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Singaporeans take a shine to WA

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 31 October 2024: Western Australia ranked as the #1 destination in Australia for Singapore travellers, April to June 2024, welcoming over 34,000 visitors within the quarter. 

Based on the recently published June 2024 International and National Visitor Survey by Tourism Research Australia, Singapore travellers also notably made up the #2 largest volume of global visitors to Western Australia in 2024 — with over 99,000 visitors to date — and the #1 from APAC.

With Western Australia becoming a popular travel destination for Singapore visitors, Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA) announced seasonal direct flights to Broome from Singapore by Jetstar Asia earlier this year. This service makes Jetstar Asia the only airline offering international flights to regional Western Australia, marking the first instance of regular scheduled services between the two locations. The seasonal service will recommence in April 2025 and offer twice-weekly return services yearly between Singapore and the coastal town of Broome.

Consumer demand lifts airline passenger traffic

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 31 October 2024: Preliminary September 2024 traffic figures released Tuesday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed healthy growth in both international air passenger and cargo markets, driven by robust consumer and business demand.

The region’s airlines registered an 18.8% year-on-year growth in the number of international passengers carried to a combined total of 29.2 million in September. Traffic volumes averaged 97.5% of the corresponding month in 2019. Demand as measured in revenue passenger kilometres recorded a 19.3% year-on-year increase, reflecting strength in long-haul travel markets. The average international passenger load factor edged 0.4 percentage points higher to 80.5% in September, following an 18.7% expansion in available seat capacity.

Air cargo demand remained resilient heading into the year-end festive season despite a slowdown in the wider global manufacturing sector. International air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by 8.9% year-on-year in September. After accounting for a 9.4% increase in offered freight capacity, the average international freight load factor declined marginally by 0.3 percentage points to 60.2% for the month.

Commenting on the results,  AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said: “Asian airlines have seen robust growth in travel markets this year. Leisure demand remained buoyant, driving increases in tourist arrivals across the region. Meanwhile, business travel was underpinned by the region’s growing economies.”

He added: “Air cargo markets continued to expand, driven by the increases in export volumes from key manufacturing economies in Asia, including China, India, Japan and South Korea.”

“Overall, during the first nine months of the year, the number of international passengers carried by Asia Pacific airlines rose by 34% to an aggregate total of 269 million, while international air cargo demand registered a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.”

Looking ahead, Menon explained: “The global economy is expected to grow by 3.2% this year and in 2025, supporting expansion in both travel and air cargo markets. However, this may be undermined by uncertainties stemming from increasing geopolitical risks and rising trade protectionism. Although the overall decline in jet fuel prices this year has helped to moderate rising costs, airlines continue to face challenges in fleet renewal and network growth due to ongoing supply chain disruptions and aircraft delivery delays.”

Pandaw names customer service head

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 31 October 2024: Pandaw Cruises has announced the appointment of Antoni Strachan as customer services manager based in the Pandaw headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam. 

Photo credit: Pandaw.

This week, an agent and partner update noted that Strachan heads up the river cruise line’s reservations team after a smooth handover from former reservations team leader James Talbot, who no longer works with Pandaw. 

Pandaw’s 2024/2025 peak season for exploring the iconic rivers of Southeast Asia and India gets underway, and bookings for itineraries are filling up fast from November 2024 through to April 2025.

For more information on the cruises, head to the website https://www.pandaw.com/.

Emirates strengthen Vietnam ties

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 31 October 2024: Emirates has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Vietnam Airlines and VietJet to strengthen connectivity and offer more travel choices between Dubai and its Vietnamese gateways, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Vietnam – UAE Business Forum, held at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai on 28 October. 

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer attended the signing ceremony along with government leaders, ministers, and business representatives from both countries. Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Far East delivered a keynote highlighting the airline’s commitment to deepening its presence in Vietnam, a market it has been serving since 2012, supporting trade and tourism links between the UAE and Vietnam, as well as offering customers convenient travel options.

Adnan Kazim commented: “Enhancing our cooperation with like-minded partners like Vietnam Airlines and VietJet is integral to our core commercial strategy to better connect customers across points beyond our own network. Vietnam is a market that presents tremendous opportunities to boost tourism and trade as a key hub in Southeast Asia. Emirates supports the UAE government’s ongoing efforts to elevate its existing economic ties with Vietnam. Our decades-long cooperation with Vietnam Airlines has enabled us to enhance connectivity between Vietnam and Dubai, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to explore further elevating this partnership while also establishing a new strategic cooperation with VietJet.

We look forward to growing our footprint in Vietnam and exploring more opportunities to widen the scope of our partnerships in the future.”

Emirates and Vietnam Airlines MoU

The MoU sets the framework for expanding the current cooperation between both airlines. This includes enhancing connectivity on routes beyond the existing interline and the potential to add reciprocal loyalty benefits. The airlines will also enter exploratory discussions around potential collaborations across cargo and technical services to create seamless travel experiences.

The long-standing relationship between Emirates and Vietnam Airlines, which began with bilateral interline cooperation in 1994, has helped connect customers to 22 domestic and 15 regional points in Vietnam Airline’s network, as well as 12 points in Emirates’ global network.

Emirates and VietJet MoU 

Through Emirates’ MoU with VietJet, both airlines will explore joint initiatives to help promote visitor traffic between the UAE and Vietnam, as well as strengthen commercial cooperation between both carriers. The MoU will further aim to enhance connectivity to popular destinations in VietJet’s domestic and regional network via Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, among others, while offering VietJet customers increased access to Emirates’ global network via its Dubai hub on a single itinerary and one baggage policy.

Emirates currently operates daily services to both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, utilising its Boeing 777 and offering travellers seamless access to Vietnam and popular destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. The airline will further add a second daily flight to Ho Chi Minh City starting from 15 January 2025, catering to the growing demand for travel ahead of the Lunar New Year festival.

www.emirates.com

Princess Cruises returns to Singapore

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 31 October 2024: Princess Cruises returns to its seasonal homeport in Singapore from December 2025 to February 2026, offering 10 to 21-day cruises on Diamond Princess. 

Cruises will feature 10 destinations in Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, starting with Diamond Princess sailing a 12-day repositioning cruise from Yokohama on 25 November 2025. The ship will visit Toba, Osaka, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Ho Chi Minh City before arriving in Singapore on 6 December to kick off its Singapore season.

Singapore season highlights 

Christmas & New Year – 14-day Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and featuring Sihanoukville (Cambodia): 23 December, 2025 to 6 January, 2026

Christmas will be celebrated at sea on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with festivities and festive food onboard. The ship will arrive on Boxing Day in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and then go to Ho Chi Minh City the next day. Guests can visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat when the ship docks at Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on 29 December. 

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will also be celebrated at sea before sailing to Phuket, Langkawi, Penang and Kuala Lumpur and arriving in Singapore on 6 January.

Southeast Asia Grand Adventures: Double Chinese New Year cruises to usher in the Year of the Earth Snake

These two itineraries can be combined for an unforgettable 21-day Southeast Asia Grand Adventure roundtrip from Singapore.

10-day Vietnam with Halong Bay sailing roundtrip from Singapore on 20 January and visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, including two days at Halong Bay/Hanoi and then to Danang before sailing to Singapore. Chinese New Year falls on 29 January, and it will be celebrated onboard at sea.

11-day Malaysia & Thailand from Singapore on 30 January with stops in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Phuket, Penang, Samui Island and Bangkok. Late Night Ashore in Laem Chabang (for Bangkok & Pattaya) before arriving in Singapore on 10 February. Chinese New Year is celebrated for 14 days, so the festivities continue onboard.

Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam

16-day Scenic Cruising – 7 to 23 December 2025: For those who love to spend more days at sea, this cruise includes seven days at sea in between visiting Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Phuket, Nha Trang, with two days in Halong Bay, before sailing for Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.

14 days Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam – 6 to 20 January 2026: Visits seven ports, comprising Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok.

Valentine’s Day 14-day Repositioning Cruise from Singapore to Japan

Diamond Princess will reposition to Japan on 10 February when she sets sail from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hong Kong, Taipei, Osaka, Shimizu (for Mt Fuji) and arrives in Yokohama on 24 February. Valentine’s Day on 14 February will be celebrated at sea in Vietnam. 

Diamond Princess to sail its longest season in Japan in 2026

The 2,670-guest Diamond Princess, built in Japan, returns to Japan to offer a longer season in 2026, from February through November 2026. The 2026 season will offer 50 departures ranging in length from seven to 28 days on 35 itineraries, visiting 38 destinations in three countries.

The season offers opportunities to view the famed Spring Flowers, experience the epic Fall Foliage, and enjoy five top festivals, including the Aomori Nebuta Festival and the Kumano Fireworks Festival.  

Cirium releases 2024 Fleet Forecast Report

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TTR WEEKLY
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LONDON, 31 October 2024: The aviation industry is entering its next growth cycle, with the Cirium Fleet Forecast 2024 predicting continued demand for new aircraft as airlines seek newer aircraft and expand their fleets.

Cirium, a trusted source of aviation analytics data, has published its 2024 Fleet Forecast Report for 12 consecutive years. The 2024 report predicts that as airlines continue to invest in newer and more sustainable aircraft, the aviation market is expected to deliver 45,900 new passenger aircraft, freighters and turboprop aircraft with a total value of US$3.3 trillion in the next 20 years.

The 2024 Cirium Fleet Forecast comes as the aviation industry faces delays in aircraft deliveries due to supply chain issues. The report predicts that, compared to 2023, aircraft deliveries will decrease by 5% from 2024 to 2027 due to supply chain shortages.

According to the 2024 forecast report data, as of the fourth quarter of 2024, 26,100 aircraft will be in service, a 5% increase from January 2020, when the epidemic broke out. This trend shows that the aviation industry is experiencing strong growth and recovery.

Single-aisle aircraft deliveries and operations increased by 13%, driving growth and recovery in the aviation industry. The number of twin-aisle aircraft is 3% below pre-pandemic levels. The number of regional aircraft in service is also 8% lower than before the pandemic, with turboprop aircraft experiencing the largest drop, up to 13%.

The Cirium Fleet Forecast 2024 analysis shows that 45,900 new aircraft will be delivered between 2024 and 2043, of which approximately 98% will be passenger aircraft. Available seat kilometres (ASK) are expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.4% compared to 2023.

Airbus and Boeing will continue to dominate commercial aircraft manufacturing, expected to deliver 84% of aircraft, a proportion expected to rise to 90% by 2043, while COMAC is expected to capture 6% of demand. Other OEMs such as ATR and Embraer will also have approximately $180 billion in demand over the next 20 years, including possible new projects.

Asia will continue to be the leading region for aircraft growth, accounting for 45% of total aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years, with China accounting for approximately 20%, almost equal to North America’s total.

The rise of commercial aviation in India also drives growth in aircraft deliveries. The number of passenger aircraft in India is expected to increase from 720 at the end of 2023 to more than 3,800 over the next 20 years. This report is the first to analyse the Indian aviation market separately.

“The aviation industry is entering its next growth cycle, and the Cirium Fleet Forecast 2024 shows that the demand for new aircraft will continue to grow as airlines seek newer aircraft and expand their fleets,” said Cirium Ascend Consultancy, global head Rob Morris.

“However, supply chain issues and other manufacturing issues will continue to delay OEM deliveries, leading to uncertainty in delivery times for many airlines, and we have factored this into our 2024 forecasts.”

With markets such as India growing significantly, competition among manufacturers is set to intensify over the next 20 years, and airlines will continue to invest in their fleets.

The 2024 forecast also notes sustainability challenges and net zero emissions, with fleet expansion needing to be balanced with new aircraft efficiencies to reduce unit emissions.

In addition, according to the 2024 forecast report, due to the slowdown in long-distance passenger traffic after the epidemic, single-aisle aircraft are expected to lead the growth of the aviation industry in the next 20 years, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3.9%, exceeding the 3.3% of double-aisle aircraft. Regional aircraft are expected to grow moderately at a rate of 0.8% per year.

Click here to download the full summary of the 2024 Cirium Fleet Forecast.

(Source: BusinessWire)

AirAsia launches five routes in three days

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 31 October 2024: With the year-end peak travel and holiday season just around the corner, AirAsia has ramped up its international services on five international routes from Thailand over the past three days. 

AirAsia’s inaugural flights took off from Bangkok-Don Mueang to Hyderabad, India (27 October) and Phu Quoc, Vietnam (27 October). 

Flights to two Indian cities from Phuket.

On Phuket Island maiden flights departed for Indian cities of Kolkata (27 October) and Chennai (30 October), and Siem Reap in Cambodia on 29 October. 

In collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Don Mueang Airport and Phuket Airport, AirAsia held welcoming ceremonies for arriving inbound guests on the initial flights at the respective airports. 

With these new services, Thai AirAsia is confident it will see significant growth during the last quarter and achieve its passenger target of flying 20 to 21 million guests for the year.

Thai AirAsia Head of Commercial Tansita Akrarittipirom said: “The Indian market has grown remarkably this year, and buoyed by this exciting trend, AirAsia decided to add three more new routes to India, connecting Thailand now to 12 cities in India via 14 routes. Based on the growth in travel demand between both countries, we expect to close the year with an average load factor of over 90% for our Indian routes. Feedback from our recent media event in Hyderabad to promote Thailand further reaffirms and supports our projection. 

“Closer to home, we are just as excited to launch our first-ever route to Phu Quoc in Vietnam, a wonderful city boasting endless tourist attractions and Siem Reap in Cambodia, home of the world’s largest religious structure, Angkor Wat.”

MSC schedule Alaska sailings

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 30 October 2024: MSC Cruises will launch Alaska itineraries for the first time, with seven-night sailings available May-September 2026.

The cruise line’s MSC Poesia will depart Seattle weekly and call at destinations in Alaska and Canada. Starting this week, itineraries will be available for booking from the ship’s home port.

PRNewsFoto/MSC Cruises USA. MSC Poesia.

Guests sailing to Alaska will be able to enjoy the region’s unrivalled beauty, breathtaking scenery, magnificent wildlife and rich Alaska Native cultural heritage while visiting a wide variety of the region’s most picturesque destinations including Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Tracy Arm, and Juneau (Alaska), along with Victoria (British Columbia, Canada).

MSC Poesia is a mid-sized ship designed to explore the narrow channels of the Inside Passage and stunning glaciers up close. 

Cruise highlights

Icy Strait Point, Alaska: Alaska’s first Indigenous-owned cruise destination is set amid more than 23,000 acres of private beach and temperate rainforest about a mile from Alaska’s largest Tlingit village, Hoonah. 

Juneau, Alaska: The state capital is only accessible by air or sea, which makes a cruise the perfect way to experience Juneau’s snow-capped mountains, historic landmarks and breathtaking views. 

Ketchikan, Alaska: The best fishing town in Alaska offers prime opportunities for catching or eating wild salmon and spotting the abundant population of bald eagles attracted by the fish. 

Tracy Arm, Alaska: The journey along Tracy Arm is as amazing as the destination, with every hairpin turn along the way to the Sawyer Glaciers revealing something new. Entering the narrow fjord, guests will marvel at cliffs rising 3,000 feet along either side of the narrow and winding passage. 

Victoria, British Columbia: The calm waters of the Salish Sea and the towering rainforests of Vancouver Island surround a city known for its British heritage, colourful gardens, and magnificent architecture such as striking architectural marvels like the famed Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel. 

Europe delivers growth for DidaTravel

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TTR WEEKLY
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SHENZEN, China, 30 October 2024: DidaTravel, the global B2B travel distributor, announces rapid outbound travel growth across its European source markets. Significant year-over-year growth exceeding +100% from the UK, Irish, German, Spanish, and French markets. 

In the past 12 months, Japan, Thailand, UAE, and the USA have been among Dida’s most ‘in-demand’ destinations in Europe’s outbound travel source markets.

Regarding European destinations, Dida’s inbound bookings from source markets worldwide are soaring, with the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain registering a +100% growth in inbound room night production. 

In a further signal that the Chinese market is recovering strongly post-pandemic, Dida registered +203% year-over-year growth in Chinese inbound visitors to Europe, with the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy among the most popular destinations. 

2024 sales significantly outperformed 2023. This growth highlights Europe’s increasing significance in the company’s business, which now represents over 22% of its revenue. The company’s top five best-performing European outbound source markets include the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.

United Kingdom: The UK represents a major source market for DidaTravel, and in the past 12 months, this market has registered +113% growth compared to the same period a year previously. The top five destinations for the UK market are the USA, Japan, Thailand, Italy, and the UAE.

Ireland: DidaTravel’s portfolio has also witnessed a steady upward trajectory in the Irish market. YTD, the growth rate in Total Transaction Value (TTV) hit +107%. The top five destinations for Irish travellers included the USA, Italy, UK, Indonesia, and Thailand. 

Germany: Its YTD 2024 sales growth hit an impressive +261% growth, in part driven by the high demand for the Euro 2024 tournament back in July. The top five destinations for the German market, are Thailand, USA, Japan, Spain and UAE. 

Spain: Sales to the Spanish source market have jumped by an impressive +162% in the past year. The top five destinations for Spanish travellers are Japan, the USA, Indonesia, Italy, and France. 

France: The French source market continues to go from strength to strength for Dida, with a growth rate of +239% year-to-date. The USA, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and the UK were the top destinations French visitors booked on Dida’s platform. 

Meet DidaTravel at WTM London, stand 328, Hall S3, from 5 to 7 November,  ExCeL, London.

Finnair boosts US and Asia flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 30 October 2024: Finnair will add flights to its popular US destinations Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and Los Angeles, as well as to Nagoya and Osaka in Japan and Shanghai in China for the summer season 2025*.  

Finnair will fly up to daily to Chicago and to Dallas up to 11 times per week in the summer 2025 which is five frequencies more than the service to Dallas in summer 2024. In addition, both Seattle and Los Angeles will get two additional weekly frequencies.  

Photo credit Finnair. Starting in March 2025, Finnair flies daily to Osaka, the vibrant host city of World Expo 2025.

“Increasing our capacity to the United States brings our customers excellent connectivity to North America and beyond. Customers can connect via Dallas and Chicago to our partner American Airlines’ extensive network in North and South America, while Seattle and Los Angeles offer a gateway to, for example, other parts of the West Coast and Hawaii through our partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines”, said Finnair’s Chief Revenue Officer Christine Rovelli in a press statement last week. 

In addition to the US, Finnair will add capacity to Japan and China. Next summer, Finnair will fly daily to Osaka, which hosts the World Expo 2025. Nagoya, which Finnair reopened last summer, also gets one additional weekly flight, and Finnair will fly to Nagoya four times per week. From Nagoya and Osaka, it is easy to explore other cities in Japan. For example, Kyoto – with its beautiful temples and gardens – is only a 1.5-hour train ride away from Osaka Kansai Airport.  

Finnair will also add one weekly flight to Shanghai in China, flying there four times per week during the summer season 2025.  

* Summer season 2025: 30 March 2025 to 25 October 2025.

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