Inflight Review : US-Bangla Airlines

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

The reporter of this travel news medium embarked on his second flight from Singapore to Dhaka, the City of Mosques, on 10 June 2017 at 5.40 am with US-Bangla Airlines, and returned to Singapore on 12 June 2017. The following review was prepared on the occasion of US-Bangla Airlines’ first anniversary of scheduled flights to Singapore. US-Bangla Airlines’ first flight to Singapore is on 9 March 2017.

Airline and Routes : US-Bangla Airlines operates a fleet of B737-800 aircraft on international flights from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Muscat, Doha and from Dhaka to several domestic cities including Barisal, Saidpur, Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar. It is a full-service airline that competes with Regent Airways and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. 

News : US-Bangla Airlines plans to launch flights to Guangzhou, Chennai, Delhi, Hong Kong, Damman, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dubai.

Livery : US-Bangla Airlines logo suggests it is a joint-venture between American and Bangladeshi interests. ***

Aircraft : The B737-800 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. Total carry-on baggage weight maximum 10 kg is allowed.***

Safety Demonstrations : Adequate. *****

Inflight Magazine  : Blue Sky is the only official inflight magazine of US-Bangla Airlines. However, copies are not always available onboard and at its ticketing offices local and worldwide. It is the best tool to market US-Bangla Airlines’ flight services and corporate image..**

Inflight Service / Entertainment / Onboard Meals and Refreshments : There is only one standard Economy Class complimentary meal, Indian vegetarian. Preparation standard of the hot meals in Changi Airport and Dhaka Airport is very high. There is no inflight audio-visual entertainment. Only one of the toilet’s water flushing supply was disrupted throughout my flight to Dhaka. Many Bangladeshi passengers have little awareness of toilet hygiene. Toilet paper is running low and not fully stocked up. Passengers have to be prepared to bring tissue paper or sanitary pads to the toilet. The toilet instruction reads in Bangla English, “As a courtesy to the Next Passenger May We Suggest that You use Your Towel to Wipe Off to Wash Basin, Thank You!”. The toilet hygiene of US-Bangla Airlines’ flights puts me off.**

Postcard / Stationery : None.** 

Sky Shop : None.**

Surcharges :  None. ***

Bookings : One can book a US-Bangla Airlines ticket at www.us-banglaairlines.com at one’s own risk as the Bangladeshi bank gateway does not appear to accept online payments from Singapore. Flight amendment and cancellation cannot be performed on-line. It is advisable to book at US-Bangla Airlines’ ticketing offices and agents.***

Check-In and Departures : Check-in at international airports three hours before departures. Check-in counter closes one hour before departure. Flights from Singapore and Dhaka depart on time as it is the first flight to either direction. No flight delays throughout US-Bangla Airlines’ first year of operations to Singapore.*****

Ground service in  response  to passengers' requests and enquiries : There is no frequent communication between US-Bangla Airlines and Changi Airport. For almost one year, nobody knows that US-Bangla Airlines flies to Changi Airport T3. Contact remains Biman Bangladesh Airlines on matters of US-Bangla Airlines bookings! Local Timetables are available at each ticketing office of US-Bangla Airlines. It is best to avail system-wide Domestic and International Timetables to international offices as well. Inflight staff should inform passengers in advance that Bangladesh departure forms can be obtained at their check-in counters so that passengers avoid the airport service staff who want tips up to 500 Taka for helping to get the departure forms. **

Overall Impression :  On its 1 year of flight operations to Singapore, US-Bangla Airlines needs to improve its marketing image, enhance communications with Changi Airport, allow online amendments of flight dates and avail copies of Blue Sky and system Timetables to overseas sales offices so that more international customers can know more about the airline. There is also room for inflight service improvement. Overall, the airline is a three-star airline.***

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

Excluding the many pictures in this review, first published in Travel Callings, Dhaka. 
Ref : https://www.travelcallings.com/us-bangla-airlines-new-experience-in-the-sky/

Jetstar Asia adjusts Clark flight schedules, flies to Osaka from Clark on 27 March 2018

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

Jetstar Asia Airways has adjusted its Clark flight schedules from 27 March 2018, when it adds the new direct flight from Clark to Osaka Kansai. Passengers from Singapore departing for Clark have to arrive in Changi Airport a day before for on-time check-in procedures.

On 27 March 2018, Jetstar Asia flight 3K777 departs from Singapore for Clark at 2.20 am, transits in Clark at 6 am for Clark-bound passengers to alight before leaving Clark for Osaka Kansai at 7 am, arriving in Osaka at 11.55 am.

At 12.55 pm on 27 March 208, flight 3K778 takes off from Osaka Kansai at 12.55 pm, touches down in Clark at 4.15 pm for Clark-bound passengers to alight before departing from Clark for Singapore at 5.15 pm and arriving in Singapore at 8.55 pm.

Flights to Clark and Osaka Kansai are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, Jetstar Asia's direct flight from Singapore to Clark remains unchanged. Flight 3K779 leaves Singapore for Clark at 2.15 am, arrives in Clark at 6 am before leaving Clark for Singapore at 6.40 am and touching down in Singapore at 10.20 am under flight 3K780.

Commenting on the addition of flights from Singapore to Osaka, Jetstar Asia Airways said there are together 20 weekly flights to Osaka, including services via Taoyuan, the gateway to Taipei.

Jetstar Asia Airways advised its customers to book its flights now or earlier than 1 July 2018 as customers booking for travel on and after 1 July 2018 have to pay for the increase in Singapore airport fees by 13.30 Singapore Dollars. This amount includes the Changi Airport development levy of 10.80 Singapore Dollars for departing from Changi Airport and passenger service and security fee of 2.50 Singapore Dollars. Passengers transiting in Changi Airport have to pay a further 3 Singapore Dollars, resulting in the airport fee and surcharges of 16.30 Singapore Dollars.

Jetstar Asia Airways and its sister airlines within Jetstar Group envisages a fall in demand from its customers for departing from Changi Airport on and after 1 July 2018 as the introductions of a higher departure tax, passenger service, security fee and transiting fee will compel the airline group to "shift flights around" to Hong Kong and Haikou to cope with changes in travel demand to ensure that the prices its customers have to pay are lower than its competitors including Scoot and AirAsia.

Inflight Reviews : Lanmei Airlines A319 and A321 flights

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

Airline : Lanmei Airlines 

Routes under Review : Phnom Penh - Siem Reap and Siem Reap - Sihanouk. Sihanouk is the name of the international airport of Sihanoukville. Sayacinta - Airpost names the destination Sihanouk, in short for Sihanoukville, from now on. 

Departure Dates : 28 February 2018 and 1 March 2018

Aircraft Operation Service  : ***

The picture above shows Airbus A321 and A319 of Lanmei Airlines on 1 March 2018 in Siem Reap. The A319 is due to depart for Sihanouk under flight LQ333.

Lanmei Airlines' sole Airbus A319 has adorned its official livery after Sayacinta - Airpost provided feedback to the airline during the second week of January that the official peacock feathers livery of the airline should appear on its A319 (registered XU-983) too. 

According to Lanmei Airlines, repainting of the livery is conducted in mid-January 2018 as a result and completed on 28 January 2018.

On 28 February 2018, the A319 in Lanmei colours is deployed on the routes Phnom Penh - Hong Kong - Phnom Penh - Sihanouk and on the route Siem Reap - Sihanouk on 1 March 2018. Its A321 is nowadays deployed on the Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Macau and Phnom Penh - Hanoi routes.

Therefore, Lanmei Airlines' Airbus A321 (ex-ownership Monarch Airlines) and A319 now show its peacock feathers livery.

However, traces of the aircraft previous ownership TAM Airlines Brasil can still be seen in the aircraft toilets and inflight announcement screen of the A319 as shown below although these are not found on the A321 aircraft which belonged to the defunct-British carrier Monarch Airlines.

Above : The word TAM is indicated on the soap dispenser tap in gold.

Above : The TAM soap dispenser tap does not dispense soap. Use the bottle on the left.

Above : The logo of TAM Airlines Brasil appears on the inflight announcement screen before Lanmei Airlines proceeds to land in Sihanouk.

Above : Lanmei Airlines A319 in its former colours.

Above : Lanmei Airlines A319 in its present colours.
Inflight Safety : ***

Above : Inflight announcements on Lanmei Airlines flights are now in Khmer, in Mandarin and English.  Inflight safety demonstrations by the air steward on A319 of Lanmei Airlines. The A321  flight is an all-air stewardess flight. See below.

Below are the respective safety cards of Lanmei Airlines.

Inflight Service : **

Above : The seats onboard Lanmei Airlines A321.

Above : The seats onboard Lanmei Airlines A319 and Lanmei Airlines air stewardess.

Below : Passenger can place backpacks measuring 83 cm in total under the seats although Lanmei Airlines advised 80 cm is the maximum dimensions, but it works fine for me on both flights. Stowing backpacks 90 cm and above on the overhead compartments is advisable.

Above : The A319 seat pitch and legroom.

Above : The A321 seat pitch and legroom.

Above : There are no free beverages or water to drink on Lanmei Airlines' flights. Passengers have to pay for water, beverages and hot meals on the flights to Macau and Hong Kong. Inflight magazines are entitled Khmer (in Khmer and Chinese) and SkyHigh (in English). SkyHigh is the Official Inflight Magazine of Lanmei Airlines but printed copies of SkyHigh are hardly available.

Lanmei Airlines sells its A320 aircraft models onboard the flights. These can be omitted from its duty-free shopping catalogue.

Ground Service in response to passengers' requests and enquiries : ***

Inflight magazines are provided at the Phnom Penh ticketing office free-of-charge for customers to plan their Lanmei travel itineraries. This factor enabled me to give an attempt in booking this airline. 

Stationery : **

Write on Lanmei Airlines' barf bags only. The airline may issue aircraft postcards in the late future.

Ticketing : *** 

One can book Lanmei Airlines tickets via PayPal, Alipay and Unionpay, on Ctrip, Qunar platforms and on Lanmei Airlines web-site. Payment directly to the airline via PayPal using credit cards including AMEX is successful. However, Lanmei Airlines needs to increase the number of payment channels  and destinations offered on its web-site www.lanmeiairlines.com. Ticketing reconfirmation is not required.                    

Overall Impression :  Lanmei Airlines is a three-star airline within a short span of time although its inflight service quality appears to have not improved. Hopefully, it will be able to purchase a new Airbus aircraft in the future with better inflight services and amenities.

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

Also Ref : http://kucinta-setia.blogspot.sg/2018/01/lanmei-airlines-deploys-a319-aircraft.html

SAGA targets cross-border scheduled flights in 2019, seeks investor funds

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

SAGA - Sahel And Gulf Airlines, a start-up airline of Chad with a 50 per cent stake by SAGA Holding Ltd and the balance stake by the state-owned Chad Investment Funds, debuts at Aviation Festival Asia 2018, seeking investor funds and targeting international scheduled flight launch in 2019.

Barely a year old from formation, SAGA launched its domestic flight in Chad in January 2018 using an ATR 42-300 aircraft. It also has a B737-300 aircraft inherited from Toumai Air Tchad, the defunct state-owned airline of Chad, in the livery name of Wings of Chad, for regional charter flights to Niamey.

Current domestic route map of SAGA :

Planned pilgrimage charter flight route map of SAGA :

Above : Planned charter flight network of SAGA.

SAGA plans to launch charter Haji and Umrah pilgrimage flights to Jeddah from N'djamena, Chad's capital and Niamey between May and October 2018, in code-sharing arrangement with Niger Airways. It plans to launch its first scheduled international flight between Niamey and Jeddah via N'djamena in April 2019.

A further plan to launch scheduled flight to Dubai is under feasibility consideration.

SAGA hopes to acquire 2 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft and 2 Embraer 170LR aircraft to expand its route network and operate international scheduled flights.

To achieve the above goals, SAGA is looking for companies interested in investing in the airline.

SAGA's head office is in Cork, Ireland, under management of SAGA Holding Ltd with operational air hub in N'djamena. It has its marketing office in Singapore and consultant support offices in Chad, France and South Africa operated by Air Business Consultants. Its CEO and founder Herve Gueusquin is a Senior Consultant and Airline Operations Instructor of Air Business Consultants (ABC).

The pictures below show some SAGA's inflight services and proposed frequent flier programme.

For further details and information from SAGA, email Herve Gueusquin at herve.gueusquin@airsaga.com.

SAGA web-site www.airsaga.com is under development.

Some Exhibitors of Aviation Festival Asia 2018

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

Aviation Festival Asia 2018 is held from 27 to 28 February 2018 at Suntec City Exhibition and Convention Centre. Attracting over 1600 attendees and over 80 exhibitors, new airline exhibitors include SAGA - Sahel And Gulf Airlines from Chad, SAUDIA Saudi Arabian Airlines, FMI Air from Myanmar, Myanmar National Airlines and Tailwind Airlines from Turkey.

Nigerian start-up airline jetWest Airways withdrew from the exhibition "due to pressing issues at home". U-Fly Alliance represented by HK Express, West Air and Lucky Air did not exhibit this year.

This report features pictures of some other exhibitors.

Above : SAGA - Sahel And Gulf Airlines shows its digital presentation about the start-up airline. See the next report for news from SAGA. Royal Brunei Airlines distributes printed copies of its inflight magazine Muhibah and ticketing brochures.

Above : SAUDIA Saudi Arabian Airlines distributes free aircraft advertisement cards, sanitary bags, caps and tote bags bearing the SAUDIA logo. This is the first aviation trade show for SAUDIA in Singapore. These limited edition products are not available at the branch office of SAUDIA in Singapore.

Above : FMI Air from Myanmar distributes free pens, Myanmar tourist maps, FMI Air Timetable cards and hardcopies of FMI Air magazine. It plans to launch scheduled flights to Bangkok, Phuket and Phnom Penh from Yangon in 2019. Presently, it is sourcing for the appropriate aircraft to fly on these sectors next year. FMI Air has charter flights using either its ATR 72-600 or Bombadier CRJ200LR aircraft to Don Mueang.

Above : The marketing executive Burcak of Tailwind Airlines distributes printed copies of the airline's company profile.

Above : Northern Light Academy of Aviation and Technology (NAAT) is the publisher of the inflight magazine found onboard Nepalese airlines flights of Summit Air, Altitude Air and Yeti Airlines known as Sky Diary. 1000 copies of Sky Diary were distributed at Aviation Festival Asia 2018. It also conducts lessons and training on civil aviation in Nepal.

Above : Myanmar National Airlines celebrates its 70th Anniversary with Singapore at Aviation Festival Asia 2018. It distributes free towels, MNA inflight magazine, company magazine, notebooks and pens. Postcards have not been published.

Above : GE Aviation is one of the exhibitors.

Above : Airline University lesson on Nepal's civil aviation, a topic by NAAT, from 12 pm to 1 pm on 27 February 2018.

Visitors can choose to attend one of the free seminars including Airline University, where speakers from SAGA and Nepal speak on how to form a start-up airline and Nepal's civil aviation history in the past 70 years.

Aviation Festival Asia is the Asian version of the London-based Aviation Festival aviation trade show. It is held annually in Singapore.

The exhibition welcomes professional working adults in proper office and business attire and expertise in the aviation trade industry to visit, network and learn from one another. Admission is free and pre-registration on-line is preferred.