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Cathay sets a passenger record in June

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HONG KONG, 23 July 2024: Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried about 92,000 passengers combined on 30 June, the highest daily number since the pandemic. 

Cathay Pacific released its traffic figures for June 2024 last week, showing the group’s airlines carried 1,837,706 passengers, an increase of 18.7% compared with June 2023. 

June’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 23.7% year-on-year. Passenger load factor decreased by 4.2 percentage points to 83.5%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 30% year-on-year. 

During the first six months of 2024, passengers carried increased by 36.4% to 10,659,601, against a 42.7% increase in ASKs and a 34.9% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period in 2023.

Travel peak

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau commented: “Following a slightly quieter month in May, travel sentiment rebounded in June with leisure travel on both long-haul and short-haul routes performing well. Demand for long-haul travel was driven by the peak season for returning student traffic, and load factors for the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe were each close to 90%. The resumption of our summer seasonal Barcelona service was also popular with customers, particularly those originating from Hong Kong, Spain and Australia.

“In terms of short-haul leisure travel, the Dragon Boat Festival and Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day long-holiday weekends drove strong demand from our home market, with Japan remaining a popular destination for our customers.”

Summer outlook

“The outlook for the summer travel peak remains robust across our network. Looking ahead, we will continue to introduce new destinations for our customers to explore,” said Lau. We were delighted to announce earlier this month that we will be launching a four-times-weekly service to Ningbo in August and a three-times-weekly seasonal service to Cairns between December and March next year, both of which we expect to be popular with customers. As a group, we have already announced 10 new destinations so far this year, seven of which have commenced services.”

 

 

Scoot sets up Sabang slot

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SINGAPORE, 23 July 2024: Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary, has confirmed it will launch a new route from its home base at Singapore Chang to Subang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, effective 1 September 2024. 

The low-cost airline will use an A320 to serve the route daily, marking a milestone by establishing an international service between Singapore Changi and Subang.

Six domestic routes* operate from Subang to destinations in Malaysia, and Firefly serves just one international route from Subang to Seletar Singapore (XSP). Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiary musters six flights daily on the XSP-SZB route using an ATR72, with the first flight departing XSP at 0635 and the last at 1830. Flight time is one hour and 25 minutes. 

Last week, TransNusa, an Indonesian low-cost airline, confirmed it plans to start daily flights between Jakarta and Subang in Malaysia on 1 August. Scoot’s announcement followed just days later, on 18 July, confirming it was introducing its daily flights on the Changi-Subang route, effective 1 September.

With the addition of Subang, Scoot’s route network will increase to 70 destinations, including Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), Kuantan, Kuching, Langkawi, Miri, Penang and Sibu in Malaysia. By September 2024, Scoot will operate 110 weekly flights to Malaysia.

Booking for flights to and from Subang opened 18 July via Scoot’s website and mobile app and gradually through other channels. For the short one-hour flight between Singapore and Subang, all-in economy class fares start at SGD83 and MYR108, inclusive of taxes.

Subang Airport (SZB) is 21.5 km from the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. The commute time is around 32 minutes by car. In contrast, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is 55.6 km from Kuala Lumpur, and it has a commute time of 32 minutes. 

Boost for business travel

Commenting on the news, business travel specialists FCM Travel Asia noted that business travellers who frequently fly between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur now have an alternative to travel between these two cities. 

“We have also seen a 17% uplift in business travellers flying from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, a popular business route within Asia, said  FCM Travel’s General Manager Southeast Asia Kenji Soh.

“Subang Airport is easily accessible with shorter waiting times, allowing business travellers to reach their destinations quickly, which makes it an alternative worth considering. With investments in Subang Airport, roads, and infrastructure expansion, business travellers will most certainly welcome the option of travelling in narrow-body jets from Changi Airport.”

Data from FCM Travel shows a 38% increase in customers travelling from Singapore to Malaysia from January to June 2024 compared to last year. The economic partnership between Singapore and Malaysia has thrived with significant bilateral investment flows between both countries with plans to foster new areas of cooperation in trade and investments, renewable energy and connectivity.

* Alor Setar, Johor Bharu, Kota Bharu, Langkawi,  Penang and Trengganu.

Emirates Travel Store opens in Hong Kong

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 19 July 2024: Emirates has officially opened its Travel store in Hong Kong, representing a significant milestone in its expansion in the city. 

It also marks the first Emirates Travel Store in the East Asia region as part of a retail blueprint that will roll out in phases across the wider Asian region and the airline’s global network.

Emirates’ travel store was officially inaugurated by Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Far East Orhan Abbas, in the presence of Shaikh Saoud Al Mualla, UAE Consul General and Sultan Alriyami, Emirates Area Manager for Hong Kong. The opening ceremony was also attended by distinguished guests, as well as trade and media partners.

The opening of the Emirates travel store in Hong Kong reinforces the airline’s commitment to providing a reimagined retail travel experience by bringing its world-renowned products, services and signature hospitality even closer to customers in the city. 

Located in the Nexxus Building, the latest concept store offers a comprehensive range of premium services, including flight reservations, ticketing, and personalised customer assistance.

“We are delighted to inaugurate the first Emirates travel store in the Far East region, in Hong Kong, to deliver an enhanced and exceptional service to our valued customers. The city has always been strategically important for us. By launching our first travel store in Central Hong Kong, we aim to offer our valued customers an elevated travel retail experience and better deliver Emirates’ hospitality at every step of the customer journey. In line with our ‘Fly Better’ promise, Emirates travel store combines advanced technology with personalised service provided by our well-versed travel consultants to ensure a seamless and enriching experience for our customers,” said Orhan.

Discover a World of Travel Possibilities at the Emirates Travel Store

The 1500 sqft retail space exudes a relaxing, lounge-like environment with its light and modern furniture. Customers can comfortably book their travel arrangements at the four dedicated customer service counters, which cater to flight reservations, ticketing, and general enquiries. Knowledgeable travel consultants accord customers with the renowned Emirates hospitality and personalised assistance from the moment tickets are purchased, enabling them to enjoy a seamless and enriching experience in planning travel itineraries tailored to their needs.

Sizeable interactive screens throughout the store encourage customers to capture amusing selfies with friends against iconic Emirates backgrounds. Smart technology-powered self-service screens minimise wait times and facilitate faster service, while LED screens showcase the latest Emirates products and promotional offers.

Another highlight of the new retail store is a limited-time Premium Economy Class seat display, which gives customers a firsthand preview of the exceptional comfort they will be treated to when flying in this sought-after cabin class. Customers visiting the store can also peruse a curated selection of Emirates official merchandise and travel accessories.

Emirates Soars to New Heights in Hong Kong

Emirates currently operates 21 flights per week between Hong Kong and Dubai. Underscoring its commitment to the Hong Kong market, the airline recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to boost inbound tourism to the city from various key areas across Europe and the Middle East. In addition, the revamped Emirates Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport has been re-opened to passengers. At the same time, coverage of its complimentary Chauffeur-drive service has been extended to include Business Class passengers in Hong Kong, further enhancing their travel experience.

Unlock Bonus Miles by Joining Emirates Skywards In-Store

To make the Emirates retail travel experience even more rewarding, customers who sign up for the award-winning loyalty programme Emirates Skywards using the in-store self-service kiosk between now and 31 July 2024 are entitled to a bonus of 2,000 Skywards Miles. Meanwhile, existing members can earn Skywards Miles at Emirates’ worldwide partners, such as hotels, airlines, car rentals, retail stores and banks, which they can then use to redeem reward tickets, upgrades or access to concerts and sports events. While visiting Dubai, members can accrue Miles with the airline’s partners throughout the city, including Dubai Mall, Arabian Adventures and Emirates Holiday. 

Learn more about Emirates Skywards here: https://www.emirates.com/english/skywards

Sabah targets UK birding community

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 19 July 2024: Sabah’s booth at the recently concluded Rutland Global BirdFair, United Kingdom, was a hive of activity, yielding 44 prospects.

The bird fair, which ran from 12 to 14 July saw Sabah Wildlife Resorts securing 19 leads, followed by 1 StopBorneo Wildlife with 14 leads, and Borneo Nature Tours with 11 leads.

Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (right) sharing views with Dr John Cordor of the World Pheasant Association. Also in the photo is Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jimit (left).

The Sabah delegation, led by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, also engaged with the event’s organiser, the World Pheasant Association, and wildlife writers and travel influencers.

Joniston, who chairs Sabah Tourism Board (STB), said the overwhelming interest garnered at the bird fair affirms Sabah’s rising reputation as a premier birding destination.

“Each prospect garnered is not only a business opportunity but a reflection of STB’s strategic global market positioning, which stresses our commitment to diversifying tourism offerings while conserving our natural heritage.

“Sabah involvement in the Global BirdFair is more than just a milestone in the birdwatching scene, and I am confident Sabah has the capacity to lead the way in responsible birding tourism with its participation.

“This reflects our commitment to the Sabah Maju Jaya development blueprint, where we promote sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship that boost birdwatching tourism through habitat preservation and enhancing visitor experiences,” he added.

Sabah delegation included STB Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jimit and Sabah Birdwatchers Association President Rod Pudin.

Julinus emphasised Sabah’s consistent presence at the birding event since 2009, ensuring the visibility of Sabah, North Borneo, as a brand and instilling market confidence.

“We are committed to positioning Sabah, North Borneo, as a preferred birding destination globally, offering value for money complemented by the other tourism attractions such as Sabah’s unique wildlife, culture and islands.

“STB will continue to participate in this global event and hope not only to solidify Sabah’s position as a premier birding destination but also to empower Sabah’s rural community via this niche tourism,” he said.

Tourism stakeholders from Sabah who attended the fair under the STB reported that they also received repeat visitors to the state in addition to new visitors.

One StopBorneo Wildlife’ Shavez Cheema commented: “I have attended other travel fairs in New York, Brunei and Germany in the recent past independently, but this event was by far the most productive and effective.

“We gained more prospective buyers from this single event for our grassroots group than all other events combined”, he added, thanking the Sabah Tourism Board for the opportunity.

Meanwhile, one UK bird enthusiast, Nina Morris, who has booked a tour to Sabah in August 2024, commented: “I’m very excited to visit Sabah again after 30 years. I can’t wait to experience the amazing birds and wildlife in Sabah.”

According to the Future Marketing Insight report published in March 2024, the Ornithology Tourism market is valued at USD659.7 billion in 2024.

The top five countries forecasted to have a compound annual growth rate between 5%  and 9% are the US, Australia, China, Japan and India towards 2034.For more information on wildlife and birding tourism in Sabah, head to the website www.sabahtourism.com.

 

Air India teams up with luxury shopping villages

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TTR WEEKLY
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GURUGRAM, 19 JULY 2024: Air India has announced an exclusive new partnership with The Bicester Collection, a family of luxury shopping villages, for the airline’s recently redesigned Flying Returns loyalty programme. 

The partnership offers Flying Returns reward points on shopping and dining experiences at The Bicester Collection’s open-air luxury shopping villages in Western Europe.

Flying Returns members can collect five points for every GBP4 or EUR4 spent at any of The Bicester Collection’s Villages in Europe. The villages are located a one-hour or less commute from the major cities — London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, Brussels, Dublin, Madrid, and Barcelona. 

To earn Reward Points, members need to present their Air India Flying Returns digital membership card along with their receipts at Concierge Services in the villages.

The Bicester Collection’s villages are home to iconic global and European fashion and lifestyle brands offering exceptional savings all year round alongside five-star hospitality and services.

Air India Head of Marketing, Loyalty & E-commerce Sunil Suresh said: “This partnership aligns perfectly with our ongoing efforts to make the ‘reimagined’ Flying Returns a more robust and faster rewarding programme. 

“Adding The Bicester Collection to our rapidly growing network of ‘earn’ partners, we’re offering our loyal guests even more opportunities to accumulate points for the experiences they value.”

“The demand for luxury shopping among Indians continues to boom at a record pace, with Indians now being counted amongst the highest spenders during their travels across the world. We’re also equally excited to offer the benefits of this collaboration to our growing base of loyal guests across Europe, to whom we now offer many new ways of collecting Flying Returns points beyond just taking flights to and within India”, Suresh added

This announcement marks the latest step in the airline’s continuing effort to transform Flying Returns. It comes as the airline enters a new phase of its ongoing five-year transformation journey.

In April this year, Air India overhauled Flying Returns, introducing a simplified new structure, more customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity for the programme.

The revamped Flying Returns moves away from the legacy model of miles-based collection of points to a more equitable spend-based approach.

Over the last 18 months, Air India has added over 50 partners for Flying Returns to offer greater ease, more rewards, and recognition for its members.

Air India serves Europe with 94 weekly nonstop flights to India from 10 points, namely Amsterdam Schiphol, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Paris CDG, Vienna, and Zurich. 

As it continues to grow its global footprint, Air India has been scaling up its European operations, having inaugurated flights to Zurich last week and with additional flights to Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Milan taking off this month.

 

Searches make Samui a rising star

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 19 July 2024: Digital travel platform Agoda reports an increase in searches for Thailand’s Samui Island during June 2024, with international searches rising by 26% and domestic searches up by 8% compared to last year. 

The growing number of accommodation searches coincides with the buzz surrounding the third season of the popular TV show The White Lotus, which will feature the island.

Agoda’s data shows that the five top source markets driving searches are Israel, India, Germany, South Korea, and Malaysia, with Singapore, Japan, the UK, France, and the USA completing the top 10. 

Samui Island attracts more non-Asian accommodation searches than are registered for Thailand, with five out of the top 10 markets being non-Asian. In contrast, the US is the only non-Asian source market appearing in the top 10 Thailand searches. 

Agoda Senior Vice President Supply Andrew Smith shared: “Samui Island’s growing appeal is evident from the increased search activity on our platform. The island’s distinctive charm, combined with the buzz around The White Lotus, draws more international and domestic travellers.”

Samui’s popularity is expected to gain a further boost thanks to the popular HBO TV show The White Lotus. The show, which was filmed on the island earlier this year, is expected to be released in 2025. The cast includes stars like Patrick Schwarzenegger and Thailand’s BLACKPINK’s megastar LaLisa Manobal.

(SOURCE: Agoda)

 

Thai AirAsia moves back to Bangkok’s DMK

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 19 July 2024: Thai AirAsia X (XJ) will relocate its flight operations to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport starting 1 October 2024. 

Thai AirAsia X currently operates from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Some AirAsia flights (FD) and an AirAsia X flight (D7) to Kuala Lumpur remain at BKK.**

Thai AirAsia X back home at DMK effective 1 October.

Effective 1 October, Thai AirAsia X guests flying to Seoul, South Korea; Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo in Japan; Shanghai, China; and Sydney, Australia, will depart from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, which is located in the northern suburb of the Thai capital, 25 km from the city centre. 

The relocation by Thai AirAsia X will improve the network contribution between AirAsia’s domestic and regional flights and Thai AirAsia X’s East Asia and Sydney Australia services. It will also save connecting passengers from having to transfer by taxi between the two airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, a distance of 50 km.

Thai AirAsia X Chief Executive Officer Tassapon Bijleveld commented: “The return of Thai AirAsia X to Don Mueang Airport is a homecoming. We will be joining the strong and extensive AirAsia network, which has a domestic market share of over 40% in Thailand and a vibrant international network that encompasses Greater China, India and South Asia, Asean and Japan representingl 93 routes served by 1,250 flights a week to provide a wealth of opportunities for FlyThru services.”

Guests booked on Thai AirAsia X (flight code XJ) for travel from 1 October 2024 onwards will automatically depart from Don Mueang Airport without contacting the airline. However, they should note that if their flight falls on 1 October, the changeover will be effective at 0001 on 1 October.  

From 1 August 2024 onwards, guests will also receive a notification by email, SMS or the contact channel provided to the airline with appropriate offers and advice on its relocation to Don Mueang Airport.

Thai AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of eight Airbus A330 aircraft, which will increase to 11 aircraft by the end of 2024. To support its growth, the airline expects to receive three to five new aircraft annually.

**For Thai AirAsia (flight code FD) flights connecting Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai and AirAsia X (flight code D7) Suvarnabhumi-Kuala Lumpur continues to operate at Suvarnabhumi Airport as usual**

 

Hong Kong sweeps top bar honours

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 19 July 2024: Hong Kong’s Bar Leone made history on Tuesday evening as the first new entry to claim the top spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. 

This also marked the fourth consecutive year that a Hong Kong bar was named the region’s best, reinforcing the city’s position as the gastronomy capital of Asia.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board partnered with Asia’s 50 Best Bars to bring the event — one of the region’s most prestigious annual surveys of cocktail tastes and trends — to the city for the second year. 

The multi-day festival-like celebration saw the region’s best bar talent headlining guest shifts at some of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed cocktail salons and drinking dens in the lead-up to the main event on 16 July, welcoming over 1000 of Asia’s leading bartenders, drinks industry professionals and tastemakers to the city.

“The feeling of standing atop Asia’s 50 Best Bars list is one I never could have imagined just over a year ago when we were just a small team. Hong Kong’s bar scene is a crucible of competition, constantly evolving to reflect the city’s vibrant diversity. To be recognised as the best in Asia is a true testament to the unwavering passion and relentless drive of our crew. We are beyond blessed to call Hong Kong home, and we will continue pouring our hearts into creating an experience that does justice to this remarkable city we love.” said Lorenzo Antinori, owner of Bar Leone.

The 2024 list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars once again affirmed Hong Kong’s standing as a global epicentre for exceptional bar talent and innovation. Hong Kong claimed more spots than any other destination in the top 10, underscoring the depth and breadth of the city’s world-class bar scene. 

Nine homegrown establishments featured on the prestigious ranking, including esteemed venues such as COA (4), Argo (9), The Aubrey (10), Darkside (17), The Savory Project (19), Penicillin (24), Quinary (26), and Mostly Harmless (45).

In addition to welcoming the region’s leading bartenders and tastemakers for a full roster of guest shifts, Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 also saw the first time the 50 Best Signature Sessions were held in Hong Kong. These collaborative events saw Hong Kong institutions partner with some of the world’s very best bars for cocktail lovers to enjoy.

The resounding success of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 reinforced Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class gastronomy destination. The event was also the first three-year partnership between HKTB and 50 Best. This partnership will see two more high-profile 50 Best events take place in Hong Kong over the next two years, presenting an exciting opportunity for Hong Kong to continue to showcase its world-class hospitality scene.

Hong Kong woos airlines with new incentives

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 19 July 2024: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has introduced a new programme to incentivise airlines to open more routes and increase flights to Hong Kong. 

The aim is to strengthen the position of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as an international aviation hub.

Following the Early Bird Guaranteed Landing Charge Rebate Scheme, which ended in March this year, AAHK launched the new Airport Network Development Programme in June 2024 after consulting with local and foreign airline representatives. The programme includes two schemes: the New Route Scheme and the Strategic Development Scheme.

Under the New Route Scheme, all passenger and cargo airlines that launch new destinations connecting to HKIA with a defined continuity will be eligible for financial incentives for two years. Airlines now operating at HKIA and airlines that are new to HKIA are eligible to receive incentives, which are open for applications until 31 December 2027.

The Strategic Development Scheme encourages airlines to operate routes aligned with AAHK’s strategy. Any passenger and cargo airlines that launch new routes and increase frequencies to AAHK’s targeted regions or countries will be granted financial incentives for three years. In addition, to encourage airlines to use the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park (HKIALP) for air cargo operation, the same offer will also apply to any incremental cargo flights provided that all cargoes on board are accepted at HKIALP in Dongguan.

AAHK Acting Chief Executive Officer Vivian Cheung said: “Air network connectivity is pivotal to an international aviation hub like HKIA. While we are confident in HKIA’s long-term development, the new programme encourages home-based and foreign airlines to launch new routes and/or increase flights connecting to HKIA. The programme has already received positive response from airlines since its launch last month. AAHK will continue to engage with existing local and foreign airlines at HKIA and is reaching out to other airlines.”

In addition, AAHK has been sponsoring airlines to generate promotional activities for launching new routes at HKIA. 

 

AirAsia launches Bangkok-Phu Quoc route

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 19 July 2024: AirAsia introduces its latest route between Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Vietnam’s popular tourist island, Phu Quoc. 

A must-visit destination, the Bangkok Don Mueang-Phu Quoc service will commence on 27 October 2024 with a daily flight using an A320.

Flight FD660 departs Bangkok (DMK) at 1200 and arrives in Phu Quoc at 1320.
Flight FD661 departs Phu Quoc at 1350 and arrives in Bangkok (DMK) at 1515.

Promotional fares starting from THB1,450 are available for bookings via AirAsia MOVE and airasia.com until 28 July 2024 for travel from 27 October 2024 until 29 March 2025.

Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya said: “Vietnam is one of the countries where AirAsia will expand its network to cater to the growing demand for air travel brought about by the many cities that the country has successfully developed as tourism centres. This latest route reaffirms AirAsia’s position as the provider of the most direct flights between Thailand and Vietnam; we fly on six routes to five cities across the country. We are proud to note that Thai AirAsia is the only airline serving Phu Quoc directly from Don Mueang, offering guests on-time service at great affordability.”

Phu Quoc is the southernmost island of Vietnam, close to the border with Cambodia. While not yet widely known among Thai travellers, it offers a range of interesting attractions, such as the island’s Starfish Beach and gondola rides at Vietnam’s largest amusement park, VinPearl Grand World, dubbed the Venice of Vietnam. Other attractions include VinWonders Phu Quoc, VinPearl Sea Shell Aquarium and VinPearl Safari Phu Quoc for animal viewing, the longest overseas cable car ride in the world at Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park, and Sunset Town, the Mediterranean-style setting with Vietnamese twists ideal for leisure strolls.  

Thai AirAsia now operates 77 weekly flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Hanoi (14), Ho Chi Minh City (21), Danang (21), Nha Trang (7) and Phu Quoc (7), while from Chiang Mai the airline flies to Hanoi (7).

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