2016 a record-breaking year for Changi Airport

Press Release by : Changi Airport Group

Picture by : Gan Yung Chyan

                   / KUCINTA SETIA

Distributed to Everyone

Singapore Changi Airport recorded a strong performance in 2016, reaching all-time highs of 58.7 million passenger movements (+5.9%) and 360,490 aircraft movements (+4.1%) for the year. Airfreight throughput increased by 6.3% to also reach a new high of 1.97 million tonnes.

For the month of December, Changi Airport registered 5.68 million passenger movements (+7.2%), 31,970 aircraft movements (+4.4%) and 177,360 airfreight movements (+8.4%). The airport saw its busiest day in its history on 23 December 2016, with 202,359 passengers passing through its gates. 

In 2016, routes to South East Asia, North East Asia and Oceania contributed 90% of the growth in passenger traffic. China moved from fifth to become Changi Airport’s third largest country market for the year[ with robust traffic growth of 15%. This was on the back of very strong visitor arrivals to Singapore. A healthy increase in visitor numbers also contributed to passenger traffic growth for Thailand (+6%) and Vietnam (+8%).

There was little change in the top 10 list of Changi Airport’s busiest routes for the year, with Jakarta remaining at the top. Kuala Lumpur moved up one notch, swapping places with Bangkok. Among Changi Airport’s top 20 city links, Guangzhou was the fastest growing (+ 21%), with Melbourne, Penang and Seoul also achieving double-digit growth.

New airlines and destinations

Changi Airport welcomed two passenger airlines (West Air and Fiji Airways), and two freighter carriers (Neptune Air and Silkway West Airlines) to its family of over 100 airlines. United Airlines and Singapore Airlines commenced non-stop flights to San Francisco, while freighter airline K-Mile Air resumed operations to Changi Airport.

Eight new city links were established during the year – to India (Amritsar and Jaipur), China (Urumqi), Australia (Canberra), New Zealand (Wellington), Fiji (Nadi), Japan (Sapporo) and Germany (Dusseldorf).

Strengthening Changi’s cargo capabilities

In terms of airfreight throughput, growth was recorded across imports, exports and transshipments. Perishables and pharmaceuticals were segments that performed well, contributing a significant portion of Changi’s total cargo throughput. The top five country markets for airfreight were China, Australia, Hong Kong, the United States and India.

To strengthen its pharmaceutical cargo handling capabilities, Changi Airport formed a community of cargo partners to undergo the attainment of International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators on Pharmaceutical Handling (CEIV Pharma) certification. Under a community approach, at least one company from each of the supply chain nodes (airlines, ground handlers, freight forwarders) will undergo the CEIV Pharma certification. The pioneer group of companies consists of Singapore Airlines Cargo, dnata Singapore, Global Airfreight International, Expeditors Singapore, CEVA Logistics Singapore, and Schenker Singapore. SATS Coolport was the first facility in the world to be certified in 2014. Beyond the establishment of a CEIV Phama certified community, Changi Airport Group also joined Pharma.Aero, an organisation focused on achieving reliable end-to-end air transportation for pharmaceutical cargo.

In October 2016, the DHL Express South Asia Hub, a 24-hour express hub facility located within Changi Airfreight Centre, was officially opened. This has tripled DHL Express’ cargo handling facility in Singapore and allows shipments to be processed six times faster. Together with SATS’ upcoming eCommerce AirHub, expected to open later this year, these developments will boost Changi’s position as a leading air cargo hub in Asia.

Gearing up for future growth

Changi Airport was awarded 26 Best Airport awards in 2016, bringing the total to 533 to date. Accolades included Skytrax’s World’s Best Airport Award 2016, for the fourth time in a row, and Business Traveller’s ‘Best Airport in the World’ award for the 29^th consecutive year.

Changi Airport Group CEO Mr Lee Seow Hiang, said, “2016 was a record-breaking year for Changi Airport, with passenger traffic and cargo throughput both registering new peaks. We are also pleased with the introduction of many new city links, including to Europe and Oceania, as well as the launch of non-stop services to the United States.

“Despite a backdrop of economic and socio-political uncertainties, we maintain a positive outlook for the year ahead. We see opportunities in emerging markets within Africa and Eastern Europe. At the same time, we will continue to grow our long haul routes to Western Europe, and strengthen our connectivity within the region to secondary cities in South East Asia, China and India.

“We have observed emerging trends such as growth in the self-transfer and fly-cruise segments, and will continue to work with our partners to develop innovative solutions to better serve passengers. Similarly, manageable fuel costs and improvement in aircraft technology bode well for Changi Airport’s drive to work with airlines to expand our network of city links.

“We thank the airport community and our many partners who helped to maintain high service standards at Changi Airport even as traffic continued to grow. We look forward to their continued support in 2017 as we prepare for the opening of Terminal 4 later this year.”

Inflight Review : Air Busan

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

The reporter of this travel news medium embarked on his inaugural domestic Korean flight to Busan Gimhae Airport from Seoul-Gimpo, the city airport of Seoul, with Air Busan on Christmas 2015.

Airline and Routes : Air Busan is the first domestic and regional flight subsidiary of Asiana Airlines. Domestically, it flies to Seoul-Gimpo, Busan, Daegu and Jeju. Regionally, it flies to Sapporo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo-Narita, Qingdao, Yanji, Zhangjiajie, Sanya, Xi'an, Hohhot (charter), Hong Kong, Huangshan (charter), Macau, Cebu, Danang (charter), Siem Reap, Taipei, Kaohsiung and Ulaanbaatar. Air Busan is the only low-cost airline to fly to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, from a city outside Mongolia, Busan. It operates long-haul flights to Guam, the US, using Airbus A321-200 aircraft. Its fleet formerly consist of B737-400 and Airbus A321 aircraft. 

News : Air Busan nowadays operates a full fleet of 6 Airbus A320-200 and 12 Airbus A321-200 aircraft. The A320-200 aircraft replaced the B737-400 aircraft in 2016 which were in use from 2008 to 2015. Air Busan first launched flight operation between Busan and Jeju using B737-400 aircraft in December 2008.

Livery : The airline logo is an outline of the seagull. It is simple.***

Aircraft : The B737 seat legroom is spacious. **.

Baggage Requirements :A carry-on baggage measuring 115 cm in total to be stowed in the overhead compartment and a small item to be stowed under the seat are accepted.***

Safety Demonstrations : Adequate.  *****

Inflight Magazine  : Fly Smart Fly & Fun is the only official inflight magazine of Air Busan. ***

Inflight Service / Entertainment / Onboard Meals and Refreshments : The crew provide very good service for a budget flight. Only free orange juice or mineral water is served during the 55 minutes flight. *** 

Postcard / Stationery : None.  Write on the barf bag.** 

Sky Shop : Available on regional flights, not on domestic flights.***

Surcharges :  No. *****

Bookings : Air Busan offers the simplest on-line booking web-site at www.airbusan.com. There are no vague ticketing clauses such as requiring the passenger to have a valid visa while booking a domestic air ticket. Passengers are required to present the relevant credit card, the itinerary and passport for check-in verification. A refund charge at the airport or on-line will be imposed for a on-line ticket refund. For special price tickets (80 per cent or more), itinerary change and refund are not allowed although fuel surcharge and airport facility fee can be fully refunded for a Korean flight. Passengers can reserve seats on-line free-of-charge.***

Check-In and Departures : Check-in at the relevant airports two hours before departures. Check-in counter closes 20 minutes before departure. The boarding pass looks like a shopping receipt. Flights depart on time.***

Ground service in  response  to passengers' requests and enquiries : Nothing to distribute on the ground in South Korea. Air Busan's inflight magazine is obtainable at Cebu's international airport. However, passengers are asked to check everything about Air Busan on-line.**

Overall Impression :  Air Busan needs to improve its public service image and provide marketing products on the ground in South Korea. The airline is a three-star airline.

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

Himalaya Airlines launches flights to Kuala Lumpur and Yangon in February 2017

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

Himalaya Airlines, the Nepali-Chinese joint-venture airline formed by Yeti World Investment Pvt Ltd the parent company of Yeti Airlines with a stake of 51.01 percent and Tibet Airlines with a balance stake of 48.99 percent, is launching inaugural scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur and Yangon in February 2017.

On 10 February 2017, Himalaya Airlines flight H9 890 departs from Kathmandu for Kuala Lumpur at 8.25 am, arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 3.30 pm before leaving Kuala Lumpur for Kathmandu at 4.30 pm and touching down in Kathmandu at 7.05 pm under fight H9 891. Services will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On 24 February 2017, flight H9 892 takes off from Kathmandu for Yangon at 10.55 am, arrives in Yangon at 2.15 pm before departing from Yangon for Kathmandu at 3.15 pm and arriving in Yangon at 5.15 pm under flight H9 893. Services will be conducted twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

While Himalaya Airlines faces direct competition from AirAsia X, Malaysia Airlines and Nepal Airlines on the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur-Kathmandu route sectors, no other airline operates direct flights between Kathmandu and Yangon except Himalaya Airlines.

After Kuala Lumpur and Yangon, Himalaya Airlines plans to launch its inaugural flights to Damman and Delhi before June 2017 and further afield to begin flights to Lhasa, Chengdu and Beijing from Kathmandu.

Himalaya Airlines currently has a fleet of 2 Airbus A320-200 aircraft. It aims to reach a total of 15 A320 aircraft within the next few years in order to launch more flights to Asia including Singapore. It will also induct the long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet in order to fly to Japan, South Korea, Europe, Australia and North America from Kathmandu.

Himalaya Airlines begins flight operations when its first revenue service to its first international city Doha is launched on 31 May 2016, followed by Colombo on 1 October 2016.

US-Bangla Airlines launches inaugural flight to Kuala Lumpur on 1 March 2017

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

US-Bangla Airlines, the Bangladeshi award-winning airline, launches its inaugural scheduled flight from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur on 1 March 2017 using its Boeing B737-800 aircraft.

On 1 March 2017, US-Bangla flight BS313 departs from Dhaka for Kuala Lumpur at 8 pm, arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 2 am before leaving Kuala Lumpur at 3 am and touching down in Dhaka at 5 am local time under flight BS314. Flights will be conducted on Sundays and Mondays to Thursdays.

US-Bangla Airlines has opened its first Southeast Asia branch office in Kuala Lumpur at Lot-3.01, 3rd Floor, No. 22, Medan Pasar 50050, Kuala Lumpur. Contact number is +601151195757.

US-Bangla Airlines will reveal later its commencement of scheduled flight from Dhaka to Singapore. It also plans to launch scheduled flight to Guangzhou and possibly Kunming from Dhaka later this year. Flight commencements to Paro and Suvarnabhumi from Dhaka are deferred. It currently operates flights within Bangladesh and international flights to Kolkata, Kathmandu and Muscat.

VietJet Air operates daily flight between Hanoi and Singapore from 27 April 2017

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

VietJet Air operates daily flight between Hanoi and Singapore from 27 April 2017 using its Airbus A320 aircraft.

On 27 April 2017, VietJet flight VJ915 departs from Hanoi for Singapore at 10 am, arrives in Singapore at 1.55 pm before leaving Singapore for Hanoi at 2.55 pm and touching down in Hanoi at 4.50 pm under flight VJ916.

ASEAN@50 tourism campaign launched

Singapore’s PM Launches Visit ASEAN@50 Campaign

Singapore’s Prime Minister, the ASEAN Secretary General and ASEAN tourism ministers launch campaign to attract 121 million tourists to Southeast Asia in 2017

The Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, and ASEAN Secretary General, Mr Le Luong Minh, officially launched the VisitASEAN@50 Golden Celebration tourism campaign on 18 January at the opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Singapore. The campaign promotes the twin objectives of commemorating the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, and embracing the ASEAN region as a single and united tourism destination. Ahead of its launch, ASEAN tourism ministers agreed that the objectives of the campaign were to raise tourist arrivals to the region to 121 million by end of 2017, up from 108 million in 2015. Tourism officials also hope to boost tourism receipts to USD83 billion and increase average length of stay to 6-7 days by encouraging tourists to travel to at least two ASEAN countries on each visit. Fifty special tour packages – carefully selected by the 10 member countries of ASEAN -- are the main draw of the tourism campaign, which is supported by globally recognised companies such as Mastercard and AirAsia. The VisitASEAN@50 campaign comes at a time when tourism has been a star performer in Southeast Asia, rising from 42 million international arrivals to the region in 2000 to 108 million in 2015, according to numbers provided by the ASEAN Secretariat. The proliferation of low cost airlines, rising living standards in the region and the proximity of mass markets such as China have turned tourism into a powerful workhorse, which now commands about 12.4 % of the ASEAN economy according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. In his speech, Prime Minister Lee called for better connectivity within Southeast Asia and urged fellow member countries not to shy away from “less glamorous” tourism development tasks such as building new infrastructure, enhancing training and reducing red tape. Specifically he said he would like to see ASEAN strengthen air links, boost cruise tourism and develop tourism’s human resource skills. During the launch on 18 January, a new hybrid orchid named Papilionanda ASEAN Golden Jubilee was unveiled to commemorate 50 years since the launch of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967. The orchid was created from several different strands of genus from various ASEAN countries. The Visit ASEAN@50 campaign will run until 31 December this year. Details on the 50 special tour packages are available on the campaign’s official website at www.visitASEAN50.com. Source : ScottAsia Communications, on behalf of ASEAN Tourism Competitiveness Committee and ASEAN Secretariat

Thai Smile Airways' inaugural flight to Kota Kinabalu on 1 March 2017

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

Thai Smile Airways, also known as Thai Smile and Thai Smile Air, has announced that it is launching its inaugural flight to Kota Kinabalu from Suvarnabhumi on 1 March 2017 using its Airbus A320. Flights will continue to operate until 25 March 2017. Flights on 26 March and beyond are not listed.

On 1 March 2017, Thai Smile flight WE421 departs from Suvarnabhumi for Kota Kinabalu at 1.40 pm, arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 5.20 pm before leaving Kota Kinabalu for Suvarnabhumi at 6.30 pm and touching down in Suvarnabhumi at 8.20 pm under flight WE422.

Thai Smile also announced that it will stop operations from Don Mueang on 16 March 2017. All its final flights from Don Mueang to Phuket, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen will be operated on 15 March 2017 as its flights from Phuket, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen also operate to Suvarnabhumi.

Two new South Korean airlines based in Seoul-Gimpo

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

There are two new airlines in Gimpo International Airport, the city airport of Seoul. They are Korea Express Air and USKY Air.

Korea Express Air is the South Korean charter airline headquartered in Yangyang with an operation base at Gimpo. It operates charter flights from Gimpo to Jeju, Busan, Yangyang and Kitakyushu, Japan, with Beech 1900D and Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. It plans to open charter flights from Gimpo to China in 2017 and publish its first company profile in English this year.

USKY Air, to be renamed as Prime Air after seeking private investors, was originally based in Ulsan, South Korea. It failed to commence operations from Ulsan to Seoul-Gimpo, Jeju, Pohang, Yeosu, Yangyang, Busan and Gwangju with CRJ-200ER aircraft in 2016. It is expected to launch its first low-cost flight from Gimpo in 2017.