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CX introduces Riyadh flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 5 November 2024: Cathay Pacific commenced nonstop passenger service between Hong Kong and Riyadh on 28 October 2024.

To mark the milestone, Cathay Pacific celebrated the launch of the route’s inaugural flight with a ceremony at Hong Kong International Airport, hosted by Cathay Group Chair Patrick Healy and Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau.

Cathay’s Patrick Healy commented: “The inauguration of our Hong Kong-Riyadh route is another testament to Cathay’s commitment to strengthening Hong Kong’s global connectivity as an international aviation hub and our continued support for the Central Government’s Belt and Road Initiative. The new service further expands our footprint in the Middle East — an important region — while promoting opportunities for business, trade and tourism along the Belt and Road. With the commissioning of the Three-Runway System just weeks away, Hong Kong’s aviation industry is entering an exciting new era, and we look forward to playing our part as our home hub continues to go from strength to strength.”

Cathay Pacific’s thrice-weekly passenger service between Hong Kong and Riyadh is operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which feature business, premium economy, and economy cabins. 

The flight schedule for the service is as follows (all times local):

In addition to Riyadh, Cathay Pacific operates daily flights between Hong Kong and Dubai in the Middle East. The new passenger service also complements Cathay Cargo’s freighter services between Hong Kong and Riyadh, which it has been operating since 2021.

The Cathay Group continues to add more flights and destinations to its global passenger network, and by 2025, it will be able to fly customers to 100 destinations worldwide.

AirAsia lands Free Seats campaign in Penang

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TTR WEEKLY
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PENANG, 5 November 2024: AirAsia’s Free* Seats Town campaign lands at its third-largest hub in Malaysia, Penang, to end the year on a high note with 12 million promotional seats up for grabs. 

This campaign will help build travel demand for the first half of 2025 through the airline’s free seats, highlighting trips to Penang, Bali, Medan, Bhubaneswar, and Siem Reap.

AirAsia crew at the Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang launch the AirAsia Free Seats Town campaign on 2 November.

In addition to the celebration, AirAsia X commemorates 17 years by offering special promotional fares with its Big Sale for guests seeking to explore destinations beyond Asia. 

Big Sale fares apply to various cities such as Taipei, Chongqing, Nairobi, Almaty, with fares starting from as low as MYR221** all-in one way. AAX’s award-winning Premium Flatbed travel has fares starting from just MYR899** all-in-one way.

The AirAsia Free* Seats Town campaign and Big Sale are open for bookings until 10 November 2024 via airasia.com or the AirAsia MOVE app (formerly airasia Superapp). The travel period runs from  21 April 2025 to 28 March 2026. 

*Free Seat fare is only applicable for the BASE FARE, excluding airport taxes, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharges and other applicable fees. All-in fare starts from RM39 one-way (Domestic) and RM75 one-way (International). Other terms and conditions apply. 

**All-in one-way fares start from RM221 and are inclusive of airport taxes, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. Other terms and conditions apply.

Air Canada resumes flights to Beijing

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TTR WEEKLY
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Air Canada will be resuming daily service from Canada to Beijing and will be increasing its Shanghai flights to daily. Both routes will operate from the airline’s Vancouver (YVR) hub. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

SINGAPORE, 5 November 2024: Air Canada will resume daily service from Canada to Beijing and also increase its flights to daily on the route to Shanghai

The Vancouver-Shanghai route will upgrade from four weekly to daily flights beginning 7 December 2024, and the Vancouver-Beijing daily service will resume on 15 January 2025.

Air Canada will be resuming daily service from Canada to Beijing and will be increasing its Shanghai flights to daily. Both routes will operate from the airline’s Vancouver (YVR) hub. (CNW Group/Air Canada).

Both routes will operate from the airline’s Vancouver (YVR) hub, and bookings are already available on the airline’s website and through travel agencies.

“We are resuming our nonstop services between Canada and Beijing and increasing our flights between Canada and Shanghai, reflecting the importance of these markets in Air Canada’s global network. With our investments at our YVR hub linking Air Canada’s extensive North American network to our international flights, travelling between North America and Asia is convenient and compelling for leisure and business travellers alike. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard our flights,” said Air Canada Executive Vice President – Revenue and Network Planning Mark Galardo.

Air India flies A350 to New York

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TTR WEEKLY
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GURUGRAM, India, 4 November 2024: Air India has introduced its flagship A350-900 aircraft on daily, nonstop flights between Delhi and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). 

This will be followed by introducing five weekly A350 services from Delhi to Newark’s Liberty International Airport (EWR) commencing 2 January 2025.

With these deployments, Air India introduces its all-new interiors, including private suites in business class and a premium economy cabin, as well as an award-winning new Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, enhanced catering, and new serviceware.

The deployment of this flagship product, which also recently commenced on the Delhi-London Heathrow route, marks a significant milestone in the airline’s post-privatisation transformation programme.

Introducing Air India Premium Economy

The A350 deployment brings Air India’s Premium Economy experience on the Delhi-New York route for the first time. It offers 24 extra-legroom seats in a 2-4-2 configuration in a dedicated, upscale cabin.

Business Class private suites

Air India’s A350 aircraft features a Business Class with 28 private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each accommodating a full lie-flat bed. Each suite offers direct aisle access, sliding privacy doors, and a personal wardrobe. Air India, thus, becomes the only nonstop carrier between India and the United States to offer private suites with sliding doors in Business Class.

On-board Wi-Fi coming soon

Air India is preparing to launch its new inflight connectivity service on international flights operated by the A350 in the coming weeks. The service will enable guests to use Wi-Fi on their own devices and stay connected.

The A350 flights offer travellers an elevated onboard experience, featuring enhanced meal menus, new service ware, new bedding, and updated amenity kits for Business and Premium Economy guests, exclusively designed by Ferragamo and TUMI, respectively.

The seats across all cabins on the A350 come with the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 IFE system and HD screens that offer more than 3,000 hours of entertainment content from around the world in 13 international and 8 Indian regional languages.

Air India Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director Campbell Wilson said: “The A350 is not just another aircraft for Air India; it is a symbol of the “new Air India” emerging through our five-year Vihaan.AI post-privatisation transformation programme.

“Guest feedback on introducing the A350 aircraft and new customer experience has been positive since it was launched on the Delhi-London Heathrow route in September, so we are excited to bring it to New York. 

“We are also looking forward to commencing the full interior refit of existing aircraft in 2025, which, together with the hundreds of new aircraft on order, will take Air India to new heights.”

Emirates’ boarding pass unlocks bargains

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 November 2024: Emirates announced at the weekend the return of its popular My Emirates Pass, allowing passengers, including travellers from Singapore, to enjoy exclusive offers at hundreds of locations in Dubai and the UAE. 

From 1 November 2024 to 31 March 2025, travellers can use their boarding pass to enjoy My Emirates Pass discounts at restaurants, family activities, tranquil spa treatments, luxury shopping outlets, private pools, and much more.

Emirates customers flying to or through Dubai can simply show their boarding pass and a valid form of identification to unlock incredible offers to some of the world’s most iconic attractions, including At The Top Burj Khalifa, IMG Worlds of Adventure, and Aquaventure Waterpark. To see all My Emirates Pass offers, visit: emirates.com/myemiratespass.

Complimentary Access to Cultural Attractions

In addition to over 600 exclusive offers and discounts for retail, leisure, dining, renowned attractions, and luxury spas, passengers this year will also receive complimentary access to the Vision Pavilion and Expo Museum at the Expo City for the season.

Dubai Shopping Festival 30th Anniversary

The acclaimed Dubai Shopping Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, with a host of A-list performers, exclusive experiences, and unforgettable entertainment lined up to mark the occasion. The festival will run from 6 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 across the city, offering a month packed full of unmissable retail offers. While there, Emirates customers can use their boarding pass to enjoy exclusive offers at restaurants, spas, pools, family attractions, and more.

Take Advantage of Winter Sun in Dubai

From indulging in world-renowned hospitality offerings to unwinding on a sun-soaked beach and immersing in the festivities, Dubai offers many iconic experiences and attractions for every traveller. 

  • Skywards Partners: Members of the award-winning loyalty programme, Emirates Skywards, can earn Miles with Emirates’ worldwide partners like hotels, airlines, car rentals, retail and banking. Members can spend these Miles on reward tickets, upgrades, or even tickets for concerts and sports events. Learn more about Emirates Skywards here:https://www.emirates.com/english/skywards/. While in Dubai, members can earn Miles with partners across the city like Dubai Mall, Arabian Adventures, Emirates Holidays and more.
  • Skywards Everyday: Customers can get Skywards Miles on the go and earn Miles on their purchases. Simply download the Skywards Everyday app, link up to five Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards, and automatically earn Skywards Miles on purchases from hundreds of participating partners across shopping, dining, beauty and wellness, leisure and entertainment, pharmacy, and grocery. 

Learn more about Skywards Everyday here: https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/skywards/partners/skywards-everyday/

For more information, visit https://www.emirates.com/sg/english/. Tickets can be purchased on https://www.emirates.com/sg/english/, Emirates sales offices or contact centre, via travel agents or online travel agents. 

BWH wins Lifestyle + Travel awards

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 4 November 2024: BWH℠ Hotels, a leading global hospitality network comprising WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels, continued its impressive winning streak at the travel industry’s most illustrious award ceremonies, as it was honoured with two titles in the Lifestyle + Travel Awards 2024.

At a stylish gala evening staged in Bangkok on 25 October 2024, Best Western Hotels & Resorts was named the best “Mid-Range Hotels Brand”, and WorldHotels was presented with the honorary “Influential Asia Pacific Hotel Collection” award.

The “Mid-Range Hotels Brand” award for Best Western, which was collected on stage by BWH Hotels’ Managing Director, Operations – APAC Rodney Simpson, reflects the continued strength and success of this iconic midscale hotel brand, which has been delighting guests around the world for more than 75 years. Today, Best Western offers over 130 hotels and resorts across Asia Pacific, with many more in the pipeline, covering innovative and intuitive brands.

For WorldHotels, the “Influential Asia Pacific Hotel Collection” award reflects this industry-leading hotel company’s outstanding reputation in the region. The collection offers a selection of highly unique upscale and luxury properties under four distinct collections: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Crafted, and WorldHotels Distinctive. This esteemed award was presented on stage to BWH Hotels’ Vice President – APAC Olivier Berrivin.

Organised by Lifestyle + Travel magazine, one of Asia’s most popular consumer publications, the Lifestyle + Travel Awards 2024 celebrates the leading tourism, hospitality and lifestyle services providers who consistently raise the bar for excellence.

“We are overjoyed to have won these two accolades in the Lifestyle + Travel Awards 2024. Best Western Hotels & Resorts continues to drive the midscale sector forward with its timeless combination of comfort, convenience and complete connectivity. At the same time, WorldHotels elevates every stay with its seamless blend of luxury, authenticity and individuality. I would like to thank Lifestyle + Travel magazine for these awards and our entire team for their tireless commitment to creating exceptional guest experiences,” said  Berrivin.

These awards mark the latest honours for BWH Hotels, which recently received the “Best Midscale Hotel Chain” for Best Western Hotels & Resorts at the Travel Weekly Asia Readers’ Choice Awards and the “Travel Hall of Fame” award in the TTG Travel Awards 2024.

To book your stay with BWH Hotels in Asia, please visit bestwesternasia.com and worldhotels.com.  

Bali showcases Sustainable Food Festival

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TTR WEEKLY
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BALI, 4 November 2024: The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) launched the 4th Annual Sustainable Food Festival last week, which runs until 10 November, 2024. 

This year’s theme, “Flavors of Nusantara,” highlights Indonesia’s rich culinary heritage through sustainable menus across Bali.

BHA Sustainability Director John Nielsen notes: “The festival showcases sustainable dining, where guests can enjoy the diverse flavours of Nusantara created by local chefs using sustainably sourced Indonesian ingredients.” 

The initiative also supports Bali’s local farmers, promotes waste reduction, and partners with food rescue organisations like Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) to donate surplus food to needy people.

BHA’s Executive Director, Diah Ajung highlighted the talent showcased in the BHA Cooking Competition, which concluded with a live cooking finale at Conrad Bali. Chefs from non-managerial roles competed, using locally sourced ingredients to craft dishes reflecting Indonesia’s culinary traditions. 

Winners 

  1. 1st Place – Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort and Spa: I Gusti Ngurah Triandhana, “Asinan Ikan, Urutan & Babi Guling”
  2. 2nd Place – The Edge: Kadek Sunarsa, “Layur Mleko”
  3. 3rd Place – Jumeirah Bali: Dwi Mahendra Saputra, “Sudang Lepet & Jukut Undis”

With menus focused on local, organic ingredients, the festival celebrates Indonesia’s culinary roots while fostering connections between BHA hotels, local chefs, and producers, building a more sustainable future for Bali.

Visit www.baliismylife.com for full details on participating venues, menus, and booking information.

List of Cooking Competition Winners & finalists available here

Riyadh Air lines up A321 delivery

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 November 2024: Riyadh Air, the new premium international airline based in Saudi Arabia, has placed a firm order for 60 A321neo Family aircraft. 

The agreement was signed last week at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh,  marking a significant milestone for Riyadh Air. 

The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Riyadh Air, Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft at Airbus and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.

“This investment will enable us to support economic growth in the aviation industry and ensure Riyadh Air operates one of the most fuel-efficient fleets. It’ll be instrumental in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its decarbonisation goals,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas. “This deal strongly reinforces the positive economic impact of Saudi Arabia’s newest airline on both a global and local scale to facilitate the fast-growing Saudi aviation ecosystem.”

Airbus CEO of Commercial Aircraft Christian Scherer said: “We are proud to welcome Riyadh Air as a new Airbus customer and partner. The latest generation A321neo aircraft will bring exceptional efficiency to the airline’s operations, concrete contributions to its decarbonisation goals, and comfort to its passengers. We look forward to working together to support Saudi aviation’s strong ambitions.”

The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, offering unparalleled range and performance. To date, more than 6,700 A321neo have been ordered by more than 90 customers worldwide.

Riyadh Air has ordered 132 aircraft to support its growth plans. The airline will start operations in spring 2025 and aims to serve 100 destinations by 2030.

Jetstar Asia resumes flights to Medan

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 November 2024: Jetstar Asia (3K) resumed services between Singapore and Medan, Indonesia, last Friday, making it the only low-cost carrier to offer direct daily flights between the two destinations.

The airline’s 180-seat Airbus A320s will operate the daily return service between Singapore’s Changi Airport and Kualanamu International Airport in Medan (KNO) providing more than 130,000 low-fare seats annually.

The route is expected to serve business and leisure travellers, strengthening ties between the cities. It will become Jetstar Asia’s fourth Indonesian destination, alongside Jakarta, Denpasar, and Surabaya.

It’s already a busy route, with Singapore Airlines flying twice daily using a 154-seat B7337 MAX 8  and Batik Air serving the route with a daily A320 flight with 165 seats. The average roundtrip fare is USD230, possibly dropping to around USD175 in December.

Medan, renowned for its food scene, rich cultural diversity, and proximity to natural wonders such as Lake Toba, the world’s largest crater lake, is a key destination for travellers seeking both urban experiences and nature escapes.

Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone said he was very pleased to see the resumption of this key route after a four-year pause.

“Medan is an important destination for many of our customers, and we’re excited to reconnect these vibrant cities with affordable and convenient travel options,” Simeone noted.

Kualanamu International Airport Director Commercial and Business Development, Kedar Deshpande welcomed Jetstar Asia back to Medan.

“Singapore remains a favourite destination in our catchment area, and Medan provides a diverse variety of weekend getaway options across Singapore, including wildlife, culinary, and cultural tourism,” he added.

“We are glad to have Jetstar Asia provide the much-needed additional capacity on this key route and are committed to supporting Jetstar Asia’s efforts to grow the market together. We thank the entire Jetstar Asia team for the extensive work together.”

Flight schedule

IATA: September demand breaks record

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 November 2024: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 7.1% compared to September 2023, an all-time high for September, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted in its latest data released for September 2024  

Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 5.8% year-on-year. The September load factor was 83.6% (+1.0ppt compared to September 2023).

International demand rose 9.2% compared to September 2023. Capacity was up 9.1% year-on-year, and the load factor rose to 83.8% (+0.1ppt compared to September 2023).

Domestic demand rose 3.7% compared to September 2023. Capacity was up 0.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.3% (+2.4ppt compared to September 2023).

“The year’s peak travel season ended with demand at an all-time high. This is good news not just for passengers but also for the global economy. Every flight creates more jobs and trade. But the success story of air travel brings challenges. We will soon face a capacity crunch in some regions, threatening to curtail these economic and social benefits. Governments will face a choice: lose out to more dynamic nations that value global connectivity or forge a consensus for sustainable growth. Airlines are making significant investments to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That needs to be accompanied by an equally active political vision, backed up by actions, to ensure we have efficient and sufficient airport and air traffic management capacity to meet the needs of citizens and businesses to travel,” said  IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh.

Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets

All regions showed growth for international passenger markets in September 2024 compared to September 2023. The load factor was mixed: Europe had the highest load factors, and Asia and African carriers also improved, but the Americas and the Middle East suffered falls.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved an 18.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 17.7% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.6% (+0.5ppt compared to September 2023).

European carriers saw a 7.6% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.9% (+0.2ppt compared to September 2023).

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 4.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.6% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.4% (-0.1ppt compared to September 2023).

North American carriers saw a 0.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 1.9% year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.4% (-1.1 ppt compared to September 2023).

Latin American airlines saw a 12.4% year-on-year increase in demand, and capacity climbed 13.9% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.3% (-1.1ppt compared to September 2023).

African airlines saw an 11.9% year-on-year increase in demand, a 6.6% increase in capacity, and a 76.0% load factor (+3.6ppt compared to September 2023).

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