Bhutan Airlines launches flights to Delhi on 1 September 2014 with plans for the Singapore and Chinese markets

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

Bhutan Airlines operated by Tashi Air launches its first Paro - Delhi commercial flight via Kathmandu on 1 September 2014 using its new Airbus A319 aircraft. On 5 September, it launches its direct flight from Paro to Delhi.

On 1 September, flight B3 704 departs from Paro at 7.45 am and arrives in Delhi at 10.45 am via Kathmandu. It leaves Delhi at 11.45 am and touches down in Paro at 3.10 pm  under B3 705 after a transit flight in Kathmandu. Indirect flights to Delhi operate twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays.

On 5 September, flight B3 773 departs from Paro at 7.30 am and arrives in Delhi at 9.20 am. At 10.20 am it leaves for Paro under B3 774 and touches down in Paro at 1 pm. Direct flights will continue until end of September.

Tashi Air, Bhutan's first private airline,  came into existence after the Tashi Group of Companies outbid other joint venture companies and won the License to operate Airline Service both Domestic and International Sectors from Paro. 

Tashi Group of Companies was founded by Late Dasho Ugen Dorji in 1959 with the vision to bring out the best of Bhutan.

On 4 December 2011, Tashi Group of companies welcomes its first aircraft for its international commercial unit Bhutan Airlines. A Pilatus PC12 with capacity of 8 Passengers for domestic operations in the name of Tashi Air completes its fleet.

Bhutan Airlines launches its international operations on 10 October 2013 with an A320 aircraft with 150 passenger seating capacity, operating a flight from Paro to Bangkok and connecting to Kolkata on 7 December 2013. On the completion of its wet-leased contract with Vilnius-based Small Planet Airlines for the A320 aircraft, Bhutan Airlines replaces the Airbus A320 aircraft with new Airbus A319 comprising a capacity of 122 seats on 1 May 2014 which has been operating weekly flights to Kathmandu since mid-June 2014.

Bhutan Airlines has plans to open indirect flights to Singapore via Dhaka within the next few years after launching flights to Delhi. It has also opened a sales office with a GSA in Chengdu, China with the aim to launch Bhutan's first scheduled flight to China in a few years' time.

Inflight Magazine exhibits at NATAS for the first time

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

SilverKris, the Inflight Magazine of Singapore Airlines, is exhibiting under its own booth at NATAS Holidays 2014 for the first time. It is the only known independent inflight magazine to have exhibited in a travel fair in inflight magazine history. Normally, inflight magazines are available under airlines' booths, at airlines' branch and representative offices and onboard flights.

At SilverKris, visitors and readers fill in a survey form, share an article from SilverKris.com on Facebook to win ice cream treats, register on its SilverKris Explorers site to win vouchers and share travel stories with like-minded readers and upload travel pictures to win a free return trip to Bali or Hong Kong.

SilverKris marketing staff also walk around to distribute hardcopies of August and September 2014 issues of SilverKris to travel agents and the public.

SilverKris has enlivened the inflight magazine reading experience a lot.

Tigerair Taiwan approved to begin commercial flights in late September 2014

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

Tigerair Taiwan, sponsored by Taiwan Visitors Association, exhibits at NATAS Holidays 2014 for the first time and reveals that the Taiwanese low-fare airline partially owned by Tigerair and China Airlines will begin commercial flights from Taoyuan International Airport in late September 2014. Its first route sector will be Taipei (Taoyuan) - Singapore - Taipei (Taoyuan). The airline will operate a mid-morning flight to Singapore from Taoyuan and an afternoon flight to Taoyuan from Singapore after 3 pm.

Tigerair Taiwan mentions that the flight schedule details of the first flight will only be released next week. Sayacinta - Airpost will keep readers informed of the inaugural flight.

Tigerair Taiwan distributes its logo pens and conducts daily air ticket lucky draws at NATAS Holidays 2014 till 31 August.

Singapore's first chartered flight to Taichung on 29 November 2014

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

Singapore's first direct chartered flight to Taichung takes place on 29 November 2014. A SilkAir Boeing B737 will operate on this new route.

On 29 November, SilkAir departs from Singapore at 12.15 pm and arrives in Taichung at 4.55 pm. At 5.40 pm, SilkAir leaves Taichung and touches down in Singapore at 10.35 pm.

The SilkAir aircraft chartered by ASA Holidays requires a non-refundable deposit of 1000 Singapore Dollars per passenger. 

Uzbekistan Airways exhibits in NATAS Holidays for the first time and announces revised Singapore flight schedules

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

Uzbekistan Airways participates in NATAS Holidays for the first time and announces formally its contact address and contact numbers in Singapore. It also has revised its Singapore flight schedules for the winter season which starts on 27 October 2014

On 27 October 2014 (Monday), flight HY551 departs from Tashkent for Singapore at 9.15 pm and arrives in Singapore at 10.50 am on 28 October. One hour later, flight HY552 leaves for Tashkent at 11.45 am and arrives in Tashkent at 4.50 pm local time.

On 30 October 2014 (Thursday), flight HY551 however will depart for Singapore at 9 pm and arrive in Singapore at 7.50 am on 31 October. More than one hour later, flight HY551 leaves for Tashkent at 9.15 am and touches down in Tashkent at 4.40 pm local time.

Uzbekistan Airways has onward flights from Tashkent to other cities in Central Asia such as Almaty, Astana, Ashgabat, Baku, Bishkek, Tel-Aviv, Sharjah and Volgograd. For more details contact Uzbekistan Airways in Singapore at 62140929. Its Singapore office is 80 Airport Boulevard, #04-70 Changi Airport Terminal 1. Emails: andy@aeeroworld.com and john@aeeroworld.com .

Uzbekistan Airways' Passenger Sale Agent, AX Exotic Travels Pte Ltd, is also participating in NATAS Holidays 2014. It sells customised Central Asia tour packages including Uzbekistan tour packages and the 14D13N Uzbekistan  & Turkmenistan Trip with 300 Dollars off per couple. Visitors get a chance to win a pair of complimentary return flight tickets to Tashkent and Uzbekistan souvenirs at Booth 4H54.

South African Airways markets Hong Kong flights at NATAS Holidays 2014

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

South African Airways which has a code-sharing arrangement with Singapore Airlines on the Singapore-Johannesburg-Singapore route sector is marketing its independent Hong Kong flights under the South African High Commission booth at NATAS Holidays 2014 from 29 to 31 August 2014.

South African Airways flies from Hong Kong to Johannesburg before providing onward flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The airline is pitching itself to be the only national flag carrier flying from Asia to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires via Johannesburg using Airbus A340-300 and A340-600 jets.

South African Airways flies from Hong Kong to Johannesburg every day at 11.50 pm, arriving in Johannesburg at 7.15 am the next day under flight SA287. It leaves for Hong Kong from Johannesburg at 4.55 pm and touches down in Hong Kong at 12.25 am. It leaves for Sao Paulo at 10.40 am, arrives in Sao Paulo at 4 pm under SA222. Leaving for Johannesburg at 1.30 am, it transits in Johannesburg at 3.20 pm under SA225 before taking off for Hong Kong at 4.55 pm and arriving in Hong Kong at 12.25 am under SA286. There are twice-daily flights between Johannesburg and Sao Paulo.

Return flights from Asia (Hong Kong) to Buenos Aires via Johannesburg take place alternatively on Tuesdays/Wednesdays, Thursdays/Fridays and Saturdays/Sundays, three times a week. Flight SA287 departs from Hong Kong for Buenos Aires via Johannesburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 11.50 pm and arrives in Buenos Aires at 4.10 pm on the next days. Flight SA227 departs for Hong Kong from Buenos Aires via Johannesburg at 6.10 pm and arrives in Hong Kong at 12.25 am on the next days under SA286.

South African Airways requires passengers on international flights to check-in at least two and a half hours before flight departure. The maximum baggage dimensions allowed on all its flights is 158 cm (62 inches).

Further information on travelling with South African Airways can be obtained at either South African Airways web-site www.flysaa.com or by contacting Aviation Services Pte Ltd, the airline's GSA in Singapore at 62277911.

New office addresses of MIAT Mongolian Airlines and Spring Airlines in Singapore

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

Two new flight operators to Singapore have new offices in Singapore.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines, launching its first scheduled flight to Singapore from Ulaanbaatar via Beijing on 24 September 2014, has appointed Aviation Services Pte Ltd this week as its Passenger GSA for the Singapore market. Aviation Services Pte Ltd is located at 100 Tras St, #13-01 100am (previously Amara Tower), Singapore 079027. Email : miat@aviationservices.com.sg.

Spring Airlines has opened branch office opposite Midlink Plaza in Middle Road. Address : 135 Middle Road, #04-12 Bylands Building, Singapore. HP : 96964818 (Manager: Thomas Tan). Office contact number is not available yet. Office Hours : Mon-Fri : 9 am to 6 pm.

China aviation corporation invests in new Cambodian airline Cambodia Bayon Airlines

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

China aviation corporation the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) which has a stake in Xi'an-based airline Joy Air has invested in a new Cambodian airline, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, through its Cambodian parent company Bayon Holdings Limited.

Named after the famous Bayon Temple of Angkor Wat complex, Cambodia Bayon Airlines is registered as a Cambodian civil aviation company with the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia in April 2014 and formed in June 2014. An official ceremony was held in Phnom Penh by Taing Chung Leang, vice president of parent company Bayon Holdings Limited, on 21 August 2014 to announce the marketing and operational plans of the airline.

According to Taing, Cambodia Bayon Airlines has applied for an Air Operator Certificate from the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia (SSCA) and it hopes to begin domestic flights as early as December 2014, latest by January 2015. Its initial route Phnom Penh-Siem Reap will be operated every 45 minutes while there will be twice-daily flights on its second route Phnom Penh-Silhanouville.

Domestic flights of Cambodia Bayon Airlines will be served by two Chinese MA-60 turboprop aircraft which the new carrier has ordered from AVIC. Technical support will be provided by AVIC while crew training and marketing will be supported by Joy Air and Bayon Holdings Limited.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines has firm orders for 2 MA-60 aircraft with options to order another 18 MA-60 turboprops and 10 Airbuses A320. The aircraft fleet will operate a network of ASEAN, Chinese, Korean and Japanese routes from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap within five years.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines aims to be the largest airline of Cambodia and will compete with state-owned airline Cambodia Angkor Air and Siem Reap-based Korean-owned Skywings Asia Airlines.

For further information on Cambodia Bayon Airlines, email hr@bayonairlines.com . Registered Office Address : No. P16, St Princeton, Diamond Island, Tonel Bannae Commune, Chamkamon District, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Vietnam Airlines confirms inaugural flight date of its new Phu Quoc - Singapore route

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

Vietnam Airlines has informed Sayacinta - Airpost that the airline's Airbus A321-200 aircraft will operate on the new Phu Quoc-Singapore-Phu Quoc route sector regularly from 2 November 2014. Scheduled flights will take place twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.

On 2 November 2014, Vietnam Airlines flight VN669 departs from Phu Quoc for Singapore at 8.45 am, arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 11.30 am before taking off at 12.30 pm for Phu Quoc and touching down in Phu Quoc at 1.25 pm under VN668.

Return air fare including taxes and surcharges valid for travel from 2 November 2014 till March 2015 starts from 250 Singapore Dollars as quoted by Deks Air, the GSA of Vietnam Airlines in Singapore. Phu Quoc holiday packages of Deks Air  for the Singapore travel market are available.

Tigerair launches scheduled flight to Jinan on 16 September 2014

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

Tigerair is launching a direct scheduled flight to Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, from Singapore on 16 September 2014. There will only be a direct return flight to Jinan once a week. Flight to Jinan is on Tuesday while the flight to Singapore from Jinan is on Wednesday.

On 16 September 2014, Tigerair flight TR2956 departs from Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 12.30 pm, arrives in Jinan at 6.40 pm where it will remain in the airport overnight. On 17 September (Wednesday), it leaves Jinan at 7.30 am and touches down in Singapore at 1.10 pm under flight TR2957.

The overnight flight schedule allows solo travellers to stay at hotels near Jinan airport while going for a quick night-shopping in the city. Otherwise, travellers can explore more of Jinan and Shandong Province including neighbouring city Qingdao before returning to Singapore one week later.

Lao Airlines closes Vientiane downtown ticketing office and plans to launch flights to Jakarta next

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

Lao Airlines Head Office has informed Sayacinta - Airpost that its downtown sales and ticketing office along Pangkham Road, Vientiane, will close from 8 September 2014 onwards. From 8 September, sales of Lao Airlines tickets in Vientiane will be conducted at its new Wattay airport office. The new office will be located between the Wattay Airport Domestic Terminal and Lao Airlines Head Office Buildings.

The Pangkham Road office of Lao Airlines will be demolished and rebuilt.

With the exception of its branch offices in Suvarnabhumi and Kunming, all domestic and Singapore offices of Lao Airlines are open from Mondays to Fridays. The Singapore office is open for a few hours on Sundays.

Meanwhile, Lao Airlines is conducting feasibility studies on launching a direct scheduled service to Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport from Vientiane, either in a code-sharing arrangement with Garuda Indonesia or operating flights on the planned route by itself.  Lao Airlines also has plans to launch future flights to Denpasar, Nanning and Tokyo-Narita.

HK Express launches Asia's first budget flight to Quanzhou, Fujian on 14 October 2014

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

HK Express, the pioneer of low-fare flight routes to Taichung and Zhengzhou, is inaugurating four-times weekly scheduled flights from Hong Kong to Quanzhou, the birthplace of Yongchun Martial Arts and Shaolin Five Ancestors Fist, on 14 October 2014. Its Airbus A320 flights on the new route take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On 14 October, HK Express flight UO362 departs from Hong Kong at 7.15 am for Quanzhou Jinjiang Airport and arrives in Quanzhou at 8.40 am. At 9.35 am, flight UO377 takes off for Hong Kong from Quanzhou and touches down in Hong Kong at 10.55 am.

Quanzhou is the third China destination that HK Express is adding to its network this year after Ningbo and Zhengzhou.

Quanzhou a prefecture-level city of Fujian province, where many ancestors of most overseas Chinese living in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan came from, is a deep-sea port and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and various ancient expeditions and conquests. Its earliest name is Zayton in Arabic and Persian meaning olive and symbol of peace. It is an important port in Yuan Dynasty where Mongol King Kubilai Khan sailed from to invade Java. Quanzhou today is China's major exporter of lychees, rice, tea and mandarin oranges and it is the biggest automotive market of Fujian province.

Places to visit in Quanzhou include Qing Yuan Mountain, Kaiyuan Temple, Renshou Pagoda, lake parks, Fengze Square, Scholar Street and other tourism and cultural sites. It is home to Ashab Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the world which dates to 1009 and is of particular interest to overseas cultural tourists.

Quanzhou is linked to the high-speed Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway along Fujian's sea coast and thus is a gateway for budget travel to Fuzhou and Xiamen.

HK Express faces competition on the new Quanzhou route from full-service carrier XiamenAir.

Lucky Air launches its second international route on 12 August 2014

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

Lucky Air, the Kunming-based low-cost subsidiary of HNA Group, has launched its second international route linking Kunming with Koh Samui on 12 August 2014.

On 12 August, Lucky Air flight 8L9897 departs from Kunming at 12.15 pm, arrives in Koh Samui at 3 pm before leaving for Kunming at 4 pm and touching down in Kunming at 6.45 pm under flight 8L9898.

Lucky Air's Airbus A320 flights to Koh Samui take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an option to increasing the frequency to daily flights subject to market demand.

Lucky Air faces no competition on the new route. The airline launches its first international route Kunming-Guiyang-Singapore on 25 January 2014.

China Eastern launches scheduled flight from Lanzhou to Singapore via Kunming on 19 September 2014

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

China Eastern Airlines is launching Singapore's first scheduled flight from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province in China, to Singapore via Kunming on 19 September 2014.

On 19 September, China Eastern flight MU5093 departs from Lanzhou at 6.45 pm for Singapore via Kunming. It transits in Kunming Changshui International Airport at 8.45 pm before departing onward for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 10 pm, arriving in Singapore at 2 am on 20 September.

On 20 September, flight MU5094 leaves Singapore at 3 am, transits in Kunming Changshui at 6.55 am before taking off for Lanzhou at 8 am, touching down in Lanzhou at 10 am.

The new Lanzhou-Kunming-Singapore-Kunming-Lanzhou routes are operated by China Eastern Airlines' Airbus A320 aircraft.

Nam Air takes over route of Tigerair Mandala on 20 August 2014

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

Nam Air, the sub-brand subsidiary of Sriwijaya Air, has taken over the Yogyakarta-Palembang-Yogyakarta route sector of defunct carrier Tigerair Mandala. Its first flight is on 20 August 2014.

On 20 August, Nam Air flight SJ9080 takes off from Yogyakarta at 10.35 am for Palembang and arrives in Palembang at 12.15 pm before leaving Palembang at 2.35 pm under flight SJ9081 for Yogyakarta and touching down in Yogyakarta at 4.15 pm on the same day.

Nam Air operates on the new route on a daily basis while Sriwijaya Air flies from Yogyakarta to Palembang via Jakarta.

Nam Air operates on second-tier city community routes within Indonesia on behalf of Sriwijaya Air with a fleet of B737-500 W aircraft in competition with Garuda Indonesia Explore. The airline plans to launch its first regional flight from Kupang, Indonesia, to Dili, the capital of East Timor in the near future.

Garuda Indonesia inaugurates more than five domestic routes in August and September 2014

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

Garuda Indonesia, which wins the Best Cabin Crew Award 2014 from Skytrax on 15 July 2014, is launching more than five domestic routes in August and September 2014 using its "Explore" sub-brand turboprop ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The new route sectors of Garuda Indonesia "Explore" ATR 72-600 aircraft include Makassar- Bau-Bau- Makassar, Makassar- Kolaka- Makassar, Makassar- Luwuk- Makassar, Balikpapan- Palangkaraya-Pontianak (and vice versa) and Pontianak- Putussibau-Pontianak.

Garuda Indonesia inaugurates the Makassar- Bau-Bau- Makassar, Makassar- Kolaka- Makassar and Makassar- Luwuk- Makassar routes on 1 August 2014. Bau-Bau is the major town on the island of Buton in southeast Sulawesi where the Butonese people originate and it is the site of the Kingdom of Buton mentioned in the records of the Majapahit Empire. Kolaka is a new city regency formed in 2001 while Luwuk is famous for its Luwuk coffee plantations of Indonesia.

Garuda Indonesia is launching new "Explore" flights from Balikpapan to Pontianak via Palangkaraya and from Pontianak to Putussibau on 1 September 2014. Balikpapan, Palangkaraya, Pontianak and Putussibau are tourist destinations of Kalimantan Borneo, of which Pontianak is the capital while Balikpapan is home to the sunbears. Putussibau is the nearest surface gateway to Brunei Darussalam from Kalimantan.

The continuous boom in Garuda's domestic skies have somehow refuted an industrial claim that Garuda Indonesia is cutting unprofitable routes. Garuda's direct flights to Taipei were suspended on 11 August 2014 but an additional daily frequency has been introduced on the Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta sectors since 14 August 2014. Garuda Indonesia is resuming flights to London from Jakarta via Amsterdam on 8 September 2014.

Flight Suspension News : Tigerair's flights

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

Tigerair is suspending its flights to the Indian city of Thiruvanapaturam from 22 September 2014. The last commercial return flight to the city is 20/21 September 2014. Customers who had purchased the tickets for travel from 22 September can contact Tigerair for refunds.

Tigerair has suspended its flights to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, without prior notice.

Flight Suspension News : SilkAir's Solo flights

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

SilkAir is suspending its flight services to Solo in Central Java, Indonesia with effect from 26 October 2014. Flight services to Semarang and Yogyakarta in Central Java will continue as per normal. 

Passengers who have purchased tickets to Solo for travel after 25 October 2014 will be given the option of a full refund, or the choice to utilise a SilkAir flight between Singapore and another Indonesian point. All administrative fees and penalties will be waived for customers who have purchased tickets prior to today. 

The SilkAir Contact Centre at +65 6223 8888 is available 24 hours for customers who require further assistance.

Budget flights to Chiang Mai from Yangon begin on 23 September 2014

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

Budget flights to Chiang Mai from Yangon, Myanmar, begin on 23 September 2014 when Golden Myanmar Airlines ATR 72-600 flight Y5 251 departs from Yangon at 6.30 am, arrives in Chiang Mai at 8.20 am before taking off for Yangon at 9.05 am and arriving in Yangon at 9.55 am under Y5 252.

Seats are on sale at Golden Myanmar Airlines official web-site www.gmairlines.com.

Golden Myanmar Airlines does not face any other budget airline competition on the route which will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Lao Airlines offers discounted tickets to Vientiane from Singapore, Phnom Penh and Bangkok as Lao Central Airlines suspends flights

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

In celebration of Lao Airlines' 25th Anniversary and the resumption of Singapore-Vientiane-Singapore flights from 29 October 2014, Lao Airlines is offering return online tickets to Vientiane from 219 Singapore Dollars, taxes and surcharges included. Offer is valid for travel between 29 October 2014 and 28 March 2015 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Besides, Lao Airlines is offering limited discount return tickets on its international flights to Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi and  Phnom Penh.

For further information, please visit Lao Airlines web-site or enquire to Lao Airlines Facebook.

Sayacinta - Airpost journalist will embark on the debut familiarization trip to Vientiane with Lao Airlines on 12 December 2014 and will visit the Head Offices of Lao Skyway and Lao Central Airlines and major tourist destinations of Vientiane proper on 13 December.

Lao Skyway, formerly Lao Air, is the national charter and domestic airline of Laos which operates on routes abandoned by Lao Airlines. It recently expanded its route network to include airports in Luang Prabang, Pakse and Luang Namtha to meet passengers' needs partly due to sudden flight suspensions by Lao Central Airlines.

Lao Central Airlines Head Office is still open for tourists to visit from Mondays to Saturdays despite suspending its domestic flights to Luang Prabang and Pakse and its international flights to Bangkok since July 2014 for the purpose of internal restructuring. The airline has yet to specify when it will resume flights. All Lao Central Airlines passengers travelling to Bangkok, Pakse and Luang Prabang have choice to fly with Lao Airlines at prices charged by Lao Central Airlines.

Lao Central Airlines is the only budget airline of Southeast Asia to have a separate Head Office building outside an airport or airport district. Head Offices of other low-cost airlines such as AirAsia, Cebu Pacific Air, Tigerair and Jetstar are located within international airports.  

Airlines at Myanmar Jobs Fair

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

Golden Myanmar Airlines and Myanmar Airways International participated at the Myanmar Jobs Fair on 2 and 3 August 2014 to promote company brand and flight awareness to the Myanmar nationals living and working in Singapore as well as recruiting locals proficient in Burmese and English to work in the Head Offices of the airlines.

Also attending this job fair are other employer exhibitors looking for prospective employees including the parent company of Air Bagan, Htoo Foundation Company and its resort subsidiaries, Calsberg Myanmar and Coca-Cola Myanmar.

Myanmar Jobs Fair is organised by MyJobs.com.mm, the first job listings web-site of Myanmar with a branch office in Singapore.

Golden Myanmar Airlines' flights to Mandalay, Suvarnabhumi and Imphal

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

Golden Myanmar Airlines currently operates daily scheduled Airbus A320 flight services on its Singapore-Yangon-Mandalay-Yangon-Singapore routes. It has group charter flights to Imphal, India from Mandalay using its Airbus A320 aircraft too. It is planning to launch a new weekly scheduled flight from Yangon to Chiang Mai in September 2014 using an ATR72-600 aircraft, date unspecified. It resumes daily return night flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from Yangon on 26 October 2014 under Y5 237 and Y5 238.

Schedules of Golden Myanmar Airlines' on-the-same-day connection flights from Mandalay to Singapore and return until 24 September 2014 are as follows:-

Flight Y5 233 departs from Mandalay at 8.05 am, transits in Yangon at 9.15 am to allow Yangon-bound passengers to alight before taking off for Singapore at 10.10 am and arriving in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 2.40 pm.

Flight Y5 234 departs from Singapore at 3.35 pm, transits in Yangon at 5.05 pm to allow Yangon-bound passengers to alight before taking off for Mandalay at 5.45 pm and touching down in Mandalay at 6.55 pm.

Passengers have a choice to board flight Y5 776 in Mandalay at 7.35 pm, arriving in Yangon at 8.45 pm but the itinerary entails a night's stay in Yangon for the onward Singapore-bound flight.

Golden Myanmar Airlines participated in the inaugural Myanmar Jobs Fair held at Singapore Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre on 2 and 3 August 2014.