Ruili Airlines set up Cambodian subsidiary to tap into ASEAN travel market

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

Yunnan Jingcheng Group, the parent company of Yunnan airline Ruili Airlines with a hub in Kunming Changshui has secured an air service license from the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and set up its new Cambodian subsidiary headquarters in Phnom Penh, JC (Cambodia)  International Airlines Co., Ltd., which is also known as JC Cambodia Airlines.

According to a business plan seen by the Phnom Penh Post, the new Cambodian full-service airline is looking to complete its Air Operator certification in time for a February 2017 launch. Thereafter, using a fleet of six 160-180 seater aircraft such as B737-800, it will offer passenger flights from Cambodia to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and destinations in China such as Kunming, Shanghai, Chengdu and Nanning.

When it launches operations in 2017, JC Cambodia Airlines will face direct competition from other Cambodian airlines such as Cambodia Bayon Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Sky Angkor Airlines and another start-up airline Small Planet Airlines Cambodia.

Email	jccambodiaairline@163.com
Address	8th & 9th Floor, Suntown Plaza, Corner Russian Blvd & Northbridge Road, Sangkat Toeuk Thla, Khan SenSok, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.

Novoair flies to Kolkata from two Bangladeshi cities by 14 December 2016

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

Novoair, one of Bangladesh's private airlines and subsidiary of Novoair Holidays, flies to Kolkata from two Bangladeshi cities by 14 December 2016. Its first Dhaka-Kolkata flight takes off on 1 December 2016 while its first flight from the port city of Chittagong to Kolkata is launched on 14 December 2016.

On 1 December 2016, Novoair flight VQ721 departs from Dhaka for Kolkata at 2.25 pm, arrives in Kolkata at 3 pm before leaving Kolkata for Dhaka at 4 pm and touching down in Dhaka at 5.35 pm under flight VQ722. Flights between Kolkata and Dhaka operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

On 14 December 2016, flight VQ727 leaves Chittagong for Kolkata at 2.50 pm, touches down in Kolkata at 3.35 pm before departing from Kolkata for Chittagong at 4.20 pm and arriving in Chittagong at 6.05 pm under flight VQ728. Flights between both cities take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The flights to Kolkata are operated by Novoair's ATR72-500 aircraft.

After Kolkata, Novoair is looking into the feasibility of starting flights to Guwahati, Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur from Dhaka. It first launched its first international flight to Yangon from Dhaka on 1 December 2015.

TransAsia Airways suspends operations permanently on 22 November 2016

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

TransAsia Airways has suspended all flight and ticketing operations on 22 November 2016 as it cannot recover costs from two air crashes involving its aircraft in 2014 and 2015, and incurs debts. It also did not profit from the proposed merger deal with V Air, its low-cost subsidiary. The airline is closing down.

On 23 July 2014, TransAsia Kaohsung-Magung flight GE222 crashed into Lake Penghu due to failure in emergency landing and wrong flight direction, resulting in the death toll of 48 passengers onboard.

On 4 February 2015, another TransAsia domestic flight GE235 crashed into the Keelung River near Taipei Sungshan Airport. 43 passengers passed away and 15 passengers were injured.

In October 2016, V Air cancelled its merger deal with TransAsia Airways and is now permanently closed. V Air earlier intended to close its business for one year from 4 October 2016 to 3 October 2017 in order to merge with TransAsia according to TransAsia Airways' announcement in August 2016.

TransAsia Airways will be heavily penalized by the Civil Aviation Ministry of Taiwan for its sudden suspensions of all flights.

Oman Air launches scheduled flight to Guangzhou on 9 December 2016

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

Oman Air launches direct scheduled flight from Muscat to Guangzhou on 9 December 2016 with its Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

On 9 December 2016, Oman flight WY851 departs from Muscat for Guangzhou at 10.15 am, arrives in Guangzhou at 9 pm before leaving Guangzhou under flight WY852 at 6.25 am on 10 December 2016 and touching down in Muscat at 11 am.

The outbound flight from Muscat to Guangzhou takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays while the inbound flight to Muscat from Guangzhou takes off on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

XiamenAir launches new flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Kota Kinabalu

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

XiamenAir launches daily scheduled flight from Xiamen to Ho Chi Minh City on 28 November 2016 using its Boeing B737-800 jet. In January 2017, it opens the new route to Kota Kinabalu from Fuzhou.

On 28 November 2016, XiamenAir flight MF8005 departs from Xiamen for Ho Chi Minh City at 7.55 pm, reaches Ho Chi Minh City at 10 pm where it taxis at the terminal overnight before leaving Ho Chi Minh City for Xiamen at 7.45 am and arriving in Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Terminal 3 at 11.45 am under flight MF8006 on 29 November 2016.

Following the new Ho Chi Minh City flights, XiamenAir will launch scheduled flight from Fuzhou to Kota Kinabalu on 9 January 2017 at 2 pm and arrive in Kota Kinabalu at 5.35 pm under flight MF8019 before embarking on the return journey to Fuzhou under flight MF8020 at 6.35 pm and touching down in Fuzhou at 10 pm. Flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Tickets are already on sale at www.xiamenair.com, Ctrip, other Chinese on-line ticketing platforms and authorized sales agents worldwide.

Ticketing office of All Nippon Airways in Singapore closes down on 9 December 2016

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

All Nippon Airways Singapore downtown ticketing office along Robinson Road closes down on 9 December 2016 as more than 70 per cent of its customers have been booking Japanese air tickets on-line.

Walk-in customers can still look for All Nippon Airways' Timetables and brochures at the Changi Airport counter of the Japanese airline at Terminal 2.

How to reach the largest mosque and church compound in Bangkok

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

Bangkok is popularly known as the City of Angels because it is the City of Buddhist temples and the capital where Thais are known for their friendliness, graciousness and hospitality. However do you know that the city has the largest mosque and church compound in Thailand? The pictures of this report below show the landmarks leading to the mosque, church and the actual buildings.

The mosque Masjid Hidayatul Islam "Sam-In" is the largest mosque of Bangkok located near Phra Khanong BTS Station. It looks like a castle and a fort from a distance.  Travel by taxi from Phra Khanong BTS Station to take snapshots of the mosque.

The largest church compound of Bangkok is in Ekamai International School (EIS). It is known as Bangkok International Church of Seventh-Day Adventists in the Milne Auditorium of EIS. 

To travel to EIS, walk or ride further up along the road opposite the mosque until you reach Soi Pridi Banomyong 31. At the entrance of Soi Pridi Banomyong 31, you will see Good Day Cafe along the entrance of the lane on your right. Continue to walk along the lane until you reach the entrance of the school. Walk towards Milne Auditorium.

EIS belongs to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Pupils, teachers and church members congregate at Milne Auditorium of the Bangkok International Church of Seventh-Day Adventists every Saturday (Sabbath). It is the nearest and only English-speaking city centre church of Bangkok in a school compound. 

Bangkok's other current Seventh-Day Adventist Churches that are Thai-speaking congregations, and the Bangkok Adventist Hospital are located far from Bangkok city centre. 

If you wish to visit the mosque and church compound earlier on Sabbath*, it is advisable to book a room at Pridi Hostel, the nearest budget hotel of the two located at the corner of Pridi Soi 35 along Sukhumvit Road, Unit 957/43, Klongton Nue, Wattana, Bangkok. Ref : www.pridihostel.hostel.com. Tel : 66-891031388.

Both Pridi Soi Banomyong 31 and Pridi Soi 35 are located along Sukhumvit Road, also Sukhumvit 71.

Happy Sabbath*! 

* Happy Day of Rest and Release from Stress, Saturday

US-Bangla Airlines launches flight to Muscat today and to Kolkata on 1 December 2016

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

According to US-Bangla Airlines, it launches its first B737-800 international flight today (11 November 2016) from Dhaka to Muscat and from Dhaka to Kolkata with effect from 1 December 2016.

On 11 November 2016, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS321 departs from Dhaka for Muscat at 10.45 pm, arrives in Muscat at 2 am before taking off from Muscat for Dhaka  at 3 am and touches down in Dhaka at 11.20 am under flight BS322. The direct flights to Muscat are operated twice a week on Sundays and Fridays while its flights from Muscat land in Dhaka on Mondays and Saturdays.

On 15 November 2016 (Tuesday), BS321 departs from Dhaka for Muscat via Chittagong at 8.45 pm, arrives in Chittagong in 45 minutes before leaving Chittagong at 10.15 pm and arriving in Dhaka at 2 am. It departs from Muscat at 3 am, transits in Chittagong before leaving Chittagong for Dhaka at 9.50 am and returns to Dhaka at 11.20 am under flight BS322. Flights to Muscat via Chittagong are operated on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On 1 December 2016, US-Bangla Airlines launches its first scheduled flight from Dhaka to Kolkata at 11.40 am under flight BS201, arrives in Kolkata at 12 pm before leaving Kolkata for Dhaka at 12.50 pm and touching down in Dhaka at 2 pm on a daily basis under flight BS202.

US-Bangla Airlines faces direct competition from Regent Airways, Bangladesh's other private airline, on the flights to Muscat from Dhaka while it faces fiercer competition from Regent Airways, Air India Express and Biman Bangladesh Airlines on the Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka route sectors. Another Bangladeshi airline Novoair intends to start flights to Kolkata too.

US-Bangla Airlines now has two new Boeing B737-800 aircraft and it will have its third B737-800 aircraft in December 2016 for the new Kolkata flight. Future destinations it plans to operate international flights to include Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Doha and Dubai. Its first international destination is Kathmandu.

Air India Express launches low-cost flights from Kolkata to Singapore and Dhaka from 20 November 2016 onwards

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

Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, launches low-cost flights from Kolkata to Singapore and Dhaka from 20 November 2016 onwards according to the airline's updated flight schedule searches, of which Air India Express' Kolkata-Singapore flight on 20 November 2016 is the first low-cost scheduled flight between both cities in Changi Airport's flight records.

On 20 November 2016, Air India Express flight IX922 departs from Kolkata to Singapore at 9 pm, arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 3.30 am. It departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 for Kolkata at 3 pm and touches down in Kolkata at 4.30 pm on 21 November 2016 under flight IX921. The Kolkata-outbound flight takes place on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays while the Singapore-outbound flight for Kolkata takes off on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Besides the new Kolkata-Singapore-Kolkata flights, Air India Express has connected Chennai with Singapore with non-stop flights since 21 October 2016 with flight IX686 departing from Chennai for Singapore at 7 am, arriving in Singapore at 1.40 pm before flight IX685 takes off for Chennai from Changi Airport Terminal 2 at 2.40 pm and arrives in Chennai at 4.10 pm. Return flights to Chennai on the same day takes place on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It flies daily to Chennai via Tiruchirappali from Singapore.

The first direct flight of Air India Express on the Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata route sectors takes place on 21 November 2016 when flight IX912 leaves Kolkata for Dhaka at 5.20 pm, arrives in Dhaka at 6.40 pm before departing from Dhaka for Kolkata at 7.30 pm and arriving in Kolkata at 7.50 pm under flight IX911. These flights operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Air India Express has continuously increased the number of new routes from India to the world and it is the fastest-growing Indian low-cost airline today.

Mega Maldives Airlines launches direct scheduled flight to Delhi from Male on 14 November 2016

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

Mega Maldives Airlines has launched sales for its much anticipated non-stop flights between Delhi and Male. Its first scheduled flight between Male and Delhi commences on 14 November 2016 and will operate three times a week from Male to Delhi on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and from Delhi to Male on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays.

The detailed flight schedules are as follows:-

Flight LV304 departs from Male at 3.15 pm and arrives in Delhi at 7.25 pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Flight LV305 departs from Delhi at 10 am and arrives in Male at 1.50 pm on Fridays. It departs from Delhi at 8.50 am and arrives in Male at 12.35 pm on Tuesdays and Sundays.

The services will be operated by Mega Maldives Airlines' only Boeing B737-800 aircraft, fitted with the latest Boeing Sky Interior, which has 12 Business Class and 156 Economy Class seats.

As the first non-stop service between the two capital cities, Mega Maldives Airlines provides significant advantages to what is available in the market. At a journey time of just 3 hours 40 minutes (outbound) and 4 hours and 20 minutes (inbound), this is the fastest and only non-stop connection between the two cities, cutting journey times on other existing flight options by between 2-8 hours.

For leisure travellers, the above schedules are timed to allow their best use of hotel check-in times and sea-plane transfers in Male. Similarly, the flight that departs from Male at 3.15 pm allows tourists to enjoy their hotels in the morning before transferring to the airport conveniently right after check-out. The above schedule allows for a range of holiday packages including 2, 3 and 4 night packages popular with Indian tourists.

For business travellers, the schedule allows a convenient option of arriving into the Male on Sunday (the first working day in the Maldives) and departing either the next day, or an option to arrive on Tuesday for a two-night option before departing on Thursday (the last working day of the week in the Maldives).

The Maldives is consistently ranked among the world’s best tourist destinations. It is also increasingly popular with Indian tourists with over 52,000 guests arriving in 2015, and growing at almost 20 per cent annually in recent years.

On the occasion of this launch, Mega Maldives Airlines founder and CEO George Weinmann noted, "We are thrilled with the positive response both in India and in Maldives to our new India services. The resort and hospitality community of Maldives is clearly throwing open their doors to an excited and dynamic Indian market".