Loong Air begins international flights

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

Loong Air, short for Zhejiang Loong Airlines, begins international flights.

On 28 June 2016, Loong Air launches Hangzhou's first flight to Danang. It will operate twice-weekly services on the route, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

On 29 June 2016, Loong Air launches Hangzhou's first flight to Nha Trang, operating services five times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

All flights are operated by Loong Air's Airbus A320 aircraft.

Loong Air, the Hangzhou-based domestic private airline, is authorized to expand its route network to include international passenger flights on 13 April 2016. It plans to introduce scheduled flights to Hong Kong, Jeju, Singapore and other Asian cities within the next five years.

China's first ARJ21-700 jet enters scheduled commercial service on 30 June 2016

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

China's first jet aircraft ARJ21-700 for regional and international flights is entering scheduled commercial revenue service on 30 June 2016.

On 30 June 2016, the first ARJ21-700 revenue flight under EU6679 departs from Chengdu for Shanghai-Hongqiao at 9.10 am, arrives in Shanghai-Hongqiao at 11.50 am before leaving Hongqiao at 1.10 pm and arriving in Chengdu at 4.25 pm under flight EU6680. The flights are operated by Chengdu Airlines.

Chengdu Airlines has organized an official ceremonial charter ARJ21-700 flight to Shanghai-Hongqiao on 28 June 2016 to show that the aircraft is as competent as the Boeing B737-800 and Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline plans to deploy the aircraft on other domestic routes from Chengdu in the near future.

Air Guilin commences flights to Zhengzhou, Yangzhou, Tianjin and Yinchuan

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

Passengers travelling with Tigerair directly to Zhengzhou from 28 June 2016 will be glad to know that there is an onward scheduled flight from Zhengzhou to Guilin. Air Guilin, the latest member of HNA Group and Guilin-based subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, has commenced daily flights to Zhengzhou from Guilin since 25 June 2016. It will introduce scheduled flights to Yinchuan in August 2016, Tianjin, Yangzhou and Jinan in July 2016.

On 25 June 2016, Air Guilin flight GT1023 departs from Guilin for Zhengzhou at 7.55 am under moderate rain, arrives in Zhengzhou at 9.55 am before leaving Zhengzhou at 3.35 pm and touching down in Guilin at 5.30 pm under flight GT1024.

From 3 August 2016, Air Guilin's Zhengzhou flights will be adjusted to include outbound flights to Yinchuan.

On 3 August 2016, flight GT1023 is planned to depart from Guilin for Zhengzhou at 6.45 am, transits in Zhengzhou at 8.45 am before leaving Zhengzhou for Yinchuan at 9.50 am and arriving in Yinchuan at 11.25 am.

At 12.05 pm on 3 August, flight GT1024 leaves Yinchuan for Zhengzhou, transits in Zhengzhou at 1.35 pm for Zhengzhou-bound passengers to alight before taking off for Guilin at 2.20 pm and touching down in Guilin at 4.35 pm.

Air Guilin commences daily flights to Tianjin on 2 July 2016 whereas its inaugural flight to Yangzhou from Guilin takes place on 4 July 2016 and that Air Guilin's inaugural scheduled flight to Jinan is on 8 July 2016.

On 2 July 2016, Air Guilin flight GT1029 departs from Guilin for Tianjin at 6.40 pm, arrives in Tianjin at 9.10 pm before leaving Tianjin at 10.10 pm and arriving in Guilin at 12.50 am on 3 July under flight GT1030.

On 4 July 2016, flight GT1011 leaves Guilin for Yangzhou at 8.05 am, arrives in Yangzhou at 10.05 am before taking off for Guilin at 10.45 am and landing at the Guilin airport terminal at 1 pm under flight GT1012.

On 8 July 2016, flight GT1013 leaves Guilin for Jinan at 3.15 pm, arrives in Jinan at 5.35 pm before departing from Jinan for Guilin at 6.30 pm and landing in Guilin at 8.45 pm under flight GT1014.

All the above flights are operated by an Air Guilin's Airbus A319, which was transferred from the Haikou base of Beijing Capital Airlines.

Air Guilin is a joint-venture airline between Guilin Tourism Development Co (60 per cent stake) and Guilin Aviation Tourism Group (40 per cent stake), the latter created by HNA Group the parent company of Hainan Airlines and its 19 subsidiaries including Beijing Capital Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Fuzhou Airlines, Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines, Urumqi Air, Yangtze River Airlines (formerly Yangtze River Express) and Air Changan. 

Air Guilin's logo comprises of a flowing ribbon below the stylized Elephant Hill with the slogan of Guilin in Chinese characters in it, and it is reputed to be the ugliest Chinese airline logo to date.

Jetstar Asia launches twice-weekly scheduled flights to Sanya on 2 August 2016

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

Jetstar Asia Airways launches twice-weekly scheduled flights to Sanya from Singapore on 2 August 2016, besides maintaining its weekly scheduled flights to Haikou.

On 2 August 2016, Jetstar Asia flight 3K881 departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 for Sanya at 7 am, arrives in Sanya Airport Terminal at 10 am before leaving Sanya at 10.50 am and touching down in Singapore at 2 pm under flight 3K882. Flights are operated on Tuesdays and Saturdays and land at the Sanya terminal for both domestic and international flights.

The Singapore-Sanya-Singapore tickets are sold on behalf of Air Sino Euro Associates Travel Pte Ltd by Jetstar Asia Airways. As the flights are chartered by the travel operator and operated on a scheduled basis by Jetstar Asia, do expect inflight service to be complimentary to an extent.

Jetstar Asia's Sanya route is not the only one to offer complimentary inflight service. So are Jetstar Asia's Guiyang route, Malindo Air's Sanya routes from Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and Tigerair's Xi'an Xianyang route. Years ago, Jetstar Asia Airways' Yangon flights and Valuair flights to Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar also offered complimentary meals and refreshments.

Sanya is home to Luhuitou Peak Park where the Deer Looking Back Statue is the city's symbol. Legend has it that a Li tribal hunter crossed over 99 mountain peaks and waded across 99 rivers after an Eid's deer to the spot in South China Sea where the deer looked back, transformed into a beautiful lady and married to the hunter. They lived happily after where the surrounding area became later known as Sanya.

In Sanya, visitors can also explore Sanya Bay, Sanya Times Square, the Lego blocks-like convention, exhibition centre and hotel in the city centre as well as the famous tourist spot Tianya Haijiao. 

Nowadays, Sanya is the honeymoon capital of China and an established MICE option for corporate travellers and tourists. There is an international cruise centre and there are daily bullet train services linking Sanya with Haikou and Meilan International Airport of Haikou. Both airports have transit flights to other airports of China.

Singapore Airlines launches direct flight to San Francisco on 23 October 2016 after cancelling flights to Sao Paulo

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

Due to lower passenger loads than 2015 and the Zika epidemic in South America, Singapore Airlines is suspending thrice-weekly flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil via Barcelona from 21 October 2016 and is in preparation for its direct scheduled flight from Singapore to San Francisco which will be launched on 23 October 2016. The airline will continue to operate direct flights to Barcelona where passengers can connect to Iberia's flights to Sao Paulo and elsewhere in South America. 

According to Singapore Airlines' web-site, the inaugural scheduled flight service to San Francisco from Singapore operated by its Airbus A350-900 aircraft under SQ32, the longest flight before the direct New York flight in 2018, is planned to take off at 8.30 am on 23 October. It arrives in San Francisco at 9.15 am on 24 October before leaving San Francisco for Singapore at 10.45 am and touching down in Singapore at 6.40 pm on 25 October under flight SQ31.  

With the launch of direct flights to San Francisco, Singapore Airlines has adjusted flights to Los Angeles. One of the outbound daily flights to Los Angeles will transit in Seoul-Incheon while the other daily transit flight service to Los Angeles via Tokyo-Narita will continue. 

Despite the on-line flight schedules, experts advise that it is best to be prudent from the perspective of flight punctuality.  

Aviation watchdog web-site CARNOC Daily remarked that Singapore Airlines' outgoing flights to San Francisco may begin between 2.35 pm and 5.45 pm weeks after as the route is subject to aircraft deployment timing, air traffic flow restrictions and changes in market demand. Therefore the flight schedules are not fixed and passengers are advised to monitor flight departure adjustments in the premises of flight punctuality. 

Singapore Airlines is ranked fifth on the "List of Most Punctual Asian Airlines" (95.32% punctual, i.e. seventeenth on the "List of Most Punctual International Airlines") for the month of May 2016 according to the Civil Aviation Data Analysis (CADAS) system released by VariFlight. Jetstar Asia Airways is ranked twenty-second (94.75% punctual) while Singapore Airlines' regional subsidiary SilkAir is ranked thirty-seventh (93.35% punctual) on the same "List of Most Punctual International Airlines". Punctuality data for Tigerair Singapore and Scoot are not available. 

According to CADAS, the most punctual international airline for the month of May 2016 is Hawaiian Airlines  (98.17% punctual), followed by Japan Airlines (97.68% punctual) and Belavia Belarusian Airlines (97.50% punctual).

Colorful Guizhou Airlines launches scheduled flights to Nantong and Shijiazhuang

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

Colorful Guizhou Airlines is launching new scheduled flights to Nantong and Shijiazhuang from Guiyang as part of its celebrations to mark its one year of business foundation anniversary.

On 20 June 2016, Colorful Guizhou Airlines flight GY7119 departs from Guiyang for Nantong at 4 pm, arrives in Nantong at 6.20 pm before leaving Nantong at 7.20 pm and touching down in Guiyang at 9.55 pm under flight GY7120. 

Colorful Guizhou Airlines is the only airline that has a direct flight service linking Guiyang and Nantong four times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. Nantong is the fastest developing city near Shanghai and is the nearest gateway to Shanghai Disneyland. It is also of proximity to Suzhou.

On 22 June 2016, Colorful Guizhou Airlines flight GY7125 departs from Guiyang for Shijiazhuang at 8.30 am, arrives in Shijiazhuang at 10.55 am before leaving Shijiazhuang at 11.55 am and touching down in Guiyang at 2.30 pm under flight GY7126. 

The return flights to Nantong and Shijiazhuang are operated by Colorful Guizhou Airlines' E190 aircraft.

Besides Nantong and Shijiazhuang, Colorful Guizhou Airlines also operates flights to Tianjin, Zhuhai, Nanjing via Wanzhou, and Ningbo via Tongren.

Vietnam Airlines now flies to Hong Kong 10 times weekly from Ho Chi Minh City

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

Vietnam Airlines has increased flight frequencies on its Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong route. From 7 flights per day, the airline is now flying 10 times a week to Hong Kong.

The additional flight schedules are as follows:

Flight VN598 departs from Ho Chi Minh City for Hong Kong at 5.15 pm, arrives in Hong Kong at 8.50 pm before leaving Hong Kong at 7.55 am the next day and arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at 9.30 am.

There is only one daily Vietnam Airlines flight schedule on this route, which is VN594/VN595 leaving Ho Chi Minh City at 10.45 am, arriving in Hong Kong at 2.20 pm before taking off for Ho Chi Minh City at  3.20 pm and returning to Ho Chi Minh City at 4.55 pm.

Vietnam Airlines continues to operate daily flights from Hanoi to Hong Kong as well.

Jeju Air re-times flights to Hong Kong from 30 October 2016

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

Jeju Air, South Korea's No. 1 Low-Cost Carrier, has re-timed its flights from Incheon to Hong Kong, according to the airline representative at the South Korea tourism booth of ITE & MICE 2016. 

From 30 October 2016, Jeju Air flight 7C2101 departs from Incheon for Incheon at 9.55 am, arrives in Hong Kong at 12.55 pm before leaving Hong Kong at 1.55 pm under flight 7C2102 at 1.55 pm and arriving in Incheon at 6.25 pm.

At 9.25 pm, flight 7C2107 departs from Incheon at 9.25 pm, arrives in Hong Kong at 12.25 am before leaving Hong Kong at 1.25 am on 31 October 2016 and touching down in Incheon at 5.55 am under flight 7C2108.

Along with the new schedules, Jeju Air announced that Song Joon Ki of overwhelmingly popular Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun" fame is now the airline's new annual brand ambassador as well as South Korea tourism advertisement ambassador.

Jeju Air plans to introduce new scheduled flights to Sapporo and Kota Kinabalu to counter competition from Jin Air.

Visit www.facebook.com/jejuairhongkong and www.jejuair.net for more information.

Myanmar National Airlines reduces flight frequency to Hong Kong after 1 July 2016

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

Myanmar National Airlines, which has exhibited at ITE & MICE Hong Kong for the first time, is decreasing flight frequency between Yangon and Hong Kong after 1 July 2016, due to operational requirement.

Flights in July onwards will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Currently it flies to Hong Kong on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using its B737-800 aircraft.

Myanmar National Airlines distributes its limited stock of Myanmar inflight magazine, route maps, pens, notepads and company profile at ITE & MICE.  The airline has no aircraft postcards. It is running its lowest promotion fare of 1440 Hong Kong Dollars at ITE & MICE for online bookings.

Visit www.flymna.com for further information.

Cambodia Angkor Air exhibits at ITE & MICE for the first time

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

Cambodia Angkor Air led by Bui Hai Nam (Fei Hai Nan), the General Manager of the airline's Guangzhou Branch Office is exhibiting at ITE & MICE for the first time from 16 to 19 June 2016 at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Fei Hai Nan says Cambodia Angkor Air is carrying out feasibility studies in launching new scheduled flights to Hong Kong in the future. The inaugural flight date has not been fixed.

At the travel trade exhibition, Cambodia Angkor Air informs the media through its inflight magazine Angkor that it has teamed up with Optiontown, a pioneer in the world of dynamic customer -friendly travel experiences. 

The new collaboration allows Cambodia Angkor Air to diversify its products and services, allowing it to maximise passenger comfort. Initially, three main products Upgrade Travel Option (UTO), Extra Baggage Option (XBO) and Empty Seat Option (ESO) are offered. Passengers can utilize these services with a small fee at www.optiontown.com. Optiontown will also email passengers the possibilities of these add-ons. However, the airline has the right to refuse ESO if the flights booked are full.

Sayacinta - Airpost understands that Cambodia Angkor Air is not the only partner of Optiontown in this interesting collaboration. Other airlines that Optiontown offers such services to include Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, AirAsia and AirAsia X.

Finnair to operate Airbus A350XWB flights to Singapore in October 2016

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

Finnair at ITE & MICE 2016 plans to deploy one of its new Airbus A350XWB aircraft on the direct Helsinki-Singapore route in October 2016, ahead of the ITB Asia 2016 travel mart exhibition held in Singapore.

Actual flight schedules have not been released on-line yet.

Finnair's A350XWB will operate direct flights from Helsinki to Incheon in June 2016. It has already used the aircraft on its Shanghai and Hong Kong routes.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines marks fifth year of flight operations to Hong Kong at ITE & MICE

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

Partnering the tourism body of Ulaanbaatar, MIAT Mongolian Airlines marks fifth year of flight operations to Hong Kong at ITE & MICE and celebrates its 60th Anniversary ahead of its birthday in July 2016.

AT ITE & MICE, MIAT Mongolian Airlines distributes Timetables and other collectibles that show its 60th Anniversary logo.

Ethiopian Airlines provides new flight connection to Dublin from Hong Kong, ups free baggage allowance

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

At the 30th edition of the ITE & MICE 2016 held at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 16 to 19 June 2016, Ethiopian Airlines has informed Sayacinta - Airpost that the airline is now providing interconnecting flights from Hong Kong to Dublin, the capital city of Ireland via Addis Ababa on a daily basis, besides providing onward scheduled flights from Hong Kong to Incheon and Tokyo-Narita.

According to Ethiopian Airlines' web-site, flight ET673 departs from Hong Kong for Addis Ababa at 1.45 am, arrives in Addis Ababa at 6.50 am where Dublin-bound passengers have to transfer to flight ET504 for departure from Addis Ababa for Dublin at 10.45 pm and arrival in Dublin at 4.55 am on the next day local time.

Passengers leaving Dublin for Hong Kong board flight ET505 at 9.30 am, transits in Addis Ababa at 7.15 pm before leaving Addis Ababa at 10.15 pm and touching down in Hong Kong at 2 pm under flight ET672.

Flights on the Hong Kong-Addis Ababa-Dublin-Addis Ababa-Hong Kong sectors are operated by Ethiopian Airlines' Boeing B787-800 aircraft.

With more flights linking Hong Kong with the rest of the world via Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines has increased free baggage allowance for Economy Class passengers aiming at travelling with the airline. Now, Economy Class passengers flying with Ethiopian Airlines can enjoy the gracious free baggage allowance of 45 kg for two baggage. The hand luggage to be stowed in the overhead compartment must be 32 kg at most, according to Sandy Cheung the marketing manager of Ethiopian Airlines Hong Kong office.

At the ITE & MICE 2016 period that is ongoing until 19 June 2016, Ethiopian Airlines invites the world to visit the Ethiopian Airlines Hong Kong Facebook page, click "Like", upload on the Facebook their photographs and 70th Birthday Wishes to Ethiopian taken in front of the Ethiopian Airlines 70th Anniversary advertisement slogan at the ITE & MICE booth together with their best digital wishes to Ethiopian Airlines on Facebook and submit them to the organizer in order to win free tickets to Incheon and Tokyo-Narita.

The Facebook contest ends at 12 am, 20 June and the final results will be announced at the end of July 2016.

Ethiopian Airlines flies four times a week from Hong Kong to Incheon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and thrice-weekly from Hong Kong to Tokyo-Narita on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, in addition to daily flights from Addis Ababa to Hong Kong. The airline celebrates 15 years of flight operations between Addis Ababa and Hong Kong on 2 January 2017 since its first flight to Hong Kong via Bangkok Don Mueang on 2 January 2002. 

Ethiopian Airlines has become one of the popular foreign airline companies for Hong Kong people to fly with.

Ethiopian Airlines has also announced that its inaugural long-haul flight to New York Newark International Airport using its Boeing Dreamliner B787-800 aircraft on 3 July 2016 transits in Lome, the capital of Togo, and is indirect. 

On 3 July 2016, flight ET508 departs from Addis Ababa for Newark via Lome at 9.30 am, transits in Lome at 12 pm before leaving Lome for  Newark at 1 pm and touching down in New York at 7.15 pm.

The outgoing flight from New York for Addis Ababa takes off at 9.15 pm from Newark on 3 July, transits in Lome at 11.30 am on 4 July before leaving Lome for Addis Ababa at 12.30 pm and returning to Addis Ababa at  9.05 pm under flight ET509.

Flights linking Addis Ababa with Lome and New York Newark take place on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Sayacinta - Airpost has checked the Ethiopian Airlines web-site. There will be no interconnecting flights from Hong Kong to Newark via Addis Ababa and Lome. However, it is suggested to Yodit Fikre the Traffic & Sales Manager Hong Kong here that the African airline carried out a feasibility study into launching new flights linking Hong Kong with Lome via Addis Ababa due to the unceasing increase in African tourists to Hong Kong and beyond.

Owing to the strong passenger growth on the Hong Kong routes and other route priorities, Ethiopian Airlines currently has not decided when to begin direct commercial flights on its own to Singapore from Addis Ababa. It has code-sharing arrangements with Singapore Airlines via Suvarnabhumi.

Singapore Sentosa Alliance exhibits in ITE & MICE for the first time

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

A total of 600 exhibitors from 50 countries including Singapore is exhibiting at ITE & MICE 2016 at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 16 to 19 June 2016, according to the organizer TKS Exhibition Services Pte Ltd. An opening ceremony and VIP Tour to announce officially the statistics was held yesterday.

This year is the 30th edition of ITE. New airline exhibitors include Cambodia Angkor Air, Myanmar National Airlines while active airline exhibitors like Ethiopian Airlines and MIAT Mongolian Airlines continue to bring visitors surprises. In the subsequent reports, news from these airlines will be presented.

The Singapore Sentosa Alliance of tourism operators is exhibiting at ITE & MICE  for the first time. 

Under the alliance, Resorts World Sentosa Singapore and Sentosa Development Corporation delivered a seminar named " Singapore Sentosa Island as the Best Family Destination" with highlights on the Resorts World Sentosa Brand Ambassaors, seasonal events, three days-two nights attraction packages and Dolphin programs at Forum Seminar Corner A on 17 June.

Other country tourism bodies that exhibit in this exhibition hail from the Solomon Islands, Malta, Penang, Mauritius and Myanmar.

Repeated tourism operators come from other countries such as Armenia, Georgia, Croatia, Slovakia, Iran and Bhutan and with the largest contingent led by China and followed by Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

The next edition of ITE & MICE will be held from 15 to 18 June 2017.

Halal tourism to be one of the focus at ITB Asia 2016

Press Release by : Beatrice Hua, Ketchum for Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

ITB Asia, “Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show”, has established a partnership with CrescentRating, the world’s leading authority on halal travel. As part of the trade show’s first foray into Muslim travel, CrescentRating will host the “Halal In Travel – Asia Summit 2016” conference and various workshops, sharing invaluable insights on how delegates can strengthen their position in a sector that is currently worth billions of dollars.

Organised by Messe Berlin, the ninth edition of ITB Asia will take place from 19 – 21 October 2016

at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.

According to findings from MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2016, the global Muslim travel market was worth USD150 billion in 2015 and is projected to grow to USD220 billion by 2020.

As part of ITB Asia, this inaugural event held on 19 October 2016 will bring together experts from National Tourism Organisations (NTO), travel industry stakeholders and online travel industry players to share insights and ideas on how to leverage this growth market to attract more travellers. Panel discussions will focus on national strategies to develop Halal tourism, the readiness of travel services and discuss the use of technology to target Muslim consumers.

The dedicated workshops will share first-hand experience on developing Muslim-friendly travel packages as well as Halal fine dining options at hotels and restaurants. The event will also see the release of an exclusive market intelligence report by MasterCard and CrescentRating.

“With the rapid growth of the Muslim travel sector, our partnership with CrescentRating is an integral addition to this year’s show. Delegates attending ITB Asia from all over the world can look forward to gaining deeper insights from the leading industry experts to help identify new business opportunities, helping to keep them at the forefront of key travel trends,” said Katrina Leung, Executive Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia.

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, said: “We are delighted to partner with ITB Asia to deliver this inaugural Halal in Travel event. With the in-depth experience CrescentRating has gained over the last seven years, we look forward to delivering a best of class knowledge forum on Halal travel. It will be an ideal platform for exchanging experiences between experts in the industry and destinations. We are confident that this will be a ground-breaking event which will shape the future of this sector.”

Last year, ITB Asia attracted close to 760 exhibitors from 73 countries, as well as 880 buyers and more than 10,300 attendees over three days.

ITB Asia has recently announced its first-ever MICE day, establishing partnerships with industry leaders including Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) and Incentive Conference & Event Society Asia Pacific (ICESAP) on the second day of the show.

XiamenAir launches scheduled flights to Seattle via Shenzhen on 26 September 2016

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

XiamenAir is launching scheduled flights from Xiamen to Seattle via Shenzhen on 26 September 2016 using its Dreamliner B787 aircraft. Flights are operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On 26 September 2016, XiamenAir flight MF845 departs from Xiamen for Seattle via Shenzhen at 9.30 am, transits in Shenzhen at 10.45 am to pick-up more Seattle-bound passengers before leaving Shenzhen at 12.45 pm and arriving in Seattle at 10.25 am local time.

At 1.25 pm on 26 September, flight MF846 leaves Seattle for Shenzhen, transits in Shenzhen at 6.15 pm before taking off from Shenzhen for Xiamen at 8.15 pm and touching down in Xiamen at 9.25 pm on 27 September 2016.

XiamenAir mentions that the Shenzhen-Seattle link is Shenzhen's first international direct route to the US. International passengers can also board the Dreamliner flights in Shenzhen for quicker arrivals into Seattle. Before that, passengers have to fly from Singapore to Incheon, Tokyo-Narita or Taipei-Taoyuan, for example, to connect to international flights bound for Seattle. The XiamenAir-Shenzhen-Seattle tickets are open for sale at the airline's web-site www.xiamenair.com.

Spring Airlines launches scheduled flights from Changzhou and Dalian to Bangkok from 1 July 2016

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

Spring Airlines launches new scheduled flights from Changzhou and Dalian to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport with effect from 1 July 2016.

On 1 July 2016, Spring Airlines flight 9C8763 departs from Dalian for Suvarnabhumi via Changzhou at 5.40 pm, transits in Changzhou at 7.20 pm before departing from Changzhou for Suvarnabhumi at 8.50 pm and touching down in Suvarnabhumi at 12.20 am on 2 July 2016.

On 2 July 2016, flight 9C8764 leaves Suvarnabhumi for Changzhou at 1.45 am, transits in Changzhou at 6.55 am before departing from Changzhou for Dalian at 8.35 am and arriving in Dalian at 10.10 am on the same day.

Flights from Dalian and Changzhou to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and vice versa are on Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Suvarnabhumi-Changzhou route is the second ASEAN route to Changzhou, near Wuxi, after the Vientiane-Changzhou route operated by Lao Airlines was first launched in 2015.

With the additions of Changzhou and Dalian to its Suvarnabhumi route network, Spring Airlines is the largest foreign low-cost airline to have a hub at the Bangkok international airport. It also flies from Suvarnabhumi to Beihai, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Lanzhou and more than seven other Chinese city airports.

Air Koryo launches chartered flight to Jinan on 31 May 2016

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

Air Koryo has quietly added a new route to its destination network. On 31 May 2016, it launched its inaugural direct chartered flight from Pyongyang to Jinan using its aging Antonov AN-148-100B aircraft.

Flights are conducted every three days from 31 May. The second return flight to Pyongyang from Jinan takes place on 3 June 2016.

The flight schedules are as follows:-

Air Koryo departs from Pyongyang for Jinan at 3 pm on 31 May and arrives in Jinan at 4.40 pm before taking off from Jinan for Pyongyang at 6.10 pm and arriving in Pyongyang at 7.40 pm.

Air Koryo will conduct a series of chartered flights to Jinan to test the Shandong travel market before converting the flight services to scheduled flights in the future.