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Air India gives students a fare discount

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TTR WEEKLY
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GURUGRAM, 20 December 2024: Air India has launched special, discounted fares and additional student benefits across its domestic and international route network.

New student fare benefits: The special fares provide students with up to 10% discount on base fares on all flights, 10kg extra baggage allowance, and the option of a one-time free date change upon booking on Air India’s direct channels, including airindia.com and the Air India mobile app. 

The special student fares are available for bookings in the economy, premium economy and business cabins.

“With these new student fare benefits, we are making it easier and more affordable for young travellers to explore the world, connect with different cultures, and broaden their horizons. At Air India, we are committed to supporting students on their educational journeys and to making full-service flying more accessible and a rewarding experience for students”, said Air India Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal.

Additional savings: Air India currently does not charge any convenience fee on mobile app bookings, which enables student travellers to save an additional INR 399 on domestic flights and up to INR 999 on international flights. Travellers can unlock further savings when paying via UPI, net banking, or credit/debit cards issued by Air India’s bank partners on airindia.com or the Air India mobile app. With these offers, students can potentially tap a 25% discount.

Student fare requirements  

  • At least 12 years of age on the day of domestic travel.
  • Aged between 12 and 30 years on the day of travel for international travel.
  • Enrolled in a full-time course for at least one academic year.
  • Attending an educational establishment recognised, aided by, or affiliated with a central or state government, educational board, university, or accredited school or college.
  • Carrying a valid ID card or acceptance letter from their school, college, or university, or have a valid student visa.

Student fare bookings are available only on Air India’s direct channels: Air India’s website, mobile app, customer contact centre, and airport or city ticketing offices.

LH flies nonstop from Munich to Brazil

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 20 December 2024: Lufthansa introduced a new direct flight last week between Munich (MUC), Germany and São Paulo (GRU) in Brazil.

The airline serves the route three times a week using a 295-seat Airbus A350-900, arguably one of the world’s most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft.

Photo credit Lufthansa. A350-900 at Munich International Airport.

The flights between the two cities depart from Munich on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

LH504: The outbound flight departs Munich (MUC) at 1145 and lands in São Paulo (GRU) at 2010. Flight time is 11 hours and 35 minutes.
LH 505: The return flight from São Paulo to Munich departs on the same day at 2205 (local time) and arrives in Munich on the following day at 1340. 

The new connection will strengthen economic and cultural ties between Germany and Brazil. For Munich in particular, Brazil is now the fifth most important overseas tourist market. In 2024, the Bavarian state capital recorded an increase of around 17%  in overnight stays compared to the previous year.

Asia Pacific dominates busiest route rankings

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 20 December 2024: OAG, a data platform for the global travel industry, released the 2024 Busiest Routes in the World Report on Wednesday that shows Asia Pacific dominates the top 10 busiest domestic and international routes.  

OAG’s Global Airline Schedules Data powered the analysis and provides an overview of route performance and trends, both internationally and domestically.

Asia Pacific again dominates the annual rankings, with seven of the top 10 international busiest routes and 9/10 busiest domestic routes. 

The busiest international route of 2024, and the top 10 route seeing the most significant growth, is Hong Kong (HKG)-Taipei (TPE), with 6.8 million seats and a 48% increase in capacity between 2023-2024, pushing it up from third place last year.

Cairo (CAI)-Jeddah (JED) takes the #2 spot with 5.5 million seats, one of two routes operating in the Middle East that have entered the top 10 since 2019. CAI-JED has experienced 68% growth in five years, while Dubai (DBX)-Riyadh (RUH) is in sixth place with 4.3 million seats and 37% capacity growth since 2019.

Other international routes seeing impressive year-on-year growth are Seoul Incheon (ICN)-Tokyo Narita (NRT), moving from fifth to third with 30% capacity growth, and Bangkok (BKK)-Hong Kong (HKG), re-entering the top 10 at #7 after placing 11th in 2023.

New York (JFK)- London Heathrow (LHR) takes the top spot for the busiest international route in Europe and North America. Cairo (CAI)-Jeddah (JED) is the top international route in both Africa and the Middle East, and Orlando (MCO)-San Juan (SJU) is the #1 international route in Latin America.

OAG’s Chief Analyst, John Grant, commented: “With the ASPAC region very close to a full recovery, the busiest routes are concentrated in the familiar major hubs of Hong Kong, Seoul Incheon and Singapore, although the composition of the supply on those routes is changing as the low-cost sector continues its growth at a faster rate than legacy.

One of the most interesting developments is the growth in regional Middle East markets with a particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia, where the Vision 2030 project continues to drive both business and leisure demand”.

Find the global and regional rankings of the world’s busiest airline routes of 2024 and methodology on OAG’s website.

MH boosts flights for the festive season

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 20 December 2024: Malaysia Airlines will boost services to meet heightened travel demand during the upcoming December festive season and Chinese New Year celebrations. 

The airline will operate 112 additional red-eye flights between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and East Malaysia from 19 December to 1 January 2025 to accommodate the peak travel demand.

Photo credit: Malaysia Airlines. Fixed fares for family reunions.

This includes up to 66 additional flights to and from Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu (BKI), Sandakan (SDK) and Tawau (TWU) and 46 extra flights to and from Sarawak, including Kuching (KCH) and Miri (MYY). 

With the additional flights, Malaysia Airlines will offer up to 596 flights between Kuala Lumpur and East Malaysia during the travel peak, providing greater flexibility and convenience for travellers.

Meanwhile, the airline also offers fixed fares for the upcoming Chinese New Year, with all-in one-way fares starting at MYR349 to and from Sabah and Sarawak, available exclusively on Malaysia Airlines’ official website and mobile app. 

These fixed fares aim to make travel more accessible during the festive season. In addition to the fare offer, Malaysia Airlines will operate 102 supplementary red-eye flights between 24 January and 4 February 2025, bringing the total to 219 weekly flights to and from Sabah and Sarawak during this period.

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi commented: “By introducing affordable fixed fares for Chinese New Year, increasing flight frequencies during the peak year-end season, and expanding regional connectivity, Malaysia Airlines is not only enhancing accessibility but also strengthening its position as the airline of choice.”

In addition to strengthening domestic connectivity, Malaysia Airlines enhances regional travel options. From 28 January 2025, the airline will introduce a seventh daily flight frequency to Jakarta (CGK), offering greater convenience for business and leisure travellers between Malaysia and Indonesia.

STB and WWF-Malaysia forge a partnership 

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, 19 December 2024: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and World Wide Fund for Nature – Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding this week that aims to promote nature-based and ecotourism packages and support the conservation of Sarawak’s vital mangroves and marine mammals.

The partnership establishes a collaborative framework for developing and promoting responsible ecotourism. It focuses on WWF-Malaysia’s project areas, particularly the Rajang-Belawai-Paloh delta in Tanjung Manis, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity, including mangrove forests and marine mammal species, particularly the Irrawaddy dolphins. 

Dr Chan and Puan Sharzede at the MoU signing ceremony with WWF-Malaysia Sarawak
Conservation Programme Head Cynthia Chin (left) and Puan Mary Wan Mering, Director – Stakeholder
Relations of STB as witnesses. The event took place at WWF-Malaysia’s Sarawak Office today. © Ezen
Chan / WWF-Malaysia

“This partnership with the Sarawak Tourism Board is a wonderful opportunity to connect conservation with sustainable ecotourism,” said WWF-Malaysia Conservation Director Dr Henry Chan. “The Rajang-Belawai-Paloh delta is a unique biodiversity hotspot. Through this collaboration, we hope to foster greater awareness and support sustainable livelihood opportunities that benefit both the environment and the communities who depend on it.”

Dr Henry presented a souvenir to Puan Sharzede. © Ezen Chan / WWF-Malaysia.

Key partnership goals

● Developing nature-based tourism: Developing and testing ecotourism packages prioritising biodiversity while fostering community involvement and sustainable livelihoods.

● Empowering local communities: Enhancing skills and capacity for ecotourism management, focusing on building community-based enterprises.

● Promoting collaborative management: Encouraging cooperation among local communities and stakeholders in managing and marketing ecotourism initiatives.

● Raising awareness: Producing communication materials to showcase conservation efforts and promote responsible tourism to locals and visitors alike.

The partnership includes joint activities such as professional training, workshops, and seminars. These initiatives aim to equip local communities and stakeholders with the skills needed to manage ecotourism sustainably and responsibly.

“Responsible tourism is central to our vision for Sarawak,” said Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor. “Our partnership with WWF-Malaysia strengthens our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The STB CEO identified “SDG 4: Quality Education by empowering local communities with training and knowledge, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through the development of sustainable ecotourism, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering meaningful collaborations that benefit both nature and local communities. Together, we aim to safeguard Sarawak’sunique biodiversity while fostering sustainable economic opportunities for its people.”

For more information on Sarawak tourism visit: https://www.sarawaktourism.com

Pandaw keel laying for RV Kochi

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 19 December 2024: Pandaw Cruises hosted a Keel laying ceremony last week for a new riverboat, the Kochi Pandaw, that will explore the Kerala backwaters following its launch in October 2025.

The keel laying ceremony was held at a shipyard in Kerala, India, with the blessings of a Roman Catholic priest who ministers to the predominantly Christian community.  

Technically a houseboat, the Kochi Pandaw design will adopt the proven lines and design travellers recognise as the authentic Pandaw style, featuring 10 staterooms. 

The tentative launch date is set for October 2025, when the ship will begin sailing a weekly circular expedition of the Kerala backwaters and lakes, a stunningly beautiful area with a rich and diverse culture and so much to see and do.

Kerala Backwaters Cruise
KOCHI – THOTTAPALLI – KOCHI
Seven nightsFROM USD4,950 per person

For details of the cruise, visit: River Cruise Itinerary for The Kerala Backwaters | Pandaw.com 

To book, visit pandaw.com or contact the Pandaw sales team at [email protected]

More about Kerala backwaters

The Kerala backwaters are a network of lagoons, lakes, canals, and rivers that stretch along the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This intricate system, often compared to bayous, is formed by over 900 km of waterways, including five major lakes connected by both natural and artificial canals.   

These serene waterways offer a picturesque experience, with lush green landscapes, coconut palms lining the banks, and traditional villages dotted along the shores.   

Houseboat cruises are a popular way to explore the backwaters, providing a tranquil and authentic way to experience the local culture and natural beauty.   

The annual snake boat races, featuring long, ornate boats, are also a major attraction, showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage.   

The backwaters are also home to diverse wildlife, including various bird species, fish, and other aquatic creatures, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts.   

The most convenient airport to access the Kerala backwaters is Kochi International Airport (IATA: COK), also known as Cochin International Airport. It is well connected to major cities in India and internationally, making it a popular gateway for tourists visiting the region. From Cochin International Airport, you can easily reach Maradu Port, the main entry point for the Kerala backwaters.

Over 100 flights land at Cochin weekly, with the most popular international flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Daily direct flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City serve the Southeast Asia outbound travel market.

Cochin’s top* airlines January 2025

IndiGo
1150 flights 

Air India Express
548 flights 

Air India
500 flights 

SpiceJet
93 flights 

Etihad Airways
91 flights

*Number of international and domestic flights for January 2025.

To book, visit pandaw.com or contact the Pandaw sales team at [email protected]

Green Globe goes to Raffles heritage hotels

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHNOM PENH, 19 December 2024: Two of Cambodia’s heritage hotels have received industry-leading Green Globe Certifications in recognition of their ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap and Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh were awarded the designations based on their dedication to efficient resource management and their innovative and engaging community programmes, environmental initiatives and best practices.

New eco-friendly electric tuk-tuks at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.

The two hotels secured the Green Globe Certification through efforts to reduce food waste, optimise energy allocation and recycle waste. 

Earlier this year, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the 92-year-old luxury icon on the doorstep of ancient Khmer archaeological sites, introduced a new fleet of electric tuk-tuks, providing an innovative and eco-friendly transportation option for guests. The new tuk-tuks are used in the hotel’s Curated Journeys, including “Reflections of Angkor,” in which guests hone their photography skills with a veteran photographer.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal offers bicycles for guests to explore the city of Phnom Penh, along with a self-guided walking tour map that highlights local attractions.

The Green Globe Certification Standard includes 44 criteria in four groups and is supported by over 380 compliance indicators. The standard has been developed over three decades and guarantees the highest level of sustainable operations and management.

Thomas Cook expands Delhi sales outlets

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TTR WEEKLY
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MUMBAI, 19 December 2024: Thomas Cook (India) Limited has inaugurated its new franchise outlet in Gurugram to tap into the high-growth market of the Delhi-NCR region and surrounding areas. 

The new store further strengthens Thomas Cook’s network in the Delhi-NCR region to 14 locations (six owned stores and eight Gold Circle Partner outlets). 

Located in the centre of Gurugram,  the new outlet provides Thomas Cook with a viable catchment for various consumer sectors: families, professionals/business travellers and senior citizens.

Thomas Cook’s Gurugram outlet will provide end-to-end travel services for international and domestic holidays (Group Tours, Personalised holidays, Cruises) and value-added services like travel insurance.

Travel Trends from Delhi-NCR

Rise of experiential travel: There’s demand for chasing the Northern Lights on husky safaris in Norway, ice bathing in Sweden, mud baths in Azerbaijan, black water rafting in New Zealand and e-biking on Switzerland’s alpine routes.

Growing demand for winter tourism: The allure of winter landscapes, combined with Christmas and New Year celebrations, has become a significant draw for travellers from Delhi-NCR.

Sports tourism on the rise: There is a high interest in the Border-Gavaskar cricket matches (Australia), F1, and football.

Premium luxury travel: Demand for stays in palaces/chateaus, luxury resorts & spas in France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, and Morocco (couples & honeymooners).

Growing demand for cruise holidays: Luxury Polar cruises and Gulf-Middle East. 

New destinations: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iceland, Greenland, Denmark and Croatia.

Visa-free and easy-visa destinations: Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka; eVisa and easy visa: Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Indonesia are in high demand.

Top destinations international: Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Sweden, Norway, Iceland; Australia-New Zealand, Japan, Oman, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Morocco, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USA.

Domestic and Indian subcontinent: Rajasthan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Andamans and Bhutan.

Banyan Tree opens rainforest resort

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 19 December 2024: Opening in April 2025, Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree will offer nature-inspired stays just a short drive from Singapore’s city centre.

Located in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve (Singapore’s integrated wildlife and nature destination), the 4.6-hectare resort provides access to zoological parks such as Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and the upcoming Rainforest Wild.  

Photo credit: Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree.

The 338-room resort unlocks exclusive wildlife experiences across the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. From early morning visits to Bird Paradise through the Wild Walk programme, where guests can observe the birds at their most active and interact with the keepers, to the Wild ZooDay Camp — an immersive guided tour for children at Singapore Zoo. In addition, resort guests will benefit from special rates on park entry and signature programmes.

Malaysia welcomes a million Indian tourists

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 19 December 2024: Tourism Malaysia reports tourist arrivals from India have exceeded the target of 1 million for January to November 2024.

A total of 1,009,114 Indian visitors were recorded, representing a remarkable 47% growth compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. This also marks an impressive 71.7% increase compared to 2023, reaffirming Malaysia’s appeal as a preferred destination for Indian tourists.

“The introduction of free visa entry in December 2023 has proven to be a transformative initiative, driving a significant increase in the number of Indian tourists visiting Malaysia,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing. “This policy has opened up new travel opportunities and played a key role in this remarkable growth.” 

In response to the surge, 2024 saw the launch of numerous new routes from India, including Indigo Airlines, which introduced direct daily flights to Penang earlier this year and to Langkawi starting this month on top of its existing routes to Kuala Lumpur. 

“The increased connectivity from India helps to further strengthen Malaysia as a choice destination, especially in the lead-up to the Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” the minister stated.

Malaysia’s recognition as the Best MICE Destination 2024 in the Indian market has further solidified its reputation, making it a preferred choice for Indian corporations to host Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). This seamless integration of business and leisure tourism enhances Malaysia’s overall appeal. 

In 2025, Malaysia is poised to build on this year’s successes by enhancing connectivity, developing tailored tourism products, and deepening collaborations with industry partners. 

As the nation prepares for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, it remains dedicated to providing Indian tourists with unforgettable experiences and solidifying its status as their preferred travel destination.

The new Indigo flights bring the total number of direct flights from India to Malaysia to an impressive 246, marking a significant step in bolstering tourist arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

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