SINGAPORE, 6 October 2026: Air Astana will launch direct flights between Almaty and Tokyo, with the inaugural service departing Almaty on 30 November 2026 and the first return flight from Tokyo on 1 December 2026.
“The launch of direct air services to Japan is a key priority and supports our ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan’s leadership as the hub of Central Asia and the Caucasus,” said Air Astana CEO Ibrahim Canliel.
Photo credit: Air Astana.
“Tokyo, our 22nd new route in 2026, is one of the world’s leading centres for business and tourism, and the new service, operated by Airbus A321LR aircraft, will provide a significant boost to trade, economic and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Japan.”
Flights will operate twice weekly to Tokyo Narita International Airport using Airbus A321LR aircraft configured with business and economy class cabins.
Flight schedule (local times, subject to government approval)
KC171: Almaty–Tokyo will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, departing Almaty at 2155 and arriving in Tokyo at 0925 the following day. KC172: Tokyo–Almaty will operate on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Tokyo at 1055 and arriving in Almaty at 1620.
Building on the existing partnership between Air Astana and Japan Airlines, the flights between Tokyo Narita and Almaty will operate as codeshares.
Return fares start at USD797 in economy class and USD3,177 in business class, inclusive of all taxes and charges. Tickets are available for booking on the airline’s website, through its mobile app or accredited travel agents.
Japanese citizens can travel to Kazakhstan visa-free for stays of up to 30 days. Kazakhstan citizens require a visa to travel to Japan.
SINGAPORE, 6 October 2026: Dohop, a travel technology company, has announced a partnership with Tigerair Taiwan to deploy the Dohop-powered Tigerhop platform, live on the airline’s retail channels.
Through the initial partnership with Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, Tigerair Taiwan customers will have more options for travel within Asia, specifically across North Asia routes and new connections to Singapore, all bookable in a single transaction.
Photo credit: Tigerair Taiwan.
Tigerhop, powered by Dohop’s RetailConnect platform, allows Tigerair Taiwan to sell multi-carrier journeys that combine its own flights with onward services operated by partner airlines.
At launch, Tigerhop will offer connections from Taipei and Da Nang to Singapore via Scoot, and travellers departing from Singapore can transfer at Taoyuan International Airport to other destinations, including Akita, Hanamaki, and Tottori.
“Tigerair Taiwan demonstrates how airlines can use Connected Travel to expand their network without the cost and complexity of bilateral interlining,” said Dohop Chief Operating Officer Hugh Aitken. “Launching Tigerhop with Scoot gives Taiwanese travellers access to more destinations through Tigerair Taiwan’s own channels, while enabling the airline to capture bookings that might otherwise go to OTAs. With additional carriers joining the platform in the coming months, Tigerhop also marks an important expansion of Dohop’s presence in Asia.”
For Tigerair Taiwan, the partnership adds connections with other carriers without complex interline or codeshare agreements, expanding its commercial reach with minimal technical investment. By selling these itineraries through Tigerhop under its own brand, the airline can compete more effectively with online travel agents while giving passengers access to Dohop’s ConnectSure disruption support and travel protection services.
“Working with Dohop, we can grow our international reach without traditional interline structures while maintaining our brand promise to our passengers,” said Tigerair Taiwan Chairperson Joyce Huang. “We look forward to partnering with new carriers and expanding our coverage in the APAC region through Dohop’s technology.”
The Tigerair Taiwan launch extends Dohop’s presence across Asia, where its platforms are already live for Scoot, Thai Vietjet, Citilink and Air India Express, with others in development.
About Dohop Dohop enables connected journeys from booking through arrival, combining flights and travel segments from multiple airlines and travel providers into a single trip supported by disruption handling, travel protection, and baggage transfer. More than 100 airlines and travel partners, including Air France, Air Transat, easyJet, Scoot, Vueling and Wizz Air, use Dohop’s Connected Travel platform to create, sell, and support multi-carrier journeys without traditional interline agreements.
About Tigerair Taiwan Tigerair Taiwan launched its first route in 2014. As Taiwan’s first and only low-cost carrier (LCC), it operates routes across Asia (around 600 monthly departure flights) from its home base at Taoyuan International Airport.
LANGKAWI, 5 October 2026: Langkawi isn’t only about beaches and boats. It’s also one of the easiest places to let kids dip their toes into nature without the meltdowns that come with long treks or tough climbs.
These short, gentle trails come with shady stops, splashing streams, and just enough adventure to keep little explorers happy while parents get to breathe a little too.
Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls (Seven Wells): Known for its cascading pools, this trail combines adventure with reward. Families can enjoy a short walk up to the lower pools, where kids can dip their toes and play while parents relax.
Lubuk Semilang Recreational Park: This shaded jungle park has a trail that’s easy enough for children, with lots of greenery and birdsong along the way. It’s also a great spot for picnics, making it a double win.
Gunung Raya Lookout Walks: Instead of tackling the entire mountain, families can enjoy shorter sections of paved paths. Kids love spotting monkeys and butterflies along the way, while the whole family gets panoramic views at rest points.
Durian Perangin Waterfall: With manageable steps and plenty of shaded areas, this waterfall is a popular family stop. Kids love splashing at the base, and parents appreciate the cooling breeze and nearby picnic spot.
Pantai Kok Forest Walk: A peaceful stretch with minimal incline, this trail lets kids experience the forest atmosphere without tiring out too quickly. Keep an eye (and ear) out for hornbills overhead.
Family Tip:
Pack extra water, snacks, and maybe even a small towel for quick waterfall dips. Nature is best enjoyed when everyone is hydrated and happy.
SINGAPORE, 5 October 2026: Hilton has officially opened DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay, marking the brand’s debut in Singapore.
The hotel stands next to the Singapore River on Robertson Quay, a short walk from Clarke Quay and Havelock MRT Station, with bus connections to Orchard Road.
Photo credit: Hilton.
The property features 344 rooms and suites ranging from 24 to 50 sqm, with more than 200 rooms overlooking the Singapore River. It offers seven meeting rooms and pre-function areas for corporate gatherings and private events. Each venue can accommodate 20 to 40 guests.
The hotel also offers two dining concepts. Robertson Quay. SAUS is an all-day restaurant, and at the other end of the lobby, Brew:33 brings together the sociability of a neighbourhood café and bar.
To celebrate its opening, DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay is offering a special promotion for Hilton Honours members: 1,000 bonus Hilton Honours Points for every night stayed, capped at five nights. The offer is available for stays until 31 December 2026. DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay is located at 401 Havelock Road, Singapore 169631.
MUMBAI 5 October, 2026: SOTC Travel has strengthened its presence in East India by launching a sales outlet in Bistupur, Jamshedpur.
This marks SOTC’s second location in Jharkhand and its first outlet in Jamshedpur, further strengthening its ability to serve travellers across the state and surrounding markets.
Photo credit: SOTC Travel.
Located in Jamshedpur, the new outlet is designed to bring SOTC’s range of holiday and travel solutions closer to customers in the city and neighbouring catchments. The expansion reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its retail network in high-potential markets and enhancing accessibility to personalised travel expertise.
With the addition of Jamshedpur, SOTC Travel now has a presence across 13 strategic locations in East India, strengthening its regional network and enabling it to engage a wider customer base.
The new outlet will offer customers access to SOTC’s portfolio of travel solutions, including domestic and international holidays, customised travel experiences, group tours and other travel services, supported by the expertise of its travel specialists.
SOTC Travel Limited Senior Vice President & Head — Holidays, Rakesh Bawa said: “Jharkhand continues to be an important market for us, with Jamshedpur offering significant potential as a key commercial and industrial centre as well as a gateway to the surrounding region. The opening of our first outlet in Jamshedpur marks an important step in strengthening our retail presence in the state and bringing our travel expertise closer to customers.
“Our new outlet will enable customers in Jamshedpur and surrounding markets to access personalised travel guidance and plan their holidays with greater convenience.
To address this growing demand, we have introduced specially designed Pujo/Festive portfolios across seven continents for both group escorted tours and customised options.”
Jamshedpur/Jharkhand travel trends
Top destinations
Domestic & Indian Subcontinent: Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman, Sri Lanka & Bhutan.
International: Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Egypt, Antarctica.
New emerging: Azerbaijan. Strong demand for spiritual journeys and darshans — Ayodhya and Char Dham.
Preferences: High interest in experiential holidays such as Northern Lights in Finland, Iceland and Russia.
Top customer segments: Multi-generational families, Gen S, millennials & Gen Z.
Average holiday duration: Three to five days for domestic/short haul; 12-13 days for longer holidays.
NEW DELHI, 5 October 2026: India’s low-cost airline IndiGo has announced the appointment of Gaurav Hazrati as Business Head – Loyalty, Marketplaces & Financial Services.
In this role, he will drive growth across IndiGo BluChip, expand the rewards ecosystem, and scale the airline’s travel marketplace and financial services businesses.
Photo credit: IndiGo.
Gaurav brings over 18 years of experience building and scaling loyalty and financial services businesses across banks and digital platform ecosystems. He has built multi-product businesses from inception and scaled them to revenue and profitability.
Welcoming Hazrati to IndiGo, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said: “As IndiGo continues its transformation journey, creating greater value and deeper engagement for customers across and beyond travel will become increasingly important.
With extensive experience of developing and scaling loyalty and financial services businesses, I am confident that Gaurav is well-equipped to drive these critical functions at IndiGo, and his expertise will play a valuable role as IndiGo evolves as a global airline of scale in the coming years.”
Commenting on his appointment, Hazrati said: “My mandate is to extend that trust into a consumer platform where we bring loyalty, marketplace and financial services together for the customer. IndiGo BluChip will reward people not just for how they fly, but for their everyday choices. I am glad we are already gaining altitude.”
Before joining IndiGo, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tata Payments Limited, President, Financial Services at Tata Digital, and Non-Executive Director on the board of Tata Fintech Limited.
As part of Tata Digital’s founding leadership team, he played a key role in conceptualising, launching and scaling the Tata group’s loyalty and financial services businesses across payments, credit cards, lending, insurance, and investment products.
About IndiGo IndiGo has a fleet of 430 aircraft and operates nearly 2200 daily flights, connecting 95 domestic and 40 international destinations, and welcomed more than 123 million customers in FY26.
HONG KONG, 5 October 2026: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has confirmed appointments for two senior management positions.
Steven Yiu, formerly Executive Director of Airport Operations, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Cissy Chan, Executive Director of Commercial, has taken up a concurrent new appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IEC Holdings Limited, AAHK’s subsidiary that oversees the SKYTOPIA business.
Steven Yiu, formerly Executive Director of Airport Operations, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Both report directly to AAHK’s CEO, and the appointments take effect on 1 October 2026.
As COO, Yiu will lead the Airport Management Division and the Cargo and Logistics Division. He will be responsible for managing and driving excellence across HKIA’s core airport operations, including safety, customer service, cargo operations, and development, among others.
Chan will continue to lead the Commercial Division, overseeing airport retail and HKIA’s land and property portfolio. As CEO of IEC Holdings, she will spearhead SKYTOPIA’s various projects, including 11 SKIES, aimed to develop into a leading entertainment hub, and the Airport Yacht Bay, the largest facility of its kind in Hong Kong.
AAHK CEO Vivian Cheung said: “I would like to congratulate Steven and Cissy on their new appointments. Both have delivered outstanding results over the years and contributed to HKIA’s worldwide recognition as one of the best airports. Their appointments and expanded portfolios reflect our full confidence in their leadership. They will continue to drive the key developments at HKIA, reinforcing our position as the hub of Asia.”
Yiu joined AAHK in 1995 and was appointed Executive Director, Airport Operations, in 2022, overseeing planning and operations across HKIA.
Chan was appointed as Executive Director, Commercial of AAHK in September 2012. She brought to the airport a wealth of management experience gained from local and multinational corporations, particularly in partnership development, negotiation and managing commercial alliances.
SINGAPORE, 5 October 2026: Eurowings is expanding its route network from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Hanover and Stuttgart in Winter 2026.
New destinations and additional winter connections will link these airports with Northern and Southern Europe, the Canary Islands, Egypt and the Middle East.
Photo credit: Eurowings.
Eurowings will offer an extensive Middle East network in winter 2026/27. Baghdad is brand new to the schedule, with two weekly direct flights planned from both Berlin and Düsseldorf from 10 December 2026. The new connections complement the existing services to Iraq and strengthen the range of routes in the region.
Dubai will be served daily from Berlin, four times a week from Stuttgart and three times a week from Cologne/Bonn – a total of 14 weekly flights. Eurowings will fly to Jeddah twice a week from both Berlin and Stuttgart and three times a week from Cologne/Bonn. Direct services to Erbil will be available from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg, Hanover and Stuttgart. Tel Aviv will be served three times a week from Düsseldorf. Beirut will be connected with Stockholm, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Prague and Salzburg. Eurowings will also operate two weekly flights between Stuttgart and Amman, Jordan.
From 1 December 2026, the Premium BIZ Seat will be available on all Eurowings flights to Dubai and selected connections to London Heathrow, Mallorca and Málaga. The new seating configuration offers eight seats across the first two rows of the Airbus A320neo in a 2×2 layout.
BANGKOK, 5 October 2026: Drawing on that reporting, this article offers my observations and the questions it raised, particularly concerning travellers and international tourism. Several important details remain unverified, and the eventual investigative findings may differ from early accounts.
Having flown extensively as a traveller for more than 45 years, I found the reports about Flydubai flight FZ1073 deeply unsettling. My first reaction was relief that the aircraft landed safely. Then came the questions.
A Flydubai aircraft at its Dubai home base
Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot reportedly stabbed aboard Wednesday’s Israel-bound flight, deserves recognition for his extraordinary heroic courage. According to published accounts, despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and other crew members to intervene and restrain the alleged attacker. His actions helped avert what could have been a catastrophe.
Like frequent travellers, I have boarded aircraft countless times, confident in the professionalism of the people at the controls.
As a travel writer and former hotelier, I also think about passenger confidence and international tourism. At this stage, however, I feel it is much too early to judge any wider implications.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv service diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an alleged attack on the captain and a rapid descent. Accounts describe passengers and crew intervening before the aircraft landed safely.
Beyond that broad outline, considerable uncertainty remains. Much of the discussion centres on the accused co-pilot, yet relatively little verified information about his background has been made public. The reporting reviewed has not disclosed his complete employment history, training records, or recruitment checks.
Claims concerning radicalisation and extremist social-media activity are serious, but the underlying evidence has not been made fully available for independent examination. Accounts of religious observance do not establish violent intent.
In my mind, this distinction is essential. The seriousness of an allegation does not remove the need to verify it.
Questions about the co-pilot
Safeguards need to address a threat from someone already authorised to enter the cockpit.
The questions I find myself asking are straightforward. Was the alleged attack premeditated? Did the suspect act alone? Did the destination influence his actions? Were there earlier indications of a credible threat?
Planning and acting alone are separate issues. An individual could have prepared an attack without assistance. Equally, the available reporting does not establish that either preparation or outside involvement occurred.
I am also interested in what investigators establish about the alleged weapon, how it became available in the cockpit and whether any relevant security procedure was breached.
Until those answers emerge, I would be reluctant to attribute failure to an airport, airline or individual responsible for screening.
Checks and balances
Having spent so much of my professional and personal life travelling, I naturally wonder how aviation’s safeguards address a threat from someone already authorised to enter the cockpit.
Will the investigation prompt a closer look at the balance between initial recruitment checks and continuing security assessment? Could periodic reviews, verified references or confidential channels for reporting specific concerns provide additional protection?
These are questions arising from what I have read. I do not know whether any such measure would have prevented this incident, or whether existing arrangements were properly followed.
What I feel matters is that any eventual response is grounded in evidence. Nationality, religion and personal beliefs cannot substitute for evidence of threatening behaviour.
Tourism perspective
For tourists and travellers, the immediate concern is understandable: what happened, and what might it mean for their journey?
My own view is that there is currently too little verified information to assess any lasting effect on international tourism. The wider impact may prove limited, but that too remains to be seen.
This single incident does not, in itself, indicate a wider change in the safety of air travel. What interests me is how the investigation’s findings may influence passenger confidence, airline procedures and the decisions travellers make.
After more than 49 years of flying, I appreciate how deeply travellers depend on trust. For me, maintaining that trust means investigating thoroughly, communicating clearly, and letting the evidence guide our understanding.
About the Author
Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer, tourism commentator and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. He is CEO of A&P Media and writes for travel and hospitality publications across Asia and internationally.
(Source: Research for this commentary included Juergen T Steinmetz’s article, “Who Was the Pilot on Flydubai Flight FZ1073?”, published by eTurboNews on 1 October 2026, Israel Travel News, and Saudi Arabia Travel News. Additional material included Reuters reporting dated 30 September and 1 October.)
MELBOURNE, 5 October 2026: Crystal Cruise Line has unveiled its “That Crystal Feeling,” a new global brand campaign that shifts the focus from simply where a journey takes guests to how it feels to travel with Crystal.
The campaign captures the unhurried rhythm of life at sea, from morning through night, and the freedom that comes when you have nowhere else to be.
Photo credit: Crystal.
At the heart of the campaign is a simple idea: Crystal is not just a way to see the world; it’s the perfect place to step out of it.
While much of travel culture is built around maximising every destination, experience and moment, Crystal offers a different perspective. With every detail taken care of and personal preferences met, guests enjoy the freedom to set their own pace, wander without a plan, linger over a meal, watch the world go by or do nothing at all.
The campaign follows a day and night with Crystal, using cinematic imagery and sensory storytelling to evoke the feelings of travel rather than simply depicting the places visited.
Developed by Crystal’s in-house creative team, the campaign launched 1 October and runs through to 30 September 2027. The new assets will run across global markets through connected TV, digital & online video advertising, print, and social media.
