This stunning underwater world-themed paradise represents a major milestone in the company’s expansion plans. It marks Centara’s third property to open in the Maldives and the fourth resort in the group’s portfolio under the renowned family-focused Mirage brand.
Situated within The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, a multi-island wonderland which grants guests unprecedented access to two Centara properties (Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives will open in early 2025 as the brand’s fourth Maldives outpost), the resort offers boundless family fun, engaging activities and unique bonding moments amidst its captivating theme. From its expansive outdoor water complex, including a lazy river, swimming pool, kids’ pool, and water playground, to the exciting kids’ club, innovative child-focused Candy Spa, and the acclaimed signature Spa Cenvaree, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is designed to deliver an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages.
The opening of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is part of the company’s “Future Growth” strategy, which was announced earlier this year. With construction now complete, the final flourishes and finishing touches are being applied so guests can soon be welcomed in Centara’s inimitable warm and gracious style. This stunning resort underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its family-focused hospitality offerings and delivering world-class experiences in key travel destinations.
You can be among the first visitors to experience Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives. Centara is offering guests special introductory rates, complimentary stays and meals for up to two children aged 15 and under, and free roundtrip speedboat transfers between Male airport and the resort. CentaraThe1 members will also enjoy an additional 15% discount.
This exclusive ‘Me & Centara’ offer runs from now until 20 December 2024 for stays between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025. However, any guests who complete their stay by 20 December of this year will receive a voucher to enjoy a complimentary return stay of the same duration between May and September next year.
SINGAPORE, 12 September 2024: Known for its luxury voyages to remote destinations, Aqua Expeditions is set to expand its fleet in 2025, presenting all-new sailings in Seychelles and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Inaugural departures are slated for December 2025, with four different itineraries on offer.
“It has always been a dream of mine to venture into East Africa and explore this part of the world on a luxury expedition ship. I am so excited to finally be able to showcase to our past guests the beauty of the Indian Ocean and the famous Aldabra Atoll,” said Aqua Expeditions founder and CEO Francesco Galli Zugaro. Few travellers have heard of or even seen this magical atoll home to over 150,000 giant tortoises. Considered the Galapagos of Africa, this island group is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna and to some of the most amazing marine life in the world.”
Expeditions on board the explorer yacht will include five and nine-night itineraries visiting Seychelles’ inner and outer islands, respectively.
These may also be combined with a 14-night exploration of the Seychelles archipelago. Itineraries will rotate with comprehensive 10 and 11-night sailings exploring both the Seychelles and the Tanzanian islands. Guests can expect a superyacht experience on par with standards now expected on an Aqua ship, with an exclusive 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, personalised service, acclaimed cuisine helmed by world-renowned chefs, and small group expert-guided excursions that show off the best of each destination.
The connections to the Galapagos and the Spice Islands provide a reassuring sense of continuity as Aqua Expeditions adds another bespoke vessel to its growing fleet.
Since 2007, when the brand started with a single vessel in the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua has sailed to eight destinations with three river ships and two superyachts. This latest fleet expansion will see Aqua’s sixth vessel lead the company’s entry into Africa, delivering a signature Aqua experience that has been carefully built and refined in South America and Southeast Asia.
“At Aqua, we’ve always been inspired to visit destinations off the beaten track. It was inevitable that our journey would eventually bring us to African shores,” Galli Zugaro adds. “We are pleased to bring our unique brand of small-ship expeditions to a third continent, focusing on luxurious and sustainable travel.”
While sailing Seychelles and Tanzania with Aqua, guests can visit biodiversity hotspots like Aldabra, Cosmoledo, Astove, Furquhar Atol, Kilwa Kisiwani, and Pemba. In usual Aqua fashion, the expedition will also visit destinations such as the African Banks, which are rarely explored by other cruises in the region.
Financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is propelling Aqua’s fleet expansion. This partnership cements the brand’s leadership position as an innovator in the luxury expedition sphere, showcasing Aqua’s continued dedication to sustainable tourism, community engagement, and local talent development while offering customers luxury adventures exploring the world’s most biodiverse and culturally significant destinations. Further details surrounding this expansion and Aqua Expeditions’ sixth vessel will follow.
About Aqua Expeditions A recognised global leader in luxury small-ship expeditions, Aqua Expeditions explores the world’s most biodiverse and culturally significant destinations with a maximum of 16 to 40 guests per ship. It currently operates river explorations in the Peruvian Amazon and the Mekong Delta (Cambodia and Vietnam) and coastal yacht voyages in East Indonesia — Komodo National Park, Ambon and the Spice Islands, Raja Ampat, and Asmat— and the Galapagos Islands.
For more information, please visit the Aqua Expeditions website, click here
SINGAPORE, 12 September 2024: STB partners and WebBeds invited Oceania’s top-performing travel content managers to Singapore for a five-day fam trip to explore the Lion City’s iconic attractions and activities, plus VIP experiences and five-star hotels
WebBeds has joined forces with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the second collaboration between the two partners following the inaugural edition in 2022.
WebBeds and the Singapore Tourism Board selected eight of WebBeds’ highest-producing wholesale product managers from Australia and New Zealand to visit Singapore.
The STB’s diverse itinerary included the opportunity to uncover this Southeast Asian gateway city’s top attractions, from dazzling modern wonders such as Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, and a VIP tour of Universal Studios Singapore to cultural icons like Chinatown, the UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Lau Pa Sat, the vibrant hawker centre.
Australia is an important visitor source market for Singapore. From January to July 2024, 663,970 Australians travelled to Singapore¹, an 8.6% increase year-on-year. This follows a 91.8% post-pandemic surge in 2023, when 1.08 million Australians visited the Lion City, making it Singapore’s fifth-largest global market. Demand from New Zealand is also growing rapidly, with 90,270 arrivals² in the year to July 2024, marking a 19.8% jump compared to the same seven-month period last year, boosted by additional air capacity³.
The eight travel professionals included Yvonne Chapple, Asia Team Leader & Contracting Manager, Flight Centre Travel Group; Stephanie Jones, Product Manager, Hoot Holidays; Tina Millington, Travel & Product Advisor, Entire Travel Group; Shona Bray, Product Manager – Asia & North America, House of Travel New Zealand; Mark Brooker, Head of Wholesale, Itravel; Amber Fildes, Marketing Manager, BKB Holidays; Michael Zhang, Head of Sales & Partnerships, Webjet; and Raphael Gong, Campaign Manager, Luxury Escapes. They were joined by Stacy Harsh, Sales Manager – Pacific, WebBeds, and Anthony Valeriano, Senior Manager – Oceania, STB.
SINGAPORE, 12 September 2024: Ethiopian Airlines will launch daily flights to Port Sudan from its home base in Addis Ababa starting 15 October 2024.
This strategic expansion further strengthens the airline’s commitment to enhancing connectivity across the African continent and beyond, fostering regional socio-economic growth and facilitating trade and tourism.
The new route will provide seamless travel options for passengers between Ethiopia and Sudan and connect travellers across the Ethiopian Airlines network to this significant Red Sea port city.
Flight schedule
Flight ET350 departs from Addis Ababa at 1100 and arrives in Port Sudan at 1215. Flight ET351 departs Port Sudan at 1415 and arrives in Addis Ababa at 1730.
The airline will deploy Boeing 737 Max aircraft on the route.
“We are pleased to connect our Sudanese brothers and sisters from Port Sudan to Addis Ababa and the rest of the world using our extensive global network,” said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew. “By introducing daily flights to Port Sudan, we are bridging cultures and economies. This expansion is a testament to our unwavering dedication to serve our continent and its people, driving progress and prosperity through the skies.”
With the inclusion of Port Sudan, Ethiopian Airlines expands its network to 66 destinations in Africa. This new route will improve connectivity for business and leisure travellers.
Port Sudan, a city strategically situated along the Red Sea, is an important centre for commerce and economics in the region.
SINGAPORE, 12 September 2024: SriLankan Airlines and flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, announced an interline agreement effective 9 September 2024 that delivers more travel opportunities between Sri Lanka, the UAE, and beyond on selected routes of the two carriers’ networks.
This interline agreement will enable passengers travelling with SriLankan Airlines to seamlessly connect via Dubai’s aviation hub to more than 30 destinations that flydubai operates to in Africa, Central Asia, Central and Southeast Europe, and the Middle East. These include unique holiday destinations such as Bucharest, Istanbul, Krakow, Mombasa, Naples, Sofia, Tashkent, and Zanzibar.
In addition, the interline will offer flydubai passengers access to 16 destinations on SriLankan’s robust network spanning Southern and East Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, including Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo.
“We are excited to partner with flydubai to provide our passengers seamless connections and greater convenience. This partnership reinforces our strategy to broaden our network and global reach, presenting customers with more travel choices and flexibility. We look forward to collaborating with flydubai and welcoming their passengers aboard our flights to experience an authentic SriLankan journey,” said Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines.
Commenting on the interline agreement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “We’re excited about our new interline agreement with SriLankan Airlines that will further strengthen trade and tourism relations between the UAE and Sri Lanka. Since the start of operations in Sri Lanka in 2010, we have seen consistent demand for travel between our two countries over the years. Dubai remains an important thriving aviation hub, and these interline agreements will open up new horizons for our passengers, giving them more options to explore the world with ease.”
The new agreement will offer passengers the convenience of single-ticket itineraries, through-checked baggage and coordinated flight schedules for travellers.
Interline flights under the agreement between SriLankan Airlines and flydubai are now available for booking through the respective airline websites as well as through travel agents and online travel agencies.
HONG KONG, 12 September 2024: A reconfigured Centre Runway flight check at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) was successfully completed earlier this week, marking a key milestone in declaring readiness for the three-runway operation.
A series of flight checks, which commenced in August 2024, was conducted collaboratively by the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the Civil Aviation Department and the Flight Inspection Centre of the Civil Aviation Administration of China to ensure that related air navigation service equipment, flight procedures and airfield ground lighting system at the reconfigured Centre Runway fully comply with the standards of International Civil Aviation Organisation.
The reconfigured Centre Runway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) flight check has been completed.
Following the commissioning of the North Runway in November 2022, the Centre Runway has been temporarily closed for reconfiguration as part of the Three-runway System (3RS) development. The reconfiguration works include relevelling of the runway pavement to tie in with connecting taxiways, constructing new runway entry and exit taxiways, building new wrap-around taxiways at both ends of the Centre Runway, and more. AAHK continues to target the commencement of operation with all three runways at HKIA before the end of this year as scheduled.
The 3RS will provide capacity for HKIA to meet the long-term air traffic demand of 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo forecast for 2035, consolidating HKIA’s position as the leading aviation hub in the region.
At this crucial juncture of Hong Kong’s aviation development, HKIA’s leading position was again recognised at the World Travel Awards this year. The awards voted HKIA “Asia’s Leading Airport” for the fourth time since 2020 and “China’s Leading Airport” for the third year.
The World Travel Awards celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and are recognised globally as the hallmark of industry achievement. Winners are selected by travel industry specialists and passengers from around the world.
AAHK Acting Chief Executive Officer Vivian Cheung said: “We are proud to be honoured as ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’ and ‘China’s Leading Airport’ again amid intense regional competition. With the commencement of the three-runway operation before the end of the year, HKIA will continue to enhance its competitiveness to consolidate its position as the preeminent aviation hub in Asia and gateway to the Mainland China market.”
SEPANG, 12 September 2024: AirAsia continues to strengthen its regional presence with the launch of a new route from Kota Kinabalu to Ho Chi Minh City starting 3 December 2024.
Ho Chi Minh City marks the airline’s 16th international destination operated by AirAsia Malaysia (AK) from Kota Kinabalu hub.
The introduction of this new route aligns with the increasing number of direct flights between Malaysia and Vietnam. It supports Tourism Malaysia’s goal of attracting 475,000 Vietnamese visitors this year and contributes to the broader objectives of the “Visit Malaysia 2026” campaign, which identifies Vietnam as one of the first-level priority markets.
To mark the launch of the route, AirAsia is rolling out special fares for flights between Kota Kinabalu and Ho Chi Minh City, starting from MYR199 all-in* one way and from VND1,399,000.00* all-in one-way from Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu.
The promotional fares are available until 22 September 2024 exclusively on the AirAsia MOVE app (formerly AirAsia Superapp) or airasia.com for the travel period between 3 December 2024 to 29 March 2025.
Ho Chi Minh City, more popular known as Saigon, is Vietnam’s vibrant heart, blending old-world charm with modern dynamism. Nestled in the south, this bustling metropolis of over nine million residents is a lively mix of trendy shopping centres, iconic eateries, and hip cafes. Beyond its bustling streets, Saigon pulses with culture and creativity, hosting countless festivals, art shows, and live performances, making it a must-visit destination for travellers worldwide.
Flight Schedule between Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
*All fares are quoted for one-way travel only, including airport taxes, MAVCOM fees, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. Other terms and conditions apply.
BANGKOK, 11 September 2024: Japan Airlines has become the first A350 operator globally to sign up with Airbus for the computer-based A350 Virtual Procedure Trainer (VPT).
This state-of-the-art training tool offers an interactive environment for practising critical flight procedures and emergency scenarios. JAL’s adoption of the A350 VPT comes as the airline extends its partnership to use the MATe suite (Mobile Airbus Training experience) for systems training and practice.
With this integration, JAL now benefits from the full spectrum of Airbus flight training solutions, leveraging the latest training concepts and technologies to enhance training efficiency and knowledge retention. The airline’s inaugural group of trainees on the A350 VPT comprises 12 pilots.
The Airbus-developed VPT provides realistic virtual environments tailored to the airline’s specific models, making it invaluable for enhancing pilot proficiency and preparedness. Its flexibility allows for training at any time and location, reducing disruptions and offering significant cost-efficiency by minimising training expenses and aircraft downtime.
Airbus Head of Commercial Services for APAC, Balinda Zhang, noted: “We are thrilled to support JAL with the implementation of the A350 VPT. Airbus is dedicated to providing exceptional support throughout the integration process to ensure a seamless transition. We aim to deliver a training solution that meets and exceeds JAL’s expectations, contributing to the airline’s continued excellence in flight crew training.”
As of August 2024, JAL operates 15 A350-900s and five A350-1000s, with a backlog of 23 A350-900s and eight A350-1000s on order.
BANGKOK, 11 September 2024: Dusit International’s reimagined flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel will officially open to guests on 27 September 2024, signalling an exciting new chapter for the hotel group in Thailand and overseas.
Completely rebuilt from the ground up as part of the Dusit Central Park mixed-use development, the new Dusit Thani Bangkok pays homage to its 50-year legacy while setting a new standard for luxury hospitality.
To complete this luxurious sanctuary, the new hotel features just 257 guest rooms — a thoughtful reduction from its predecessor’s 517, prioritising spaciousness. These exquisite rooms, starting at an impressive 50 sqm, were designed by André Fu Studio to blend traditional elegance with modern luxury while uniquely framing the expansive park views beyond.
All of its luxurious guest rooms boast uninterrupted views of Lumpini Park. Elegant, cantilevered window seats extend from each guest room, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the stunning panorama.
In addition to the luxurious rooms, the new Dusit Thani Bangkok boasts a unique urban wellness concept that delivers well-being experiences beyond the spa and ten restaurants and bars created in collaboration with renowned chefs and mixologists.
The hotel boasts over 5,000 sqm of dedicated meeting and event space for business travellers and event planners. The centrepiece is one of Bangkok’s largest grand ballrooms, featuring a dramatic eight-metre ceiling and a panoramic view of Lumpini Park. Additional meeting spaces cater to both intimate gatherings and large-scale events.
Additional elements of Dusit Central Park, including ultra-luxury residences (Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside), a state-of-the-art office tower, a high-end retail centre, and an 11,200 sq m Roof Park, are all slated to open in 2025
Honouring a legacy
Dusit International Group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun emphasised the company’s commitment to merging contemporary trends with the timeless spirit of the original Dusit Thani Bangkok, which was the city’s tallest, grandest building when it first opened in 1970.
“For over five decades, the original Dusit Thani Bangkok was a beloved landmark, a true ambassador of Thai hospitality for global travellers,” said Suthumpun. “As we embarked on its reimagination, we were committed to honouring that legacy while exceeding the expectations of today’s sophisticated guests. This meant meticulously preserving elements of the original hotel and seamlessly blending them with a fresh, modern design. Throughout this process, we stayed true to the vision of Dusit’s founder, Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, and owner, Mr Chanin Donavanik, to showcase Thai culture, art, and gracious service in a way that resonates with contemporary travellers and adapts to evolving preferences. Sustainability remains a core focus for Dusit, and this commitment is also reflected in the new hotel’s design and operations. Ultimately, we aim to deliver an unparalleled guest experience while preserving the warmth and service that have always been synonymous with the Dusit Thani name.”
The reimagined Dusit Thani Bangkok goes beyond design to celebrate its heritage. The original hotel’s iconic golden spire, a beloved landmark, has returned and is now contained within a new, three-times-larger spire. Guests can also admire paintings and murals from the original hotel’s Benjarong Thai Restaurant, including the restaurant’s meticulously preserved main pillars, which were carefully removed and reinstalled in the new hotel’s main lobby. The intricate carved teak ceiling from the same restaurant has also been meticulously reassembled, giving new life to the hotel’s heritage.
There is no other building like it in Bangkok. Inside and out, it is instantly recognisable as the Dusit Thani Bangkok. With just 16 days to go, the countdown to its reawakening begins.
An Icon Returns: Opening Offer
Reservations opened on 1 May 2024, and bookings for the opening offer will close on 31 October 2024. The stay period runs from 27 September 2024 to 31 March 2025. Rates start at THB10,350, excluding service and tax. (THB12,182 inclusive).
The opening offer includes a hotel credit of THB2,700 net per night for dining and spa services. A daily international breakfast at Pavilion restaurant is included in the opening offer. Dusit Gold members gain an additional 10% discount on rooms. Exclusive benefits for members of Dusit Gold apply throughout the stay.
It’s already a ‘full house’ on 27, 28 and 29 September, but online bookings remain open during October for the THB10,350 offer.
SINGAPORE, 11 September 2024: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has introduced four weekly flights to Antananarivo, Madagascar, a linked service routed via the Seychelles to boost international travel to and from Madagascar.
The arrival of EK707 was celebrated last week with a water canon salute at Ivato International Airport, followed by an exclusive event for VIPs, government officials, industry guests, and media. His Excellency, Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar and the First Lady greeted the Emirates delegation, led by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer; Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Central Asia; Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo and Sami Aqil Abdullah, Senior Vice President of Emirates Airport Services Outstation and Business Support.
Captain Bruce Pope, a Canadian national, and First Officer Solo Chuk, a Malagasy pilot who has been flying for Emirates for 14 years, command the inaugural flight to Antananarivo. The inaugural flight operated with an almost full passenger load from Mahe, Seychelles, taking advantage of the enhanced travel options available on the linked service by merging two trips into one.
Following the welcome ceremony, Adnan Kazim, along with senior representatives, showcased the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft flying on the route in a three-class configuration* to His Excellency President Rajoelina along with a group of dignitaries, government representatives, media, guests and members of the travel industry. The aircraft features eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class.
His Excellency Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, said: “In just four months, through shared determination and hard work, we have successfully launched this long-awaited inaugural flight between Dubai and Antananarivo with Emirates. This is a historic moment for Madagascar, and I am convinced that it will act as a catalyst and a true lever for tourism and economic development in our country. Madagascar opens its skies to Emirates, and through Emirates, Madagascar opens itself to the world. Together, let’s continue to dream, build, and grow for the good of our nation.”
Commenting on the start of operations, Adnan Kazim said: “Madagascar is a new and exciting destination on our vast global network, unlocking a world of natural wonders, rare and diverse wildlife, and a rich, vibrant culture. As the Malagasy government continues to grow its tourism industry to attract 1 million tourists by 2028, we proudly support this vision by enhancing connectivity and premium travel options to encourage more international travellers to discover the island.”
EK707 departs from Dubai to Seychelles at 0855, arriving in Mahe at 1335**, and continues to Antananarivo to land at 1650. The return flight EK708 departs Antananarivo at 1835, landing in Mahe at 2220, and taking off from Mahe at 2350 to Dubai, landing at 0420 the next day. The four-weekly service operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The flight times have been scheduled to optimise connections to and from key points in Europe, the Far East, West Asia and the Middle East/GCC, streamlining international travel to and from Madagascar.
Fly Better with inflight services
Delivering on its global fly better promise, Emirates provides an outstanding travel experience with elevated comfort and thoughtful touches in every class. Passengers can dine on regionally inspired multi-course menus curated by a team of award-winning chefs, which are complimentary in every class. On the Mahe-Antananarivo leg of the inaugural flight, passengers in First and Business Class were treated to tropical fruit plates featuring local produce and a specially crafted Vanilla Mojito, drawing inspiration directly from Madagascar Vanilla, muddled with coconut water, mint, lime, rum and soda water.
Enhancing premium travel options, Emirates is the only airline operating in Madagascar with three dedicated travel classes, including First Class, featuring true inflight luxury, on the Mahe-Antananarivo leg. Akin to a private hotel room in the clouds, passengers travelling in First Class can indulge in sumptuous ala carte cuisine and free-flowing premium beverages in private closed-door suites.
Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment platform, ice, is available on every screen in all classes, offering over 6,500 entertainment channels in multiple languages. French speakers can enjoy the 363 Hollywood movies dubbed in French or one of the 62 iconic French originals such as Anatomie d’une chute, The 400 Blows, The Chorus, Jules and Jim, while music lovers can tune in to the albums and playlists featuring artists such as Aya Nakamura, Dadju, Maître Gims, Kendji Girac, Vitaa & Slimane, Johnny Hallyday, Françoise Hardy, and Michel Sardou.
Explore Treasure Island
As the world’s fourth largest island, Madagascar offers travellers with a flair for adventure a unique experience. Home to a wealth of precious biodiversity, with some of the world’s rarest plant and animal species, and boasting three World Heritage UNESCO sites, travellers can expect stunning scenery, rich culture and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife excursions.
To protect the intricacies of the natural world, Madagascar encourages ecotourism. This enables visitors to immerse themselves in the abundance of nature, embrace the local culture, and respect the environment. Tickets can be booked now on emirates.com or via travel agents.
*Exact specifications of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the route may differ slightly. **All times are local.
