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Emirates boosts services to Rome 

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TTR WEEKLY
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Emirates Boeing 777-300ER

BANGKOK, 18 February 2025: Emirates has announced the reinstatement of its third daily flight between Dubai and Rome, starting 1 June 2025. 

This additional service will add more than 2,530 weekly seats between the two cities, catering to growing demand and offering greater flexibility for travellers to plan their journeys.  

main shot. the model shot is slightly different with the height of the camera unfortunatly so this one cant be layered.

Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, Emirates’ flight EK099 will depart Dubai at 0330 and arrive in Rome at 0740. Emirates’ return flight EK100 will depart Rome at 1130 and arrive in Dubai at 1920. All times are local.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents. 

The additional flight is timed to provide travellers with better connection times to popular destinations across Emirates’ network, including Melbourne, Sydney, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Mumbai, Karachi, and other key points across Asia and the Indian Ocean.  

Emirates’ third daily Dubai-Rome flight will offer travellers eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class. Travellers can enjoy Emirates’ award-winning service and industry-leading products in the air and on the ground across all classes, as well as regionally inspired dishes such as seafood antipasti, chicken with fregola pomodoro and Italian-style affogato al caffe. The airline’s ice inflight entertainment system offers over 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages, including popular Italian movies and documentaries, Hollywood movies and TV shows with Italian subtitles, and more.

Emirates has been serving Italy for over three decades since it launched services to Rome in 1992. Today, the airline also operates to Milan, Venice, and Bologna. Emirates currently operates 42 weekly flights between Dubai and these major Italian cities, with a mix of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s and a nonstop connection between Milan and New York. JFK operates with the Airbus A380. Emirates will also welcome its latest Airbus A350 on flights to Bologna in the coming months. Beyond its operations, the airline has been a proud sponsor of AC Milan since 2007, fostering connections between Rossoneri fans worldwide and their favourite team.  

Dusit Thani Kyoto wins Forbes award

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 18 February 2025: Dusit Thani Kyoto, a luxury urban oasis operated by Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has built on its recent One Michelin Key recognition by earning a 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award—further cementing its reputation as one of Kyoto’s most exceptional hotels.

Founded in the US in 1958, Forbes Travel Guide (formerly known as Mobil Travel Guide) is a globally respected authority in luxury hospitality, renowned for pioneering the five-star rating system in 1960. Its anonymous inspectors evaluate hotels based on more than 900 objective standards, ensuring a trusted benchmark of excellence in the travel industry. 

The Four-Star rating is awarded to properties with exceptional service and outstanding facilities. Dusit Thani Kyoto earned this distinction through rigorous, undercover assessments by Forbes Travel Guide’s inspectors, who experienced the hotel just as a typical guest would—paying their own way to ensure impartiality.

Opened in September 2023, Dusit Thani Kyoto is set in the peaceful Hongwanji Monzen-machi district, 850 metres from the city’s bustling Kyoto Station. Operating under Dusit’s luxury Dusit Thani brand, the hotel seamlessly blends Thai-inspired gracious hospitality with Japan’s deep-rooted culture of ‘omotenashi’ (wholeheartedly looking after guests). It features 147 meticulously designed guest rooms that balance timeless elegance with contemporary comfort. 

The hotel also serves as a hub of gourmet dining experiences. Guests can embark on an interactive omakase journey at Kōyō, which showcases Kyoto’s 24 micro-seasons through the finest ingredients. Den Kyoto elevates mixology with handcrafted cocktails infused with Thai herbs, while Ayatana, the hotel’s signature Thai fine-dining restaurant, delivers an exquisite celebration of Thai flavours and culinary artistry. Committed to sustainability, Ayatana sources premium seasonal ingredients from the Kansai region, including fresh herbs and vegetables from Ohara Farm and organic tea leaves from its own tea farm in Wazuka.

Alongside versatile event spaces that accommodate up to 240 guests, the hotel also boasts a signature Devarana Wellness Centre, where expert therapists blend ancient Thai massage therapies with traditional Japanese healing rituals, ensuring a truly restorative experience.

“Receiving Forbes Travel Guide’s distinguished Four-Star Award just over a year after our opening is a remarkable achievement and a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, heartfelt service, and creating truly memorable experiences for our guests,” said Makoto Yamashita, Cluster General Manager, Dusit Thani Kyoto and ASAI Kyoto Shijo. “Inspired by this accolade and our One Michelin Key status, we remain committed to raising the bar, delivering exceptional service, and ensuring our hotel continues to be a place of warmth, elegance, and meaningful connections for all who visit.”

For more information about the hotel, visit Dusit Thani Kyoto.

Bangkok: A popular solo destination

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 18 February 2024: Bangkok is on the radar in recent Airbnb research, which ranked the Thai capital in the top 12 of Airbnb’s top trending destinations globally for solo travellers.

For last week’s Valentine’s Day, Airbnb reported a 190% growth in searches for the long weekend that started Friday, 14 February. 

Couples are also increasingly looking to Thailand for their romantic getaways, with searches by duo travellers surging over 70% for Valentine’s Day weekend this year compared to Valentine’s Day weekend last year.

Amongst travellers living in Thailand’s provinces, Bangkok was the top trending destination for solo travellers, with a whopping 654% increase in searches for Valentine’s Day weekend this year compared to Valentine’s Day weekend last year. Couples who are residents of Thailand also prioritised Japan’s Tokyo and Osaka when searching for overseas destinations.

Disney Adventure unveils new experiences

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 18 February 2025: Disney Cruise Line unveiled a series of new experiences this week that will feature on its latest ship, Disney Adventure, due to homeport in Singapore starting in December 2025.

The ship will include several firsts for the fleet as Disney stories and characters come to life on the Disney Adventure through Marvel Style Studio that makes its Disney Cruise Line debut, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and Royal Society for Friendship and Tea.

Photo credit: Disney Cruise Line. Disney Adventure.

 In another first for the fleet, Duffy and Friends will appear onboard through retail and entertainment experiences, including the brand-new show “Duffy and The Friend Ship.”    

The Disney Adventure will sail on its maiden voyage from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre on 15 December 2025. Bookings are open for new sail dates between April and September 2026 directly from the Disney Cruise Line website, through the Disney Cruise Line contact centre, or with their preferred travel agents. 

Air Arabia declares 2024 profit

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 18 February 2025: Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier operator in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced its financial and operational results for the year ending 31 December 2024.

The airline posted a record pre-tax net profit of AED1.6 billion, a 4% increase from AED1.5 billion in 2023. Total turnover for the year surpassed AED6.63 billion, an 11% growth from AED6 billion in 2023.

In 2024, Air Arabia reinforced its commitment to expansion and operational excellence by growing its network across six hubs and adding 31 new routes. This strategic expansion led to a 13% increase in operational capacity and a 12% rise in total passengers carried, reaching 18.8 million across the group. The airline also reported a 2% increase in average seat load factor, reaching 82%, further underscoring the sustained strong demand for Air Arabia’s value-driven, low-cost services.

In the fourth quarter ending 31 December 2024, Air Arabia reported a record net profit of AED351 million, marking a 56% increase compared to AED225 million in the same quarter last year. Total turnover for the fourth quarter of 2024 rose 7% to AED1.65 billion, driven by an 11% increase in passenger numbers, as the airline carried over 4.7 million passengers across all hubs during the quarter. Meanwhile, the seat load factor increased by 2, reaching 83%, reflecting sustained demand for Air Arabia’s services.

Full-year financial performance

Full Year 2024 Highlights:

Fleet

  • Air Arabia’s total operating fleet expanded to 81 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft across all hubs.
  • Ten Airbus A320 aircraft were added to the fleet in 2024, further strengthening operational capacity.
  • Nine short-term leased Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft were introduced in 2024 to support peak-season operations across the group.

Network

  • Air Arabia added 31 new routes to its global network in 2024, bringing the total network size to 220 routes from all operating hubs.
  • The capacity available across all hubs increased by 13% during the full year 2024 compared to the previous year.

Radisson expands footprint in Vietnam

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 18 February 2025: Radisson Hotel Group continues its growth in Vietnam by signing the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ha Long Bay, with Gia Minh – Quang Ninh Investment and Tourism Joint Stock Company. 

Located in the heart of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its 1,900 limestone islands, the hotel will rise 30 stories above the bay.

The property, due to open in Q2 2025, will feature 352 rooms, with the Presidential Suite on the 28th floor spanning 280 sqm. 

The hotel will feature a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate up to 500 guests and several smaller meeting rooms for events and conferences.

Wellness and leisure facilities will include a spa, fitness centre, and a swimming pool on the 6th floor.

The signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Ha Long Bay, reinforces Radisson Hotel Group’s commitment to Vietnam’s thriving hospitality market. The group currently operates six hotels and has six hotels under development.

MAI reconnects Southeast Asian cities

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 18 February 2025: Myanmar Airways International (MAI) resumed its direct Mandalay-Chiang Mai on 10 February, a service suspended since the Covid pandemic in 2020.

MAI flies the route twice weekly on Monday and Friday using an ATR72 with 70 seats.

First reported by NP News based in Yangon, the Mandalay-Chiang Mai route is the first to be added to MAI’s international network in 2025 and the fourth route that the MAI will operate from its Mandalay International Airport hub.

Flight schedule

8M374 departs Mandalay at 1410 and arrives in Chiang Mai at 1600.
8M375 departs Chiang Mai at 1630 and arrives in Mandalay at 1720.

Meanwhile, the airline confirmed it would start a new service on 2 April, from Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, to Danang, a port city in central Vietnam. Flights are scheduled twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday. The airline will deploy an Embraer EM190 to serve the route. 

Flight schedule

8M454 departs Yangon at 1630 and arrives in Danang at 1900.
8M455 departs Danang at 2000 and arrives in Yangon at 2130.

In addition to MAI’s daily Yangon-Kuala Lumpur trips, the airline will introduce a direct flight from Yangon to Penang, Malaysia, operating every Monday and Thursday, effective 10 April 2025. The airline will deploy an Embraer EM190 for the two-hour flight. The starting roundtrip fare is pegged at USD274.

Flight schedule

8M505 departs Yangon at 1445 and arrives in Penang at 1815.
8M506 departs Penang at 1915 and arrives in Yangon at 1945.

Penang Island is MAI’s second destination in  Malaysia and is famed for its historical and cultural heritage, reflecting colonial heritage in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed George Town. Penang is famous for its street food, art and beaches.

Air India and Virgin Australia sign codeshare

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TTR WEEKLY
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DELHI, 18 February 2025: Air India and Virgin Australia have signed off on a new codeshare partnership that significantly boosts connectivity and the ease of travelling between India and Australia.

The codeshare agreement enables Air India to place its ‘AI’ code on flights operated by Virgin Australia. This enhances the opportunities that Air India customers have when travelling from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney and takes seamless onward connections on Virgin Australia flights to 16 destinations in Australia and New Zealand. 

The enhanced cooperation will also ensure that passengers travelling on a single ticket will have their baggage checked throughout the journey.

The 16 cities in Australia and New Zealand include Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand)1, Sunshine Coast, and Sydney.

“We are pleased to partner with Air India to make it easier for their customers to explore everything Australia offers. India is a growing tourism market for Australia, and this partnership will encourage travellers arriving on one of Air India’s 14 weekly flights to explore more of our wonderful country thanks to seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network,” said Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley.

“Australia is one of Air India’s most important international markets, so it is incredibly exciting to partner with Virgin Australia to expand our regional presence. While the partnership provides greater ease and access for the large Indian diaspora spread across the continent, it also opens up a whole new range of destinations for holidaymakers wanting to soak up the beaches of Gold Coast, discover Tasmania, or explore the natural wonders of The Great Barrier Reef,” Air India Chief Commercial Officer, Nipun Aggarwal noted.

Air India operates 14x weekly flights from India to Australia, flying non-stop daily from Delhi to Melbourne and Delhi to Sydney. The airline utilises its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on these routes, featuring

18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy Class. Air India customers taking onward flights on Virgin Australia flights within Australia and New Zealand will enjoy world-class Business and Economy Class cabins, and award-winning service.

Codeshare bookings started on 11 February 2025, with the first codeshare flights to operate on 18 February 2025.

Emirates invests in Airbus Skywise 

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 February 2025: Emirates has signed an agreement with Airbus to implement its Skywise Fleet Performance+ (S.FP+) advanced predictive maintenance and fleet health monitoring solution and Core X3 analytics platform. 

Emirates Head of Engineering  Ahmed Safa and Airbus Africa and the Middle East Vice President of Customer Services  Laurent Negre signed the agreement.

Adopting Airbus’s cutting-edge S.FP+ solution will further improve aircraft dispatch reliability while enabling strategic data-driven decision-making for Emirates’ commercial Airbus A380 and A350 aircraft fleet. Using the platform’s advanced capabilities, Emirates Engineering teams will be able to monitor real-time aircraft performance and health data, identify potential issues in flight, and determine maintenance actions during turnarounds.

Emirates Head of Engineering Ahmed Safa said: “Emirates is always looking at ways to leverage leading-edge technologies that improve operational reliability and punctuality, minimise unscheduled downtime and ensure our fleet operates at the highest standards, ultimately elevating the customer experience. Adopting Airbus’s Skywise Fleet Performance+ is a step forward to support our Airbus fleet, harnessing the latest advancements and transforming traditional maintenance activities into streamlined, precision-led processes that optimise our time in the skies.” 

Airbus Vice President of Customer Services Africa and Middle East Laurent Negre said: “We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with Emirates by implementing Skywise Fleet Performance+ and Core X3. These solutions will enhance fleet performance and reliability, reduce downtime, and support operational efficiency, which passengers will also benefit from.”

Skywise Fleet Performance Plus, powered by advanced analytics, features automated pre-departure monitoring of cabin temperatures, operations, and key systems.

The platform also integrates Aircraft Condition Monitoring System (ACMS) data for critical aircraft monitoring, delivers predictive diagnostics with real-time alerts and solutions, and provides comprehensive status insights for Emirates’ Airbus A380 and A350 fleets. 

For information on flights and to make bookings, visit www.emirates.com 

Travel associations back TMA

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 February 2025: Travel Meet Asia 2025 welcomes various associations representing the travel trade communities across ASEAN that generate outbound travel. 

Scheduled for 25 to 26 June at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Jakarta, Indonesia, the show is endorsed and supported by the

Association of The Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA), Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO), Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) and Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA).

Organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific, TMA brings together over 1,300 attendees, over 140 exhibitors and more than 400 invited buyers. It’s two full days of B2B meetings with key buyers and outstanding conferences that gather leading brands in the industry!

The partnerships with national travel agency associations in ASEAN bring potential outbound buyers from Indonesia and Southeast Asia, offering unparalleled networking opportunities for exhibiting companies. 

Travel Meet Asia 2025 will convene from 25 to 26 June 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Travel Meet Asia gathers international exhibitors with business segments covering the key verticals of travel. Participating exhibitors can pre-schedule meeting appointments with buyers from Southeast Asia and internationally.
Register Here

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