Hong Kong, 3 April 2025: HK Express Airways will launch direct flights between Hong Kong and Yiwu in Zhejiang Province, China, starting on 29 May 2025.
The airline schedules three weekly flights to Yiwu Airport (YIW) from its home base in Hong Kong.
Yiwu is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jinhua in Central Zhejiang Province, East China. It is home to one of the world’s largest wholesale markets, Yiwu International Trade City, a veritable paradise for savvy business people seeking bargains for their retailing enterprises.
Travellers can wander through Fotang Town and tap into its centuries-old heritage, ascend the historic Jiming Pavillion and take in its rich cultural tapestry, or savour local culinary delights at the Santinglu Night Market.
Additionally, Hengdian World Studios, known as China’s “Hollywood”, boasts live performances, themed amusement parks, and film workshops, making it a must-visit for travellers.
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2025: Incumbent ASEANTA president Eddy Soemawilaga has been appointed for a second term to lead the association that covers ASEAN’s tourism and hospitality segments across the 10-country bloc.
ASEANTA recently appointed its executive board for 2025 to 2027 during its annual general meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Photo credit: ASEANTA. ASEANTA’s team leaders at a recent AGM held in Phnom Penh.
During his first term as President (2023 to 2025), ASEANTA successfully earned the trust to organise TRAVEX at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Lao PDR (2024) and Malaysia (2025).
ATF and its trade show TRAVEX, established in 1982 in Kuala Lumpur, was created as a public-private partnership event to foster collaboration between ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) and the private sector, strengthening the ASEAN region as a single tourism destination.
“Beyond ATF, we have also laid the foundation for key ASEAN NTO initiatives, including the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals and the launch of the ASEAN Explorer Pass,” Soemawilaga said in a Facebook post.
“I am truly honoured to have been re-elected President for the 2025-2027 term… My vision is to build an effective, impactful organisation that delivers concrete initiatives benefiting our members and the broader public through strong partnerships. The road ahead may not be easy, but with continued collaboration, I am confident we can overcome challenges and drive ASEAN tourism forward.”
ASEANTA board of directors 2025-2027
President: Eddy Soemawilaga, Head of Government Relations and Corporate Communications – Indonesia AirAsia. Deputy President: Mariegel Manotok, Philippine Travel Agencies Association Secretary-General: Nigel Wong Chun Teim, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Treasurer: Datin Christina Toh, Malaysian Association of Hotels Directors: Pauline Suharno, president ASTINDO: Oknha Chhay Sivlin, president Cambodia Association of Travel Agents; Kyaw Bohne Naing, chairman/president Union of Myanmar Travel Association
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2025: Tourism Malaysia welcomed British Airways’ return to Kuala Lumpur, with the inaugural direct service arriving in the country’s capital on 2 April 2025.
The airline operates the London-Kuala Lumpur route daily using a 216-seat 787-9, with return fares starting from UKP574.
Photo credit: British Airways.
Kuala Lumpur continues to gain recognition as a top travel destination, ranked second in Tripadvisor’s list of Top Trending Destinations for 2025. The city’s mix of modernity and tradition offers world-class attractions, a dynamic culinary scene, and iconic landmarks like the Petronas Towers.
British Airways’ return aligns perfectly with Malaysia’s preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), a national tourism initiative to attract 35.6 million international visitors and generate MYR147.1 billion in tourism revenue.
The UK remains one of Malaysia’s largest European source markets, and this new route further strengthens the country’s appeal to British travellers, who are increasingly seeking meaningful, experiential holidays.
“The UK is a key market for Malaysia, and we are thrilled to see British Airways returning to Kuala Lumpur with direct flights from London Heathrow”, said Tourism Malaysia UK director Sulaiman Suip. “This enhanced connectivity is especially significant as we approach Visit Malaysia Year 2026, providing UK travellers with even more convenient access to Malaysia’s vibrant cities, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural experiences. As we continue to grow our presence in the UK market, we look forward to welcoming more travellers to explore Malaysia’s unique offerings and diverse attractions.”
Flight schedule
BA33 departs London Heathrow (LNR) at 2110 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 1720 plus a day. BA34 departs Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 2250 and arrives in London (LNR) at 0525.
Malaysia Airlines flies the same route with a double daily service that departs Kuala Lumpur at 0950 (MH4) and 2330 (MH2). The average roundtrip fare on the KUL-LNR route is USD960.
BANGKOK, 3 April 2025: THAI Airways International released its summer flight schedule for 2025 (30 March to 25 October), with just one additional route from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
THAI will operate the Bangkok (BKK)—Siem Reap (SAI) route daily using a 164-seat A320 for the one-hour flight.
The start-up date is 1 October, just weeks ahead of the winter peak travel season and the airline’s winter timetable, which kicks in on 26 October.
Flight schedule
TG588 departs Bangkok (BKK) at 0745 and arrives in Siem Reap at 0845 TG589 departs Siem Reap (SAI) at 0950 and arrives in Bangkok (BKK) at 1055.
THAI will compete with Bangkok Airways, which serves the route with three daily services departing Bangkok at 0740, 1055 and 1725 using a 70-seat ATR72. The average roundtrip fare on the route is USD150.
TG’s Summer Timetable 2025 sees the airline flying to 63 destinations — 14 intercontinental, 41 regional and eight domestic maintaining the frequencies of the previous summer timetable. There are no changes to the domestic network of eight routes. Compared with the summer timetable 2024, this summer’s version has one addition (Siem Reap) to the regional list. Brussel joined the intercontinental routes in the winter timetable with daily flights, which continues in the summer timetable 2025.
Flight details are as follows:
Intercontinental routes (return flights):
Bangkok – Munich: daily flights.
Bangkok – Frankfurt: twice daily flights.
Bangkok – London: twice daily flights.
Bangkok – Istanbul: daily flights.
Bangkok – Stockholm: daily flights.
Bangkok – Copenhagen: daily flights.
Bangkok – Oslo: daily flights
Bangkok – Zurich: daily flights.
Bangkok – Milan: daily flights.
Bangkok-Brussels: daily flights introduced during the winter timetable 2024/2025.
Bangkok – Paris: daily flights.
Bangkok – Perth: daily flights.
Bangkok – Melbourne: twice daily flights.
Bangkok – Sydney: twice daily flights.
Regional routes (return flights):
Bangkok – Manila: twice daily flights.
Bangkok – Fukuoka: daily flights.
Bangkok – Osaka: twice daily flights.
Bangkok – Nagoya: daily flights.
Bangkok – Tokyo (Haneda): twice daily flights.
Bangkok Tokyo (Narita): triple daily flights.
Bangkok – Sapporo: daily flights.
Bangkok – Hong Kong: four flights per day.
Bangkok – Kaohsiung: daily flights.
Bangkok – Taipei: triple daily flights.
Bangkok – Seoul: triple daily flights.
Bangkok – Kunming: daily flights.
Bangkok – Guangzhou: daily flights.
Bangkok – Chengdu: daily flights.
Bangkok – Shanghai: twice daily flights
Bangkok – Beijing: daily flights
Bangkok – Siem Reap*: daily flight *starting 1 October 2025
DELHI, 3 April 2025: IndiGo launched four weekly coast-to-coast flights on Monday, 1 April, linking Bhubaneswar and Goa. The direct service has a flight time of two hours and 10 minutes.
Flights are scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and the roundtrip fare starts at USD135. The airline deploys an A320 with 194 seats on the BBI-GOI route.
Photo credit: Indigo.
This new service allows travellers to explore both regions’ diverse cultural and scenic landscapes. It caters to the growing demand for air travel in India while promoting tourism and economic growth.
With the commencement of these flights, IndiGo will now operate over 200 weekly flights from Bhubaneswar, connecting 20 destinations.
IndiGo Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra expressed enthusiasm for the new route: “At IndiGo, our ongoing endeavour is to enhance connectivity and make air travel more accessible and hassle-free for our customers. The launch of the Bhubaneswar-Goa route offers our travellers a link between two vibrant cities. Whether a spiritual visit to Bhubaneswar’s ancient temples or a relaxing getaway to Goa’s scenic beaches, this direct flight will save time and make travel more convenient and affordable.”
Goa, renowned for its stunning coastline, vibrant nightlife, and Portuguese heritage, offers a blend of relaxation and adventure, from pristine beaches and historic forts to bustling markets.
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is a city steeped in history. Known as the “Temple City,” it boasts ancient temples, intricate architecture, and a rich cultural heritage. The city is also a gateway to exploring Odisha’s diverse landscapes, famed for its beaches and wildlife sanctuaries.
Direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Goa will boost tourism and also enhance connectivity between east and west coast cities.
Tourism Promotion
Goa, known for its beaches and vibrant culture, is a major tourist destination. The direct flights will make visiting Goa easier for people from Odisha and surrounding regions.
Similarly, with its historical temples and cultural significance, Bhubaneswar will become more accessible to tourists from Goa and other parts of India. This will boost tourism in Odisha.
Economic Growth
Increased tourism leads to economic growth in both regions, benefiting local businesses, hotels, and the hospitality industry. Improved connectivity will also facilitate trade and business opportunities between Bhubaneswar and Goa. Flight Schedule:
MANILA, 2 April 2025: AirAsia Philippines welcomes summer with its 4.4 Summer Seat Sale, offering flights for as low as PhP44 one-way base fare.
With over 400,000 seats available, travellers can book their summer getaways until midnight on 6 April, with travel dates through to 30 September 2025.
Photo credit: AirAsia Philippines.
The fares are available to domestic and international destinations, including Kalibo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Osaka, and Seoul and will help to support travellers during the Easter Week travel peak. (Good Friday, 18 April to Easter Sunday, 20 April)
As April begins, AirAsia Philippines is gearing up for a busy summer travel season. It has already recorded over 500,000 forward bookings for April and May.
Boracay leads the list of top domestic summer destinations, solidifying its position as a premier summer getaway. Cebu, Tagbilaran, Palawan, and Iloilo are also experiencing high demand, indicating a strong preference for the Philippines’ renowned beach and nature destinations.
On the international front, Taipei and Narita Tokyo rank among the most popular destinations. With Japan’s Sakura season in full bloom, Narita has become a prime gateway for travellers seeking to experience spring abroad.
SYDNEY, Australia, 2 April 2025: Qatar Airways Group and Virgin Australia received the final go-ahead from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for their integrated alliance.
The final determination officially signals the green light for Virgin Australia’s new 28 weekly flights between Australia and Doha – operated under a wet lease with Qatar Airways.
Photo credit: Qatar Airways.
The ACCC’s authorisation of Qatar Airways’ partnership with Virgin Australia gives the Australian carrier access to the scale and expertise of a world-leading global airline, facilitating its re-entry into long-haul international flying.
Using aircraft wet-leased from Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia will commence long-haul flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha in June 2025, followed by Melbourne to Doha in December 2025.
Flights to Hamad International Airport in Doha will connect with more than 100 connecting services on Qatar Airways to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The collaboration will support job growth in Virgin Australia and across Australia’s broader aviation and tourism sectors. Qatar Airways is set to provide secondment opportunities for 20 Virgin Australia pilots and 40 cabin crew in 2025.
This follows the Australian Government’s approval of Qatar Airways Group’s 25% investment in Virgin Australia on 27 February 2025 – joining existing majority shareholder Bain Capital.
PHUKET, 2 April 2025: Superyacht cruising in Asia has enormous growth potential, which could ultimately see it join the top two superyacht regions, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
Now considered the ‘third superyacht region’, Asia is fast catching up to deliver exotic cruising experiences with high-standard marinas.
Photo credit: Asia Pacific Superyachts. Nestled at the southernmost tip of Phuket island is the new ONE°15 Marina Panwa Phuket.
Thailand, the Andaman Islands (India), Malaysia, and the Maldives, along with Singapore, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia (Bali and Raja Ampat), are among the most sought-after destinations. Southeast Asia is undoubtedly becoming an even more attractive yachting destination. There are so many different cultures and cuisines to experience that there is much left to discover even when staying several months.
Unlike the superyacht playgrounds of summer Med cruising and the Caribbean in the winter, Southeast Asia’s sailing season is year-round, and more yachts are also coming eastward to lengthen the charter season and enjoy the balminess and friendly culture of the region.
Facilities are improving across Asia with new marinas and a growing skilled labour force. The easing of regulations in countries like Thailand also makes sailing smoother. Phuket is now a prime destination for yachts, and new marinas are in the pipeline.
Nestled strategically at the southernmost tip of Phuket island is the new ONE°15 Marina Panwa Phuket, the nearest departure point to the Phi Phi Islands.
“The new Phuket Marina Development is set to transform the Cape Panwa Peninsular at Ao Markham and the deep seaport”, reports Asia Pacific Superyachts co-founder Gordon Fernandes. “The Marina project will feature 171 berths for superyachts up to 200 feet and 25 hard-stand spaces with 80 dry-stack storage. The integrated marina club is a nautical lifestyle resort, equipped with yacht chartering, spa & wellness area and hotel facilities.”
Bali’s Port of Benoa is undergoing a major revamp. It will have a brand-new full-service superyacht marina that can accommodate 180 wet berths, including more than 50 superyachts up to 90 metres in length. The marina will have a modern yacht service area equipped with a travel lift capable of handling up to 200 tons and a high-quality fueling station.
Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia Captain Thomas Taatjes enthuses: “The new marina will attract even more global yachting enthusiasts wanting to explore Indonesia’s natural beauty in the biggest archipelago in the world.”
Amenities will include a prestigious yacht club, modern yacht service, luxury hospitality options and commercial areas with extensive retail, offices, entertainment and dining outlets.
The Maldives will mark a new era by introducing the first superyacht marina and fully integrated resort in the Maldives.
“Housing 120 berths, Atoll Estates’ new Zamani Islands will be an exclusive resort destination with the Maldives Zamani Islands Superyacht Marina in the Maldives.
Asia Pacific Superyachts Maldives Director & General Manager Mohamed Hameed commented:, “This cutting-edge project aims at transforming the superyacht experience into an exceptionally luxurious convenience. The project will encompass eight islands extending 5 kilometres into a natural lagoon, offering the country’s first Yacht Club and a 60,000 sqm Superyacht Marina.”
Sri Lanka’s new Colombo City Marina is designed to become the country’s new luxury maritime destination, housing as many as 250 mid-sized vessels alongside hotels, gourmet dining, retail outlets, entertainment centres, and recreational areas, according to Asia Pacific Superyachts Sri Lanka director Priyantha Perera. “The Marina will offer berthing space of 243 capacity for mid-to-large-size yachts and full-service facilities, including crew amenities, provisioning, maintenance and access to a yacht club.”
SINGAPORE, 2 April 2025: Smartvel, a global content solutions provider, has announced that it has secured funding from the Spanish government to deliver comprehensive and updated content for travellers.
The investment is part of the government’s latest initiative designed to support Spain’s tourism industry with advanced digitalisation technology.
Smartvel CEO Iñigo Valenzuela.
Smartvel is developing its long tail technology to enhance its global content solutions by ensuring that every experience is included. Data on all tourist experiences, including restaurants, monuments, fuel stations, and beyond, will be collected and processed without limitations or blind spots.
Smartvel’s holistic approach to experiences will cover events, weather, air regulations, entry conditions, trending hotspots, and hidden gems. Traveller preferences will be included with detailed information and interactive maps.
“We are thrilled to announce this latest and most advanced content solution,” said Smartvel CEO Iñigo Valenzuela. “The Spanish government is encouraging and supporting tourism and the travel industry by investing in new initiatives such as our content solution. High-quality content and information inject greater levels of traveller experience, enabling tourists to discover everything each destination offers. The funding is being used to develop our long tail technology to provide up-to-date information covering more destinations across the country.”
SINGAPORE, 2 April 2025: Passenger demand growth slowed slightly during February, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports in its latest data on Monday.
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 2.6% compared to February 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 2% year-on-year.
The February load factor was 81.1% (+0.4 ppt compared to February 2024).
International demand rose 5.6% compared to February 2024. Capacity was up 4.5% year-on-year, and the load factor was 80.2% (+0.9 ppt compared to February 2024).
Domestic demand fell 1.9% compared to February 2024. Capacity was down 1.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 82.6% (-0.2 ppt compared to February 2024).
“While traffic growth slowed in February, much of this can be explained by factors including the leap year and Lunar New Year falling in January compared to February last year. February traffic hit an all-time high, and the number of scheduled flights is set to continue increasing in March and April. But we need to keep a close eye on developments in North America, which saw falls in both domestic and international traffic,” said IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh.
“The recent shutdown of Heathrow reminded us once again that the current passenger rights regime in Europe and the UK is unfit for purpose. The annual costs of compensation, care and assistance run into the billions. Thankfully, the Polish Presidency of the EU has recognised that this is a drag on European competitiveness and is progressing with much-needed and long-anticipated reforms to EU261.
“While many of the proposed reforms are sensible, the package stops short of a real solution. Even with the reforms, EU261 will still target the airlines with penalties even if the root cause of delays is an infrastructure incident out of their control—like we saw at Heathrow. Over two decades of EU261 have not seen a reduction in delays because infrastructure providers have no incentive to improve their game. Sadly for European travellers, we will likely see this play out again in this summer’s peak travel season. Genuine reform of EU261 must ensure that all parties responsible for delays have a stake in the consequences,” said Walsh.
Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets
International RPK growth moderated to 5.6% in February year-on-year, down from 12.3% growth in January. However, this growth meant that all regions except North America established record February demand levels.
Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.5% year-on-year increase indemand. Capacity increased 8.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.7% (+0.9 ppt compared to February 2024).
European carriers had a 5.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 4.9% year-on-year, and the load factor was 75.5% (+0.5 ppt compared to February 2024).
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 3.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 1.3% year-on-year, and the load factor was 81.9% (+1.4 ppt compared to February 2024).
North American carriers saw a -1.5% year-on-year fall in demand. Capacity decreased -3.2% year-on-year, and the load factor was 78.9% (+1.3 ppt compared to February 2024).
Latin American airlines saw a 6.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 9.9% year-on-year. The load factor was 81.7% (-2.5 ppt compared to February 2024).
African airlines saw a 6.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 4.0% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 75.3% (+2.0 ppt compared to February 2024).
