MANILA, 14 January 2026: AirAsia Philippines begins 2026 by announcing two new routes to Vietnam, serving Hanoi and Da Nang from its Manila base.
Both routes will commence on 20 March 2026 and reinforce AirAsia’s growing presence in Southeast Asia, and offer Filipino travellers more affordable options to explore the region.
Photo credit: AirAsia Philippines
Travellers can book flights from Manila to Hanoi and Da Nang, with introductory one-way base fares starting at PHP888 (USD14.97) exclusive of fees and surcharges, until 1 February 2026, for travel from 20 March to 25 October 2026.
The addition of Vietnam to AirAsia Philippines’ route network builds on the airline’s recent expansion, including the launch of its Cebu hub, and underscores its commitment to improving regional connectivity.
“The addition of Vietnam to our route network highlights AirAsia Philippines’ commitment to growth and leadership in the budget travel market. We hope to give Filipino travellers more choices, better value, and easier access to exciting destinations in Southeast Asia. We also aim to bring more tourists to the Philippines to contribute to economic growth,” said AirAsia Philippines CEO and President Suresh Bangah.
AirAsia Philippines will operate four weekly flights to Hanoi and Da Nang, departing every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with afternoon and evening departures. The airline operates A320S with 180 seats on these routes.
Flight schedule
Manila-Hanoi route
Z2840 departs Manila (MNL) at 1735 and arrives in Hanoi (HAN) at 1945. Z2841 departs Hanoi (HAN) at 2020 and arrives in Manila (MNL) at 0045 plus a day. Flight time: Three hours and 25 minutes.
Competition is intense on this route, with three airlines competing for passenger loyalty. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific operate 10 weekly flights, and Vietnam Airlines operates daily flights. The average one-way fare is USD240.
Manila-Da Nang route
Z2824 departs Manila (MNL) at 1350 and arrives in Da Nang (DAD) at 1600. Z2825 departs Da Nang (DAD) at 1725 and arrives in Manila (MNL) at 2055. Flight time: Two hours and 30 minutes.
Two airlines compete on the route: Cebu Pacific (10 weekly flights) and PAL (daily). The average one-way fare is USD300.
(Source: AirAsia Philippines, Kayak and additional reporting)
HONG KONG, 13 January 2026: Hong Kong readies to welcome the Year of the Horse with the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, transforming the city into a glittering carnival of light, music, and festive spirit.
Beginning at 2000, on 17 February, the Parade will start from the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and travel through major roads in Tsim Sha Tsui — including Canton Road, Haiphong Road, and Nathan Road with the theme “Best Fortune. World Party.”, the festivities celebrate the energetic spirit of the horse, a symbol of strength, vitality, progress, and success in Chinese culture.
The night-long celebration showcases a spectacular line-up of themed floats sweeping in the best luck of the year. Some float sponsors will celebrate milestone anniversaries — with Cathay Group marking its 80th anniversary, Hong Kong Disneyland celebrating its 20th, and McDonald’s Hong Kong debuting a float in honour of its 50th — adding extra excitement to the Parade.
The first-ever float from the Hong Kong Brand Toy Association will energise the event by bringing beloved IP characters to the festivities.
The Ocean Park Hong Kong will invite its adorable ‘Panda Friends’ to spread new year blessings to families. At the same time, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will spotlight the zodiac year with shimmering horse installations to bring prosperity to all. Multiple dazzling floats will be on display at Kai Tak Sports Park from 18 to 26 February, extending the Parade excitement to visitors throughout the festive season.
Citywide Celebrations
Beyond the floats, a dynamic line-up of performances from around the world during the Parade will reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a truly international festival city. Not only will France’s FierS à Cheval set the tone with illuminated horse tableaux that capture the spirit of the Year of the Horse, the exhilarating performances including the precision of the Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe from the Chinese Mainland, the comic acrobat duo Les Vitaminés from Canada, and the debut of Australia’s Manly Seabirds cheer performers will bring high-energy sparkle to the parade route.
The Parade also embraces innovation while honouring tradition. Hong Kong’s East-Meets-West culture shines bright as the mesmerising Luminous Dragon Dance by the Chinese Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association of Hong Kong, China, dances along the parade route with Italy’s Cromosauro, a large-scale dinosaur skeleton adorned with vibrant, colourful fabrics.
There are many more Chinese New Year celebrations in addition to the Parade – the city pulses with festivities, giving visitors endless reasons to explore.
International Performing Groups
For a week running up to the early hours of Chinese New Year’s Eve (11 to 17 February), visitors can dive into the festive spirit at Lunar New Year Fairs, commonly known as Chinese New Year flower markets, where parks and community hubs will burst with seasonal flowers, symbolic decorations and joyful atmosphere. Be sure to visit popular fairs to experience the vibrant atmosphere, such as Victoria Park in Causeway Bay or Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok.
Visitors cannot miss the Year of the Horse Raceday on the third day of the Chinese New Year (19 February), where Sha Tin Racecourse will be filled with thrilling horse-racing, entertainment and festive excitement.
Visitors can also participate in blessings at the Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen from 17 February to 3 March, where they can write their wishes on a piece of joss paper, attach it to an orange, and toss it into the tree. It is believed that wishes come true if they are successfully tied to the wishing tree. Those seeking spiritual connection can visit Hong Kong’s many historic temples — including Wong Tai Sin Temple, Che Kung Temple and Kwun Yum Temples — to pray for fortune, love, prosperity and success in the Year of the Horse.
With its captivating parade spectacles, luminous celebrations and welcoming festive spirit, Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year promises joy at every moment. This Year of the Horse, travellers are invited to embrace the energy, happiness and optimism that Hong Kong radiates at this special time of year.
SINGAPORE, 13 January 2026: Global passenger traffic for November 2025 showed demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased 5.7% compared to November 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association’s latest air traffic data released this week.
Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 5.4% year-on-year.
Photo credit: IATA. IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
The load factor was 83.7% (+0.3 ppt compared to November 2024), a record high for November.
International demand rose 7.7% compared to November 2024. Capacity was up 7.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.0% (+0.4 ppt compared to November 2024).
Domestic demand increased 2.7% compared to November 2024.
Capacity was up 2.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.2% (unchanged compared to November 2024).
“November 2025 saw continued strong demand for air travel with year-on-year growth of 5.7%. Load factors reached a new record of 83.7% for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain.
“The new year’s resolution for the manufacturing sector must be to increase production to meet the needs of its airline customers. The backlog of more than 17,000 aircraft orders that we reached in 2025 must be reduced in 2026,” said IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh.
Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets
International RPK growth was a healthy 7.7% year over year in November. The international load factor, at 84.0%, was also a November record high. Compared to October, growth was slightly down in all regions except Africa.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.3% year-on-year increase indemand. Capacity increased 8.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.8% (+0.5 ppt compared to November 2024). Geopolitical tensions led to traffic between China and Japan slowing to single-digit growth in 2025 for the first time.
European carriers had a 6.8% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.1% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.6% (+0.5 ppt compared to November 2024).
North American carriers saw a 4.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.0% (-0.1 ppt compared to November 2024). Looking at total traffic, North America has seen 10 consecutive months of year-on-year decline in load factor.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 9.6% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.4% (+0.3 ppt compared to November 2024).
Latin American airlines saw a 4.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 4.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.9% (-0.2 ppt compared to November 2024).
African airlines were the standout performers, with a 11.2% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 8.5% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.3% (+1.8 ppt compared to November 2024).
SINGAPORE, 13 January 2026: The Tourism Australia Board has appointed Robin Mack as the organisation’s new Managing Director, bringing almost 30 years of global travel industry experience to the role.
A leader at Tourism Australia for over a decade, Mack has overseen its market strategy and operations across 16 global markets, as well as commercial, distribution development, and partnerships. He also led Business Events Australia.
Photo credit: Tourism Australia. Robin Mack.
Tourism Australia Chair, Penny Fowler AM, said, “We are delighted to appoint Mack following an extensive recruitment process. He has a proven track record in tourism and brings extensive industry perspective and experience gained across multiple fields and roles.
“During his 13 years at Tourism Australia, Robin has demonstrated his ability to drive strategies to create sustainable international demand for visiting Australia.
“This next phase of growth for tourism in Australia is critical. We are approaching a decade of significant major sporting events culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The importance of Asia as a key visitor market is accelerating, and Australia is playing a leading role in creating unforgettable, sustainable and First Nations tourism experiences.
Mack said he was honoured to be chosen to lead Australia’s national tourism organisation. “I am incredibly excited and proud to lead Tourism Australia. Australia’s tourism industry contributes significantly to the nation through the economic impact of visitor spend and the jobs it creates. Tourism supports regional communities, builds connections between countries, and can be a powerful driver of positive social and environmental outcomes.
SEPANG, 13 January 2026: AirAsia X (AAX) is set to resume flights connecting Malaysia to South Korea’s largest coastal city, Busan, cementing its position as the only airline in Malaysia to offer direct connectivity between the two major cities.
Set to commence operations on 17 June 2026 with a four-weekly service, this will mark the airline’s 21st destination and the second in South Korea, playing a vital role in stimulating new demand and strengthening AAX market leadership in North Asia.
Photo credit: AirAsia X.
AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said: “Building on our current route to Seoul, Busan further enhances our footprint in South Korea as we continue expanding across North Asia, which remains our strongest growth region.”
To celebrate the return to one of its most popular destinations, AAX is offering promotional fares between Kuala Lumpur and Busan from MYR299 all-in one-way* for economy or MYR999 all-in one-way* for the airline’s Premium Flatbed from now till 18 January 2026 for travel between 17 June and 30 November 2026.
Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city after Seoul, is a coastal destination renowned for its pristine beaches, scenic mountains and rich cultural heritage. From the lively streets of Jagalchi Fish Market and the colourful hillside villages to its thriving food scene and internationally acclaimed Busan International Film Festival, the city offers a diverse range of experiences for every type of traveller.
Flight Schedule between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Busan (PUS):
*All-in fares are quoted for one-way travel only, including passenger service charge, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees.
SINGAPORE, 13 January 2026: Digital travel platform Agoda has introduced the Booking Form Bot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer travellers’ booking-related questions at the final stage of the booking journey.
The new tool helps travellers answer last-minute questions and complete their reservations with ease and confidence.
Internal research by Agoda found that 28% of users navigate back to the property page from the booking page to re-check trip details. Customer research revealed that the main reasons to pause or exit the booking journey are questions about promo codes, cancellation policies, and price discrepancies.
The Booking Form Bot addresses this by providing instant, context-aware answers to questions such as “Can I cancel for free?” “Does this booking qualify for cashback?”
Building on the success of Agoda’s Property AMA Bot, which answers over 30,000 hotel-related questions daily, the Booking Form Bot extends this capability to the checkout experience. The bot automatically understands the user’s booking session, including the selected property, room type, rate plan, and associated terms, allowing it to deliver accurate, personalised responses without requiring users to repeat details or leave the page.
Users can access the Booking Form Bot by tapping the chat icon on the booking form page, available through the Agoda app and mobile browser.
With the launch of the Booking Form Bot, Agoda continues to invest in AI-powered tools that make travel planning simpler, faster, and more intuitive for millions of travellers worldwide.
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 January 2026: Sabah loses Batik Air’s direct flights between Kota Kinabalu and Seoul, Korea, barely six months after they began in September 2025.
Flagged as flights to boost tourism between the East Malaysian state and South Korea, Batik Air confirmed in a bulletin to travel agents that it will suspend its direct service to Kota Kinabalu on 17 April. The airline cited flight schedule adjustments prompted by aircraft maintenance requirements.
Photo credit: Batik Air
The route currently operates three times weekly ( Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Batik Air: Refunds and rebooking
For bookings late April 2026 and beyond, the airline is obliged to reach out to passengers and offer refunds or alternative flight arrangements (via Kuala Lumpur). Check flight status on the Batik Air website, or contact the online booking site or travel agency that processed the booking and ticket.
Alternative airlines
Travellers planning to fly direct between Kota Kinabalu and Seoul after mid-April have a choice of four other airlines, all offering daily services: AirAsia, Jeju Air, Jin Air, and T’way Air.
AirAsia or Jin Air are the best direct replacements, as they offer late-night departures from Kota Kinabalu that arrive in Seoul early in the morning.
AirAsia: Currently offers the most competitive pricing for a direct flight.
Departure BKI: 2250. Arrival ICN: 0505.
Fare: From approximately MYR890 round-trip.
Jin Air: Another reliable non-stop option, often preferred for including a small snack and checked baggage in some fare classes.
Departure BKI: 1235. Arrival: 0655.
Fare: From MYR1,070 round-trip.
Connecting flights
Batik Air (via Kuala Lumpur): You can still fly Batik Air, but it will require a layover in Kuala Lumpur (KUL). This significantly increases travel time to about 13+ hours.
SINGAPORE, 13 January 2026: Turkish Airlines carried 92.6 million passengers in 2025, the airline reported last week, representing an increase of 8.8% compared with 2024 data.
According to the January-December 2025 traffic results, international passenger traffic increased by 12.8% to 35.7 million, up from 31.7 million in the same period in 2024.
Photo credit: Turkish Airlines
Total load factor reached 83.2%. The international load factor was 82.9%, and the domestic load factor 86%.
Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 7.5% to 273.2 billion from 254.1 billion for the same period of 2024. Cargo/Mail carried during this period increased by 8.4% to 2.2 million tons from 2 million tons in the same period of 2024.
By the end of December 2025, the fleet totalled 516 aircraft. Traffic results are consolidated and include Turkish Airlines’ main brand and AJet data.
December traffic results
In December 2025, Turkish Airlines carried 7.3 million passengers. The international load factor was 82.6%, and the domestic load factor was 82.7%.
International passenger traffic increased by 14.1%, from 2.8 million in 2024 to 3.2 million.
Available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 9.2% to 23.3 billion during December 2025 from 21.4 billion during December 2024.
BANGKOK, 13 January 2026: Thai Vietjet has postponed the launch of its direct Bangkok-Tokyo Narita flights from 16 January to 1 February, according to the latest airline schedules and travel updates.
The direct daily service will fly from the airline’s home base at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Narita, Tokyo. Flight time is six hours. Agoda lists a starting round-trip fare of USD422. (February dates).
Photo credit: Vietjet.
Passengers who booked the direct flight in January have the option to rebook in February or take the airline’s Bangkok-Hanoi or Bangkok-HCMC flights to connect to Narita-bound flights. (Flight times of 10 to 15 hours, depending on connections.)
If you must take a direct flight in January, consider Thai AirAsia X (from Bangkok DMK) or ZIPAIR (from Bangkok BKK), which are low-cost carriers offering direct flights to Tokyo NRT.
Thai Vietjet initially announced 16 January as the inaugural flight date, but due to delays in the delivery and “introduction schedule” of its new aircraft fleet, the airline pushed back the start date to 1 February. It results in an aircraft change from the 230-seat Airbus A321 to the 189-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Flight schedule
VZ830 departs Bangkok (BKK) at 2355 and arrives in Narita, Tokyo (NRT) at 0755 plus a day. VZ831 departs Narita Tokyo (NRT) at 0855 and arrives in Bangkok (BKK) at 1430.
DUBAI 12 January 2026: Emirates will continue rolling out its retrofitted Boeing 777 and new A350 aircraft to key destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, bringing Premium Economy to more cities across its network.
The airline will deploy its A350 on new daily services to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town, adding an extra frequency and offering customers greater connectivity alongside an elevated onboard experience. Additional frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket, and Cape Town will complement existing schedules and provide much-needed capacity to meet anticipated summer travel demand.
Customers can expect Emirates’ award-winning Premium Economy experience, featuring extra legroom, added amenities, elevated dining, and more. The airline will deploy its Premium Economy retrofitted A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with the latest cabin interiors on more than 84 routes by 1 July, underscoring its focus on delivering a premium and consistent experience across its network.
Additional flights
From 1 June, a second daily service will be introduced between Dubai and Copenhagen; a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket, and a third daily service to/from Cape Town, will come into effect from 1 July. All three services will be operated with the airline’s latest A350 aircraft, featuring its award-winning Premium Economy, in addition to the latest Business and Economy Class cabins.
From 1 June, Emirates’ flight EK153 will depart Dubai for Copenhagen at 1450, arriving at 1945. The return flight, EK154, will depart Copenhagen at 2135 and arrive in Dubai at 0555 the following day.**
The new service is optimally timed to provide seamless connections from Copenhagen to popular destinations via Dubai, to Bangkok, Bali, Manila, Tokyo Haneda and Phuket, as well as convenient links to Colombo and Male. In addition, the service introduces new connections to key African cities, including Nairobi and Entebbe. Passengers travelling from key global cities, such as Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Delhi, and Bangalore, will also benefit from the additional frequency to the Danish capital, with convenient onward connections via Dubai.
From 1 July, Emirates’ flight EK390 will depart Dubai to Phuket at 2240, arriving at 0810 the following day. The return flight, EK391, will depart Phuket at 1000 and arrive in Dubai at 1305.
Travellers will benefit from additional travel options to the popular resort destination, which offers early-morning arrivals ideal for those connecting from Europe, including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris, and Frankfurt, as well as Kuwait and Bahrain via Dubai. The new flight will also provide convenient onward connections from Phuket to key gateways across Europe and the Middle East, including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Zurich, and Amman.
1 July will also see EK778 departing Dubai at 1025, arriving in Cape Town at 1805. The return flight, EK779, will depart Cape Town at 2000 and arrive in Dubai at 0725 the following morning.
Emirates’ double-daily Cape Town service has consistently achieved high load factors over the past year, particularly during peak periods. Inbound demand from the GCC continues to grow, while outbound traffic to Europe and the US East Coast remains strong.
The airline will also operate its A350 to Rome from 29 March and Taipei from 1 May.
Premium Economy expansion
Europe & North America
Barcelona and Mexico City: Emirates will operate its EK187/188 service with a retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from 1 February. EK255/256, the linked service between Barcelona and Mexico City, will operate with a Premium Economy retrofitted three-class Boeing 777-200LR daily from 15 February* onwards.
Rome: The EK099/100 daily service will operate with A350 aircraft from 29 March.
Copenhagen: Addition of a second daily service from 1 June with an Emirates A350, as EK153/154.
Asia
Cochin: From 29 January, two of the seven-weekly services (Thursday and Sunday) on EK530/531 between Dubai and Cochin will operate with a retrofitted Boeing 777-200LR.
Karachi: Starting 1 March*, Emirates’ retrofitted three-class Boeing 777-200LR will begin operating daily on EK606/607.
Taipei: Emirates will operate its retrofitted Boeing 777-200LR on the EK386/387 daily service from 15 March until 30 April. From 1 May onwards, the airline’s A350 aircraft will serve the route.
Phuket: A third daily service between Dubai and Phuket will commence on 1 July on EK 390/391.
Australia
Brisbane: From 29 March, daily flights on EK430/431 will be operated by a retrofitted four-class Boeing 777-300ER, joining the A380 retrofitted service introduced last year.
Africa
Addis Ababa: From 1 March*, the retrofitted three-class Boeing 777-200LR will operate daily on EK723/724.
Cape Town: A third daily flight on the Dubai-Cape Town route, announced at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, will now operate with a next-gen Emirates A350 from 1 July 2026.
Middle East
Basra: The Thursday service on EK947/948 will transition to a retrofitted four-class Boeing 777-300ER from 29 January.
Kuwait City: The EK859/860 daily service between Dubai and Kuwait City will operate with a retrofitted Boeing 777 from 1 February until 30 April, and from 1 May onwards, the service will operate with an Emirates A350.
Tehran: Effective 29 March, the retrofitted B777 in a four-class configuration will operate daily flights on EK979/980.
Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, in the Emirates App, or through online and offline travel agents, as well as at Emirates’ retail stores.
