Flight Cancellations : AirAsia India

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

AirAsia India has cancelled all flights to Chennai from Bengaluru with effect from 31 March 2015. Passengers affected should contact the relevant airport offices for refund matters.

AirAsia India has also terminated flights to Jaipur and Pune. It now only flies to Goa, Kochi and Chandigarh in India.

At AirAsia India, not everyone can fly!

Fly with Oman Air Airbus A330 from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur dirt cheap!

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

Full-service Middle Eastern airline Oman Air, which launched its inaugural scheduled flight from Muscat to Singapore on 29 March 2015 and onward to Kuala Lumpur on the same day, is promoting dirt cheap all-in fares on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur sector to compete with low-cost airlines, SilkAir and Singapore Airlines.

According to Oman Air web-site, the cheapest taxes all-in fare of Oman Air's Singapore-Kuala Lumpur service from 30 March 2015 onwards is 72.60 Singapore Dollars (fare alone without taxes 35 Singapore Dollars). 

Oman Air WY821 flights to Kuala Lumpur using Airbus A330-300 long-haul aircraft with far more spacious legroom than the Airbus A320 are operated every evening at 10.30 pm from Changi Airport Terminal 3 according to the airport, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 11.35 pm, with effect from 30 March.

There are different categories of Oman Air's fares on the Muscat - Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Singapore - Muscat sectors. For further information, visit Oman Air at www.omanair.com for updates or check with its GSA, Serangoon Air Travel at arpan@serangoonair.com or Changi Airport.

Drukair to increase frequency to Singapore and resume flights to Yangon with A319 Sharklet

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

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines has started utilizing its latest Airbus A319 aircraft, the A319 Sharklet on its existing international routes to Delhi and Kolkata from Paro last week. Soon the aircraft will also operate on routes to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from Paro and Mumbai in April 2015.

The A319 Sharklet showing the word Drukair in smaller text size below the words Royal Bhutan Airlines along the aircraft body was purchased at a cost of over 43 million US Dollars from the aircraft manufacturing company- Airbus. The plane has been registered as A5 JSW to commemorate the 60th Birth Anniversary of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. The airline took delivery of the aircraft from Germany on 15 March 2015. It arrived in Paro on 16 March 2015.

The plane has several technical upgrades, most visibly the “sharklets” which provide improved aerodynamic efficiency of the wings and fuel saving advantage of up to 4 per cent.

“Engine on this aircraft has better improved technology and along with the sharklets on the wings, it will give an enhanced performance, we will be able to carry 1800 kgs more out of Paro, which is very critical,” said Drukair’s Chief Executive Officer, Tandin Jamso.

Passengers of Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines on this aircraft will also experience several improvements, most notably the in-flight entertainment system. The aircraft also has lighter and thinner seats, with the same comfort but more spacing, larger overhead baggage stores and charger ports inside the plane.

Tandin Jamso says Drukair now has more flexibility in terms of increasing flight frequencies or extending flight routes. The airline is looking into resuming commercial flights to Yangon by end of 2015 or beginning of 2016. It is initiating charter flights to Ahmedabad later this year. It is also looking at increasing flight frequency to Singapore from 3 flights a week by June to 4 by October 2015 with the A319 Sharklet.

Daily daytime flights to Xi'an from Singapore with XiamenAir begin on 30 March 2015

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

XiamenAir has announced daily daytime flights to Xi'an from Singapore via Hangzhou which will be launched on 30 March 2015.

On 29 March 2015, XiamenAir flight MF841 departs from Xi'an at 5.05 pm, transits in Hangzhou at 7.10 pm allowing Hangzhou-bound passengers to alight before taking off at 8.20 pm on 29 March for Singapore and arriving at Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 1.20 am on 30 March 2015.

One hour later, flight MF842 departs from Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 2.30 am, transits in Hangzhou at 5.30 am before departing at 8.30 am and touching down in Xi'an at 10.50 am on 30 March.

The daily Xi'an morning flights of XiamenAir support the current Tigerair non-daily direct night-time flights to Xi'an, offering travellers another choice of travel to Xi'an from Singapore.

With the addition of Xi'an to its Singapore route network, XiamenAir flies to Xiamen, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Dalian, Tianjin, Zhengzhou and Xi'an from 30 March. It is the Chinese carrier with the most number of Chinese city links to Singapore.

XiamenAir's Dreamliner launches scheduled flight to Amsterdam on 26 July 2015

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

A XiamenAir's Boeing B787 Dreamliner is launching the Fujian airline's first long-haul scheduled flight to Amsterdam from Xiamen on 26 July 2015. 

On 26 July 2015, XiamenAir flight MF811 departs from Xiamen at 11.50 pm, arrives in Amsterdam at 5.45 am on 27 July after 11 hours 55 minutes of the flight. It embarks on the return journey from Amsterdam at 12.35 pm on 27 July 2015 and touches down in Xiamen at 5.30 am on 28 July under MF812.

The outbound Xiamen - Amsterdam flight takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays while the inbound Amsterdam - Xiamen flight operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

According to XiamenAir, it plans to launch flights to an Australian city in October 2015 and to an unidentified U.S. city in 2016. The new Amsterdam flight of XiamenAir supports the current KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' thrice-weekly services between Amsterdam and Xiamen.

Air Mandalay to resume scheduled domestic flights on 1 May 2015

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

Air Mandalay, which suspended all its domestic and charter flights in December 2014 for ATR aircraft replacement and management revitalization, is resuming domestic flights from Yangon on 1 May 2015 with two leased ERJ-145 commuter aircraft, cn. 145060 and 145059. Initial flights will likely be from Yangon to Heho and Mandalay.

According to Sai Khom Park Hpa, CEO of Air Mandalay, the airline received the aircraft first in Kingman, Arizona in early February 2015 before they arrived in Yangon on 10 February 2015 and resumed domestic charter flights by the third week of February.

Air Mandalay has plans to start regional flights to Hong Kong and Singapore in the future from Yangon and Mandalay once the ASEAN Open Skies agreement is signed and ratified by the Myanmar and other ASEAN countries' civil aviation authorities. It has appointed new Passenger Sales Agents in Hong Kong and Singapore to market its future flights. 

The Passenger Sales Agent of Air Mandalay in Singapore is Yadanar Travel Pte Ltd.

Under Myanmar's proposed Open Skies agreement, airlines of other Southeast Asian countries can only fly to Yangon and Mandalay and operate domestic flights in partnership with Myanmar's domestic airlines with unrestricted frequencies while Myanmar's airlines will have the rights to fly to other Southeast Asian countries' capitals and cities without limits.

VietJet Air takes delivery of its first Airbus A321 aircraft on 22 March 2015

Report contributed by : Chai Peng Kong
Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

 

VietJet Air took delivery of its first Airbus A321 aircraft, the 9,000th aircraft manufactured by Airbus, in Ho Chi Minh City at 2:30 pm on 22 March 2015. Coded VN-A65, VietJet’s first A321 aircraft is its fifth aircraft from a purchase order of 100 aircraft produced by Airbus.

The new aircraft, which was purchased in a deal financed by BNP Paribas bank (France) and Jackson Square (Japan), has been emblazoned with the words “Airbus' 9,000th aircraft”.

Earlier the aircraft delivery ceremony was celebrated in Hamburg (Germany) with the attendance of the Vice President of Airbus, Nico Petersen and the Vietnam Ambassador to Germany, Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh.

The A320 single-aisle jetliner family is the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. The A321 aircraft features Sharklets wingtip devices. The widest passenger cabin in its class, the A321 also boasts extended service intervals for the air-frame and the stretched-fuselage can seat up to 220 passengers in a high-density arrangement.

Airbus has brought the benefits of increased maximum seating capacities to all A321 designs with further optimized cabin space and increased exit limits while retaining the company’s modern, comfort standards.

This newly arrived A321 jet will take VietJet Air’s fleet up to a total of 23 aircraft, facilitating the airline’s expansion plans, which include opening longer haul routes to South Korea, Japan, and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region.

“We are very proud to welcome a new A321 to our family in line with our expansion plans in Asia Pacific. We believe that the new fleet will further facilitate our business plan as well as offer customers more and more wonderful flying experiences. Once again, we are delighted to welcome the 9,000th aircraft of Airbus into our enthusiastic family.” said Luu Duc Khanh, managing director of VietJet Air. 

John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus, also shared his delight at the handover: “It is a great honour for us to deliver the 9,000th aircraft to VietJet – a rising star among airlines in Asia. The new A321 will boost VietJet’s operation to a new level in terms of cost efficiency for single-aisle aircraft.”

Receiving its first A321 is a significant milestone on VietJet Air’s strategic business plan after three years of operations. Vietjet has fast become one of the most popular airlines in Vietnam and is now enjoying introducing its services to multiple markets across Southeast Asia and further afield in Asia.

By adding more brand new, modern aircraft, VietJet will improve its cost efficiency, and as a result be able to offer even better air fares to customers while expanding its flight network and contributing to the development of the aviation industry in Vietnam and in the region.

Cebu Pacific Air launches Southeast Asia's first low-cost flight to Qatar in June 2015

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

Cebu Pacific Air has announced that it will operate Southeast Asia's first low-cost scheduled flight to Doha, the capital of Qatar in June 2015.

On 4 June 2015, Cebu Pacific flight 5J7834 departs from Manila for Doha at 9.35 pm, lands in Doha at 2.45 am on 5 June 2015 before departing from Doha at 4.15 am on 5 June and touching down in Manila at 6.35 am on 6 June under 5J7835. Flights are operated by its Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

Doha is Cebu Pacific Air's fourth new Middle East destination after Dubai, Kuwait City and Riyadh and the airline is applying for rights to operate twice-weekly flights to Muscat, Oman later this year. It recently terminated flights to Damman in Saudi Arabia due to low passenger loads. Cebu Pacific Air operates the most number of Middle East flights from Southeast Asia. 

The Doha flight follows on heels Cebu Pacific Air's new return flights to Tokyo-Narita from Cebu which commence on 26 March 2015 with flight 5J5062 leaving Cebu for Narita at 5.55 am, arriving in Narita at 11.20 am before departing from Narita at 12.05 pm and returning to Cebu at 4.25 pm under 5J5063 using its Airbus A320 aircraft.

Singapore travel agency takes over Air India sales, ticketing and airport office operations

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

In a surprise move, local travel agency Jetspeed Travel Pte Ltd has taken over Air India Express and Air India's sales, ticketing and airport office operations in Singapore, becoming the first travel agent in Singapore to manage a major airline's assets in the Singapore airport and downtown. Therefore, Air India's local branch office at The Gateway in Beach Road is closed after its last day of business on 21 March 2015.

Air India appointed Jetspeed Travel Pte Ltd as its Singapore General Sales Agent while Air India Express appointed the travel agency as its Representative in November 2014. Both airlines have slashed online fares on its routes to Singapore from Chennai, Tiruchirapally, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai recently. This has boost ticketing business at the Beach Road office and the GSA and made travelling to India from Singapore more affordable than booking return flights with Tigerair to India.

For example, one-way April fare of Air India Express including taxes all-in to Chennai via Tiruchirapalli starts from 183 Singapore Dollars. A direct Dreamliner flight of Air India from Chennai starts from 289 Singapore Dollars.

Air India staff and the GSA staff will officially run sales and ticketing operations together at the bigger premises of Jetspeed Travel Pte Ltd located at 1 Coleman Street, #03-07/08 Peninsula Shopping Complex, Singapore 179804, from 23 March 2015 as well as Air India and Air India Express airport office at Terminal 2 of Changi Airport.

Jetspeed Travel Pte Ltd is the former GSA of Nepal Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines in Singapore.

Vietnam Airlines first to take delivery of Airbus A350 XWB in Asia

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

 

HO CHI MINH CITY- Vietnam Airlines will take delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB, the world's newest passenger jet, in June 2015 as part of its efforts to become a four-star carrier this year. It is Asia's first airline to utilize this aircraft.

According to Thoi Bao Kinh Te Saigon Online, the aircraft that Vietnam Airlines contracted to purchase from Airbus was rolled out of the Airbus factory in Toulouse fully painted on 6 March 2015. It is undergoing procedures for engine installation and interior design before test flights. 

It is scheduled that the aircraft will be handed over to Vietnam Airlines in June. 

According to plans, Vietnam Airlines will receive three other Airbus A350 XWBs this year for long-haul flights. 

A total of 19 Boeing 787s and 14 Airbus A350 XWBs will be delivered to the airline between mid-2015 and early-2019. 

The A350 XWB is Airbus’ all-new family of widebody aircraft that is shaping the future of medium- to long-haul airline operations. The "XWB" in the name means "extra wide body." 

Vietnam Airlines recently revealed plans to upgrade its services into a four-star level this year.

It changed the uniforms of its attendants and pilots, and announced plans to upgrade its fleet.

Source : Thanh Nien News

HK Express launches low-cost flight to Jeju on 27 June 2015

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

Hong Kong's low-fare airline HK Express today announced that it is launching Asia's first international scheduled flight to Jeju, the island south of the Korean Peninsula on 27 June 2015. It will operate flight services on the route every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

On 27 June 2015, HK Express flight UO1676 departs from Hong Kong at 2.05 am for Jeju and arrives in Jeju at 6.20 am before taking off for Hong Kong at 7.30 am and touching down in Hong Kong at 9.20 am under UO1677.

Last year 1.8 million Chinese tourists visited Jeju, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hallasan National Park which contains the famous Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, Cheongjiyeon and Cheongjeyeon Waterfalls and Mount Halla. This year, 5.6 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Jeju. Many residents of Jeju are Chinese, Koreans and Japanese.

HK Express does not face any competition from Korean and other Hong Kong airlines on the new route.

New routes of Jetstar Group of Airlines from 29 March 2015

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

The Jetstar Group of Airlines are launching new routes from 29 March 2015. These airlines are Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Jetstar Airways. Jetstar Asia Airways has no new routes.

On 29 March 2015, Jetstar Pacific Airlines launches daily flights between Hanoi and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. The first flight of Jetstar Pacific leaves Hanoi at 11.10 am, arrives in Suvarnabhumi at 1 pm under flight BL667 before departing at 2.35 pm from Suvarnabhumi and touching down in Hanoi at 4.25 pm under BL688.

Jetstar Airways launches four new routes between 29 March and 31 March 2015.

The first new route is the Cairns - Denpasar - Cairns round-trip service. Jetstar Airways flight JQ90 departs from Cairns at 10.25 pm, arrives in Denpasar at 1.30 am before departing for Cairns at 2.25 am and arriving in Cairns at 8.55 am under JQ91.

The Perth - Gold Coast - Perth routes will be opened on 30 March 2015. This day, flight JQ983 departs from Perth for Gold Coast at 12.30 am, arrives in Gold Coast at 7 am before taking off from Gold Coast at 10.20 pm, arriving in Perth at 11.50 pm under flight JQ982.

From Gold Coast, the Australian international airport's first Fiji service takes off on 31 March 2015 at 9.25 am, arrives in Nadi at 2.55 pm under flight JQ125 before gaining momentum for the skies from Nadi at 4.50 pm and returning to Gold Coast at 7 pm under JQ126. Flights will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Finally Jetstar Airways launches daily flights to Wellington, New Zealand from Melbourne-Tullamarine on 30 March 2015 at 12.45 am, touches down in Wellington at 6.05 am under JQ164 before leaving Wellington daily at 6.45 am and returning to Melbourne-Tullamarine at 8.35 am under JQ165. 

Low-cost flights to Wuxi with HK Express from Hong Kong begin on 10 April 2015

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

Low-cost flights to Wuxi with HK Express from Hong Kong commence on 10 April 2015.

On 10 April, HK Express Airbus A320 flight UO1360 departs from Hong Kong at 4.15 pm and arrives in Wuxi at 6.45 pm before leaving Wuxi at 7.30 pm and touching down in Hong Kong at 9.45 pm under UO1361. The new route operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Wuxi allows travellers to plan a gourmet trip to the cities of Zhejiang and  Jiangsu Provinces with high-speed rail connections. Wuxi and its neighbouring cities of Ningbo, Hangzhou and Changzhou are famous for their cuisine and beautiful lakeside restaurants.

The new Wuxi flight services will appeal to business travellers from Singapore as Wuxi is home to the Sino-Singapore Wuxi Industrial Park. Wuxi is an energetic commercial city. There are frequent low-cost flight connections to Hong Kong from Singapore.

HK Express is the only low-cost airline that operates scheduled flights to Wuxi from Hong Kong. Besides Wuxi, it operates low-cost scheduled flights to Kunming, Ningbo and Zhengzhou in China, Taichung, Siem Reap, Danang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Penang, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka, Seoul-Incheon and Busan. Flights to Kota Kinabalu were suspended till further notice.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines mulls new flights to new cities, new aircraft

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

In an inhouse interview with MIAT Mongolian Airlines Inflight Magazine which Sayacinta - Airpost managed to receive a hardcopy from Ulaanbaatar during the week of ITB Berlin 2015, N. Ganbold, the Vice President of MIAT Mongolian Airlines revealed that the airline plans to launch summer flights to new cities and add new aircraft types.

By June 2015, MIAT Mongolian Airlines will conduct summer flights from Ulaanbaatar to Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg in Siberia, besides operating all-year round regular flights to Moscow, Berlin, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda and Hong Kong.  Now Mongolia is embracing for higher influxes of passengers from Russia and countries affliated to the European Union since they do not require any entry visa to visit the country.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines is mulling temporary flights from Ulaanbaatar to Hovd.

Direct flights to Frankfurt will resume in summer while flights to Singapore which have been suspended after 4 March 2015 may be operated on a seasonal intermittent basis subject to operation requirements and commercial market demand.

Commenting on its scheduled flights to Singapore via Beijing, Ganbold said the airline aims to capture a travel market of travellers from the US and Asia that transit in Singapore. However the current Chinggis Khaan International Airport of Ulaanbaatar has small capacity and cannot handle continuous influxes of passengers from Southeast Asia without controlling fuel prices. He said Ulaanbaatar can only be a hub airport once the new bigger international airport in Khishigtlin Khundii has completed construction which will likely attract new competitors and lower fuel prices for aircraft landings in Ulaanbaatar. 

MIAT Mongolian Airlines' competitor Hunnu Air recently ceased international flights to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Suvarnabhumi, Tokyo and Paris. These cancellations have spiked fuel prices for aircraft landings in Ulaanbaatar despite the fall in international fuel prices.

Ganbold admits that the national flag carrier is operating flights to Singapore at a loss but he admits some new destinations like Singapore and Frankfurt take years to develop new travel markets and to have more passengers.

Ganbold said MIAT Mongolian Airlines  is conducting feasibility studies to operate scheduled flights to Busan, Suvarnabhumi, London and New York in the medium term and long run.

Meanwhile, MIAT Mongolian Airlines which received its leased Boeing B737-800 aircraft from Air Lease Corporation in May 2014 has deferred purchases of two  B737-800NG aircraft from 2016 to 2019-2020. These two aircraft may be substituted with the B737MAX aircraft. 

On operating long distance flights to destinations such as Frankfurt, Singapore, London and New York, MIAT Mongolian Airlines is discussing with Boeing on inducting a Dreamliner aircraft to its fleet within three to four years.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines is officially conferred National Flag Carrier status in 2013 according to Mongolia's State policy for civil air transportation. It distributes new aircraft postcards of its current fleet which comprises of B767-300ER and B737-800 jets and its company profile at ITB Berlin 2015. It aims to upgrade its customer satisfaction level to Skytrax 4 star Airline ranking this year.

SilkAir launches charter flights to Sihanoukville and Sanya from 1 June 2015

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

ASA Holidays & Aviation at NATAS Travel Fair 2015 announces SilkAir's debut charter flights to Sihanoukville, the southern deep-sea harbour of Cambodia and Sanya, the nearest Chinese city nearest to Southeast Asia famed as the "Oriental Hawaii".

SilkAir launches June and December charter flights from Singapore direct to Sihanoukville with effect from 1 June 2015. The charter flight dates are 1, 2, 6 June, 1, 6, 8, 13, 15 and 20 December 2015. ASA Holidays & Aviation's Cambodia special packages follow the itinerary Singapore - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville - Singapore. The final leg Sihanoukville - Singapore and Singapore - Siem Reap flights are operated by SilkAir's B737-800 aircraft.

Sihanoukville beaming with casinoes and new buildings, pubs and shopping complexes offers tourists with more exciting shopping experiences at night than Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Tourist attractions include the Snake House, WatKrom Temple, WatLeu Temple and Sihanoukville Beach.

SilkAir launches twice-weekly direct charter flights from Singapore to Sanya, Hainan Island on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout this year from 16 June 2015 using its brand-new B737-800 aircraft. To celebrate the inaugural flight to Sanya on 16 June, ASA Holidays & Aviation's free 800 return Sanya air tickets and 8D land tour packages are up for grabs. Besides, it is selling 4/5/8D Hainan Island Roundabout Tour packages and optional land tour packages to Danang, Vientiane and Luang Prabang departing from Sanya harbour. 

For more tour itinerary details and promotions, contact ASA Holidays & Aviation's tour agent Air Sino-Euro Associates Travel Pte Ltd. at enquiry@asaholiday.com.

SilkAir operates charter flights to 18 Asian cities that include Guiyang, Yichang, Taichung, Busan and Jeju in partnership with ASA Holidays.

Vietnam Airlines unveils new uniforms for cabin crew and pilots

The new uniforms for Vietnam Airlines attendants.

Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam Airlines has unveiled new uniforms for its in-flight crew, aiming to create a fresh image for its brand. The airline has kept the traditional ao dai dress for female flight attendants, but changed the colour from red to blue, for Economy Class cabin crew, and yellow, for Business Class cabin attendants. 

Pilots and male attendants will continue to wear white shirts, but there are some changes in the colours of their ties and the patterns on their hats. 

The new uniforms are designed by renowned Vietnamese fashion designer Minh Hanh. 

Vietnam Airlines staff started wearing their new uniforms on some international flights on Tuesday.

The old (L) and new (R) uniforms for Vietnam Airlines flight attendants

The old (L) and new (R) uniforms for Vietnam Airlines male attendants.

The old (L) and new (R) uniforms for Vietnam Airlines female pilots.

The old (L) and new (R) uniforms for Vietnam Airlines pilots.

Source & Pictures : Thanh Nien News

Lowest number of exhibitors at NATAS Travel Fair 2015

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

NATAS Travel Fair 2015, Singapore's premier travel fair, sees the lowest number of exhibitors this year after many major travel agencies withdrew from the travel fair to organize the debut Travel Revolution Fair which takes place during the final week of March. 

There are only a total of 84 exhibitors at NATAS Travel Fair 2015 which takes place from 6 to 8 March at the Expo Hall 8.

There is only 1 registered airline exhibitor, which is Eva Air. Its Hello Kitty jet will operate 10 daily return flights between Taipei and Singapore from 21 June 2015. Non-registered airline exhibitors include Air New Zealand, China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan at the respective country tourism booths.

Tourism board exhibitors hail from India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Indonesia and New Zealand. 

Airline partners and travel fair sponsors include Etihad Airways, Lufthansa German Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, British Airways and Turkish Airlines. Leaflets and brochures were distributed at these booths. Postcards are not available.

The only major travel agency at the travel fair is ASA Holidays & Aviation. It is promoting its SilkAir charter flights to Sanya and Sihanoukville which will begin in June 2015. A separate news report on SilkAir's charter flights will follow shortly.

Marking Singapore's 50 years of independence, admission to NATAS Travel Fair 2015 is free.

NokScoot to launch charter flights to Tokyo and Sapporo in March and April 2015

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

NokScoot, Thailand's only long-haul budget airline, will operate its first flight from Bangkok Don Mueang on charter basis to Tokyo Narita on 22 March 2015. Charter flights will continue until 26 April 2015. It earlier launched its first charter flight to Seoul-Incheon on 18 February 2015.

NokScoot will also launch Bangkok's first budget flight to Sapporo, Hokkaido from 1 April to 20 April 2015 on a charter basis.

NokScoot has not launched any scheduled flight yet.

NokScoot is a joint-venture airline between Nok Air and Scoot.