Tuesday, October 27, 2026
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MICHELIN Guide selects four Meliá properties

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BANGKOK, 27 October 2026: Four Meliá Hotels International properties in Thailand have been included in the MICHELIN Guide Hotel Selection 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Spanish hotel group’s growing presence in Thailand and its alliance with real estate group Asset World Corp PCL.

Spanning four of Thailand’s most popular destinations and representing two Meliá Hotels International brands, the selected properties are 234-room Meliá Pattaya Hotel, Thailand; 208-room INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit; 260-room Meliá Chiang Mai; and 200-room Meliá Koh Samui.

MAI The Sky Bar, Meliá Chiang Mai

The MICHELIN Guide’s inspectors curate its hotel selection, travelling anonymously and independently to identify notable hotel experiences worldwide.

“The inclusion of these four Thailand properties in the MICHELIN Guide Hotel Selection 2026 is an incredible achievement for MHI’s partnership with AWC,” said Meliá Hotels International Managing Director Asia Pacific Ignacio Martin. “From the rich heritage of Chiang Mai and island setting of Koh Samui to the creative pulse of Bangkok and cultural energy of Pattaya, the four hotels demonstrate the breadth and depth of compelling hospitality experiences we are building in Thailand and our shared commitment with AWC to contributing to the continued evolution of the country’s unsurpassed tourism offering.”

(Source: Meliá Hotels International)

STB inks MOU with Visa

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SINGAPORE, 27 October 2026: Visa, a leader in digital payments and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Singapore’s appeal as a preferred travel destination and to unlock new growth opportunities. 

The collaboration will focus on three key pillars – driving discovery of Singapore’s tourism products, especially its dining and night-time experiences; deriving insights to identify high-value tourism opportunities; and developing co-branded marketing campaigns to build brand preference for both Visa and Singapore.

Photo credit: STB. Adeline Kim (Group Country Manager, Regional Southeast Asia & SVP, Global Clients, Asia Pacific, Visa) and Melissa Ow (Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board).

Visa also announced that Singapore will join Visa Destinations, using the platform to introduce strategic partnerships, flagship initiatives, and experiences across Singapore’s tourism precincts and high-yield traveller segments.

Visa Destinations is a global travel programme designed to elevate how travellers discover and experience the world’s most iconic destinations. Singapore is the second Asia Pacific country to launch Visa Destinations, following Thailand, which launched in July this year. Other cities include London, New York, and Paris, reinforcing the city’s position as a leading travel hub. The programme will commence in Singapore in November this year.

“Singapore is already a world-class destination with strong global appeal. Our partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board is about converting that appeal into deeper engagement, bringing together STB’s destination expertise with Visa’s global network, travel insights and partnerships to inspire more international travellers to visit and return,” said  Visa Group Country Manager, Regional Southeast Asia, & SVP, Global Clients, Asia Pacific, Adeline Kim. 

“As travellers today increasingly seek more personalised and distinctive experiences, Singapore continues to evolve to inspire discoveries with every visit. This partnership combines Visa’s global reach, insights, and partner network with STB’s destination expertise to curate compelling, high-quality experiences and data-driven marketing campaigns that resonate with travellers’ interests. Through this collaboration, we aim to create more opportunities for our tourism businesses and advance STB’s Tourism 2040 priorities through impactful, high-quality tourism growth,” said  Singapore Tourism Board Chief Executive Melissa Ow.

(Source: Singapore Tourism Board)

Air Astana expands network

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SINGAPORE, 27 October 2027: Air Astana Group continues to expand international air connectivity from Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, by adding new destinations, increasing flights, and expanding its operational presence in Astana.

In 2026, the group has launched eight new scheduled and charter routes from Astana: Guangzhou, Bangkok, Larnaca, Dalaman, Batumi, Issyk-Kul, Salalah and Yining. Last year, the group launched seven additional routes: Sanya, Jeddah, Medina, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Alanya and Kutaisi. The group’s route network from Astana now comprises 32 destinations, including the newly announced routes.

Photo credit: Air Astana.

The expansion focuses on major business and economic centres, including Guangzhou and Bangkok, while also offering popular holiday destinations.

At the same time, Air Astana is increasing weekly flights from Astana on existing international routes from 99 to 116, including services to Beijing, Seoul, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Dubai. Compared with 2025, seat capacity has increased by 55% on the Astana–Beijing route and by 20% on routes to Seoul and Istanbul.

The group is also strengthening its operational presence in the capital. The number of aircraft based in Astana has increased from 13 in 2024 to 16 in summer 2026 and is expected to reach 22 in 2027. This expansion is also reflected in the growing workforce across the group’s technical facilities, training centres, administrative offices and passenger service operations at Astana Airport. The group’s growing presence also supports local businesses through an expanding network of partners and increased procurement of goods and services, contributing to Astana’s economic development.

For passengers, these developments mean more international destinations, more seats on popular routes, and greater flexibility when planning business and leisure travel.

The expanding route network, increased flight frequencies, and growing number of aircraft based in Astana further strengthen the capital’s position as one of Kazakhstan’s key international aviation hubs.

(Source: Air Astana Group)

Ponant reduces cruise deposits

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SINGAPORE, 27 October 2026: Ponant Explorations invites travellers to plan their next journey at sea with a reduced deposit offer on all new bookings made by 31 January 2027. 

With an initial deposit of just 10%, reduced from the usual 25%, guests can secure their preferred small-ship voyage while keeping more of their travel budget available for longer. 

Photo credit: Ponant.

The offer applies to new bookings on 350 small-ship sailings across many destinations in late 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, and to voyages by sister company Paul Gauguin Cruises. Whether exploring the Kimberley’s dramatic coastline, discovering the Mediterranean’s historic ports, island-hopping through French Polynesia or venturing into the polar regions, travellers can lock in their next adventure with a smaller upfront commitment. 

Terms and conditions: Valid on all new bookings made by 31 January 2027. A reduced deposit is required at booking, with a further deposit equal to 15% of the booking value due 212 days before departure. Standard final payment, booking and cancellation terms apply. Combinable with selected promotional offers. 

(Source: Ponant)

Air India flights shift to Navi Mumbai Airport

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MUMBAI, 27 October 2026: Air India Group will begin operating from Navi Mumbai International Airport, starting with select domestic and West Asia services in December 2026.

As part of the broader transition plan for domestic and international airlines to make way for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Air India Group will begin phasing some of its West Asia services to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).

Photo credit: Air India Group.

Air India Express will operate four daily domestic flights from December 2026 and, from January 2027, planned services to Kuwait* and existing services to Oman.

Air India Group will progressively transition Air India Express services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah to NMIA, with the process expected to be completed by the IATA Northern Summer 2027 season.

Both Indian and international airlines will support the long-awaited redevelopment of CSMIA Terminal 1. The phased move also supports the development of Mumbai’s dual-airport system while enabling Air India Group to continue serving the market efficiently and preserve existing operating slots at CSMIA.

Operating from both CSMIA and NMIA will strengthen connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, give travellers more choice and convenience, and support continued growth in the region’s aviation infrastructure.

Adani Airport Holdings Limited welcomed Air India Group’s plans to commence operations from NMIA. Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed with advanced technology, multimodal connectivity and scalable infrastructure to support the region’s future aviation growth and deliver a seamless travel experience.

*The transition of services to Kuwait from NMIA is subject to the requisite approvals.

(Source: Air India)

Finnair flies Melbourne daily

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BANGKOK, 27 October 2026: Finnair launched daily scheduled services between Helsinki and Melbourne on 25 October 2026, marking the Finnish flag carrier’s debut in Australia.

Photo credit: Finnair.

The 22-hour flight operates Helsinki-Melbourne via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the A350-900 makes a two-hour transit stop for a crew change. The airline enjoys fifth freedom rights in Bangkok, allowing it to sell tickets on the Bangkok-Melbourne roundtrip sectors

Photo credit: Finnair Facebook post.

Fares for a roundtrip Helsinki-Melbourne journey start at EUR998.

Meanwhile, Finnair announced earlier that it will strengthen its Japan network and operate up to three daily flights to Tokyo during the summer 2027 timetable.

In a press statement, Finnair said it was responding to growing demand for travel to Asia, particularly Japan. The airline will increase frequency on its Tokyo Narita route during the peak summer travel period, operating up to two daily flights. In addition, Finnair will continue to serve Tokyo Haneda Airport daily. 

With the additional Narita frequencies, Finnair will offer a record number of connections between Helsinki and Tokyo next summer, with up to three daily flights at peak times. The flights have been timed to provide smooth onward connections from Japan across Finnair’s European network. 

With the additional frequencies, Finnair’s services to Japan will increase from 28 weekly flights this summer to up to 32 weekly flights in summer 2027, further strengthening Finnair’s position as one of the largest airlines between Europe and Japan. 

Finnair operates year-round services to Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka. In summer, Finnair also flies to Nagoya, the only European airline serving the Japanese city. 

Additional Narita frequency from 12 May to 14 August 2027 (excluding HEL-NRT on 13 May and NRT-HEL on 14 May): 

AY71 HEL-NRT 1220-0715 (plus a day)
AY72 NRT-HEL 0855-1535

(Source: Finnair)

HK Express 13th anniversary fare deals

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HONG KONG, 27 October 2026: HK Express Airways officially turns 13 and celebrates with discounted fares to 36 destinations.

“Over the past 13 years, we have been proud to connect passengers to a growing network of popular and emerging destinations across Asia. As Hong Kong’s only low-cost carrier, we now carry one in eight passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport,” said HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao. “Being named as the ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Carrier’ and ‘World’s Safest Low-Cost Carrier’ for 2026 is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our team, as well as the trust our passengers place in us.”

To mark its 13th anniversary, the airline introduces its “Gotta Go” Ultra Offer, a limited-time promotion offering “Lite” one-way fares starting from HKD13.

Customers can buy the fare on the airline’s website and app until 2345 on 30 October 2026. The fare is valid for travel from 3 January 2027 to 27 March 2028 (varies by destination).

*Limited availability; terms and conditions apply. The offer is valid only for initial round-trip bookings of flights departing from Hong Kong (including open-jaw tickets). The offer does not apply to one-way tickets. Fares do not include taxes and surcharges. 

^Summer seasonal service from 28 March to 30 October 2027.​

Lufthansa launches nonstop KUL-FRA service

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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 October 2026: Lufthansa Airlines celebrated the launch of its new nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt on Monday, connecting Malaysia’s capital with one of Europe’s leading aviation hubs.

The new service, initially five flights weekly, uses a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 287 seats across three classes and Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabin.

The launch marks a key expansion of Lufthansa’s Southeast Asian network and gives customers in Malaysia direct access to Frankfurt and onward connections across Europe and the world.

Lufthansa Group Senior Vice President Global Sales Frank Naeve noted: “Today marks an important milestone for Lufthansa and our customers in Malaysia. With the launch of our nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt, we are strengthening the connection between Malaysia and Europe while bringing our latest long-haul aircraft and Allegris travel experience to the market. 

“Malaysia is an important economic centre in Southeast Asia and a growing destination for international business and investment, while its rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions make it equally appealing to leisure travellers.”

LH705 departs Kuala Lumpur at 2355 and arrives in Frankfurt at 0600 the following morning. 
LH704 departs Frankfurt at 2130 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 1640 the following day.

The schedules are coordinated with Lufthansa’s wider Frankfurt hub network, enabling customers travelling from Malaysia to connect onward to numerous destinations across Europe, North America and other international markets.

For Lufthansa, the launch further strengthens its Southeast Asian network, which also includes Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket. Kuala Lumpur becomes the airline’s fourth Southeast Asian destination.

Customers travelling between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt will experience Lufthansa’s latest long-haul product aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The aircraft features Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin, introduced to offer greater choice and personalisation across all travel classes. The aircraft is among Lufthansa’s most modern and efficient long-haul aircraft.

The introduction of the Boeing 787-9 and Allegris on the Kuala Lumpur route forms part of Lufthansa’s broader expansion of its premium long-haul offering during the Winter 2026 schedule. Lufthansa is introducing Allegris on several new destinations from its Frankfurt and Munich hubs during the Winter season.

Strengthening ties between Malaysia and Germany

The new connection supports tourism and business travel between Malaysia and Europe and provides a direct link to Germany via Malaysia’s premium Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Malaysia welcomed 42.2 million visitors in 2025, making it Southeast Asia’s most visited country. Germany is also Malaysia’s most important trading partner within the European Union, with more than 700 German companies operating in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said: “In line with the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign, we welcome Lufthansa’s new nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt, which further enhances Malaysia’s connectivity with Germany and the wider European market. Strong air connectivity is fundamental to tourism growth, strengthening economic links and fostering greater cultural exchange.

“This direct connection provides greater convenience for travellers from Germany and across Europe, while supporting our efforts to attract high-value visitors and showcase Malaysia’s diverse attractions, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.”

(Source: Lufthansa Group)

Park Hyatt resort brand opens in Vietnam

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PHU QUOC, Vietnam 26 October 2026: Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is scheduled to open in December 2026 as the first Park Hyatt resort in Vietnam.

Conceived as a contemporary Vietnamese Village by the Sea, the resort is designed to feel like a private seaside residence, blending Vietnamese character with home comforts.

Photo credit: Park Hyatt Phu Quoc.

Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is arranged as a collection of courtyards, shaded pathways and gardens woven with the natural landscape and leading down to the Sea. Balancing community with privacy, the resort will have 114 rooms and suites, 54 pool villas, 

At the heart of the resort, The Courtyard will serve as the village centre, bringing together six dining venues, two infinity pools and a sunset bar. 

Just a 25-minute drive from Phu Quoc International Airport, Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is a private base for exploring the island’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage. 

Phu Quoc has direct international flights from Singapore, China, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Hong Kong, South Korea and India.

Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is accepting reservations for arrivals beginning 18 December 2026. 

(Source: Hyatt)

United delivers record 17% revenue growth in Q3

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CHICAGO, 26 October 2026: United Airlines (UAL) has reported pre-tax earnings of USD1.3 billion, with a pre-tax margin of 7.3%. 

Adjusted pre-tax earnings were USD1.1 billion, with an adjusted pre-tax margin of 6.2%. Fuel expense rose USD1.8 billion versus third-quarter 2025 as jet fuel prices remained volatile.

United continued to see broad-based strength across all revenue streams: compared to the third quarter of 2025, Premium revenue was up 17%, basic economy revenue was up 16%, loyalty revenue was up 17%, and cargo revenue was up 23%. Contracted business revenue rose 26% during the quarter versus the third quarter of 2025, showing strong, resilient close-in demand across all industries. Economy cabin revenue grew for the third consecutive quarter, with unit revenue up 17% year-over-year.

United now offers Starlink on more than 640 aircraft, equipping approximately three more aircraft per day. United now offers more daily Starlink flights than the entire US industry, further strengthening its competitive advantage. In September, more than 5.4 million United customers experienced Starlink. United expects to make it available fleet-wide by the end of 2027.

Ongoing customer investments include the new concourse in Terminal B at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The United ClubSM in the new, three-level concourse is the largest airline club in the Americas, with seating for 800 people and an outdoor terrace. During the quarter, United also unveiled modernisation plans for Washington Dulles International Airport together with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the US Department of Transportation, with new and expanded airport facilities expected to support more flights.

Network expansion

UA announced the largest-ever international network expansion with service to 10 new destinations planned to start in summer 2027, including Catania, Italy; Ibiza, Spain; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Luxembourg; Marseille, France; Okinawa, Japan; Olbia, Italy; Terceira, Portugal; Toulouse, France; and Valencia, Spain. All new routes are subject to government approval.

The airline also announced additional summer 2027 service on four international routes: Los Angeles-Osaka, Washington Dulles-Milan, Denver-Paris, and San Francisco-Tel Aviv.

Resumed service from Newark to Tel Aviv in early September.

Launched nonstop service from Newark to Seoul and four new domestic routes from Newark: Bentonville, Arkansas; Charlottesville, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Omaha, Nebraska.

Expanded 787-9 Elevated service from San Francisco to Zurich and Seoul, joining the Singapore and London routes introduced in the second quarter of 2026. These premium-configured aircraft feature 99 premium seats, including eight United Polaris Studio suites and 56 United Polaris seats.

(Source: United)

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