KUALA LUMPUR, 21 November 2024: AirAsia MOVE promises to redefine travel planning with SNAP! (Flight plus Hotel) packages, making travel more affordable.
SNAP! by AirAsia MOVE introduces WEDNESDEALS, a weekly 24-hour sale available exclusively on the AirAsia MOVE app every Wednesday for destinations across ASEAN and beyond.
SNAP! packages provide users with better value through combined rates from official airline partners, AirAsia and direct hotel partners.
To mark the launch of WEDNESDEALS, SNAP! will extend the usual 24-hour sale period to three days, from 20 to 22 November 2024. It offers discounts for travellers of up to MYR170 with promo codes WEDNESDEALS and VISA for a minimum spend of MYR1200. Travellers can also join a social media contest until 30 November 2024 to stand a chance to be one of 10 lucky winners across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines to win MYR500 each.
DELHI, India, 21 November 2024: Starting on 16 December 2024, IndiGo will introduce daily direct flights between Bengaluru and Langkawi in Malaysia, making Langkawi its 36th international destination.
The new route will expand IndiGo’s global network and cater to the growing number of tourists from India to Malaysia.
IndiGo Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra said: “We are delighted to expand our network into Malaysia by launching direct flights from Bengaluru to Langkawi, our second destination in Malaysia, alongside Kuala Lumpur. With the inclusion of these flights, IndiGo will operate 14 weekly flights to Malaysia from two cities in India. Langkawi is one of the most popular destinations in Malaysia with its pristine beaches and lush rainforests, and the country’s recent visa waiver for Indian citizens is bound to create greater demand.”
IndiGo recently expanded its international flight network from Bengaluru, introducing direct flights to new destinations such as Mauritius and Bali. These additions not only strengthen connectivity from the city but also position Bengaluru as a burgeoning international hub. IndiGo provides direct connections from Bengaluru to over 60 domestic destinations, including gateway destinations such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, and Kolkata, as well as numerous tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India.
IndiGo also links Bengaluru with over 10 international destinations, such as Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Colombo, and Doha, further broadening its global reach.
Langkawi, located on the northwest coast of Malaysia, is a stunning archipelago known for its pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture. Comprising 99 islands, Langkawi offers natural beauty and modern attractions, from the iconic Langkawi Sky Bridge and cable car rides to UNESCO-recognised mangrove forests.
It’s an ideal destination for beach lovers, adventure seekers, and nature enthusiasts alike. Activities range from snorkelling and island hopping to exploring mystical caves and indulging in local cuisine.
KOTA KINABALU, 20 November: Sabah is set to achieve its 3 million target for visitor arrivals, with two new additional flights by AirAsia serving direct connectivity from Shantou and Kaohsiung to Kota Kinabalu introduced at the weekend.
Sabah received passengers from Shantou, followed by Kaohsiung the next day with a healthy load. Both flights were greeted with a water salute ceremony, marking their inaugural landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).
Julinus Jeffery Jimit (centre), Chief Executive Officer of the Sabah Tourism Board, welcomes a passenger from the SWA-BKI flight with a traditional garland, celebrating their arrival in Sabah. More flights connect Sabah to tourism markets.
Shantou becomes the 9th city in China to establish direct flights to Kota Kinabalu, joining Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and Kunming. This new route will operate three times a week, bringing the total number of weekly direct flights from China to Kota Kinabalu to 55.
The commencement of the Kaohsiung direct flight to Kota Kinabalu will be the second Taiwan city connected to Sabah after Taipei, also operated by AirAsia (AK).
Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew welcomed both flights to Sabah and thanked AirAsia for its consistent partnership in making Sabah more accessible to international travellers.
Liew said that the Shantou route aligns with Sabah’s efforts to diversify and expand its tourism market to second — and third-tier cities in China.
“The launch of Shantou flight will potentially attract more tourists from neighbouring cities as well, such as Chaozhou, Huizhou, Meizhou, Xiamen, Shanwei, and Quanzhou, which have a combined population of over 31.4 million in Southern China,” she said.
Liew said that the Kaohsiung-Kota Kinabalu direct flight connects more tourists from southern Taiwan to Sabah. “This creates an opportunity to attract tourists from nearby cities like Tainan, Pingtung, and Yunlin,” she added.
In July, Sabah announced a strategic five-year partnership with AirAsia to enhance its tourism industry. This collaboration will involve closer cooperation between the airline and Sabah Tourism to develop Kota Kinabalu International Airport into a regional aviation hub.
Sabah Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, highlighted that Sabah’s rich nature and cultural diversity allow for various travel experiences.
“Increasing accessibility to Sabah supports our goal of making tourism a key driver of success in the Sabah Maju Jaya plan. At the same time, this aligns with our efforts to gear up towards Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026,” said Julinus.
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas famous building in southern Taiwan at night, Aerial view Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
KOTA KINABALU, 20 November 2024: AirAsia continues to strengthen connectivity from its second-largest hub in Malaysia with four flights weekly between Kaohsiung and Kota Kinabalu. The first flight arrived in Sabah’s state capital on 17 November.
Sabah welcomed the inaugural flight AK1507 from Kaohsiung to Kota Kinabalu, with 74 passengers on board. It marked a proud moment as Kaohsiung became the second city in Taiwan directly connected to Sabah after Taipei — both routes operated by AirAsia. The new direct flight operates four times weekly: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Sabah welcomes the first flight from Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Kaohsiung is the 15th international destination served by AirAsia Malaysia (AK) from the Kota Kinabalu hub. As the only airline operating this route, AirAsia will contribute 105 weekly flights from Kota Kinabalu to numerous destinations in ASEAN and beyond by December 2024.
Flight Schedule between Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Kaohsiung (KHH):
SINGAPORE, 20 November 2024: Hilton has announced the opening of Hilton Kyoto and Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda. This marks the brand’s first Canopy in Asia Pacific outside of China and the debut of Hilton’s flagship brand in Kyoto.
Hilton KyotoCanopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda
The new hotel becomes the fifth property under the Hilton portfolio to open in Kyoto, joining ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts; DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Higashiyama; DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station; and Hilton Garden Inn Kyoto Shijo Karasuma.
Hilton Kyoto is situated in the Kawaramachi Sanjo neighbourhood, approximately 15 minutes by car from Kyoto Station or a two-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway T ozai Line. The hotel offers convenient access to major tourist attractions such as the world-famous Kiyomizu Temple, known for its distinctive architecture, as well as the Heian Jingu Shrine. Hilton Kyoto is also within walking distance of Gion and Pontocho, and entertainment enclaves well-known for their traditional streetscapes.
MUMBAI, 20 November 2024: SOTC Travel has been voted Asia’s Leading Travel Agency 2024 at the 31st World Travel Awards 2024 when the Indian travel firm celebrates its 75th anniversary.
This recognition reflects SOTC’s continued excellence, innovation, and leadership in the travel sector.
The World Travel Awards, also known as the “Oscars of the travel industry,” celebrate and reward the highest global achievements in travel and tourism.
The Asia’s Leading Travel Agency award is a highly coveted accolade that recognises the company’s exceptional service, strategic growth, and commitment to providing unparalleled travel experiences to customers. This prestigious win further underscores SOTC’s strong presence and influence in Asia and endorses SOTC as a leading travel company for its diverse customer base.
SOTC Travel Limited President and Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SD Nandakumar said: “At SOTC, as we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we are humbled to be recognised as Asia’s Leading Travel Agency at the World Travel Awards 2024.
“I would like to dedicate this award to our exceptional team at SOTC. This reflects our team’s dedication to delivering unique and enriching travel experiences to our customers, along with the strength of our partnerships and the trust we have built over the years. This award inspires us to continue raising the standard of excellence across the travel and tourism industry.”
About SOTC Travel SOTC Travel Limited is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings, held through its Indian-listed subsidiary, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL). SOTC Travel is a leading omnichannel travel and tourism company active in the leisure, incentive, and business travel segments.
SINGAPORE, 20 November 2024: Malaysia has been awarded the prestigious “Destination of the Year” at the TripZilla Excellence Awards 2024.
The honours are determined through an extensive voting process involving passionate travel enthusiasts and recognises a steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation, and exceptional service.
It acknowledged Malaysia’s exceptional tourism offerings, diverse culture, and commitment to enhancing tourists’ travel experiences.
Tourism Malaysia Director General Datuk Manoharan Periasamy remarked: “As Malaysia celebrates this remarkable achievement, we invite travellers to explore our nation’s unique charm, exceptional hospitality, and the myriad of experiences awaiting discovery.”
The award underscores Malaysia’s ongoing initiatives to promote sustainable tourism practices, focusing on preserving natural beauty while providing economic opportunities for local communities. Malaysia’s vast array of eco-tourism attractions and conservation-focused programmes demonstrates its commitment to a sustainable future for travel.
TripZilla is a leading travel media company in Southeast Asia, reaching more than 20 million travellers every month. Now in its landmark 10th year, the TripZilla Excellence Awards is a highly coveted honour in the travel industry, celebrating brands that have crafted exceptional and unforgettable travel experiences.
Malaysia is gearing up various promotional campaigns to attract tourists worldwide. The forthcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026 has set a target of 35.6 million foreign tourist arrivals, with a target receipt of RM147.1 billion.
BANGKOK, 20 November 2024: Thai Airways has announced plans to upgrade from A320s to wide-bodied aircraft on some domestic routes to meet an uptick in peak season passenger traffic in December.
Information will remain sketchy until the airline’s communications department issues an official statement on the aircraft upgrade and peak season flight increases. But the gist is that A320s will be replaced by Boeing 777s, Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and Airbus A330s on some domestic routes in December, particularly during the Christmas to New Year travel season from 20 to 31 December.
Online timetable information and Nation Online news suggest bigger aircraft will be deployed to serve Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai from early December 2024 to early January 2025. This is in response to increased demand during the peak travel season.
Additionally, Thai Airways has been undergoing a fleet restructuring process, which may involve aircraft changes and route adjustments. However, details about aircraft changes in December 2024 have not been officially announced.
However, the latest up-to-date information on aircraft changes and flight schedules posted on travel-related websites other than TG confirms some of the changes.
The airline will schedule widebody aircraft service on the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Krabi route from 1 to 31 December 2024, with a mix of Boeing 777-200ER and A330-300 operating the morning service instead of an A320.
Upgrades in aircraft from A320s to Boeing 777s and Airbus A330 will also increase seat capacity on flights to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Thai Airways will assign Airbus A330s and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to replace A320s on some of its three daily roundtrip flights between Bangkok and Chiang Rai from 20 to 24 December.
BANGKOK, 20 November 2024: ITA Airways inaugurated its first direct flight to Thailand on 17 November, connecting Bangkok and Rome Fiumicino.
ITA operates five weekly flights to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday using a 281-seat Airbus A330neo.
At the ribbon-cutting event in BKK airport: Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways and CEO Volare, Pierfrancesco Carino, Vice President of International Sales of ITA Airways, Benedetto Mencaroni Poiani, Regional Manager for Asia, Middle East, and Africa ITA Airways, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Deputy Governor for International Marketing Europe, America, Middle East and Africa of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), HE Paolo Dionisi, the Ambassador of Italy to Thailand.
The inaugural flight AZ758 from Rome Fiumicino landed at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) at 0825 (local time) on Sunday, 17 November.
The new Rome-Bangkok connection is a milestone for the company, expanding its network to a strategic market. Bangkok serves as an important aviation hub for both leisure and business traffic.
ITA Airways Chief Commercial Officer and CEO of Volare Emiliana Limosani said: “This route represents a key milestone for us, marking our entry into the Thai market and further extending our reach in Asia alongside our connections to Tokyo, New Delhi, and Malè in the Maldives. As our eighth new destination this year, this route underscores our dedication to creating more travel opportunities for our customers, focusing on Thailand as a key market for both leisure and business travel”.
Flight schedule
Bangkok — Rome Fiumicino: Flights depart at 1215 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and arrive in Rome at 1900.
Rome Fiumicino — Bangkok: Flights depart at 1515 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday and arrive in Bangkok at 0740.
During the upcoming 2025 summer season (April to October the airline will reduce flights to three weekly.
The A330 is configured in three classes: Business (30 reclining seats), premium (24 seats), and economy (237 seats).
KUALA LUMPUR, 20 November 2024: Batik Air will introduce a new direct service between Johor Bahru and Bangkok on 1 December 2024.
The daily flights will operate out of Senai International Airport (JHB) to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), allowing travellers residing in southern Malaysia and even the northern districts in Singapore to fly directly to Thailand’s bustling capital.
The introduction of this route marks a significant milestone for Batik Air the airline said in a recent press statement.
Batik Air Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy stated that Bangkok has always been one of Asia’s most desirable destinations, particularly for Malaysians.
“This vibrant metropolis is a perfect addition to our growing list of destinations, and we are excited to offer our passengers from Southern Malaysia a direct connection to this captivating city,” he said.
In the third quarter of 2024, Bangkok welcomed over 568,216 visitors from Malaysia, with 342,859 arrivals through Don Mueang Airport (DMK), where Batik Air operates flights. This number is expected to rise as more travellers seek to experience the vibrant allure of Thailand’s capital, further boosted by the convenience of Batik Air’s new direct route from Southern Malaysia.
Flight schedule
Flight OD531 departs Johor Bahru (JHB) at 1215 and arrives at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK) at 1350. Flight OD530 departs Bangkok Don Mueang Airport at 1505 and arrives in Johor Bahru at 1835.
A B737-800s with 167 seats will fly the route with a flight time of two hours and 25 minutes.
The airline will compete head-on with AirAsia that offers 11 flights weekly on the route using an A320 with 180 seats. The average roundtrip fare on the route before Batik Air starts flights is USD140.
