual KPMG Golf Travel Insights Study, the UAE capital is muscling increased revenue from a global industry worth US $2billion in 2012. Spearheading the emirate’s drive is Golf in Abu Dhabi – an initiative designed to execute the emirate’s golf tourism strategy, maximise revenue returns for related stakeholders and position Abu Dhabi in the minds of potential golf customers from primary source markets such as the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, China, Korea and Japan. 

With some 2,105 registered operators from 91 countries, IAGTO’s members control over 85% of all golf holiday packages sold worldwide and generate annual turnover well in excess of more than US $1.6 billion. Vitally, Abu Dhabi’s progress has caught the attention of Peter Walton, IAGTO’s Chief Executive.

“Golf in Abu Dhabi has demonstrated once again how the initiative is striking the right chord with tour operators in the Asian market,” said Walton. “Abu Dhabi is a great product, a complete product, with impressive ambition and it is encouraging to see successful results coming from its golf tourism sector and from key Asian territories.”  

On the business tourism front, the emirate’s campaign will be led by the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, which was formed earlier this year to drive the destination’s ambition to be ranked among the world’s top 50 destinations for association meetings under the International Congress and Convention Association league within five years. Abu Dhabi was ranked among the top 100 last year.

‘We have had some successes from Asia and are now focusing on promoting our Quick Win Advantage Abu Dhabi programme for corporate meetings and incentives.  We are receiving a number of enquiries from Asia, mainly from the IT and pharmaceutical sectors in India, Pakistan and Singapore,” explained Al Nuaimi.

Meanwhile, the five-star Park Hyatt Resort on Saadiyat Island says it’s planning sales trips throughout Japan, Korea and China to boost Asian awareness and arrivals for the property which is on a nine kilometer stretch of beach.

“The Asian market is growing in Abu Dhabi and we would like to have a share of it,” said Salik Mangrio, the hotel’s Director of Sales & Marketing.

The luxury The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal meanwhile is working on bespoke proposals to roll out into the Asian market. The hotel, which already has Chinese-speaking ladies and gentlemen working at the property is specifically targeting incentive and leisure business from Asia.

“As The Ritz-Carlton brand is growing within Asia, we’d like guests in Asia to think about staying in The Ritz-Carlton when they travel to the Middle East,” said Lynn Gervais, the hotel’s Director of Public Relations.

Joining the Abu Dhabi promotion at ITB Asia are Yas Island – Abu Dhabi’s entertainment district and home to November’s F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which is held at Yas Marina Circuit; the five-star, beachfront The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal; Etihad Airways, which flies; the Grand Continental Flamingo Hotel; the City Season Al Hamra Hotel and the beachfront Park Hyatt Saadiyat Island.

TCA Abu Dhabi, which now has destination collateral in Japanese, Korean and Mandarin, is planning a Korean version of its award-winning online destination resource www.visitabudhabi.ae.

“This is in the planning pipeline for early next year,” explained Al Nuaimi. “The site is currently in Japanese and Mandarin and Korean would be our 10^th language version.”

XiamenAir launches flights from Dalian to Bangkok via Xiamen and Fuzhou from 28 October 2013

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

XiamenAir is resuming flights from Xiamen to Bangkok from 28 October 2013 as part of its new flight expansion plans from Dalian. It also launches new flights from Dalian via Fuzhou to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport on 29 October 2013.

On 28 October, flight MF853 departs from Dalian at 8.35 am for Xiamen where it transits at 11.25 am before taking off for Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 12.20 pm and arriving in Suvarnabhumi at 3.40 pm.

On the same day, the return flight from Suvarnabhumi takes off at 4.50 pm for Xiamen where it transits at 7.45 pm before departing for Dalian at 8.40 pm and touching down in Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport under flight MF854.

The Dalian-Xiamen-Suvarnabhumi-Xiamen-Dalian flights take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The inaugural Dalian-Fuzhou-Suvarnabhumi flight under MF877 takes place on 29 October 2013 when the outgoing flight from Dalian departs at 7.50 am, transitting in Fuzhou at 10.30 am before taking off at 11.25 am to arrive in Suvarnabhumi at 3 pm.

On the same day, MF878 departs from Suvarnabhumi at 4.05 pm for Fuzhou where it transits at 7.05 pm before ascending to the skies at 8.05 pm to touch down in Dalian at 10.40 pm.

The Dalian-Fuzhou-Suvarnabhumi-Fuzhou-Dalian flights are operated thrice weekly, on Tuesdays, Thirdays and Sundays.

Xiamen Airlines first launched commercial flights from Xiamen to Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport in February 2002 before converting the route to a Fuzhou-Xiamen-Bangkok flight connection in July 2002. It suspended flights to Bangkok in 2006 due to air fare wars from AirAsia Thailand and Thai Airways International.

Besides the new Bangkok flight links. XiamenAir has plans to open new flights to Manila and Tokyo from Xiamen by 2014.