SINGAPORE, 11 September 2024: Jetstar Asia (3K) will resume flights between Singapore and Medan, Indonesia, on 1 November after a four-year suspension.
Jetstar Asia will become the only low-cost carrier to fly directly between these two exciting cities. Medan will become the Singapore low-cost carrier’s fourth Indonesian destination, alongside Jakarta, Denpasar, and Surabaya.
The daily return service from Singapore’s Changi Airport to Medan’s Kualanamu International Airport will have the seating capacity to accommodate 130,000 travellers annually between Singapore and the capital of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province.
Special fares are now on sale to celebrate the launch, starting from SGD79*, with an exclusive rate of SGD74* for Club Jetstar members.
Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone said resuming flights on the route reflected Jetstar Asia’s commitment to expanding its presence in Indonesia.
“Indonesia is a key market for our business and leisure travellers, and with the reintroduction of our services to Medan, we’ll now be operating over 40 flights to Indonesia each week,” Simeone said. “We’re delighted to reconnect our customers with Medan, a city that offers rich cultural experiences and economic opportunities.
“Being the only LCC to offer direct flights on this route underscores our commitment to making travel more accessible and affordable.”
Flight schedule
From Friday, 1 November 2024 *One-way sale fares are available on jetstar.com from 1000 (SGT) on Tuesday, 10 September 2024, until 1159 (SGT) on Monday, 16 September.
KUALA LUMPUR, 10 September 2024: Taipei will host the 2025 World Masters Games, and the city’s delegation attending the MATTA Fair last weekend extended an invitation to sports enthusiasts in Malaysia to participate in the prestigious international event.
The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years that attracts tens of thousands of athletes to new locations. Officially the world’s largest multi-sport participatory event, the Games will have its 11th edition in 2025 after visiting Canada, Italy, Australia, Denmark, and New Zealand. Taipei City will host the event from 17 to 30 May 2025.
Taipei City fielded a strong delegation led by 20 industry representatives who attended the 2024 MATTA Fair, Malaysia’s premier travel event, from 6 to 8 September.
Taipei City Government’s Secretary-General, Lee Tai-Hsin and Commissioner of the Department of Information and Tourism, Wang Chiu-Tung, led the delegation showcasing Taipei’s diverse tourism offerings under the theme “Tap Into Taipei”.
Wong, in discussions with Malaysian tour operators on the sidelines of the MATTA Fair, highlighted how Taipei is now even more accessible to Malaysian travellers as the city’s tourism office has rolled out special discounts and packages.
Until 30 November, Malaysians in Taipei can enjoy a 10% discount on selected hotels and complimentary breakfasts by presenting their passports.
For Muslim travellers, Taipei offers tailored packages that include Muslim-friendly dining and accommodations, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
In 2023, CrescentRating awarded Taipei the “Most Promising Muslim-friendly City Destination of the Year — Non-OIC,” boosting its appeal to Muslim travellers.
Over the three-day fair, the Taipei Pavilion presented a variety of engaging activities designed to catch the attention of fair-goers with a taste of Taipei’s unique culture and experiences:
Culinary Showcase: Renowned Chef William Lo from Taipei’s Grand Hyatt demonstrated the art of “Colourful Bubble Tea,” showcasing the innovation of Taipei’s food culture.
Scented Journey in Dadaocheng: Experience crafting Moon Rabbit-shaped scented candles with artisan Grandpapa.
Discover Taipei Quiz: An interactive session highlighting Taipei’s top tourist spots, complete with fun quizzes and prizes.
Photo Opportunities: Visitors captured special pavilion moments depicting cultural landmarks, including a replica of Taipei 101. They could redeem exclusive gifts by posting pictures with the hashtag #TapIntoTaipei.
Premium Brand Presentations: Leading Taipei brands showcased hot spring resorts, accommodation options, agricultural experiences and exclusive insights into Taipei’s tourism products by specialised associations. They included the Taipei Hot Spring Association and Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association (TLFDA), which highlighted exclusive hot spring and eco-tourism packages.
Secretary-General Lee Tai-Hsin emphasised the strategic importance of the MATTA Fair as a platform to strengthen tourism ties with Malaysia.
During the visit, the Taipei delegation met with Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee Chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim, MATTA President Nigel Wong, and MCTA President Patrick Law to explore opportunities for tourism collaborations between key Malaysian cities and Taipei. The goal was to boost visitors to Taipei and grow tourism revenue.
Commissioner Wang Chiu-Tung noted that the Taipei Pavilion showcased the city’s wide range of attractions, including new sites like the Taipei Dome, seasonal events such as the Hot Spring Season as well as marathons scheduled during autumn and winter. The spotlight at the fair shone on major celebrations such as Taipei’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and the 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival.
This recognition underscores Centara’s commitment to fostering a positive and supportive workplace environment that enhances employee engagement, productivity, and retention.
It follows Centara’s success at the end of last year when the company received the Kincentric Best Employers — Thailand 2023 award, further cementing its position as a leader in human resources management within the hospitality industry.
“We are honoured to receive this award as a testament to our dedication to our people and our commitment to growing together. By ensuring our team members are well-cared for, we enable them to pass on that positivity to our guests, creating memorable experiences for all,” stated Centara Hotels & Resorts Executive Vice President of Human Resources Siriwan Wangthamrong. “I’m incredibly proud of the projects we’ve spearheaded to strengthen our workplace culture at Centara, and we’re already looking ahead to how we can further improve and aim for even greater success next year.”
The Excellence in Workplace Culture category recognises organisations that strongly commit to diversity and inclusion, implement effective communication and collaboration strategies, and prioritise employee well-being and development.
The HR Excellence Awards 2024, Thailand, held its grand gala in Bangkok on 23 August 2024. Now in its fourth year, the event celebrated exceptional achievements in human resources across 37 diverse categories, with Centara’s bronze award highlighting its standing among key industry players. For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts career opportunities, visit HERE.
SINGAPORE, 10 September 2024: Pandaw will introduce a new-build river ship to sail its Kerala Backwaters cruise in South India starting October 2025.
The 10-cabin Kochi Pandaw has been specially designed for this specific cruise route while maintaining the much-loved classic Pandaw cabin and wraparound promenade decks. It will be Pandaw’s fourth ship in India and reflects the increasing demand for cruises on India’s iconic rivers and waterways.
The Kochi Pandaw will be built in a Kochi yard under the supervision of the Pandaw build team, which will be the fruit of an exciting collaboration between Pandaw managers and Kochi-based specialist naval architects.
Many Pandaw loyal guests are expected to combine this route with a river expedition on the Ganges or Brahmaputra, where Pandaw is well established as the premier operator. The Kerala backwaters offer an incredible diversity of culture in addition to breathtaking scenery, beaches and southern Indian cuisine.
The Kochi Pandaw will operate an eight-day weekly circular itinerary from Kochi port. It will visit the main towns and remote areas of the backwaters with its 900 km of waterways connecting rivers with lakes. There will be exciting visits to ancient churches, Hindu temples, artisan villages and the legendary beaches of the Malabar coast.
Cochin International Airport has flights connecting to Europe with Middle Eastern airlines and direct flights to most Southeast Asian cities, in addition to domestic flights connecting to most major Indian cities.
The airport is served by 28 airlines that fly to 52 airports worldwide. Numerous flights from aviation hubs in the Middle East, with Dubai leading with 203 flights monthly to Cochin, are available. Frequent connecting flights from Europe via airports in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, and Kuwait are also available.
In Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur has the most flights to Cochin on AirAsia, Batik Air and Malaysia Airlines. There are also flights from Bangkok’s two airports, DMK and BKK, on AirAsia, Thai Lion and THAI. Air India flies direct from Cochin to London, offering three-weekly flights.
SINGAPORE, 10 September 22024: Jazeera Airways believes early bird bookers should be rewarded — the earlier you book, the greater your savings.
In its latest promotion posted on the Kuwaiti airline’s Facebook page, if you book 91 to 120 days in advance, you get 30% off. The discount shrinks to 20% for bookings made 61 to 90 days upfront, and for bookings made 45 to 60 days in advance, the discount stands at 10%
To gain the discount, you must use promo code J9EARLY when booking before the sale ends on 14 September.
The airline flies to destinations in central and South Asia, as well as Africa, from its home base in Kuwait.
Flight Network
About Jazeera Airways Established in April 2004, Jazeera Airways is the first non-government-owned airline in the Middle East and continues to be one of the few private airlines based there. The airline is listed on Boursa Kuwait and serves more than 60 destinations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Europe, and Africa from its single hub in Kuwait. The airline operates a fleet of leased Airbus A320 and A320neo aircraft with a single-class cabin. Jazeera Airways owns and operates its terminal at Kuwait International Airport – Terminal 5 (T5).
SINGAPORE, 10 September 2024: Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has launched its first direct flight to Medan, Indonesia, marking its second destination in the country after Jakarta.
With four weekly flights scheduled from Jeddah (twice weekly) and Madinah (twice weekly), the new service aligns with Saudia’s commitment to contribute to the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030, particularly those related to serving pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques. The Saudi Vision 2023 targets 30 million Umrah pilgrims by 2030.
Photo credit: Saudia. Abdulaziz Ahmed, the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom (5th from left), KSA Sales at Saudia Assistant Vice President Wail Basaffar, and stakeholders attended the event.
Saudia celebrated the inaugural flight to Medan on 31 August with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. The event was attended by Abdulaziz Ahmed, the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom; KSA Sales at Saudia Assistant Vice President Wail Basaffar; and stakeholders.
Flight SV874 departs Madinah (MED) at 1420 and arrives in Medan (KNO), Indonesia, at 0325. The direct flights depart on Wednesday and Saturday using a Boeing 777-200/300.
Flight SV877 departs Medan at 0730 and arrives in Madinah at 1155. The flight time is approximately nine hours and five minutes.
Saudia’s international operations are continuously evolving to expand its market share and set new benchmarks for guest transportation for tourists, visitors, and pilgrims.
Saudia’s fleet of 144 aircraft plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts. The airline pledges to increase the volume of transit traffic between continents via the Kingdom, a key pillar of its strategic vision.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 10 September 2024: Qatar Airways won two accolades — the ‘World’s Best MICE Airline 2024’ and ‘Middle East’s Best MICE Airline 2024’ — at the World MICE Awards held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last week.
The World MICE Awards™ honour industry leaders for furthering global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, otherwise known as “business events”. This is the second consecutive year Qatar Airways won this recognition.
Photo credit: Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori, said: “Qatar Airways is proud to have received the World’s Best MICE Airline and Middle East’s Best MICE Airline 2024 awards for the second year.
“This recognition serves as a testament to our efforts in advancing the global MICE industry through our one-stop digital travel solution, QMICE, which offers exclusive fares, significant travel flexibility and exclusive benefits for MICE professionals.”
QMICE, along with the award-winning service, business class Qsuite, and Qsuite Next Gen, offers a stylish and convenient travel experience to over 170 destinations through the airline’s five-star award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport, which supports Doha as a leading venue for MICE.
SINGAPORE, 10 September 2024: Polish eSky Group acquires one of the most recognisable names in travel — Thomas Cook.
The acquisition agreement signed with the Chinese Fosun Tourism Group will unlock significant growth opportunities for Thomas Cook and allow eSky to strengthen its position in Western Europe.
Photo credit Thomas Cook: New Business, Same Sunny Heart.
Thomas Cook, the oldest travel brand, confirmed it has been acquired by Polish eSky Group, owner of a leading travel platform in Central and Eastern Europe. The deal will provide Thomas Cook with access to eSky’s superior flight inventory and support its continued growth. This, in turn, will pave the way for eSky to enter one of the most developed markets in Western Europe.
eSky Group has become the dominant travel platform in the CEE region and has expanded worldwide over the years.
eSky and eDestinos brands operate in 50+ countries across Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Over 150 million customers access 550 airlines globally and 1.3 million hotels. eSky Group’s 2023 profits surpassed EUR 19 million — up 42% YoY and nearly three times the level of 2019.
“The synergy of Thomas Cook’s brand heritage with our technology will drive Thomas Cook’s growth and allow us to strengthen eSky’s position in Western Europe. This acquisition is part of our strategy to diversify from just selling flights to offering package holidays across our existing markets in Europe and Latin America and expand further into Western Europe,” says eSky Group CEO Łukasz Habaj.
“The completion of this transaction will inject significant funding into our business as we rebuild the brand and accelerate the growth of this company. By combining the strength of our dynamic packaging technology and holiday know-how with the flight inventory, performance marketing and technical strength of eSky, we are confident we will create a formidable European travel business,” adds Thomas Cook Tourism’s CEO Alan French.
Since 2022, eSky has been heavily investing in City Break and Holiday packages, which are a cornerstone of its business transformation from a flight platform into a Virtual Tour Operator. eSky Group has over 800 employees—including an in-house development team of over 190 people— and is part-owned by the listed private equity fund MCI.
Euro News reported that the Polish travel group eSky agreed to buy Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel brand, from its current Chinese owner, Fosun, for UKP30 million (EUR35.6 million).
“The online travel agency business in the UK…does not align with the core competencies and strategic focus of the group,” said Fosun in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The sale does not include Thomas Cook’s business in China.
Thomas Cook, a travel company founded in the UK in 1841, fell into insolvency in 2019 after failing to clear a debt burden of UKP1.1 billion.
The deal does not involve Thomas Cook India and affiliated companies in Asia, such as Asian Trails, headquartered in Thailand, with offices and registered affiliated companies in Southeast Asia.
The Thomas Cook collapse led to chaos in the travel industry and triggered the biggest peacetime repatriation in the UK’s history. The British government helped organise return trips for more than 150,000 holidaymakers who were stranded overseas.
Later, in 2019, the firm was acquired by its biggest shareholder, Chinese conglomerate Fosun, for UKP11 million (EUR13.06 million).
Thomas Cook was relaunched in 2020 as an online-only service, while UK competitor Hays Travel acquired about 550 of its physical outlets. Since then, the struggling travel company has been on the road to recovery, with CEO Alan French predicting a full-year profit for 2024.
In 2023, Thomas Cook recorded a pre-tax loss of UK3.6 million (EUR4.3m), down from last year’s UKP13.5 million (EUR16.0 million) loss.
BANGKOK, 10 September 2024: Thai AirAsia X (XJ) headlines its move back to Don Mueang Airport on 1 October 2024 with the “Hello Don Mueang” promotion.
It enables guests to fly direct from Don Mueang to its seven destinations of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Seoul, Shanghai and Sydney with all-in fares from only THB3,490* one way.
Promotional fares are available for booking until 15 September 2024 for travel from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. Guests can also opt for the FlyThru service to connect from Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket and many other AirAsia domestic and international destinations.
The relocation of all Thai AirAsia X services from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) will present seamless connections through the extensive Thai AirAsia network and other AirAsia Group airlines, offering flights throughout Thailand and internationally to China, India and ASEAN.
Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said: “Thai AirAsia X guests will definitely find our relocation to Don Mueang a perfect move as it provides for greater convenience and seamlessness to connect to city as well to other AirAsia destinations in Thailand and across the region.”
From 1 October 2024, guests with Thai AirAsia X (XJ) bookings will have their flights automatically moved to Don Mueang Airport.
Thai AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of eight Airbus A330 aircraft, and it plans to extend the number to 11 within this year before receiving three to five additional planes in the following years, in line with growth and demand projections. The carrier presently operates seven routes from Bangkok, flying to Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Nagoya in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Shanghai in China, and Sydney in Australia.
**Thai AirAsia (FD) flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai, as well as Suvarnabhumi-Kuala Lumpur (D7) will continue to be served from Suvarnabhumi Airport** *This promotion is exclusive to XJ flights (flight frequencies may differ by week). It has limited availability and may not be available on certain flights or during holidays. Ticket prices exclude auxiliary services and other fees. The displayed price is the lowest available when booking via airasia.com or the mobile app.
BANGKOK, 9 September 2024: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Rajadamnern Stadium staged the second round of the “Amazing Muay Thai Road to Rajadamnern 2024” at the Melbourne Pavilion in Melbourne, Australia, on 31 August 2024.
According to the TAT press statement, the event formed part of the “Ignite Thailand’s Tourism” vision to “elevate Thai soft powers globally.”
HE Tessa Sullivan, Honorary Consul for Thailand in Melbourne, together with Nithee Seeprae, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Parichart Boonclai, TAT Executive Director of the Marketing Services Department, and Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, President of Rajadamnern World Series (RWS) and Board Director of Rajadamnern Stadium presided over the event.
“Witnessing the world-famous martial art of Muay Thai is one of the reasons why tourists visit Thailand to experience the sport in its country of origin,” said Nithee Seeprae, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications. “For Muay Thai fighters, the Amazing Muay Thai Road to Rajadamnern 2024 offers them a unique experience and a chance to compete in the final round at the famous Rajadamnern Stadium.”
Renowned as the world’s first Muay Thai stadium, Rajadamnern Stadium is revered as a sacred ground for Muay Thai. It is a place where champions are made, and legends are born. Many Muay Thai fighters vie for a chance to fight at this iconic venue.
The winner of the four special fights held at the Melbourne Pavilion won the right to compete in the final round at Rajadamnern Stadium on 20 December. The much-anticipated event will comprise four thrilling matches between Muay Thai rising stars from the three preliminary rounds in Cádiz, Spain (27 July); Melbourne, Australia (31 August); and Prague, the Czech Republic (30 November).
To add to the exhilarating atmosphere, TAT staged the ‘Thai Festival’ at the same venue to inspire Australians and visitors alike to visit Thailand through a showcase of Thai soft powers, including food, fashion, fights, and festivals. The event attracted over 1,500 spectators.
Nithee commented: “Apart from the Muay Thai fights, spectators were treated to Thai food and cultural performances plus the opportunity to shop for Thai fabric and special Muay Thai products. With the theme of Loi Krathong festival, visitors had a chance to float the Krathong and enjoyed the ‘Five Must-Do’ things, which portrayed the vast scope of opportunities for unique travel experiences in Thailand.”
