A Guide to some ITB Asia 2015's Conference Partners

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

ITB Asia 2015 will be held from 21 to 23 October 2015 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore. Below is a summary guide to some ITB Asia's conference partners and where to attend their conferences or topic sessions. A detailed list of updated event schedules can be referred to at the web-site of ITB Asia, www.itb-asia.com.

Incentive Conference & Event Society Asia Pacific (ICESAP)
- ICESAP conducts a half-day conference on 21 october foucsing on an education programme for the incentive, conference and events market (IC&E). Time : 2 pm-6.30 pm. Venue : Level 3, Begonia Room 3011.

TripAdvisor
- TripAdvisor will deliver the topic entitled "Reviews, Reputation and ROI : Getting the Most Out of TripAdviosr and Your Online Presence", targetting at online travel trade, hospitality trade and media professionals. Time : 3.30 pm-6 pm. Venue : Basement 2, Hall E - J49, Presentation Hub.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation
- CAPA conducts a session focusing on the civil aviation outlook that will examine the latest change drivers essential to understanding the future of the civil aviation industry in Asia-Pacific region. Time : 10 am-12 pm, Level 3, Begonia 3011.

DestinationElite
- DestinationElite is an online consumer facility for luxury travel, accommodation and experiences worldwide. It delivers the inaugural "Luxury Travel & Hispitality Forum", a half-day industrial conference that seeks to address the trends in the premium travel and hospitality sector, hosting up to 100 DestinationElite members and 10 luxury buyers. Time : 2 pm-6pm, Level 3, Begonia 3002.

For the first time in ITB Asia history, there will be a luxury zone on the exhibition floor specially designed to cater to high-end exhibitors.

K.I.T. Group
- A leading conference and association management company, K.I.T. Group holds a series of sessions entitled "EAST Meetings West", focusing on how European and International associations can optimize their activities and relationships within the Asia-Pacific region and include dedicated discussions focusing on key markets such as China and India on 22 October 2015. Time : 8.30 am-12.30 pm. Venue : Level 3, Begonia 3002.

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)
- GBTA, the world's premier business association, conducts the GBTA Business Travel Outlook, the 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, GBTA's Business Traveller Sentiment Index and Global Travel Professional (GTP) examinations at ITB Asia 2015 for the first time. Time : 1 pm-6 pm. Venue : Level 3, Begonia 3011.

The GBTA Business Travel Outlook session provides delegates with key insights into current economic conditions in Brazil, Russia, India and China and an outlook on their business spending power over the next two years.

The 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook aims to deliver an indepth understanding of the evolving travel landscape, offering travel buyers the information they need to budget for and negotiate their upcoming travel programmes successfully.

The latest results of GBTA's Business Traveller Sentiment Index, created in partnership with American Express offer a glimpse into the complex world of traveller sentiment, focusing on how business travellers feel about their travel experiences, and how these feelings affect their actual behaviour.

GTP examinations are designed to raise industrial standards, enhance business professionals' work performance and recognise individuals who demonstarte core competencies essential to business travel management.

Source: Beatrice Hua, Ketchum on behalf of MesseBerlin Singapore, www.itb-asia.com

Mihin Lanka suspends flights to Sharjah from 23 October 2015

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

Mihin Lanka, the low-cost airline of Sri Lanka, is suspending scheduled flights to Sharjah, its only United Arab Emirates (UAE) destination from 23 October 2015 in preparation for its inaugural scheduled flight to Muscat, the capital of Oman, on 25 October 2015.  It last withdrew flights from Dubai in early 2015.

The management of Mihin Lanka said that scheduled flights to Sharjah have been popular through the years but its fleet constraint and the larger potential market of Muscat for budget flights to South Asia, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia have led to its decision of temporary withdrawal from the UAE market. 

Mihin Lanka may resume flights to Sharjah at least two years later, subject to market demand, just like its resumption of flights to Male on 12 November 2015 after three years. 

According to Mihin Lanka, flight MJ205 will depart from Colombo for Muscat at 7.05 pm on 25 October 2015, arrives in Muscat at 9.55 pm before leaving Muscat at 11.05 pm and arriving in Colombo at 4.40 am on 26 October 2015 under flight MJ206. 

Mihin Lanka's outbound flights to Muscat from Colombo take place on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and from 11 November 2015, Wednesday flights will be added to the schedules. The flights will be operated by Mihin Lanka's Airbus A320 aircraft.

On 12 November 2015, flight MJ117 resumes service to Male from Colombo at 4.30 pm, arrives in Male at 5.55 pm before departing from Male at 6.55 pm and returning to Colombo at 8.20 pm under MJ118. Flights between both capitals operated by Mihin Lanka's Airbus A321 aircraft are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Mihin Lanka is also launching a scheduled flight to Chennai from Colombo on 25 October 2015.

Singapore Airlines flies to Sapporo from 30 November 2015

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

Singapore Airlines is launching regular scheduled twice-weekly flights to Sapporo, Hokkaido from 30 November 2015, ending its seasonal charter flights that began last year.

On 30 November 2015, flight SQ660 departs from Singapore for Sapporo at 11.30 pm, arrives in Sapporo at 8 am on 1 December before leaving Sapporo for Singapore at 9.30 am and touching down in Singapore at 5.15 pm under flight SQ661.

The flights are operated by Singapore Airlines' Boeing B777-200 aircraft. 

Flight SQ660 operates on Mondays and Fridays while flight SQ661 operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Jetstar Pacific Airlines opens two new domestic routes from 25 October 2015

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

Jetstar Pacific Airlines is launching thrice-weekly domestic flights from Dalat to Hue on 25 October 2015 and from Chu Lai to Buon Ma Thuot in Vietnam on 27 October 2015 using its Airbus A320 jets.

On 25 October 2015, Jetstar Pacific flight BL232 departs from Da Lat for Hue at 9.40 am, arrives in Hue at 10.50 am before leaving Hue at 11.25 am and returning to Da Lat at 12.30 pm under BL233. Flights are operated on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The route to Hue will be Da Lat's second flight destination link after the route to Hanoi.

On 27 October, Jetstar Pacific flight BL230 departs from Chu Lai to Buon Ma Thuot at 1.25 pm, arrives in Buon Ma Thuot at 2.15 pm before leaving Buon Ma Thuot at 2.50 pm and touching down in Chu Lai at 3.45 pm under BL231. Flights are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Currently, Buon Ma Thuot has direct Jetstar Pacific flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and Vinh.

About the destinations

Buon Ma Thuot is Vietnam's coffee capital and the largest city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam (Tay Nguyen, in short) located in Dak Lak Province. Chu Lai, name origin in Chinese attributed to Lieutenant General Victor H Krulak, is a seaport and industrial city in Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province and the site of Chu Lai Open Economic Zone.

Da Lat is Vietnam's capital of pine wood, winter city of tree marigold, Vietnam's "City of Eternal Spring" well-known for its temperate climate in the southern parts of Tay Nguyen. Its major exports include cabbage, cauliflower, flowers such as hydrangea, golden everlasting and mut, a kind of fruit preserve made from strawberry, mulberry, sweet potato and rose. It is also a city for scientific research in the fields of biotechnology and nuclear physics.

Hue is the UNESCO World Heritage Site capital of Vietnam known for its ancient monuments that date back to the Nguyen Dynasty in the 17th century AD. It is also the birthplace of ao dai, Vietnam's national costume and forms the heart of Central Vietnamese cuisine.

XiamenAir launches flights to Hong Kong from Fuzhou from 25 October 2015

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

XiamenAir launches new flight to Hong Kong from Fuzhou on 25 October 2015. It will operate scheduled flights between both cities four times a week using either a B737-700 or B737-800 aircraft.

On 25 October 2015 (Sunday), XiamenAir flight MF8001 departs from Fuzhou for Hong Kong at  3.30 pm, arrives in Hong Kong at 5.05 pm before leaving Hong Kong at 6.05 pm and returning to Fuzhou at 7.40 pm under MF8002. MF8001/MF8002 operate services during these timings as well on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On every Friday starting 30 October 2015, MF8001 departs from Fuzhou at 6.05 pm, arrives in Hong Kong at 7.40 pm before leaving Hong Kong at 8.40 pm and touching down in Fuzhou at 10.15 pm under MF8002.

XiamenAir also operates scheduled flights from Xiamen, Quanzhou and Wuyishan to Hong Kong.

Solomon Airlines appoints APG Network as Singapore GSA and launches direct flight to Nadi

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

The national flag carrier of the Solomon Islands, Solomon Airlines, has appointed APG Network as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK and the USA with effect from 5 October 2015.

Announcing the appointment, the airline’s General Manager - Operations & Commercial, Gus Kraus said APG Network would now provide the airline with full sales and marketing activities in these countries and also provide call centre activity with immediate effect. These include contributing to Solomon Islands Visitors Board's travel trade exhibition at ITB Asia 2015 to be held in Singapore Marina Bay Sands Expo from 21 to 23 October 2015 and future participations in overseas travel marts such as JATA International Travel Mart and ITE & MICE Hong Kong.

Solomon Airlines has also announced that it is launching direct flights from the capital Honiara to Nadi of Fiji from 4 November 2015 using its Airbus A320 aircraft. Solomons flight IE708 departs from Honiara at 3.15 pm on Wednesdays, arrives in Nadi at 8.15 pm Fijian time where it will taxi overnight before leaving Nadi at 11 am on 5 November 2015 and touching down in Honiara at 12 pm on Thursdays under flight IE709.

In June 2015, Solomon Airlines resumed direct flights to Sydney from Honiara. The airline has an extensive domestic flight network in the Solomon Islands and it also flies to Brisbane and Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Travel to Honiara from Singapore is possible with connecting flights via Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with Air Niugini which flies five times a week between Singapore and Port Moresby, or via Brisbane with Singapore Airlines and Qantas Airways or via Hong Kong with Fiji Airways.

Visit Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau at Booth E / K06, ITB Asia 2015, Singapore to know more about Solomon Islands travel and tourism. 

Another new Myanmar airline launched domestic flights

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

Another new Myanmar airline launched domestic flights in 2015, besides FMI Air. The airline is Apex Airlines.

Apex Airlines is the first local airline to be incorporated in Naypyitaw on 27 November 2012 as a public company to provide domestic and international flight services. Its leadership team come from aviation backgrounds in Myanmar, Malaysia, India and Germany. For example, its Chief Operating Officer Selvakumar set up the first pilot training academy in Malaysia, the Malaysian Flying Academy (MFA) and was one of the directors of Air Mandalay.

Apex Airlines receives its first ATR 72-600 aircraft on 6 February 2015 and the official ceremony in Naypyitaw to welcome the ATR aircraft takes place on 12 February 2015.

Apex Airlines has launched operations since 26 March 2015. Flights to Dawei are opened on 2 April 2015 while flights to Myeik and Kawthaung are initiated on 3 April 2015. Its first Yangon-Naypyitaw revenue flight takes place on 8 April 2015.

Apex Airlines which is a member of the Apex Group of Companies is a full-service airline operating on a hybrid model, combining low cost and service at affordable fares. 

The Apex Group of Companies is a conglomerate that also comprises other members such as Dawei Development Public Co., Ltd, a developer of the towns of Dawei, Myeik and Kawthaung, Apex Hotel in Naypyitaw and Apex Gas & Oil Public Co., Ltd.

Apex Airlines plans to launch international flights from Naypyitaw and Yangon to destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket and Singapore using a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft in the future.

FMI Air launches regular flights to Nyaung U, Heho and Thandwe on 1 December 2015

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

Myanmar National Airlines is the latest Myanmar airline to launch scheduled international flight to Singapore on 17 August 2015. On the domestic front, FMI Air is the latest Myanmar airline to launch full-fledged regular scheduled commercial domestic flights on 16 July 2015.

FMI Air, formerly known as FMI Air Charter which ran weekly business charter flights between Yangon and Naypyitaw, the administrative capital of Myanmar, was certified with an AOC by Myanmar Department of Civil Aviation to launch regular scheduled commercial domestic flights on 26 March 2015. It launched its first domestic regular scheduled flight to Naypyitaw from Yangon shortly after 26 March before inaugurating its domestic scheduled commercial flight outside Naypyitaw to Mandalay from Yangon on 16 July 2015 and its first regular scheduled flight to Sittwe from Yangon on 11 August 2015.

From 1 December 2015, FMI Air launches new internal scheduled flights to Nyaung U from Yangon and Mandalay and to Heho and Thandwe from Yangon.

On 1 December, FMI Air flight ND335 departs from Yangon for Nyaung U at 4.40 pm, arrives in Yangon at 5.50 pm before leaving Nyaung U at 6.15 pm and touching down in Mandalay at 6.50 p, under flight ND365 where it taxis at Mandalay airport overnight before taking off from Mandalay at 7 am on 2 December 2015 under flight ND362 for Yangon via Nyaung U.

Flight ND362 arrives in Nyaung U at 7.35 am where it transits for another fifteen minutes before leaving Nyaung U at 8 am and arriving in Yangon on 2 December at 9.10 am.

On 1 December 2015, another FMI Air flight ND601 departs from Yangon for Heho at 9.35 am, arrives in Heho at 10.40 am where it allows for Heho-bound passengers to alight before leaving Heho at 11.05 am and arrives in Thandwe at 12.05 pm under flight ND661..

At 12.30 pm, FMI Air flight ND512 departs from Thandwe at 12.30 pm for Yangon, transits in Yangon at 1.25 pm before leaving Yangon at 2 pm under ND511 at 2 pm, returning to Thandwe at 2.55 pm before taking off at 3.20 pm for Yangon and returning to its Yangon hub at 4.15 pm under flight ND514.

Thandwe, famous for Ngapali Beach, the most beautiful beach of Southeast Asia, is the major seaport town located in Rakhine State, northwest of Yangon.

Heho, the gateway to Inle Lake, is located in Kalaw Township of Taunggyi, the capital of the Shan State of Myanmar, and exports fish and fresh fruits to the markets in Myanmar.

Nyaung U is an administrative town of Nyaung U in central Myanmar on the eastern bank of Ayeyarwaddy River. It is home to various pagodas such as Shwezigon Pagoda, Htilominlo Pagoda and the popular hiking area of Hgnet Pyit Taung Hill.

FMI Air has its Yangon branch office at FMI Centre near the Head Office of Myanmar National Airlines. Its Head Office is in Naypyitaw.

Air China launches daily flights to Yinchuan via Chengdu on 25 October 2015

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

One new Chinese city will be added to Changi Airport's airline route network in October 2015. The city is Yinchuan.

Air China, that is resuming weekly scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur on 25 October 2015, is launching scheduled flights to Yinchuan from Singapore via Chengdu on 25 October 2015 using one of its Airbus A320 aircraft. Flights will be operated on a daily basis.

On 25 October 2015, Air China flight CA403 departs from Yinchuan for Singapore at 7.10 am, stops over in Chengdu at 8.55 am, leaves Chengdu at 9.55 am and touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 2.55 pm.

One hour five minutes later, flight CA404 takes off from Singapore at 4 pm, transits in Chengdu at 8.30 pm before departing from Chengdu at 9.30 pm and arriving in Yinchuan at 11.35 pm.

Changi Airport informed Sayacinta - Airpost that the airport will possibly add Changchun to its route network later this year. The Jilin Province airport authority is canvassing for direct flights to Singapore and Suvarnabhumi from Changchun, of which the Khabarovsk-Changchun-Suvarnabhumi routes will be operated by Ural Airlines on 16 October 2015.

Malindo Air flies to Perth on 19 November 2015

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

Malindo Air is expanding its international flight network to include Australia for the first time in November. From 19 November 2015 onwards, the airline operates its inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang to Perth.

On 19 November 2015, flight OD151 departs from KLIA2 for Perth at 8.25 am, arrives in Perth at 2.10 pm before leaving Perth at 3 pm and touching down in KLIA2 at 8.55 pm under flight OD152.

Malindo Air further plans to launch flights to Hong Kong and Taipei from KLIA2 to compete with AirAsia and AirAsia X. It is launching flights between Penang and Singapore and between KLIA2 and Amritsar on 25 October 2015.