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.