Myanmar National Airlines conducts first international charter flight to Mongolia

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

Myanmar National Airlines has utilized its first Boeing B737-800 aircraft on an unprecedented international charter flight to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. 

The MNA flight takes off from Yangon for Ulaanbaatar at 5.45 am on 28 June 2015 under flight UB1001, transits via Naypidaw, the capital of Myanmar, at 8.30 am and arrives in Ulaanbaatar at 4.30 pm on the same day.

The outbound charter flight to Yangon takes place on 30 June 2015 when flight UB1002 departs from Ulaanbaatar at 9 am, transits in Naypidaw at 12.15 pm and touches down in Yangon at 2 pm.

The Mongolia charter flight serves as a warm-up preparation for Myanmar National Airlines' scheduled flight launch to Singapore from Yangon in August 2015. The airline is also planning to launch flights from Yangon to Hong Kong and Taipei by 2016.

A spokesperson at Myanmar National Airlines informed Sayacinta - Airpost the airline will announce the Singapore flight schedules and fares by mid-July 2015 after a sales agent in Singapore has been appointed and the flight schedules have been finalized and approved by bilateral civil aviation bodies. The airline is also planning to publish its first Inflight Magazine after scheduled international flights begin.

Garuda Indonesia flies non-stop to Amsterdam from Singapore on 23 July 2015

Press Release by : Garuda Indonesia Singapore Office

Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan

               / KUCINTA SETIA

Distributed to Everyone

Indonesia’s award-winning national airline, Garuda Indonesia, is launching a thrice-weekly, one-way, non-stop flight from Singapore to Amsterdam on 23 July 2015.

The Amsterdam-bound service on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays will be operated by Garuda Indonesia’s state-of-the-art 314-seater, Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration featuring its globally praised First Class, brand new Business Class service concept, and the World's Best Economy Class (Skytrax Global Airline Awards 2013) taken care of by the World's Best Cabin Crew as awarded to Garuda Indonesia by Skytrax for two consecutive years.

In October 2015, Garuda Indonesia plans to double the flight frequencies on the Jakarta-Singapore-Amsterdam route to six times weekly. 

The new B777-300ER service on 23 July 2015 under flight GA88 departs from Changi Airport at 1.30 am and arrives at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport at 8.30 am. At 4.45 pm local time, flight GA89 takes off for Jakarta directly and touches down in Jakarta at 11.50 am on 24 July where the return flight to Singapore will transit for 1 hour 30 minutes.

On other days, the return flights may be operated by a Garuda Indonesia's B777-200 aircraft.

Garuda Indonesia’s B777-300ER aircraft is equipped with “Inflight Connectivity” facilities, including “WiFi Onboard” and “Live TV” services for passengers in all classes and a “chef on board” for First Class passengers. The “Inflight Connectivity” service enables passengers to remain connected to the internet and continue their business activities during the flight or access their favourite entertainment, such as live soccer games via the Sports Channel, and many other entertainment options.

To celebrate the new route launch, Garuda Indonesia is running a promotion on all-in Economy Class fares from Singapore to Amsterdam from S$270 for one way trips and S$530 for return flights. Business Class tickets are also on sale from S$1840 one-way and S$3280 for return. Valid for travel from 23 July to 31 July 2015, fares are on sale from 18 June till 30 July 2015 on Garuda Indonesia's web-site  www.garuda-indonesia.com or the Garuda Indonesia sales office at United Square, 101 Thomson Road, #12-03. Terms and conditions apply. Call Garuda Indonesia Reservation Department at +65 6250 2888 for more details. 

About Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia currently operates over 90 weekly direct flights from Singapore to three Indonesian destinations including Bali, Jakarta and Surabaya. The Indonesian carrier was recently awarded a five-star rating by Skytrax, making it the seventh airline to earn this prestigious award. After winning the title "World's Best Regional Airline" in 2012, Garuda Indonesia was named “World’s Best Economy Class” last year and ‘World's Best Airline Cabin Crew’ by Skytrax this year for the second year running. Garuda Indonesia officially became the 20th member of the SkyTeam alliance in March 2014.

XiamenAir launches new international routes from Quanzhou and Changsha in July and August 2015

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

XiamenAir launches a new international route from Quanzhou on 3 July 2015 and  two new international routes from Changsha via Fuzhou on 10 August and 11 August 2015.

On 3 July 2015, flight MF8003 departs from Quanzhou for  Bangkok Suvarnabhumi at 8.45 am, arrives in Suvarnabhumi at 10.50 am before leaving Suvarnabhumi at 12.10 pm and touching down in Quanzhou at 4.15 pm under flight MF8004. Flights on this route operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

On 10 August 2015, XiamenAir commences its first international flight from Changsha to Suvarnabhumi via Fuzhou. On this day, flight MF875 departs from Changsha at 10 am, transits in Fuzhou at 12.15 pm before leaving Fuzhou at 1.20 pm and arriving in Suvarnabhumi at 3.40 pm. One hour later, flight MF876 leaves Suvarnabhumi at 4.40 pm, transits in Fuzhou at 9.05 pm before taking off at 10.10 pm and returning to Changsha at 11.35 pm. This return flight schedule is valid every Monday and Saturday.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, MF875 departs from Changsha at 11.20 am, transits in Fuzhou at 12.45 pm before leaving Fuzhou at 1.50 pm and arriving in Suvarnabhumi at 4.10 pm. One hour later, flight MF876 leaves Suvarnabhumi at 5.30 pm, transits in Fuzhou at 9.40 pm before taking off at 10.35 pm and returning to Changsha at 11.55 pm under MF876.

On 11 August 2015, XiamenAir inaugurates its second international flight from Changsha to Kuala Lumpur via Fuzhou. On this day, flight MF877 departs from Changsha at 8.55 am, transits in Fuzhou at 10.20 am before leaving Fuzhou at 11.20 pm and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 3.30 pm. One hour later, flight MF878 leaves Suvarnabhumi at 4.30 pm, transits in Fuzhou at 8.40 pm before taking off at 9.40 pm and returning to Changsha at 11 pm. This return flight schedule is valid on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Besides these three new routes and the launch of direct flights to Amsterdam from Xiamen on 26 July 2015, XiamenAir aims to launch direct flights to Sydney or Melbourne in December 2015 and introduce more international routes from Quanzhou and Changsha. It also plans to resume flights to Penang from Xiamen and add Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Tokyo and Vancouver to its international network in the future.

Malindo Air launches daily Boeing flights between Singapore and Ipoh on 14 July 2015

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

Malindo Air launches daily Boeing flights from Singapore to Ipoh with effect from 14 July 2015.

On 14 July 2015, Malindo Air flight OD820 departs from Singapore for Ipoh at 10 am, arrives in Ipoh at 11.25 am before leaving Ipoh at 12.10 pm and touching down in Singapore at 1.30 pm under flight OD821.

For the new return flight, Malindo Air will base a new Boeing B737-800 aircraft overnight next to an aerobridge of Changi Airport Terminal 3. 

Therefore, there are adjustments to the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur flight schedules of Malindo Air. From 14 July, Malindo Air flies to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore at 2.20 pm, 5.45 pm and 9.30 pm under flight codes OD802, OD808 and OD806 and returns to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur within 1 hour after.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines launches scheduled flight to Ho Chi Minh City on 1 July 2015

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

Cambodia Bayon Airlines is launching its first international low-cost flight to Ho Chi Minh City on 1 July 2015.

On 1 July, Cambodia Bayon flight BD811 departs from Phnom Penh for Ho Chi Minh City at 11.20 am, arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 12.15 pm before leaving Ho Chi Minh City at 1 pm and returns to Phnom Penh at 1.45 pm under BD812. Daily flights are operated by its Xian MA60 aircraft as it has delayed receipt delivery of its first Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

Besides Ho Chi Minh City, Cambodia Bayon Airlines has plans to launch low-cost flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok from Phnom Penh within two years using A320-200 aircraft.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines also operates domestic flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and Sihanouville.

AirAsia discontinues free bus shuttle service from Singapore to Senai on 1 July 2015

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

AirAsia is discontinuing its daily free bus shuttle service in partnership with Handal Indah's Causeway Link Bus Service from Singapore Tuas, Woodlands to Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru, on 1 July 2015. The last free shuttle bus service is on 30 June.

Handal Indah's Causeway Link has advised Sayacinta - Airpost that the company's free Senai Airport Shuttle Service will operate daily only from JB Sentral to Senai on 1 July. Passengers from Singapore will have to pay for bus services themselves from Singapore to Malaysian Immigration in Johor Bahru and from the Immigration to JB Sentral if they planned to fly from Senai to other cities of AirAsia's Senai route network including flights to Penang, Sibu, Miri, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi, as well as for Xpressair's flights to Jakarta and Malaysia Airlines' flights.

AirAsia  has developed an international hub in Changi Airport for frequent direct shuttle flights to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Miri, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching from Singapore and it is in the process of introducing transit connection services for flights with airlines that fly to Singapore.  

Under this arrangement, AirAsia passengers from Malaysia will not need to retrieve their checked-in baggage in Singapore for onward connection flights from Changi Airport to Don Mueang, Phuket via Thai AirAsia, to Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Solo via AirAsia Indonesia and other airlines that may have future interline agreements with AirAsia.

This bodes good news to all budget travellers that are on multi-city trips.

AirAsia is also introducing more flights to Johor Bahru from other Malaysian cities in order to compete with Firefly Sdn Bhd and FlyMojo, Senai's future boutique airline.

Inflight Review : 9Air launches daily flights to Manzhouli from Changchun on 25 June 2015

Inflight Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                             / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Airline : 9Air B737-800 in Nanjing is used for its inaugural flight to Manzhouli.

New Routes : Guangzhou-based 9Air launches daily direct low-cost flights to Manzhouli from Changchun on 25 June 2015 according to the following flight schedules:-

9Air flight AQ1031 departs from Changchun at 1.15 pm, arrives in Manzhouli at 2.55 pm before leaving Manzhouli at 4.25 pm and touching down in Changchun at 5.55 pm under AQ1032. 

The convenient Changchun-Manzhouli return flight facilitates passengers' travels from Guangzhou and Nanjing to Manzhouli without retrieving their checked-in baggage in Changchun.

On 25 April 2015, 9Air launched flights from Guangzhou via Nanjing to Changchun.

Besides Guangzhou, Nanjing, Manzhouli and Changchun, 9Air also operates flights to Haikou, Harbin, Zhanjiang, Nanning, Changbaishan and Urumqi using 3 Boeing B737-800 aircraft.

Aircraft : The B737-800 Economy Class seat legroom is slightly spacious than an Airbus A320. ***

Safety Demonstrations : Adequate.  *****

Inflight Service : The cabin crew serves free cups of mineral water and sells biscuits onboard. There is no inflight entertainment, no inflight hot meals and no inflight duty-free catalogue. Only limited 9Air duty-free products such as aircraft models and thermos flasks are on sale in an inflight marketing show.  ** 

Postcard / Stationery : There are no aircraft postcards. The barf bags are collectibles. **

Inflight Magazine : There is no 9Air inflight magazine. Although 9Air is Juneyao Airlines' subsidiary, it does not carry hardcopies of The Moment, Juneyao Airlines Inflight Magazine, onboard its flights. **

Sky Shop : 9Air is the only low-cost airline in the world that has no Sky Shop or inflight duty-free catalogue in order to sell tickets as low as 9.99 yuan. **

Onboard Meals and Refreshments : Although 9Air web-site promised consumers were able to book hot meals online, hot meals are nonetheless not available onboard its flights. The onboard meal advertisement on its web-site is just a marketing gimmick. **

Surcharges :  9Air has stirred controversy in its passenger seat surcharges although online seat selections promised to be 60 per cent cheaper than selections upon checking-in. 

At 9Air's destination airports, passengers choosing to sit in Rows 1, Seats 2D, 2E, 2F of the first rows and Emergency Exit Rows 15 and 16 are forced to pay the airline 60 yuan, 50 yuan for seats in Rows 3, Seats 2A, 2B, 2C, pay 40 yuan for Seats D, E and F of Rows 4-14 and pay 10 yuan for a seat in other rows when they specify their seat options as they check-in for 9Air flights. The airport counter staff said 9Air passengers choosing to sit in aisle seats or middle do not need to pay any surcharge if they did not request for specific seats.

A Chinese passenger however commented that 9Air does not charge passengers any seat surcharge if they had paid more than 360 yuan for a ticket and the airport ground crew on behalf of 9Air have no right to demand seat payment surcharges from passengers.

The controversies have fueled anger among its passengers and many passengers in Nanjing, Guangzhou and Haikou are contemplating lawsuits against 9Air for unreasonable travel surcharges.  **

Bookings : 9Air's web-site accepts online China bank card payments only. Elsewhere, tickets can be purchased at Ctrip and Qunar platforms using Mastercard. Tickets purchased cannot be cancelled and refunded. Changes of flight dates are permitted subject to fees and fare differences. Web-check-in is not provided.  **

Check-In and Departures : Check-in at the relevant Chinese airports 1 hour 30 minutes to two hours before departures. Flights do not depart on time.**

Ground service in  response  to passengers' requests and enquiries : Poor. **

Overall Impression : Passengers outside China cannot contact 9Air. There is room for improvement for 9Air in terms of customer hotline, check-in and inflight services. ***

** Poor / two-star
*** Good / three-star
***** Very good / five-star
****** Excellent / six-star (the highest category)

Inflight Review : NokScoot Airlines B777-200

Inflight Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                             / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Airline : NokScoot Airlines B777-200 in Changi Airport Terminal 2 on 6 June 2015.

Routes : NokScoot flies from Bangkok Don Mueang to Singapore and Nanjing. Flights to Singapore end on 26 August 2015 for flights to Osaka to begin.

Aircraft : The B777-200 Economy Class seat legroom is slightly spacious than an Airbus A320. ***

Safety Demonstrations : Adequate.  *****

Inflight Service : The cabin is clean and hygienic. Its toilet soap and safety card show the logo of NokScoot. The air hostesses are attentive to passengers' needs.  *** 

Postcard / Stationery : There are no aircraft postcards. Only immigration forms are issued. ***

Inflight Magazine : Passengers may take away a complimentary copy of NokScoot's inflight magazine AWESOME from the seat pocket. ****

Sky Shop : Inflight duty-free products and NokScoot special products are available for sale in US Dollars only. **

Onboard Meals and Refreshments : Passengers right now can only pay in Thai Baht for onboard meals and refreshments. Singapore Dollars is not accepted. **

Surcharge :  Passengers need to pay surcharges if they want to sit at the emergency rows and front rows.  ***

Bookings : NokScoot's web-site accepts online Mastercard and VISA payments in Thai Baht only. It appears not to be able to accept foreign currency payments. Passengers who wish to pay for NokScoot's Singapore electronic tickets in currencies other than Thai Baht are suggested to do so at Scoot's web-site. Once payments are made at Scoot's web-site, electronic tickets will be issued by NokScoot.  Ticket cancellations and changes of flight dates are permitted subject to fees and fare differences. Web-check-in boarding is not provided. Check-in at the airport three hours before departures. ***

Check-In and Departures : Check-in at Changi Airport Terminal 2. Flights depart on time frequently.***

 

Ground service in  response  to passengers' requests and enquiries : Good in Singapore. Very Good in Don Mueang. Scoot does not address questions on NokScoot's services. ***

Overall Impression : There is room for improvement for NokScoot in terms of customer hotline and inflight services. ***

** Poor / two-star
*** Good / three-star
***** Very good / five-star
****** Excellent / six-star (the highest category)

Amazing facts in St Thomas Basilica

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

In Chennai, besides St Thomas Mount, the other important destination to visit is the famous Basilica of San Thome also known as the International Shrine of St Thomas Basilica. Situated at the southern end of Marina Beach, this is the original site of the tomb of Thomas the Apostle.

Thomas the Apostle reached the southwestern coast of India in 52 AD via Sri Lanka to spread Jesus' news of salvation. Sri Lankans believe that Thomas preached at Kotahena, Colombo before landing in Chennai. In Chennai, he lived in Mylapore and was killed on St Thomas Mount where he was interned.

Later in the 16th century, the Portuguese built the settlement of San Thome, and another church in St Thomas Mount where his mortal remains were transferred from the Basilica.

In 1898, the Gothic-style basilica was constructed with beautiful stained glass windows. As centuries passed, the Basilica is both a cathedral and the sort-of Apostles' gallery. Here visitors can learn about the lives of the 12 Apostles as mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible including Batholomew the Apostle who also preached in India once. 

History is presented credibly in front of anyone. It is through the visit to the Basilica that anyone will appreciate the reality and importance of treasuring Christ's death and resurrection, missionary work, regardless of religious background. Everyone is fallible. We need God's pardon and cleansing of sins and we can do our part in sharing the good news of heavenly pardon with everyone.

One can deduce if one never visited St Thomas Mount and the Basilica, one had never truly visited Chennai, one of life's marvelous cities in calm.