Etihad Airways launches its own flights to Hong Kong on 15 June 2015

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

Etihad Airways, that lately took delivery of its first Airbus A380 in its new livery, is launching its own scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong on 15 June 2015. It will fly between Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong three times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On 15 June 2015, Etihad Airways flight EY880 departs from Abu Dhabi for Hong Kong at 9.40 pm and arrives in Hong Kong at 9.40 am on 16 June 2015. Passengers from Abu Dhabi can shop in Hong Kong for almost one day before leaving Hong Kong at 7.20 pm and touching down in Abu Dhabi at 11.50 pm on 16 June under EY881.

Etihad Airways has not stated which aircraft it will utilize on the new route. Currently its flights to Hong Kong EY4121/EY4122 are operated on its behalf by Air Seychelles since 1 November 2014.

Besides Hong Kong, Etihad Airways plans to launch new flights to other destinations such as Algiers, Kolkata and Madrid in 2015. 

Etihad Airways' new livery - Extract from Etihad Airways' Press Release

Created by leading brand consultants Landor Associates in partnership with Etihad Airways, Etihad's new livery is inspired by traditional Emirati design patterns, the landscapes of the desert and the geometric shapes found in the modern architecture of Abu Dhabi.

The result is a striking and unique livery design which will present Etihad Airways as the airline of a progressive and innovative cultural hub, firmly rooted in its rich history.

The new livery was unveiled as Etihad Airways’ first A380 rolled-out of the paint hangar at the Airbus Finkenwerder facility in Hamburg, Germany.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways said: “Only a few months ago Etihad Airways unveiled the new cabin interiors for our A380 aircraft and we are now proud to show the world how this aircraft will look on the outside.

“The striking new livery also continues our commitment to breaking from convention and doing things differently. This is a real divergence from the norms of traditional airline livery design and will stand out in the sky and at every airport we fly to.”

The design pattern named ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ uses a colour palette which reflects the varying hues of the landscape of the UAE, from the darker sands of Liwa to the lighter colours seen in the Northern Emirates. The design development involved researching design options amongst Emiratis and international travellers to help select the final ‘winning’ livery.

The UAE national emblem is given prominence along the fuselage next to the Etihad name and the national flag is respectfully featured forward near the cockpit.

The design pattern is also a key feature of the new cabin interiors being introduced on Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 aircraft, and is being rolled out across the airline’s corporate branding – from advertising to brochures to premium lounges.

Peter Knapp, Global Creative Officer of Landor Associates, said: “Etihad Airways is undoubtedly a leading airline on the international stage and this new livery is a real step change in the industry. I believe there will be nothing like it on any apron in the world.

“It tells the remarkable story of this region and of Abu Dhabi’s past, present and future, providing a narrative for an innovative airline brand. We used the ambient geometry present in the architecture and culture of the emirate and reinterpreted it with a sense of Arabian modernism which has become synonymous with Etihad and Abu Dhabi itself.”

The entire Etihad Airways fleet of more than 100 aircraft, as well as those to be delivered, will be painted in the new livery during the next three years ensuring that the Facets of Abu Dhabi is seen across the world.

Etihad Airways will take delivery of seven wide-bodied aircraft in 2015 – four A380s and three Boeing 787-9s – and seven narrow-bodied aircraft – one A320 and six A321s.

Etihad Airways’ first Airbus A380 will operate on flights between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow from 27 December 2014. The two subsequent deliveries of the A380 in early 2015 will also service the route, making it a triple daily A380 operation.

Later in 2015, A380s will operate to Sydney and New York as Etihad Airways receives its fourth and fifth aircraft. The airline has currently 10 of the giant double-decker airliners on firm order.

The Etihad Airways A380 is set to transform luxury air travel with The Residence by Etihad, which features a living room, separate double bedroom and ensuite shower room, making it the first three-room luxury suite in history of commercial aviation.

The Residence by Etihad, located on the forward upper deck of the A380, can accommodate one or two guests who will also have a personal Butler trained by the Savoy Butler Academy in London.

Etihad Airways’ A380 will also feature new First Apartments, which are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed; as well as the new Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat.

Garuda Indonesia launches tenth daily return flight on its Singapore route and opens new domestic routes

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

There are reasons to cheer for Garuda Indonesia as it recently introduced its tenth daily return flight on its Singapore route and is on its path to open more domestic routes in Indonesia in 2015.

On 3 December 2014, Garuda Indonesia flight GA846 commenced the tenth flight from Jakarta for Singapore at 9.40 am, arrived in Singapore at 12.30 pm before taking off for Jakarta at 2.05 pm and touching down in Jakarta at 3 pm under GA847. The flight schedules of the tenth daily return flight operated by its Boeing B737-800 aircraft continue until further information is received from the airline.

Garuda Indonesia operates ten return flights between Singapore and Jakarta using Airbus A330-200 and B737-800 jets. Its B737-800 jets also operate between Singapore and Denpasar twice per day and between Singapore and Surabaya once per day on a daily basis.

Garuda Indonesia has published the advertisement card announcing the new flight schedules.

On 1 December 2014, Garuda Indonesia sub-brand Explore launched ATR flights from Ambon to Langgur, Ternate and Saumlaki in eastern Indonesia.

In mid-January 2015, Garuda Indonesia plans to open new Explore routes linking Kualanamu directly to Meulaboh, Lheuksmawe and Nias with an extension from Meulaboh to Sabang in Banda Aceh (northern Sumatra).

Where to find a church in Vientiane after flying with Lao Airlines?

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

Lao Airlines flies three times a week from Singapore to Vientiane under QV536 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. QV535, its Sunday flight for Singapore, departs from Vientiane at 9.50 am and arrives in Singapore at 1.35 pm. Under this situation, where to find a church in Vientiane to worship God?

Passengers should note that they can worship at the Vientiane SDA Church in Nongbone Road, Vientiane, one kilometre on the southeast of Patuxay, the Victory Monument of Laos.

Vientiane SDA Church also known as Lao Seventh-Day Adventist Mission is built up by God under the supervision of  the Southeast Asia Union Mission of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Singapore. It conducts song service at 8 am Vientiane time (9 am Singapore time). Sabbath School starts at 9.30 am and its worship service starts at 10.30 pm on Saturdays. It now conducts prayer meetings at 7 pm on Wednesday nights and Friday nights (the eve of Sabbath), same as SDA sister churches in Kuta and Denpasar, Bali.

Most of the members of Vientiane SDA Church are Lao but there are many foreigners too.  There are 1,000 Seventh-Day Adventists nationwide, who are Chinese and Miao (Hmong tribe ascended from Guizhou). 

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church is officially recognised by the Communist government of Lao PDR as one of the two mainstream Protestant denominations in Laos. The Lao Government requires non-recognised Protestant groups to operate under the Seventh-Day Adventist Church or under the Lao Evangelical Church.

Foreigners can only assist in translating worship services to other foreigners in Laos or be part of the congregations.

A solo traveller can contact a Vientiane SDA Church member at 8562078038790 for directions to the church or request the SDA personnel to pick the traveller up by motorcycle. 

Avoid any tuk-tuk travel as the tuk-tuk driver is only aware of the locations of famous tourist destinations and is not conversant in English. 

More than one traveller should call and request a taxi driver to fetch them to the Vientiane SDA Church.

Mega Maldives Airlines launches flights to Kuala Lumpur and Jeddah from 23 December 2014

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

According to FLY MEGA Facebook, Mega Maldives Airlines is launching flights from Male to Kuala Lumpur and Jeddah from 23 December 2014.

Flight to Kuala Lumpur from Male starts from 99 US Dollars one-way.

The new flight will pose a challenge to Tigerair's flights to Male as Tigerair is currently the low-fare airline with weekly direct service to the capital from Singapore. Many Malaysian visitors have to transit in 
Singapore for their onward flights to Male.

Airport Review : Wattay International Airport, Vientiane

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

 

Wattay International Airport's international terminal has three entry gates. Immigration hall is small. Its arrival and departure halls are in the same building. It is easy to walk from one end to another end.

The main terminal building has airline offices of Thai Airways, Jin Air, AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Lao Airlines, Lao Central Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. Lao Central Airlines airport office is linked to Phongsavanh Bank office. It stocks plenty of its Sukhoi Jet SSJ100 brochures but the airline unit is not open due to flight suspensions.

Lao Airlines Head Office and its Vientiane town sales and ticketing office are located next to the Domestic Terminal.

Reliable ATMs in the airport are BCEL and Phongsavanh Bank ATMs. BCEL ATM does not have Maestro and Cirrus labels but it accepts Maestro withdrawals using international debit and credit cards. Just press your bank name after inserting the debit card into the BCEL ATM and keying in one's bank ID. Minimum withdrawal is 70,000 Kip. There is a processing fee of 20,000 Kip for each withdrawal.

There are two souvenir shops, one Lao Post office, the Westcoast Helicopter Restaurant & Cafe (converted from the former Lao Westcoast Helicopter sales and ticketing office), two smaller cafes and one private travel agent. 

The observation deck on the third floor, however, is closed. The airport should open the observation deck for public use anytime of the day.

Wattay International Airport is simple and organized.

Wattay International Airport air field trip with Sengtiane Hotel

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

Thanks to the hotel manager of Sengtiane Hotel, Sayacinta - Airpost journalist was able to step into the air field of Wattay International Airport for the first time through the entrance of Lao Skyway's airport operation office on 13 December 2014. 

Lao Skyway took over the premise of Lao Westcoast Helicopters which has withdrawn from the Lao charter market and is based in New Zealand.

Lao Skyway has a fleet of helicopters (under the name of Lao Air) and MA-60 passenger aircraft in the name of Lao Skyway. It operates sightseeing flight trips in Vientiane and domestic scheduled flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Houeisay, Houaphanh and Phongsaly every week. For further information and bookings visit www.laoskyway.com .

Wattay International Airport managed by Lao-Japan Terminal Services Co., Ltd. is the smallest  airport in Southeast Asia with international and domestic terminals. The Head Offices of Lao Skyway and Lao Airlines are in this airport. More pictures on the facilities of the airport will follow soon.

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Drukair introduces third weekly frequency on its Singapore route from 18 May 2015

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

According to Singapore passenger representative Druk Asia, Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines is introducing its third weekly flight frequency on its Singapore route officially from 18 May 2015 to cater to rising demand in travel to Bhutan from Singapore.

The additional flight from Paro to Singapore with  a brief layover in Kolkata takes place on Monday (18 May 2015) when flight KB500 departs from Paro at 7.20 am, stops over in Kolkata at 8 am before taking off for Singapore at 8.35 am and arriving in Singapore at 3.35 pm.

The additional outbound flight KB501 departs from Singapore for Paro at 6 am, arrives in Kolkata for a brief layover at 8 am local time before leaving Kolkata at 8.35 am and touching down in Paro at 10.15 am on 19 May 2015 (Tuesday).

Drukair has also adjusted its existing twice-weekly Singapore flight schedules from 16 May 2015 (Saturday). On Wednesdays and Saturdays, flight KB500 departs from Paro at 7.20 am, arrives in Kolkata at 8 am before leaving Kolkata at 8.35 am and arriving in Singapore at 3.35 pm. On Thursdays and Sundays from 17 May 2015, KB501 leaves Singapore at 6.30 am, arrives in Kolkata at 8.30 am before taking off again at 9.05 am for Paro. It touches down in Paro at 10.45 am.

Scoot launches scheduled flights to Melbourne five times a week from 1 November 2015

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

Scoot is launching direct scheduled flights from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 to Melbourne five times a week from 1 November 2015 using its newly-acquired Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft. It operates on the new route on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On 1 November 2015, Scoot departs from Singapore at 1 am and arrives in Melbourne at 11.20 am. At 12.30 pm, it embarks on the return journey to Singapore from Melbourne and touches down in Singapore at 5.25 pm. Round trip fare including taxes starts from 571.30 Singapore Dollars for the first return flight and on-line tickets are on sale now.

Scoot's new route faces direct competition from Jetstar.

ASEAN's Best Airport Budget Hotel of the decade -- Sengtiane Hotel, Vientiane

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

Sengtiane Hotel is ASEAN's Best Airport Budget Hotel. It is of a five minutes' car ride to Vientiane's Wattay International Airport.  Opened eight years ago by a Chinese hotelier, it is now entirely owned by Lao Skyway, Laos' second domestic scheduled airline. Hotel staff are cheerful Lao with minimal proficiency in English and Mandarin. 90 per cent of its guests come from China.

Sengtiane Hotel's rooms on the first level suit different travellers. A single room per night costs 28 US Dollars while a luxurious room per night will be more expensive. Each room is equipped with a mini-fridge, a bathroom, toiletries, thermal kettle, a cabinet, glasses and two bottles of mineral water. The second level consists of rooms under the Head Office of Lao Skyway. 

Distances away from its lobby is the main sales and booking office of Lao Skyway. Lao Skyway flies from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Houeisay, Houaphanh, Oudomxay and Phongsaly on a weekly basis. It also operates charter flights in Laos under the name of Lao Air.

Complimentary breakfast near Sengtiane's reception for a vegetarian consists of two eggs, rice porridge, fruit juice, bread and butter or jam.  Guests can also buy snacks and ice cream from the cashier.

Sengtiane Hotel can arrange city tours to Vientiane and the surrounding areas at a car hire per day fee of 50 US Dollars and driver's day pay of 20 US Dollars. If tourists are interested to visit a section of Wattay International Airport's air field and Lao Skyway's maintenance office, be prepared to pay the hotel manager Ms Phimphaivanh Phim 25 US Dollars for privilege access. The air field trip has to be accompanied by the hotel manager.

Sengtiane Hotel can also arrange city flight trips with Lao Air (the charter arm of Lao Skyway) for visitors and guests. Scenic flight routes of Lao Air helicopter range from 50 US Dollars per person for a bird's eye view of central Vientiane's important destinations such as Patuxay, Lao ITECC and That Luang Stupa to 150 US Dollars for flight trips to see Chaoanou Park, Don Chan Palace Hotel, Friendship Bridge, Lao ITECC, National Stadium and National University Campus. For bookings, call Lao Air at +856 21 513022. Hot line: 1441.

Sengtiane Hotel works hand in hand with Lao Skyway to boost local tourism through pre-arranged city tours and beyond. A taxi ride to Sengtiane Hotel from the airport costs 57,000 Kip but hotel free pick-up transfers to and from Wattay Airport are available round the clock. 

The budget hotel accepts payments by cash in Chinese Yuan, US Dollars, That Baht and Kip the national currency of Laos. It stopped accepting payments via MasterCard last year and withdrew booking services from Agoda, TripAdvisor and Booking.com. The hotel manager can be contacted via email at phim_sengtiane@yahoo.com, sengtianehotel1@gmail,com or http://www.facebook.com/Phimphaivanh Phim. Mobile: 020 58188873.

Sengtiane Hotel Address : Wattay Nhai Thong Village, Asean Road, Sikhodtabong District, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel : +856 21 244339. Fax : +856 21 244342. 

Editor: This Vientiane trip will not be possible without the resumption of Lao Airlines' direct Singapore-Vientiane-Singapore flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. More pictures from Vientiane will be published on Sayacinta - Airpost through 2015.