India airline Air Pegasus plans to resume domestic flights by January 2017

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

Air Pegasus, a one-year-old plus Indian airline that served notice to stop operations on 8 November 2016, has not yet closed its Head Office business operations. 

The Bengaluru-headquartered airline office is located at the Land Mark Building First Floor, next to the Justa The Residence Hotel along MG Road. It is dealing with ticket refunds upon request. Passengers affected by Air Pegasus flight cancellations can write in to its Bengaluru office address or visit its Bengaluru office to seek refunds. Email address for complaints and praise is feedback@airpegasus.in.

Air Pegasus Managing Director Shyson Thomas said he is working to pay aircraft lessors their dues so that its aircraft grounded at Bengaluru's international airport, the ATR72-500, can resume passenger flights by January 2017. Its hotline contact number 080 4900 6200 will also be activated.

Air Pegasus' Air Operator License was suspended by India's civil aviation authority, DGCA, on 22 November 2016 for failure to provide a reliable and efficient flight service.

Air Pegasus is the subsidiary of Decor Aviation, an aircraft ground-handling service company. It commenced operations on 12 April 2015 with an inaugural flight between Bangalore and Hubli. Prior to its flight suspensions, it flew from Bengaluru to Kochi, Goa, Hubli, Cuddapah, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mangalore and Madurai with 3 ATR72-500 aircraft.

#21/15, Air Pegasus Pvt Ltd , The Land Mark Building . MG Road, Bangalore. Karnataka , India 560001

Eastar Jet launches scheduled flight from Busan to Kota Kinabalu on 15 December 2016

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

Eastar Jet launches scheduled flight from Busan to Kota Kinabalu on 15 December 2016  (Wednesday).

On 15 December, Eastar Jet flight ZE941 departs from Busan for Kota Kinabalu at 8.05 pm, arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 12 am on 16 December before leaving Kota Kinabalu for Busan at 12.50 am and touching down in Busan at 6.30 am on 16 December 2016 under flight ZE942. These flight schedules are valid for departures from Busan on Wednesdays and Fridays.

On Mondays with the first Monday of operation on 20 December 2016, flight ZE941 leaves Busan for Kota Kinabalu at 7.35 pm while on Tuesdays and Thursdays (first Tuesday and Thursday of operations on 21 December and 23 December) it takes off for Kota Kinabalu at 7.30 pm and arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 12 am under flight ZE942.

On Saturdays and Sundays with the first Saturday of operation on 25 December 2016 and the first Sunday of operation on the next day, flight ZE941 leaves Busan for Kota Kinabalu at 6.40 pm, arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 10.55 pm before flight ZE942 embarks on the return journey to Busan at 11.55 pm and arriving in Busan at 6.10 am on Sundays and Mondays.

Flights are operated by Eastar Jet's Boeing B737-800.

Eastar Jet has seen surges of  Korean and Southeast Asian tourists transiting in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah in East Malaysia, for onward flights to Incheon and beyond. Therefore, it sees a potential to bring in more tourists to other Korean international gateways. Hence, Busan is introduced to the Malaysia and Southeast Asia travel markets.

Eastar Jet competes directly on the Incheon-Kota Kinabalu-Incheon route sectors with other Korean low-cost airlines Jin Air, JEJU air and Air Seoul.

Sichuan Airlines launches direct flight to Dubai from Chengdu on 17 December 2016 from 39 Singapore Dollars!

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

Sichuan Airlines launches direct scheduled flight from Chengdu to Dubai on 17 December 2016 using its Airbus A330 aircraft. Its flights to Dubai are on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

On 17 December 2016 (Saturday), Sichuan Airlines flight 3U603 departs from Chengdu for Dubai at 3.40 pm, arrives in Dubai at 7.40 pm before leaving Dubai at 9.40 pm and touching down in Chengdu at 8.55 am on 18 December under flight 3U604.

On Wednesday (21 December 2016), flight 3U603 leaves Chengdu for Dubai at 2 pm, arrives in Dubai at 6 pm before departing from Dubai for Chengdu at 8.06 pm and arriving in Chengdu at 7.30 am on under flight 3U604 on 22 December.

Sichuan Airlines is running air fare promotion for its first three flights to Dubai including 24 December 2016 on its web-site and mobile app. One-way fare excluding taxes starts from 190 Chinese Yuan (from 39 Singapore Dollars) while a round-trip excluding taxes starts from 380 Chinese Yuan, about 78 Singapore Dollars. Call Sichuan Airlines at 95378 or 028-88888888 for more fare pricing updates.

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