NEW YORK, 24 June 2025: Alton Aviation Consultancy advised LOT Polish Airlines (LOT) on its firm purchase order with Airbus, comprising 20 A220-100s and 20 A220-300s aircraft, with options and purchase rights for an additional 44 A220 aircraft.
The Alton team supported LOT in evaluating and negotiating with airframe and engine suppliers for its aircraft purchase, spare engine purchase and engine maintenance support agreements.
Photo credit: LOT Polish Airlines.
Alton Aviation Consultancy Managing Director Brad Dailey commented: “We are pleased to have further expanded our long-term partnership with LOT by providing advisory support on this transformative transaction, which will position LOT efficiently and competitively to satisfy its long-term fleet modernisation and network expansion objectives.”
About Alton Aviation Consultancy Alton Aviation Consultancy is a global advisory firm serving the aviation and aerospace industries with offices in New York, Dublin, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, and Singapore.
SINGAPORE, 24 June 2025: The Singapore Tourism Board reported on Monday that it has revoked the licences of five travel agents under the Travel Agents Act 1975.
UPDATE: Singapore, 1800, 23 June 2025 – “The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) issued an update to its earlier media advisory regarding the revocation of six travel agents’ licences. Zayn Travels Pte Ltd has submitted an appeal against the licence revocation. As such, STB is temporarily withholding their name from the list of revoked licences while the appeal is being reviewed.“
The five travel agents are no longer permitted to carry out any travel agent activities. The travel agencies’ licences have been revoked due to their continued failure to submit their Audited Statement of Accounts (ASA) and/or Annual Business Profile Returns (ABPR).
Under the Travel Agents Regulations 2017 (TAR), licensees are required to submit these documents within six months after the close of their financial year.
Additionally, one travel agency has been revoked for failing to meet the minimum financial requirement. Under the TAR, general licensees are required to maintain a net value of at least SGD100,000 at all times.
List of revoked travel agencies
The revoked travel agents must refund all their existing customers or hand over their existing obligations to licensed travel agents to fulfil the contracted itineraries and arrangements.
In a press statement released on Monday, STB said: It takes a serious view against errant travel agents and will not hesitate to take necessary actions to protect the reputation of Singapore’s travel industry.”
For the most up-to-date list of licensed travel agents in Singapore, please visit the Travel Related Users’ System (“TRUST”) website, https://trust.stb.gov.sg.
DUBAI, UAE, 23 June 2025: Emirates participated in the 55th edition of the International Paris Airshow until 19 June after an over 15-year hiatus from the show
Emirates returned to the show displaying its newest aircraft — the Airbus A350 — featuring the airline’s next-generation cabin design, latest interiors, and technologies. The Emirates A350 on display featured three spacious cabin classes, including 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 generously pitched Economy Class seats.
Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark said: “We’re pleased to be at the Paris Airshow, showcasing the very best of air travel on one of the most important platforms in the aerospace exhibition calendar. Coming back to France’s most important aerospace show demonstrates how committed Emirates is to supporting the country’s aviation industry – not just through our day-to-day operations, but through ongoing investments across the entire aerospace supply chain.”
The airline operates 21 weekly flights to Paris, including three daily A380 flights, a daily A380 service to Nice, and a daily A350 flight to Lyon. Emirates is the first and only international airline to operate an A380 to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.
The airline has invested over EUR322 million (USD367.5 million) in Thales’ AVANT Up system for its new A350 aircraft.
France is also Emirates’ top source market globally for the procurement of wines, and 58% of the red wine consumed in Emirates’ First and Business Class comes from Bordeaux.
By the end of this year, the Emirates A350 is expected to serve 17 destinations. The airline has welcomed seven A350 aircraft, with 58 more units to join its fleet over the coming years.
For more information on the airline and to make bookings, visit www.emirates.com.
HONG KONG, 23 June 2025: Hong Kong Airlines’ inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia, landed in the state capital of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday.
To mark this new milestone in its network expansion, Hong Kong Airlines held celebratory events at both Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Sydney Airport (SYD) for the daily direct service.
The inaugural flight, HX017, landed at SYD on Saturday with a traditional water cannon salute and welcome ceremony.
Before departure, Hong Kong Airlines President Jeff Sun stated: “As a full-service local carrier, the launch of our Sydney service marks a significant step in our transformation to an international airline. Sydney is not only a popular destination for leisure and business travel but also one of Australia’s most vital economic hubs. The expansion of the bilateral traffic rights agreement allows us to offer more choice to travellers in both cities, strengthening the connection between them.”
He added, “While Hong Kong Airlines may be a younger brand in the mature Australian market, we are endeavouring in our commitment to providing quality service. We operate this route with our Airbus A330 aircraft, featuring comfortable business and economy class cabins, and strive to deliver a passenger-centric in-flight experience through attentive service and fine dining for our long-haul customers.”
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton welcomed the new flight: “We’re proud to welcome Hong Kong Airlines to Sydney as our 52nd airline partner with its strong reputation for service excellence, efficiency and value. This inaugural service comes on the back of the first expansion in bilateral air traffic rights between Australia and Hong Kong in 19 years, and we thank the Albanese Federal Government for its role in enabling this important agreement, which reflects the strength of our longstanding cultural and economic ties.”
Also in attendance at the Sydney welcome ceremony were representatives from the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney, Destination NSW and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Sydney).
The launch of the Sydney service indicates Hong Kong Airlines’ overarching strategy for its network expansion. Coupled with the various significant destinations that have been inaugurated or reinstated since the start of the year, including Gold Coast in Australia, Vancouver in Canada, and Hulunbuir in Inner Mongolia of mainland China, the airline has cultivated a more extensive and diversified route map. This further underscores Hong Kong Airlines’ commitment and contribution to the aviation industry’s recovery and long-term development.
In addition to the new routes, the airline also increased flights on multiple routes to cater to the summer travel demand. This includes the resumption of seasonal flights to the Maldives and an increase in flights to Danang, Vietnam, to two daily flights. Additionally, flights to Shanghai Pudong will increase to four daily, while services to Hangzhou and Nanjing will become twice daily. T
Hong Kong Airlines flight schedule between Hong Kong and Sydney (All times local):
SINGAPORE, 23 June 2025: Vietjet confirmed a mega order for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft at the 2025 Lé Bourget Paris Airshow, with the potential to add another 50 in the future.
As part of its wider expansion strategy, the airline is also bolstering its engine capacity with an additional 40 Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. These landmark agreements mark a significant step in Vietjet’s growth strategy as a multi-national aviation group, while also strengthening economic ties between Vietnam, France, and Europe.
Vietjet CEO Dinh Viet Phuong (front right) and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business (front left) exchange the new order for 100 A321neo aircraft.
The latest order builds on Vietjet’s commitment last month for 20 additional A330neo aircraft, bringing its total widebody aircraft on order to 40.
Vietjet Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said: “I have a vision and the determination to make Vietnam a regional aviation hub for passenger transportation, technical services, logistics, training, research, global supply chains, and aviation infrastructure. We will continue to develop a robust and modern fleet to support that goal. Today’s agreement with Airbus is more than a commercial contract — it is a significant milestone that marks the beginning of Vietjet’s new journey: a journey of global expansion, new growth drivers, enhanced connectivity, and the development of a sustainable aviation ecosystem powered by ambition and transformation.”
Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business Benoît de Saint-Exupéry said: “Our latest agreement comes just weeks after the airline placed an additional order for A330neo widebody aircraft. Together, the A321neo and A330neo will be perfect partners for Vietjet to continue to spread its wings, efficiently matching capacity more closely to demand across its network.”
The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, offering exceptional range and performance. Equipped with new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft while maximising passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky.
As with all in-production aircraft, the A321neo can operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a target to increase to up to 100% SAF capability by 2030.
Vietjet also placed an order for 40 additional Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. The deal reinforces Vietjet’s commitment to building a next-generation widebody fleet, doubling its total order to 80 following an initial agreement at the 2024 Singapore Airshow.
Vietjet currently operates a modern fleet of over 120 new-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft, with more than 400 additional aircraft on order. As its passenger volumes continue to grow, the airline is actively expanding its global flight network while advancing fleet modernisation through international strategic partnerships.
PALEMBANG, Indonesia, 23 June 2025: AirAsia Malaysia (AK) has announced two new direct routes from Kuala Lumpur to Palembang and Semarang, further enhancing travel access between Malaysia and Indonesia with 188 weekly flights now operating between the two countries.
With these additions, AirAsia Malaysia connects to 15 destinations across Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bali (Denpasar), Medan, Yogyakarta, Banda Aceh, Makassar, Padang, Pekanbaru, Balikpapan, Labuan Bajo, Lombok and from Penang to Jakarta and Medan, making it one of the most connected foreign carriers in Indonesia.
AirAsia Head of Commercial Liyana Mahizzan.
These latest routes come as Indonesia targets 16 million international arrivals in 2025, with Malaysia consistently ranked among the top source markets. The timing also aligns with the reopening of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (Palembang) and Jenderal Ahmad Yani Airport (Semarang) for international services, making AirAsia the first international airline to resume operations at both cities.
With Visit Malaysia 2026 on the horizon, this expansion comes at the perfect moment to further boost tourism, foster cultural exchange and enhance regional ties between both nations.
AirAsia Malaysia CEO Dato Captain Fareh Mazputra said: “This launch reflects our ongoing efforts to serve more cities across Indonesia, especially those that have been underserved. We are proud to return to Palembang and Semarang, and we were among the first to reopen seats to both PLM and SRG, reaffirming our commitment to these key destinations, two vibrant cities that deserve a wider audience. Each new route opens up more opportunities for business, tourism and for people to reconnect. We are also proud to bring them closer to Kuala Lumpur and beyond with convenient, affordable flights. We thank the government and all stakeholders who have supported this milestone.”
In celebration of the launch, AirAsia is offering special promotional fares for flights from Kuala Lumpur to Palembang starting from just MYR159* all in one way. Flights from Palembang to Kuala Lumpur are also available from IDR499,000* one-way for purchase until 29 June 2025 and for travel until 28 March 2026. Meanwhile, flights from Kuala Lumpur to Semarang start from just RM199* all in one way, while flights from Semarang to Kuala Lumpur are available from IDR799,000* all in one way. Guests can book their flights until 29 June for travel between 5 September 2025 and 28 March 2026, available on the AirAsia MOVE app and airasia.com.
Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra and Sumatra’s second-largest city, is known as one of Indonesia’s top travel destinations. Once the heart of the powerful Sriwijaya Empire, it now offers a mix of rich history, local cuisine, and riverfront charm. The Musi River, Sumatra’s longest, flows through the city, with the iconic Ampera Bridge — built in 1965 — standing as a proud symbol of growth and unity.
Semarang, the capital of Central Java, blends Javanese and Chinese cultures and was named the cleanest tourist destination in Southeast Asia by the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (2020–2022). Highlights include the vibrant Kampung Pelangi (Rainbow Village), with its brightly painted homes, and Kota Lama (Old Town), a historic area known for its colonial charm and lively street scene. With their cultural richness, scenic landmarks, and unique experiences, Palembang and Semarang are must-visit gems in Indonesia.
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2025: The Malaysia Mega Sale Campaign (MMSC) 2025, organised by Tourism Malaysia in collaboration with Mastercard, is up and running until 31 July 2025.
The nationwide initiative aims to stimulate tourism and retail spending, both domestically and internationally, in anticipation of the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
This year’s campaign features over 100 participating industry players and more than 150 curated activities, offering unbeatable deals, exclusive rewards, and culturally immersive experiences across multiple sectors — from shopping and hospitality to wellness, entertainment, and air travel.
The campaign is supported by:
• Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK Malaysia)
• Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA)
• Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA)
• Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH)
• Malaysian Association of Theme Parks & Family Attractions (MATFA)
• Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG)
Key Highlights of MMSC 2025:
Midnight Sale Fiesta
Experience late-night shopping at AEON Mall Bukit Indah (25 & 26 July) with exclusive offers, balloon drops, lucky draws, live performances, and a vibrant food bazaar.
Miss SHOPhia Happy Hour
Enjoy flash deals and win prizes with a minimum spend of RM300 at: Bintang Megamall, Miri (4 to 6 July); Permaisuri Imperial City Mall, Miri (11 to 13 July).
Spice & Soul of Malaysia
Savour traditional Malaysian cuisine while enjoying cultural showcases at participating hotels in the Klang Valley.
Discounts of Up to 85%
Massive savings await at participating malls and outlets across the country.
Spend & Win
Stand a chance to win prizes worth up to MYR250,000, including a JAECOO J7 SUV and a luxury staycation at DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
Durian Season Offer
Book a two-day/one-night hotel stay in Penang and enjoy 50% off durian buffets and an exclusive durian farm experience.
Malaysia Airlines (MAG) Flight Promotions
Enjoy up to 30% off inbound flights to Malaysia from key markets, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, India, South Korea, France, and ASEAN countries.
The Malaysia Mega Sale Campaign 2025 plays a vital role in building momentum toward Visit Malaysia 2026, aiming to enhance Malaysia’s profile as a premier shopping, leisure, and cultural tourism destination. With its unique fusion of modern retail experiences and rich cultural heritage, Malaysia offers something for everyone — from bargain hunters to luxury shoppers and cultural explorers.
SINGAPORE, 23 June 2025: The Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Singapore have signed a three-year Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to accelerate the growth of business events and create new gateways for economic collaboration between Singapore and Japan.
This partnership reinforces Singapore’s position as the World’s Best MICE City while strengthening trade relations between the two countries.
Representatives from the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Singapore at the Memorandum of Cooperation signing ceremony. From left to right): Katsunori Nakazawa, JETRO; Junji Kurokawa, JETRO; Poh Chi Chuan, SECB; and Liew Li Lin, Embassy of Singapore (Tokyo).
Globally, the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is projected to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2032 (1).
The Asia-Pacific MICE tourism sector is expected to lead this expansion, driven by robust regional economies, rising business travel, and improved infrastructure.
Capitalising on this trend, Singapore continues to build a strong pipeline of MICE events across advanced manufacturing, financial services, green economy, life sciences and technology. Singapore’s key attributes of innovation, trust and safety, combined with JETRO’s
deep connections to Japanese industry leaders creates powerful synergies and unlocks new opportunities for business growth across the Asia-Pacific region.
The signing ceremony of the MoC took place last week at ‘The Dream Sphere’, Singapore’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
The pavilion tells the story of how Singapore transformed its hopes and dreams into realities, presented through a diverse lineup of innovative experiences and immersive storytelling that celebrates the flavours, creativity, people and cultural essence of Singapore, providing an ideal backdrop for deepening bilateral business relations.
Under this MoC, both organisations will work to bridge Japan’s growing and diverse economy with Singapore’s strengths as a premier destination for business events, enabling MICE events and delegates that convene in Singapore to expand their international outreach and foster meaningful collaborations.
The agreement also paves the way for both parties to elevate MICE standards through knowledge sharing, particularly in pivotal areas such as sustainability, productivity and digital innovation. In addition, both organisations will leverage their respective marketing channels to profile high-growth and emerging industries common to both Japan and Singapore.
Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau Executive Director Poh Chi Chuan said: “As a Global-Asia node for business, Singapore is home to a vibrant business community and a gateway to Asia Pacific, with unrivalled access to new markets. This first-of-its-kind collaboration with JETRO marks a major milestone in leveraging partnerships to accelerate MICE growth. We look forward to strengthening the MICE ecosystems in both Singapore and Japan and the opportunities this will bring.”
This timely partnership, amid global economic uncertainties, will further strengthen business cooperation and resilience and expand market opportunities in both countries.
JETRO Managing Director Junji Kurokawa said: “We aim to build an even stronger win-win relationship between our two countries. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore, and JETRO Singapore will celebrate its 70th anniversary. We look forward to this collaboration with SECB and hope that Japanese companies will leverage Singapore’s global events and platforms to explore new markets and expand their businesses. JETRO Singapore participates in the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), one of Asia’s largest innovation-related events held in Singapore in October.”
(1) Source: IMR, MICE Tourism Market: Global Industry Growth & Trend Analysis (accessed 3 Mar 2025)
HONG KONG, 23 June 2025: The Cathay Group released its traffic figures for May 2025 last week noting it had added six new destinations to its global network.
Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “As a Group, with the six new destinations added to our global network in May and June, we are delighted to have reached a total of 100 passenger destinations worldwide. This critical milestone underscores our commitment to enhancing the global connectivity of our Hong Kong hub, and we won’t stop there. This year, we have already announced many new destinations to be joining our network, with more exciting ones to come in the future.
Photo credit: Cathay Group.
“Throughout 2025, we have been very pleased to receive a number of esteemed accolades across our business units, and we are delighted that just this week, Cathay Pacific has been named one of the world’s top three best airlines in 2025 in the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards, in addition to being named World’s Best Economy Class Airline and winning World’s Best Inflight Entertainment. These recognitions encourage us to continue going above and beyond for our customers in pursuit of our vision of becoming one of the world’s greatest service brands.”
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific carried 36.1% more passengers in May 2025 compared with May 2024, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 31.2%. In the first five months of 2025, the number of passengers carried increased by 28.4% compared with the same period for 2024.
Lavinia commented: “While May has typically been a quieter month for our travel business, this year it exceeded expectations with load factor reaching 84.7% — the highest it has been in the month of May since 2015. This was boosted by strong long-haul demand from the early return of student traffic to Hong Kong and our well-received special fares campaign launched in February. Demand for business travel also remained robust, supported by traffic from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland and various long-haul destinations in the Americas and the United Kingdom. Looking ahead, we anticipate demand during the summer travel peak to be healthy, with Southeast Asia being especially popular among customers from our home market.
“May also marked the first stage of our extensive lounge enhancement plan at Hong Kong International Airport. With The Bridge’s reopening and The Deck serving as an interim first-class lounge, we are ensuring that our members and customers continue to enjoy a premium lounge experience during the renovation of The Wing lounges.”
Cathay Cargo
Cathay Cargo carried 12.2% more cargo in May 2025 than in May 2024. Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 8% while the load factor increased by 0.1 percentage points year on year. In the first five months of 2025, the total tonnage increased by 12.3% compared with the same period in 2024.
Lavinia said: “Our cargo business performed well in May, with tonnage 1.8% higher than in April. Despite the ‘Golden Week’ holidays, we saw growth in both the Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland markets, with the temporary reduction in tariffs pending an agreement between China and the United States boosting short-term demand. In addition, our Cathay Live Animal solution experienced robust demand, particularly exports of live seafood from Southeast Asia and horses from Australia. Turning to June, we expect that the overall market sentiment will remain reasonable, and we will continue to maintain a close watch.
“We are also delighted that Cathay Cargo has been named Airline of the Year – Asia at the World Air Cargo Awards 2025 hosted by Air Cargo Week, recognising our commitment to innovation, quality, compliance and operational excellence, and our ongoing efforts to strengthen Hong Kong as a leading global air cargo hub.”
HK Express
HK Express carried more than 640,000 passengers in May, marking an increase of 35.7% year on year, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) grew by 42.6%. In the first five months of 2025, the number of passengers carried increased by 37.2% compared with the same period in 2024.
Lavinia commented: “In addition to sustaining its network expansion with the launch of new routes to Changzhou and Yiwu in May, HK Express achieved a new milestone by recording the highest monthly seat capacity in its history. That said, it will take time for demand growth to catch up with the additional capacity, resulting in a decrease in load factor compared with May last year.
“For June, HK Express has already launched new services to Cheongju and Daegu, with Miyako (Shimojishima) still to come later this month. We have also recently announced flights to Guiyang and Kuala Lumpur (Subang), launching in July and August, respectively.”
SINGAPORE 20 June 2025: Travel Meet Asia (TMA), organised by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific, is set to connect travel professionals across the leisure, MICE, and corporate sectors with an expanded exhibitor showcase, rich conference content, and curated networking experiences
Travel Meet Asia 2025, taking place on 25 and 26 June, will feature a strong lineup of exhibitors from around the world. This year’s edition brings together over 80% of international exhibitors, reflecting the event’s growing influence as a platform for strategic market entry and regional visibility. The strong exhibitor turnout reinforces TMA’s role as a key meeting ground for high-quality sourcing and long-term business partnerships across Asia Pacific.
Now a firm fixture in the region’s travel industry calendar, the event is poised to deliver unmatched opportunities for business generation, market insight, and strategic dialogue, attracting both local and international buyers, solution providers, and decision-makers from across the Asian travel landscape.
This year’s edition is held with the official endorsement of the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia, underscoring the country’s deepening commitment to regional tourism development and international cooperation. In a strong gesture of national support, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia, will grace the event as Guest of Honour, officially opening the show.
“We are proud to support Travel Meet Asia 2025 as it reflects Indonesia’s dedication to fostering innovation, building strategic partnerships, and accelerating tourism growth across the region. This platform is a clear demonstration of how collaboration drives opportunity for all,” said Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia.
A Showcase of Asia’s Vibrant Travel Market
Travel Meet Asia 2025 will welcome the largest gathering of Asia-based travel companies, with a focus on Indonesia, presenting a dynamic mix of exhibitors from across leisure, MICE, and corporate travel. With a refreshed exhibitor lineup, the show is designed to reconnect the travel ecosystem through strategic B2B engagements and product showcases. Confirmed exhibitors include The Ascott Limited, Meliá Hotels International, Resorts World Sentosa, DidaTravel Technology, Miki Travel, SUNRATE, and many more.
