SINGAPORE, 31 May 2024: SalamAir, Oman’s low-cost airline, confirms it will launch twice weekly flights to its newest destination, Delhi, India, starting 2 July 2024.
SalamAir will operate twice-weekly flights from its home base of Muscat to Delhi on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flights will use an Airbus A320 and take three hours and 10 minutes.
Flight OV727 departs Muscat at 0025 and arrives in Delhi at 0645. Flight OV748 departs Delhi at 0745 and arrives in Muscat at 0925.
Roundtrip fare is approximately OMR128.
Delhi, the capital of India, is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and modern infrastructure. As a key economic and political hub, Delhi offers a unique blend of ancient monuments, such as the Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb, and contemporary attractions, including shopping malls, markets, and a thriving culinary scene.
“We are thrilled to add Delhi to our growing list of destinations in India,” said SalamAir acting CEO Captain Ahmed Al Shidhani. “Delhi is a city of great historical significance and economic vitality, making it an ideal addition to our network. We look forward to offering our passengers to and from the opportunity to explore this dynamic city, and we will remain committed to providing a high-quality travel experience at competitive prices.”
SalamAir fleet comprises seven 212-seat A321neo aircraft and six 180-seat A320s.
SINGAPORE, 31 May 2024: Vistara has confirmed in timetable updates it will increase flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Frankfurt and Paris ahead of the peak summer season for travel to Europe.
Photo credit: Vistara.
Delhi-Frankfurt
According to OAG timetable data, effective 19 June, the Indian airline will increase flights on the Delhi-Frankfurt route from six to daily flights using its Boeing Dreamliner 787-9.
Flight UK025 will depart Delhi at 1250 and arrive in Frankfurt at 1820. Flight UK026 will depart Frankfurt at 2020 and arrive in Delhi at 0755 (plus a day).
Delhi-Paris
On the Delhi-Paris route, the airline will increase flights from five to daily starting 18 June.
Flight UK021 will depart Delhi at 1405 and arrive in Paris (CDG) at 2010. Flight UK022 will depart Paris at 2225 and arrive in Delhi at 1005 (plus a day).
Mumbai-Frankfurt
On the Mumbai-Frankfurt route, the airline will increase flights from six to daily effective 17 June 2024
Flight UK027 will depart Mumbai at 1200 and arrive in Frankfurt at 1730. Flight UK028 will depart Frankfurt at 2020 and arrive in Mumbai at 0755 (plus a day).
Mumbai-Paris
Vistara will increase flights from five to daily on the Mumbai-Paris route effective 16 June.
Flight UK023 departs Mumbai at 1320 and arrives in Paris (CDG) at 1930. Flight UK024 departs Paris at 2130 and arrives in Mumbai at 0950 (plus a day).
All the flights to Europe use Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Inflight entertainment: F1 and HBO shows
Meanwhile, Vistara became the first Indian airline to offer F1 content on its inflight entertainment systems, effective mid-May. The airline has enhanced its inflight entertainment (IFE) offerings by adding Formula 1 content and HBO shows. HBO® programming includes over 108 hours of content, featuring over 100 TV shows across various genres.
Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A321neo offer advanced wireless connectivity powered by Panasonic Avionics, enabling seamless internet access on Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
SYDNEY, 30 May 2024: BWH Hotels announces plans to significantly expand its portfolio in the Middle East in 2024 and beyond.
On the heels of a successful appearance at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, which saw BWH execute signings of brand-new management deals in Saudi Arabia, BWH will soon bring eight new hotels and one new branded residence in the region into its portfolio of brands, with other development prospects in the works.
BWH execute signings of brand-new management deals in Saudi Arabia.
BWH is demonstrating its commitment to growth in the Middle East with these new signings and associated management agreements. The new additions will feature its “core” brands and several boutique and extended stay brands. The new hotel signings include:
o Best Western® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms)
o Best Western Plus® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms)
o Best Western Premier® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms)
o BW Signature Collection® Jeddah (48 rooms)
o Best Western Makarim Palace Rabigh (91 rooms)
o Shades, Aiden® by Best Western (120 rooms)
o Executive Residency by Best Western®, Al Shafa Hotel Jeddah (200 rooms)
o Best Western Kindah Hotel Makkah (420 rooms)
o Best Western Plus Madinah Hotel (560 rooms)
The Executive Residency by Best Western, Al Shafa Hotel Jeddah, the Best Western Kindah Hotel Makkah, and the Best Western Plus Madinah Hotel reflect significant milestones for the brand as they will be directly managed by BWH.
“As tourism continues to gain momentum in this region, our team is taking notice,” said BWH Vice President of International Operations EMEA Wytze Van den Berg. “It is important for us to grow all aspects of the brand across chain scales, from value-driven offerings and boutique options to WorldHotels’ upper upscale selections. These announcements are also exciting as BWH Hotels is pleased to be directly managing three of these properties, the first of many to come for the brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is an exciting time of growth in the region, and we are positioning our brand as an important driver in its hospitality expansion.”
Several signings occurred at Media One Hotel in Dubai, part of the WorldHotelsTM Crafted collection. Situated in dynamic Media City, Media One Hotel Dubai has joined the WorldHotels Crafted collection, highlighting the property’s modern and eclectic design. WorldHotels Crafted properties go beyond the ordinary, curating personalised experiences in a creative, fun, and immersive way, making Media One Hotel Dubai an ideal fit for this unique collection. This edgy and stylish property appeals to business and leisure travellers and represents the first WorldHotels Crafted property in the Middle East.
About BWH Hotel Group BWH Hotels is a leading, global hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 19 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market.
BANGKOK, 30 May 2024: Emirates is bringing back its popular My Emirates Pass, valid until 30 September 2024, to ensure customers have the summer of a lifetime in Dubai via a range of exclusive offers.
My Emirates Pass allows Emirates passengers flying to, through or back to Dubai to use their boarding pass to unlock hundreds of deals and discounts at retail, leisure and dining outlets, as well as famous attractions and luxury spas across the Dubai and the UAE. From adrenaline fuelled adventures to unmissable shopping opportunities, there is something for everyone.
It couldn’t be easier for passengers to make the most of these exclusive offers. Simply present a physical or digital boarding pass and a valid form of identification at participating venues to access the deals and discounts.
If you checked in online and downloaded your mobile boarding pass to the Emirates App or Wallet, remember to screenshot it to present at participating venues as it will disappear from your apps once you’ve landed.
Emirates currently operates 35 weekly flights from Bangkok to Dubai and 14 from Phuket to Dubai.
For more information, visit emirates.com/th. Tickets can be purchased at emirates.com/th, through the Emirates Sales Office, or through online travel agents.
SINGAPORE, 30 May 2024: Summer travel to Europe is heading for a robust recovery as airline bookings surge, according to intelligence provider ForwardKeys.
In its latest market research released this week, ForwardKeys predicts a total return to pre-pandemic travel levels, but with notable shifts in traveller preferences.
ForwardKeys Director of Intelligence and Marketing Olivier Ponti commented: “Overall, the picture is positive for destinations worldwide looking to attract lucrative European tourism over the coming years. With the disruption to demand and bookings caused by the Covid-19 pandemic now firmly in the past, the 2024 summer season looks likely to set a new benchmark for European travel both within the region and beyond.”
London Most Searched Destination Amidst Paris Olympics Buzz
An analysis of flight searches from January to April 2024 shows London (5% share of flight searches for travel to Europe) benefits from the greatest relative increase in the share of searches for travel in summer 2024 (+1.9 percentage points), driven by the collateral excitement of the Paris Olympics, with readily available transport links to the French capital.
Paris shows similar popularity (+0.5 percentage points increase), although its share of searches is slightly lower as many visitors to the Games will have planned direct travel further in advance. Istanbul (+0.4 p.p.), Rome (+0.7 p.p.) and Milan (+0.7 p.p.) gain in relative popularity while destinations in Spain, Greece and Portugal (including Athens, Lisbon, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca) lose ground after enjoying great demand in the post-Covid years reflecting shifting preferences among European travellers.
However, some destinations are bucking this trend, including Tenerife (+0.41 p.p.) and Izmir (+0.25 p.p.), witnessing the largest surge in interest among mid-tier destinations. A growing interest in Northern European cities Reykjavik (+0.21pp) and Munich (+0.15pp) reflects the popularity of destinations with cooler summer temperatures among holidaymakers. In Eastern Europe, Tirana (+0.07pp), continues to grow in popularity, building on success in recent years, and is joined by Yerevan (+0.03pp) and Tbilisi (+0.09pp) – popular among both European and Russian tourists due to the combination of natural and cultural heritage available and affordable prices.
Analysis of forward ticketing data for travel to European city destinations in July and August 2024 reveals a shift in consumer preferences towards nature (+19%) and urban (+14%) destinations over traditional sun and beach destinations (+8%). This is reflected at a subregional level as year-on-year growth in international arrivals to Central/Eastern Europe (+25%), Western Europe (+15%), and Northern Europe (+13%) outstrips that to destinations in Southern Europe (+11%).
European Outbound Travellers Focus on Asian Destinations
Outbound travel from Europe also displays clear trends, with year-on-year growth in intra-European (+14%) and long-haul travel to a diverse range of Asian markets (+16%). Forward ticket data for July and August indicates that European travellers are increasingly choosing to venture further afield to explore the landscapes and cultures of Beijing (+132%) in particular, as well as Osaka (+66%), Bangkok (+21%), Colombo (+21%), and Kuala Lumpur (+14%). These destinations benefit from various factors, including improved connectivity, visa waivers for Europeans entering China, and the favourable Euro to Yen exchange rate. Moderate growth in demand for US markets, such as Chicago (+14%) and Miami (+9%), is also notable.
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 May 2024: April delivered strong demand for international passenger travel, with both business and leisure markets continuing to enjoy robust growth according to preliminary traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines this week.
Overall, 28 million international passengers flew with the region’s carriers in April, representing a 32% increase compared to the same month last year. Traffic averaged 87.3% of 2019 volumes. Demand in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose by 33.7% year-on-year, showing growth notably on longer haul routes. Available seat capacity grew by 30.4%, leading to a 2.1 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor to 81.6%.
Higher demand for consumer and intermediate goods contributed to the ongoing positive momentum in air cargo markets. For the region’s carriers, international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), recorded a 13.7% year-on-year growth in April, while offered freight capacity expanded by 14.4%. This led to a marginal 0.4 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 59.9%.
Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said: “Improving economic sentiment, coupled with high demand on major routes connecting Asia and other regions, including Europe and Southwest Pacific, drove growth in long haul travel markets, while travel demand within the region remained buoyant, underpinned by the easing of visa policies and resilient expansion in the region’s economies. Overall, the number of international passengers carried rose by 51% to 117 million for the year’s first four months.”
Menon added: “During the same period, Asia Pacific airlines also posted an encouraging 15% year-on-year increase in air cargo traffic volumes, with the pick-up in global demand supporting export activity from major manufacturing hubs located in the region, in particular, China.”
Looking to the future, he expressed optimism that positive business and consumer confidence levels were likely to fuel further growth in air passenger and cargo markets in the coming months. However, he also acknowledged the challenges linked to supply chain constraints and higher operating costs.
Geopolitical tensions were also identified as a potential threat to the industry’s outlook. In response, the region’s carriers are committed to improving operational efficiency, maintaining safety standards, and pursuing sustainable growth.
GURUGRAM India, 30 May 2024: Air India has announced a partnership with MedAire, a premier aviation medical support provider, to ensure emergency healthcare services to its passengers and crew on board its flights.
The initiative sets a benchmark in the Indian aviation sector, making Air India the first airline in India to integrate MedAire’s advanced medical assistance across its entire fleet.
Air India adds more flights from its Mumbai hub in June
MedAire, through its app Medlink, will provide round-the-clock access to a team of on-duty emergency physicians with aviation expertise for consultation in the event of an inflight medical situation. The medical team will assist in assessing the medical situation and recommend the course of care. With Air India enhancing its nonstop connectivity to long-haul international destinations, this collaboration underscores the airline’s commitment towards passenger and crew safety.
Flights from Mumbai
Meanwhile Air India starts flying to Jammu 15 June and to Srinagar on on 16 June from its hub in Mumbai. The additional domestic flights from Mumbai will follow the introduction of the new A350-900 aircraft on the busy Mumbai-Dubai route, effective 1 June.
BANGKOK, 30 May 2024: Thailand’s Indian wedding exhibition, the Masala Wedding Fair, is back for its 11th Edition, promising to be the biggest and best so far.
The two-day fair will take place on Saturday, 22 June, and Sunday, 23 June, at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. It will bring together all the key stakeholders from the Indian wedding industry under one roof.
This not-to-be-missed event will showcase a record turnout of exhibitors, with over 105 booths featuring the finest in ready-to-wear and couture fashion, high-end jewellery, Indian cuisine, and innovative beverages.
For decades, the Indian wedding industry has contributed significantly to Thailand’s economy of Thailand and the recent visa-free entry concession that is likely to become permanent later this year will further boost the value of the Indian wedding market, expanding travel spend and also the revenue earned from hosting Indian weddings offshore here in Thailand.
The Masala Wedding Fair’s 11th Edition is a one-stop-shop for anyone planning to attend Indian celebrations of all kinds. It also allows guests to peek behind the veil of what Indian weddings and events are all about.
For several years, the Masala Wedding Fair has been held at the Thai Chitlada Grand Ballroom at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. Over the two-day event, the 2024 edition is likely to attract over 5,000 wedding and travel content buyers, key opinion leaders, influencers, community members, and both local and foreign media.
Key Information
Date: 22 and 23 June 2024 Location: Thai Chitlada Grand Ballroom at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toey, Bangkok, 10110 Open 1100 to 2000 Admission free
SEOUL, South Korea, 30 May 2024: Hybrid airline Air Premia has signed an interline agreement with Korean Air and will begin selling connecting tickets for flights departing from the Americas, the airline’s CEO Yoo Myung-sub, Moon Bo-kook confirmed earlier this week.
Through this interline agreement, Air Premia passengers departing from the Americas (New York, LA, San Francisco) can purchase a single ticket combining Korean Air flights from Seoul to destinations in Southeast or Northeast Asia.
Air Premia’s flights departing from New York can connect its passengers to eight routes of Korean Air beyond Seoul Incheon to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
Passengers departing from Los Angeles can connect with flights (using a single ticket) to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, and Singapore via Seoul Incheon and San Francisco hubs.
Meanwhile, Air Premia plans to complete an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest airline in the US, by the end of June. Once the agreement is concluded, interline tickets will apply to 110 US domestic routes with transfer flights to six Central and South American countries, including Mexico and Costa Rica.
About Air Premia Air Premia is a long-haul specialised airline based in South Korea. It commenced its first international flights in July 2022. It flies to destinations such as Los Angeles, New York, Bangkok, and Narita, Tokyo, Japan. It operates long-haul routes that low-cost carriers (LCCs) typically do not cover. Starting on 17 May, Air Premia also began flights to San Francisco in the US.
BANGKOK, 30 May 2024: Airbus has reached an agreement with Thai Airways International to retrofit its fleet of 20 A320ceo aircraft with reclining business class seats.
It marks Airbus’ first-ever cabin retrofit for a single-aisle fleet in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative also aligns with THAI’s commitment to improve passenger comfort after it integrated its former subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, into the parent company in January 2024.
As part of this agreement, Airbus Services will supervise the installation of 12 business class seats on each A320ceo. These seats, with a backrest that reclines up to eight inches, will provide passengers with a more comfortable sitting position, enhancing their travel experience. The retrofitting project is scheduled to kick off by the end of the year.
Upon completion, the A320s will feature a two-class configuration comprising 12 business class and 144 economy seats, delivering an enhanced travel experience across all cabin classes. This transformation marks a change from the previous all-economy class configuration, which accommodated between 168 to 174 passengers. As of April 2024, THAI operates an Airbus fleet of 20 A320s, three A330-300s, and 20 A350-900s.
THAI Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri said: “The acquisition of 20 A320 aircraft from THAI Smile Airways has benefited THAI’s route network, strengthened fleet efficiency and enhanced our competitiveness in the market. The fleet will serve THAI’s domestic and regional operations, aiming to provide customers with seamless and convenient flight connectivity. In addition, the retrofit of reclining business seats in the aircraft will offer passengers more comfort while their travel experiences will be elevated and enhanced throughout their flight journey.”
Airbus Senior Vice President Customer Services Cristina Aguilar added: “We are thrilled to embark on this cabin retrofit project with Thai Airways. This agreement underscores our commitment to enhancing passenger comfort and delivering exceptional travel experiences. We look forward to seeing these upgraded A320ceo aircraft take to the skies, offering passengers unparalleled comfort with the new reclining business class seats.”
