Routes Suspension Notice : Singapore - Guilin - Singapore

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

Tigerair is suspending direct flights to Guilin from Singapore from the first week of April 2016 onwards. This is due to low booking volume on the route, competition from AirAsia and more customers prefer to fly from Singapore to Nanning instead. The airline has not said when it will resume direct flight to Guilin.

Owing to the route suspension, the associate company of ASA Holidays and travel operator Air One Aviation at the forthcoming NATAS Travel Fair (4 to 6 March 2016) is marketing group tours to Guangxi by Tigerair flight landing in the provincial capital and gateway Nanning. Tigerair is marketing the Nanning route robustly on its web-site.

Tigerair is the only airline that operates direct flights to Nanning. Sichuan Airlines that previously operated flights to Singapore from Chengdu via Nanning now operates flights to Chengdu directly with connecting flights to Guiyang at affordable rates lower than Jetstar Asia.

Pictorial Review on Airlines at Travel Revolution 2016

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

Travel Revolution Fair 2016 is now on from 26 to 28 February 2016 at Marina Bay Sands Expo basement Halls D-F. Most of the exhibitors are major travel agents. Four airlines including Oman Air, Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines and Etihad Airways are exhibiting at the travel fair. Sayacnta - Airpost is honoured to present the pictures of the travel fair to all readers.

Oman Air sells tickets that are inclusive of taxes. For example, a return flight to Munich costs 785 Singapore Dollars and the all-time popular return fare of 99 Singapore Dollars to Kuala Lumpur returns, taxes inclusive.

      

On Sunday, visitors will get a chance to win Drukair scarf, mug and an Airbus A319 aircraft model during a lucky draw. Postcards are not available.

Best Airline Booth : Oman Air.
Best flight-alone fare package provider : Oman Air.
Best Airline GSA (Airline Representative) : Druk Asia for Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines.
Best Full-service Low-fare Transportation Provider : Oman Air.
Largest Tourism Exhibitor : Japan.
Worst Airline Booth : Air Mauritius.
Best Tour Package : Northern Xinjiang Tour, using aircraft of West Air, will be launched on 19 May 2016. The flight stopovers in Chongqing for one night before a connecting flight departs for Urumqi the next day. Actor Chen Tianwen will lead the group tour.

There are no Taiwan and China travel trade exhibitors this time and majority of tour packages are groups-based and concentrate on popular itineraries such as Bhutan and China tours. There are no FIT tour packages at Travel Revolution. Visitors should consider visiting NATAS Travel Fair 2016 to scout for reliable tourism and travel information.

Sayacinta - Airpost will return next week with pictures from NATAS Travel Fair 2016 to be held at Singapore Expo from 4 to 6 March 2016.

Founder of defunct Chinese airline to own Siam Air and Orient Thai Airlines

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

According to a reliable source in Thailand, Lan Shi Li, the Chinese travel trade tycoon that owns the East Star Group and the founder of the defunct Chinese carrier East Star Air, is in the stage of discussing with both Siam Air and Orient Thai Airlines to take control of both airlines headquartered in Thailand. There were earlier speculations within Siam Air and Orient Thai Airlines that he was purchasing stakes in both airlines in order to stage a comeback to the civil aviation scene.

Lan Shi Li's East Star Air that planned the first international flight linking Wuhan with Singapore in 2008 started operations on 19 May 2006 and went bankrupt on 27 August 2009 after Shi Li was arrested in Wuhan for tax evasion. He was released from prison in August 2013 and now lives in Singapore.

Siam Air operates daily flights from Don Mueang to Singapore at 7.50 am and leaves for Don Mueang from Singapore at 12.35 pm. It also flies to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macau, Zhengzhou with its fleet of B737 aircraft. Later this year, it plans to launch scheduled flights to Changsha and Taipei-Taoyuan. The airline was previously an aircraft leasing firm that started operations in 2007 under the same name and leased its McDonnell aircraft to Orient Thai Airlines. It became a low-cost, full-service airline operating its first scheduled flight to Hong Kong in October 2014 under the Thai lady-logo livery. 

Siam Air said Orient Thai Airlines is no longer under control by the Thais. That explains the close marketing relationship between Siam Air and Orient Thai Airlines and frequent code-sharing flights. The gateway to booking Siam Air tickets is via Orient Thai Airlines' web-site. Many local travel agencies in Chinatown are also selling Siam Air tickets. Orient Thai Airlines itself operates charter flights from Don Mueang to Chongqing, Nanchang, Nanning apart from regular flights to Hong Kong and on a code-sharing basis with Siam Air.

Siam Air Singapore Branch's address : No. 1 Park Road, #03-K69, People's Park Complex, Singapore 059108. Email : sin_ops@siamair.cn. Tel : 68360581. Web-sites: www.siamair.co.th and www.siamair.cn.

Malindo Air pioneers Southeast Asia's budget flight to Pakistan before moving back to KLIA Main Terminal

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

Malindo Air pioneers Southeast Asia's budget flight to Lahore, the largest Punjabi city in the world, located in Pakistan, on 3 March 2016.

On 3 March 2016, Malindo Air flight OD131 departs from Kuala Lumpur (KLIA2) for Lahore at 5.30 pm, arrives in Lahore at 8.15 pm before leaving Lahore at 9.05 pm under flight OD132 and touching down in KLIA2 at 5.50 am on 4 March 2016.

Flights to Lahore are operated on Thursdays, Saturdays, Mondays and Tuesdays using Malindo Air's Airbus A320 aircraft, and on 15 March 2016, all Malindo Air flight operations will resume at KLIA Main Terminal.

Malindo Air's last day of operations at KLIA2 is 14 March 2016.

Seventh Fujian civilian airport's first trans-provincial scheduled flight takes off on 7 March 2016

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

Juneyao Airlines launches Sanming Shaxian Airport's first trans-provincial scheduled flight from Shanghai Pudong on 7 March 2016 when the Fujian Province's seventh civilian airport opens to commercial traffic. 

Sanming Shaxian Airport is located in Fenggang sub-district of Sha County (沙县) in Sanming and was first constructed in 1995. Fujian Province's other six civilian airports are located in Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wuyishan, Quanzhou, Longtian and Longyan (formerly Liancheng).

On 7 March 2016, Juneyao Airlines flight HO1109 departs from Shanghai Pudong for Sanming at 8.55 am, arrives in Sanming at 10.35 am before leaving Sanming Shaxian Airport at 11.35 am under flight HO1110 and touching down in Pudong at 1 pm.

Flights operated by Juneyao Airlines' Airbus A320 aircraft take place on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

To celebrate inaugural flights to Sanming, Sanming Shaxian Airport is introducing a range of attractive travel gimmicks.

For example, any traveler can eat Shaxian desserts for free at the airport. It is not known when the dining offer will end. 

Next, travelers from Fuzhou, Yongtai, Xianyou and Putian arriving at North Sanming Station via bullet train can check-in for Sanming-outbound flights at the railway station where their rail ticket prices will be waived before they travel onwards by airport bus to the airport. 

In addition, tourists arriving in Sanming Shaxian Airport by air can get free entry tickets to important tourist attractions of Sanming by showing their passports, identity cards and boarding passes.

Sanming, the prefecture-level city located in western-to-central Fujian Province, is rated China's "Greenest City" and it is famous for its Shaxian desserts and beautiful natural attractions such as Meilie Ruiyun Mountain, Danxia Landform and abundant Karst topography. It has nine counties.

Sanming's Taining county is home to Xingkou Geshikao Natural Reserve and Golden Lake of Taining World Geopark. Geologists rate the geopark the "Museum of Valleys and Caves" and "Garden of Grand Mountains and Winding Rivers". 

Sanming's Minghua county is home to Goose Cave, and in the county Shibi Village is the original homeland of the Hakkas.

Free entry tickets are for access to the national park, geopark and other listed attractions in Sanming.

XiamenAir flies every week from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Suvarnabhumi, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong Kong, Sydney, et cetera to Fuzhou where there is convenient traffic access to Sanming.

China Eastern Airlines provides inaugural connecting flight to Chicago from Singapore on 18 March 2016

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

Passengers travelling on China Eastern Airlines flight MU544 at 12.55 am from Singapore to Shanghai Pudong on 18 March 2016 may connect to China Eastern's inaugural scheduled flight to Chicago on the same day.

On 18 March 2016, China Eastern flight MU717 departs from Pudong for Chicago at 11.40 am, arrives in Chicago at 12.40 pm before leaving Chicago at 2.50 pm and touching down in Pudong at 7.10 pm under flight MU718.

Flights bound for Chicago from Pudong using Boeing B777-300ER aircraft depart on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, subject to future service amendments.

China Eastern Airlines is the only Chinese airline to provide connecting flights to Chicago from Singapore.

China Eastern Airlines provides connecting flights to Matsuyama, Okayama, Toyama, Shizuoka, Komatsu, Asahikawa, Muan, Daegu, Vancouver, Toronto, among other international destinations in its network for passengers from Singapore. According to China Eastern Singapore Branch Office, the airline also flies every week from Singapore to Kunming directly, Xi'an and Lanzhou via Kunming, Wuxi and Changchun via Pudong. It has dropped Nanchang from its Singapore route network.

Vanilla Air may fly to Singapore from October 2016 onwards

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

Vanilla Air, the low-cost subsidiary of All Nippon Airways formerly known as AirAsia Japan, is considering international flight expansions beyond Taipei-Taoyuan to Singapore, Suvarnabhumi, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from October 2016 onwards or from 2017. It runs a fleet of 8 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft and is evaluating flight feasibility and market demand on flights to these destinations.

Eventually, Vanilla Air plans to launch flights from Tokyo-Narita to Singapore, Suvarnabhumi, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City via Taoyuan within four hours of flight-radius from each destination stop by capitalising on Japan's agreement of flight beyond rights with Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Vanilla Air also plans to launch direct flights to Guam and Saipan in the long run.

Currently, Vanilla Air flies from Tokyo-Narita to Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Sapporo, Naha and Anami. It has dropped Jakarta and Denpasar from its list of proposed long-haul destinations after the Jakarta terror attacks and suspended flights to Incheon due to intense competition from Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Japan Airlines, the Korean low-cost carriers EastarJet, Jeju Air, T'Way Air and Japan's Peach.

Singapore Airlines delays A350-900 deployment on Amsterdam route till May 2016

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

Singapore Airlines has delayed deployment of its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft on its Amsterdam route from April 2016 to June 2016. Its first A350-900 aircraft from Airbus will arrive in Changi Airport on 3 March 2016.

Pilot familiarity flights of the A350 aircraft will be conducted on short-haul routes to Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (Cengkareng), dates unspecified, before deploying it on services to Amsterdam in May and launching the inaugural scheduled flight to Dusseldorf from Singapore on 21 July 2016.

Singapore Airlines has a total purchase order of 63 A350 aircraft with an optional order of 20 more A350 aircraft including 7 A350ULR longer-range extra wide-body (XWB) aircraft.

Singapore Airlines expects to receive 11 A350XWB aircraft this year.

Southeast Asia's first low-cost flight to the USA begins on 15 March 2016

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

Cebu Pacific Air is launching Southeast Asia's first low-cost scheduled flight to the USA on 15 March 2016 using its Airbus A320 aircraft. 

On 15 March 2016, Cebu Pacific flight 5J101 departs from Manila for Guam, the US territorial island in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines, at 3.45 am, arrives in Guam at 10.15 am before leaving Guam at 12.30 pm local time and touching down in Manila at 2.55 pm under flight 5J102.

Return flights depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Cebu Pacific Air has daily flights from Singapore to Manila, Clark, Cebu, and also flies to Iloilo and Davao every week.

New Myanmar trips introduced ahead of ITB Berlin 2016

Press Release by : ScottAsia Communications
                              / Khiri Travel 
Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Khiri Travel is an international travel organizer and destination management company founded in 1993 with 16 offices specialized in tours in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It is dedicated to working with specialized tour operators to provide quality leisure tour experiences across Asia.


Khiri Travel's entrepreneurial associates craft innovative itineraries that reflect their passion for authentic, local and sustainable experiences.


For instance, ahead of ITB Berlin 2016, Khiri Travel Myanmar has introduced two new tours in Myanmar: a 5-days/4-nights trip that follows the Jeremy Clarkson Top Gear route through Shan State, and a 4-days/3-nights trip to the Loikaw hill area of Kayah State, known for its longneck hill tribe communities.
 

Both journeys are ‘frontier’ trips that involve access to areas infrequently visited by organized tour groups.


The Eastern Shan State was closed to foreigners until 2013 when Khiri received permission to pass the area with the Top Gear crew. Using a 4WD and driver, the trip starts in Inle Lake and visits Taunggyi, Palaung villages, Phan Lan, Myin Pan, arriving in the Shan state capital Kengtung, in the centre of the Golden Triangle opium trading area. Facilities along the way are deprived of any wifi and 4G network. There is some optional village trekking in and around Kengtung, from where guests can either fly back to Yangon or continue through the hills to Chiang Rai in Thailand.
 

“Eastern Shan State is certainly one of the last frontiers in Asian travel,” says Edwin Briels, Khiri Myanmar, General Manager. “It’s a trip that will yield fascinating travel stories when you’re at the dining table back home.”


Khiri has also introduced a Loikaw area 4-days trip in Kayah State, with direct insights on the customs and beliefs of tribes, including the longneck women.


In Kasae Kum, visitors see how the neck rings are made. A translator tells the story of local customs, spirits and beliefs and the importance of the totem pole, herbal medicines and animist traditions. Visitors can see the benign effects of a local community based tourism initiative funded by the Dutch government.


There is plenty of time to chat with local tribes people in their villages. During the trips, there will be light trekking between settlements, but most of the journeys through the settlements are by train and car with some optional bicycling. There is a budget or a more up-market version of the trip to suit budget travelers, according to Briels.


At ITB Berlin 2016, Briels will also update travel buyers with a history of organizing treks in the Himalayas or the Andes on other new options such as overland trekking from Bagan to Mrauk U over the Chin Mountains or overland (and partly by private boat) from Mandalay to Bagan with an overnight in Yandabo Home,  which comprises 12 modern bungalows aesthetically attuned to the local pottery-making villages where there are no WiFi, TV or phone services to disturb anyone.
 

For full itineraries and Myanmar trip options email edwin@khiri.com. Visit Khiri Travel at ITB Berlin – Hall 26B, Stand 203 and khiri.com for further information.

ITB Berlin 2016 takes place in Berlin, Germany, from 9 to 13 March 2016.

Vietnam Airlines plans to sell 8.8 percent stake to ANA

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

Vietnam Airlines as a joint-stock company has taken a step forward towards partial privatization by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation with All Nippon Airways (ANA) Group.

According to the MoU, ANA Group after withdrawing its 49 percent stake from Asian Wings Airways in Myanmar in 2014 will purchase an 8.8 percent stake in Vietnam Airlines for 2.43 trillion VND (equivalent to 108 million USD). This MoU lays a foundation for Vietnam Airlines and ANA to proceed to the signing of the Stock Purchase Agreement expected to take place during the first quarter of 2016, subject to the Vietnam Government's approval.

This strategic relationship will help Vietnam Airlines and ANA take advantage of each other’s strengths and expand their networks and international markets. The two parties have also committed to sharing each other’s services in Vietnam and Japan.

On becoming Vietnam Airlines’ strategic shareholder, ANA will share and impart their management experience as a world-leading airline to Vietnam Airlines.

ANA is the largest Japanese airline in terms of revenues and passenger numbers while Vietnam Airlines now operates 95 routes to 21 domestic and 29 international destinations with a fleet of 87 jets including Boeing B787 Dreamliners, B777s, Airbus A350-900XWBs, A330s and A321s.

Accommodation Review : Angkor Palace Resort & Spa, Siem Reap

Accommodation Review : Gan Yung Chyan
                                        / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Images : Researcher's Pictures

Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is regarded as a five-star resort in Cambodian standards. It won one of the Agoda 2015 Gold Circle Awards for best hospitality and guest service in Cambodia. Indeed, the resort crew and remork (Cambodian tuk tuk) drivers excel in their services to the guests but they could improve their service and products further.

Images : Researcher's Pictures

Firstly, guests are welcome with drum beats when they arrive at the resort. This shows that every guest is a VIP. The deluxe room with balcony has one bath tub, one wall shower heater, hair dryer, complete toiletries and the bed with mosquito net is comfortable. To match the exorbitant room price, the resort should consider providing shavers for men's use in the rooms.

Secondly, complimentary breakfast at Sunset Cafe consists of organic vegetables, fruits, bread, jam and a large variety of healthy food. The food does not taste bland. Healthy lunch and dinner options at a 20 per cent discount at its Soriya Restaurant are not salty and sweet but they are still expensive. Only the pizza is cheap. 

Thirdly, the English-speaking resort remork drivers are patient in accommodating with guests' requests in itinerary changes at last minute. 

I particularly mention resort remork driver Mr Sothy. He is not only dedicated to his duty with smiles, he also maintains consistent communciation with the Tour Desk with his handphone so that I return to the resort safely at the end of the day. He has never complained loudly to me for any sudden change in my trip itinerary and even managed to bring me to Wat Preah Yesu at the far-away Sombua Commune although we did not know how to reach there, thanks to the Holy Spirit. 

Images : Researcher's Pictures

A breakdown of tours provided by the Concierge Supervisor of Angkor Palace Resort & Spa is as follows:-
- Remork Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour round-trip 10 USD (5 am to 7.30 am)
- Remork Angkor Wat Sunset Tour round-trip 10 USD (3 pm to 5.30 pm, schedule can be adjusted. Check with Tour Desk.)
- Remork Angkor Wat Sunrise with Bayon / Angkor Thom / Ta Prohm excluding Sunset 15 USD (one day)
- Angkor Wat with Bayon / Angkor Thom / Ta Prohm including Sunset at Phnom Bakheng 20 USD
- One-day Siem Reap Remork Tour 15 USD (8 hours only) 
- Taxi Angkor Wat with Bayon / Angkor Thom / Ta Prohm including Sunset 38.50 USD (one day)
- Taxi Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour round-trip 22 USD (5 am to 7.30 am)
- One-day Siem Reap Taxi Tour 38.50 USD (8 hours only)

Round trip to two destinations in Siem Reap within two hours by remork costs 7 USD.

Images : Researcher's Pictures

There are five complimentary evening mini-van round trip shuttle services to Cambodian Commercial Bank located in Siem Reap downtown according to the following Timetable:-

Image : Researcher's Picture

Angkor Palace Resort & Spa has a rule. All visitors have to leave their rooms by 10 pm. 

Please do not leave any loose baggage on the floor in the morning to prevent assumption that the baggage were to be abandoned by the room servant. Please bring the key-card along when leaving the room.

Each room has a personal safe to store guests' valuables. Durians are not allowed in the resort.

Image : Researcher's Picture

There is no end to improving guest services for a five-star resort. Angkor Palace Resort & Spa should consider providing day-time complimentary van shuttle services to Siem Reap Commerical Center for guests interested in shopping during day-time, consider more discounts to resort-dining, provide each shaver for room usage and servants should not touch baggage of guests who will confirm checking-out later before 12 pm on the day with the room key-cards.

Book on-line with Agoda, TripAdvisor, Groupon, Hotels.com etc your room at Angkor Palace Resort & Spa today. Emails : booking@angkorpalaceresort.com, concierge@angkorpalaceresort.com. Web-site : www.angkorpalaceresort.com .

Image : Researcher's Picture