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Sabre and IAG expand partnership

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 January 2024: Sabre Corporation, a software and technology provider to the global travel industry, has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG).

The agreement will allow Sabre-connected travel buyers and agencies to sell traditional EDIFACT content and enjoy competitive access to NDC offers from British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling — including Additional Price Points and ancillaries – through the Sabre travel marketplace globally. 

This enhanced content will provide travel agencies with a wider range of options to compare. Travellers will benefit from an improved experience with more choice and transparency. Sabre and IAG’s airlines will communicate as NDC content is rolled out to Sabre-connected travel agencies on a carrier-by-carrier basis.

The agreement between Sabre and IAG underscores the industry’s shift towards modern travel retailing, where airlines can differentiate their offerings and provide more personalised experiences to travellers. 

“The travel industry is entering a new era of personalised retailing that will bring better experiences for travellers and new revenue opportunities for airlines and travel agencies,” said Sabre Travel Solutions chief commercial officer Roshan Mendis. “It’s fantastic to work with a strong, forward-thinking partner like IAG that is just as committed as we are to driving the industry forward.”

IndiGo opens Delhi-Ayodhya link

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 January 2024: IndiGo has commenced scheduled flights between the newly inaugurated Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, India’s capital.

The airline now serves the route with a daily flight effective 10 January, following an inaugural flight for VIPs on 6 January.

Photo credit: Airbus.

IndiGo head of global sales Vinay Malhotra said: “We are delighted to commence operations between Delhi and Ayodhya, the 86th domestic destination and the 118th overall destination in the 6E network. We also look forward to connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai to this sacred city in the coming weeks.”

The fabled city of Ayodhya holds immense religious, cultural, and historical importance for travellers and worshippers from across the globe.

Ayodhya boasts a rich history and diverse attractions, appealing to pilgrims, history buffs, and cultural enthusiasts alike. Here are some of the main tourist attractions you shouldn’t miss.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi: The most revered site in Ayodhya is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. The ongoing construction of the Ram Mandir temple draws pilgrimage and cultural interest.

Hanuman Garhi: This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Rama’s loyal devotee. It offers panoramic city views and houses an ancient idol.

Kanak Bhavan: A beautiful temple featuring intricate gold leaf work dedicated to Sita, Lord Rama’s consort.

Nageshwarnath Temple: An ancient Shiva temple believed to be over 5000 years old, with historical and mythological significance.

Raja Mandir: An imposing fort overlooking the Saryu River, showcasing Mughal and Rajput architectural styles.

Ram Katha Park: A serene park depicting scenes from Ramayana through sculptures and interactive exhibits, ideal for families.

Tulsi Smarak Bhawan: A museum dedicated to the poet Tulsidas, who composed the epic Ramayana, offering insights into his life and work.

Gulab Bari: A picturesque rose garden known for its fragrance and serene ambience, perfect for a relaxing stroll.

Saryu River: Take a boat ride or dip in the holy Saryu River, a significant part of Hindu mythology and associated with purification rituals.

Ghats: The ghats along the Saryu River offer scenic views, vibrant temple rituals, and a glimpse into local life.

Choti Chawni: Explore this serene ashram complex with vibrant gardens and temples, providing a peaceful escape from the city bustle.

Local markets: Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Ayodhya’s lively markets, finding traditional handicrafts, souvenirs, and delicious street food.

AAPA data signals a positive outlook

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 11 January 2024: Preliminary November 2023 traffic figures released Tuesday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show a solid expansion in international passenger markets, with healthy travel demand buoyed by continued recovery in tourism activity across the region.

A combined 25.1 million international passengers flew on Asia Pacific airlines in November, representing a substantial 76.9% increase compared to the same month in 2022. This amounted to 80.9% of the levels in the same period in 2019. Traffic in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) grew by 66.9% year-on-year, outpacing a 61.3% expansion in available seat capacity to result in a 2.7 percentage point climb in the average international passenger load factor to 79.6% for the month.

Meanwhile, following a prolonged period of subdued demand conditions, growth in air cargo markets gained momentum. Higher demand for consumer goods driven by the approaching year-end festive period underpinned an 8.4% year-on-year growth in international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) in November. However, the international freight load factor eased by 1.5 percentage points to an average of 62.0% for the month after accounting for an 11.0% year-on-year expansion in offered freight capacity.

Commenting on the results, AAPA director general Subhas Menon said: “During the first 11 months of 2023, Asia Pacific airlines carried a combined 250 million international passengers, reflecting pent-up demand in the post-pandemic recovery period, up by 178% on the corresponding period in the previous year.”  

Turning to the air cargo markets, Menon added: “Subdued economic conditions have resulted in a 4.2% overall decline in air cargo demand for the first eleven months of 2023, despite some growth in volumes since September.”

Looking ahead, he concluded: “Despite a slowdown in global economic activity and increase in geopolitical tensions, Asia Pacific carriers saw healthy growth in international passenger demand throughout the year, in tandem with the restoration of flight frequencies and connectivity. Air cargo markets have picked up, but uncertainties remain, with new export orders still in decline. Overall, the outlook for air travel demand remains positive, with a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels expected in 2024. Nevertheless, amid intensifying competition, airlines continue to be vigilant over costs, given fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rate volatility.”

(SOURCE: AAPA)

AirAsia boosts KK connectivity

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 11 January 2024: AirAsia continues expanding its Kota Kinabalu hub by introducing a new international direct route to Shanghai, due to take off on 20 February 2024. 

This announcement is a strong testament to Kota Kinabalu’s position as the airline’s second-largest hub in Malaysia. AirAsia Malaysia (AK) serves a total of 19 destinations encompassing both domestic and international routes. Shanghai, the latest addition to the growing list, is the sixth destination in Mainland China to be accessible from Kota Kinabalu, joining the ranks of Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, and Wuhan.

AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam said: “We are thrilled to kick off the new year with this momentous announcement, especially for our guests in Sabah. Following the government’s visa-free entry initiative last year, this presents a significant opportunity to stimulate tourism between China and Malaysia. China, one of our largest markets, boasts 19 routes from Malaysia, with a remarkable 162 weekly flights from February 2024 onwards. We eagerly anticipate contributing substantially to the Sabah tourism sector as the state targets 2.8 million tourist arrivals in 2024.”

To launch the latest route, AirAsia offers promotional fares from Kota Kinabalu to Shanghai with all-in* fares from only MYR288 one-way. The promotional fares are available for booking until 21 January 2024 for the travel between 20 February 2024 and 29 March 2024.

AirAsia Malaysia (AK) currently also connects Kota Kinabalu directly to three other international destinations; Singapore, Taipei and Hong Kong.

Princess strengthens leadership team

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 January 2024: Princess Cruises has named Jim Berra – an accomplished cruise industry and hospitality veteran as marketing officer, reporting directly to Princess Cruises president John Padgett.

Princess Cruises Names Jim Berra Chief Marketing Officer.

As the CMO, he will lead all global marketing facets, including integrated marketing strategy formulation, creative development and brand promotion across all channels and geographies to further optimise the cruise line’s global marketplace position.

Berra joins a leadership team that includes Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer; Vicki Johnson, senior vice president of communications; and Carmen Roig, vice president of sales.

Berra comes to Princess from Invited (formerly ClubCorp), the largest owner of private membership clubs in the country, where he served as Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. 

HAL announces 2025 Asian cruises

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 January 2024: Holland America Line’s Westerdam is heading to Asia, exploring 11 countries from September 2025 through April 2026. 

The itineraries have a strong focus on Japan, with 24 different ports around the country, as well as visits to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Holland America Line’s Westerdam

 Holland America Line’s Westerdam will explore 11 countries from September 2025 through April 2026 with 10 itineraries and two Pacific Ocean crossings to showcase cultural experiences and fresh, regional cuisine. Cruises in Asia depart from Hong Kong, China; Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan; and Singapore with up to 12 ports in a single cruise. 

2025-2026 Asia Season highlights

More than 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites are sprinkled throughout the itineraries, giving guests on every cruise the chance to visit these spectacular sites that represent the best of human heritage, as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Overnight calls include Shanghai, China; Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand; Manilla, Philippines; Hiroshima, Japan; and Incheon (Seoul), South Korea.

Late-night departures on select itineraries include Hakodate, Osaka and Kobe, Japan; Halong Bay and Da Nang, Vietnam; Lembar, Indonesia; and Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The Philippines, Taiwan and Japan 14 days: Cruises from Hong Kong to Yokohama. Calls at Manila, Boracay and Puerto Princesa, Philippines; Keelung (Taipei) and Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Osaka, Naha and Ishigaki, Japan.

Far East Discovery 13 or 14 days: Cruises from Hong Kong to Singapore. Calls at Halong Bay, Da Nang (Hue), Nha Trang and Phu My, Vietnam; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Laem Chabang (Bangkok, overnight) and Nathon (Koh Samui), Thailand.

Indonesian Holiday 15 days: A roundtrip from Singapore sailing from 20 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. All calls are in Indonesia and include Probolinggo, Surabaya, Semarang and Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Java; Celukan Bawang and Benoa (Denpasar), Bali; Komodo Island; Lembar, Lombok; and Tanjung Priok, Jakarta. Scenic cruising by the active Krakatau Volcano.

Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines 14 days: Sails from Singapore to Hong Kong. Calls at Laem Chabang (Bangkok, overnight), Thailand; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Puerto Princesa and Manilla (overnight), the Philippines; and Phu My, Vietnam.

For the 2025-26 Asian cruises, prices start from USD1999 per person, double occupancy, depending on length. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional. 

Air Astana highlights 2023 achievements

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 January 2024: Air Astana expanded its route network in 2023 with new destinations and more frequencies to China, India, Central & Southeast Asia, Caucasus, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the UK. 

Air Astana currently operates 50 routes to 34 destinations and carried 4.4 million passengers during the financial year  30 September 2022 to 30 September 2023.

The year also marked 20-year route anniversaries for Air Astana on services to Bangkok, Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Seoul, whilst those to Beijing and Dubai stretch back even longer to the airline’s earliest days.

During 2023, the fleet of Air Astana and low-cost carrier FlyArystan increased to 49 aircraft, including Airbus, Boeing and Embraer types. The group plans to expand the fleet over the next five years, comprising Airbus A320neo/A321neo/A321LR and Boeing 787.

London tops the list for short breaks

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TTR WEEKLY
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Photo: hotel.com

SINGAPORE, 10 January 2024: London, Prague and Sofia are the top European capitals for weekend getaways this year, according to a new report from Slot.Day that checked out the quality of nightlife and the cost of accommodation in all European capitals.

Britain’s capital also has the best-rated nightlife. Skopje (North Macedonia), Tirana (Albania), and Sofia (Bulgaria), which are all featured in the top ten capitals in Europe for city escapes, also have the most affordable accommodation of all.

Photo: hotel.com

The researchers focused on the number of highly rated nightlife establishments in each capital listed on TripAdvisor, specifically the ones that received four stars and above out of five. To evaluate the cost of accommodation, the study considers two people sharing one room.

London is Europe’s best destination for weekend getaways among all capital cities on the continent. The UK capital has a staggering 854 highly rated bars, clubs and pubs to choose from on a typical night out. It is worth noting that London is the fifth most expensive European capital for accommodation, estimated at an average of EUR116.9 per person for one night. However, the unmatched range of things to do on a city escape outweighs the steeper hotel costs.

Famous for its variety of award-winning beer, Prague is the second-best capital city in Europe for weekend getaways. At half the cost for hotels compared to London, the Czech Republic’s capital city boasts 418 nightlife places that earned stellar reviews from its visitors.

Completing the top 10 list for weekend destinations are Skopje (North Macedonia), Tirana (Albania), Bucharest (Romania), Belgrade (Serbia), Warsaw (Poland), Berlin (Germany) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). They all have a good nightlife-hotel balance.

As for the cheapest capital cities to stay in over an extended weekend this year, Skopje (North Macedonia) top the list with just EUR38.1 per person for hotel expenses, on average. Tirana (Albania) and Sofia (Bulgaria) follow closely, with average accommodation costing EUR40.6 and EUR41.9 per person, respectively. 

The study ranked Bern (Switzerland), Reykjavik (Iceland), and Valetta (Malta) among the least preferable European capitals for short holidays. Bern is both expensive to stay in (EUR139.8 per person) and only has seven places rated with at least four stars, making it the last capital on the list to consider for a city escape in Europe. Although it offers a reasonable range of highly appreciated bars and clubs, counting 41, Reykjavik can be quite pricey for hotels, averaging EUR122.1 for a weekend trip. Malta’s picturesque capital of Valletta only has seven nightlife establishments of 4-5 stars and a steep €99.8 cost for a one-night hotel stay, per person, making it less than ideal for a typical weekend city escape.

The study was carried out by Slot.Day, an online catalogue for slots and game reviews.
(SOURCE: https://slot.day/)

AirAsia kicks off 2024 with discounts

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 10 January 2024: AirAsia offers 24% off fares across the airline’s network from its home base, Kuala Lumpur. 

The fare deal applies on routes to cities in ASEAN, such as Langkawi, Kuala Terengganu, Krabi and Jakarta. 

AirAsia X joins in with popular destinations ‒ Almaty, Taipei, Melbourne, Shanghai and  New Delhi.  

Bookings are open until 14 January 2024 for travel from 22 January to 30 November 2024. Visit airasia Superapp or www.airasia.com. 

AirAsia group continues to grow its network this year. AirAsia Malaysia (AK) will offer a new route connecting  Kuala Lumpur with India’s pink city, Jaipur. Known as the jewel of the Rajasthan state, Jaipur is world-renowned for its vintage forts dating back to the 16th century and the majestic Jal Mahal. Flights will start on 21 April 2024. Promotional fares to the city from MYR209* all-in-one way and from INR7,999* from Jaipur to Kuala Lumpur can be booked until 23 January 2024 for flights between 21 April 2024 and 19 March 2025.

AirAsia will also offer a special 24% off Flight Delay Insurance** if the flight is delayed for at least two hours from the originally scheduled departure time or any new departure time, powered by Tune Protect Malaysia.

*Promotional all-in fares quoted are for one-way travel, inclusive of taxes, MAVCOM fees, fuel surcharges, and other relevant fees. Terms and conditions apply.

**Flight Delay Insurance must be included during the initial flight booking during the campaign period. Valid for flights with airline codes AK, D7, Z2 & QZ.

Thrillophilia refunds Maldives trips

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 January 2024: An Asia-wide travel attractions curator, Thrillophilia, says it is offering a full refund to its Indian customers if they wish to cancel their trips to Maldives.

In a statement posted on its website, the India-headquartered Thrillophilia acknowledges its customers may wish to cancel their upcoming Maldives trips due to the recent Maldives controversy that created a strong backlash of comments from Indians. 

“In response to these requests, the organisation has taken a proactive approach to assure its customers by announcing a 100% refund for all Maldives tours booked for the upcoming months,” the management posted on its website statement.

Thrillophilia promotes and sells travel experiences and attractions across 15 Asian countries, including the Maldives. The latter is a popular destination for its Indian clientele. Overhaul Thrillophilia clocks around 2 million monthly visits to its booking website.

It was responding to recent news first reported by the news channel Associated Press that confirmed the Maldives had suspended three deputy ministers for disparaging India’s beaches in social media comments.

Apparently, the disgraced deputy ministers had responded to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s online posts promoting beaches in a part of India similar to the tourism-dependent Maldives.

It prompted a row over which country has the superior sandy beaches after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an image of himself last week walking along a beach in the Lakshadweep archipelago, India’s smallest union territory made up of 36 islands off the Arabian Sea Coast of Kerala State. 

Indians made up the largest number of tourists visiting the Maldives in 2023. Many Indian celebrities visit the Maldives on vacations and honeymoons, and some of them took to social media to condemn the comments of three deputy ministers.

“The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives,” the Maldives Foreign Ministry said in a statement reported by AP.

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