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GBA starts HKG-SIN flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 12 March 2024: Greater Bay Airlines will launch a new service linking Hong Kong and Singapore on 26 April. 

The new scheduled service will operate daily between Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore Changi using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Photo credit: GBA.

Hong Kong is a popular destination for shopping and dining, attending large-scale events ranging from arts to entertainment, and visiting various tourist attractions such as the M+, Palace Museum collections, and exhibitions at the West Kowloon Cultural District. 

With the recent announcement of the mutual 30-day visa-exemption arrangement between Singapore and China, visits to Mainland China, including the Greater Bay Area, from Singapore are on the rise.

Positioned as an international aviation hub, Hong Kong is the most important gateway to major cities in Mainland China, either by air, high-speed ferry, or high-speed train. Hong Kong International Airport is also well connected with Greater Bay Area cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Macao by high-speed ferry services or by ground transportation via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

GBA launched its first flights in Asia in July 2022 and operates flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

AirAsia flies daily to Perth

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KUALA LUMPUR, 12 March 2024: AirAsia Malaysia celebrated another milestone in its expansion strategy this week with the launch of direct flights to Perth, Australia.   

The inaugural flight using AirAsia’s Airbus A321neo aircraft departed on Monday from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Terminal 2) at 1410 and landed at Perth International Airport at 1950 local time. AirAsia will initially fly the route daily and plans to double flights to twice daily as passenger traffic grows.

Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, Bo Lingam said: “Thanks to the addition of the new model A321neo aircraft with longer range capabilities spanning over five hours and numerous operational efficiency, we can make these new services a reality on a narrowbody aircraft from Kuala Lumpur so that more of our guests can travel to Australia affordably.”

Perth is a fan-favourite destination for many Malaysians, attracting travellers from all over the country and beyond for leisure, tourism, education, and visiting family and friends due to its close proximity to Southeast Asia. Malaysia is also Western Australia’s fourth biggest international visitor market, injecting AUD99 million into the WA economy in visitor expenditure for the year ending in September 2023. Conversely, Asia is a top destination for Australians seeking an affordable and culturally diverse experience.

In celebration of its new milestone, AirAsia offers all-in fares from Kuala Lumpur to Perth from only MYR299*, and from Perth to Kuala Lumpur from just AUD166* all-in-one-way. The fare is available for booking starting today until 17 March 2024 for the travel period between now and 30 November 2024.


Flight schedules from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Perth (PER) with AirAsia Malaysia 

Emirates inks MoU with Icelandair

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 March 2024: Emirates has signed MoUs with Icelandair and travel technology and ticketing specialist W2 and AirBlackBox (ABB) by GO7 to develop deeper commercial cooperation. 

The move comes as the airlines look to leverage each other’s networks and use modern tools for more efficient combined air and rail ticket connections.

Both MoUs will set the framework for establishing potential codeshare cooperations across the networks of each respective airline and expanding intermodal programmes offered by virtual interlines across the Emirates network.

Emirates Airline deputy president and chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim said: “We are pleased to deepen our partnerships with Icelandair and GO7. Their networks and intermodal capabilities complement our European presence, providing an array of connections for our customers to simplify their journeys. Together, we will open up new travel opportunities and more choices for customers travelling across Europe. We believe these partnerships will bring real benefits to our customers and business, and we’re taking positive steps towards further strengthening our relationships.”

GO7

Emirates has partnered with travel technology and ticketing specialist GO7 to work on a holistic airline distribution approach, enabling Emirates to offer combined interline and rail tickets to worldwide destinations through Emirates’ direct and indirect channels outside of the traditional booking ecosystem. 

Icelandair

Emirates and Icelandair are working towards expanding their existing interline partnership into a reciprocal codeshare agreement. The planned codeshare will provide travellers connecting to Emirates gateways in Europe with convenient access to Reykjavik (REK). Emirates will initially place its “EK” marketed code on best connecting Icelandair flights. Icelandair will place its code on flights operated between various gateways in Europe, Dubai, and beyond to the airline’s extensive network. A full roster of destinations will be communicated at a later stage. Once the codeshare is fully activated, customers will benefit from single-ticket travel with competitive fares and one-stop baggage check-in to various destinations.

Once the necessary government and regulatory approvals are obtained, the codeshare flights will progressively be made available to customers across online and travel agency platforms.

For more information and to make bookings visit: www.emirates.com.

LADA signs MoU for charter flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI, 11 March 2024: In a move to boost travel to Langkawi from emerging European markets, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and ITAKA Poland concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at ITB Berlin last week.

It will lead to Poland’s leading tour operator introducing competitive holiday packages using charter flights for the first time later this year. Direct flights will be introduced from Warsaw to Langkawi Island, winging in hundreds of Polish holidaymakers on weekly departures. 

MoU signing between LADA and ITAKA Poland.

‘We have leased a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 294 seats, which can fly directly from Warsaw to Langkawi. It will be a new and exotic destination for us,” commented Jaralow, head of charter operations at ITAKA.

The visionary collaboration between LADA and tourism players on the island, leading to charter holiday flights from Poland, will propel Langkawi’s tourism to a new level and spur expansion from other emerging European markets.

The strategic MOU signing between LADA and ITAKA is the centrepiece of a significant expansion that will introduce direct charter flights from Poland to Langkawi. 

The agreement is supported by collaborating with Malaysia Airport Holding Berhad (MAHB). It leverages Malaysia’s Airlines X-Celeration Programme (AXP), whereby LADA offers charter flight Incentives that will set the stage for an unprecedented surge in tourism to the island,

Nepal confirms travel mart dates

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SINGAPORE, 11 March 2024: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter confirmed during last week’s ITB Berlin that Nepal will host the 5th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) from 4 to 7 June 2024 in the country’s capital, Kathmandu. 

The trade show delegation from  Nepal rustled up interest in the show during ITB, encouraging travel buyers in Europe to attend the annual trade event managed by the PATA Nepal Chapter.

The show is hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and supported by the Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Airlines, PATA International, other prominent tourism associations, and private-sector tourism businesses in Nepal. 

Each year, HTM draws a strong turnout of global travel buyers, exhibitors in Nepal, travel bloggers, influencers, and international media.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter led 40 tourism and hospitality business companies from the private sector’s tourism industry in Nepal at last week’s ITB Berlin. 

PATA Nepal Chapter chairman Bibhuti Chad Thakur affirmed PATA Nepal’s commitment to ongoing tourism marketing and promotion, expressing joy in maintaining and promoting Nepal’s image at one of the world’s premier travel shows.

Costa Serena visits Phuket

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 11 March 2024: Costa Serena will be sailing from Port Klang in Malaysia to Phuket in South Thailand on four-day/five-night cruises throughout March before it relocates to its homeport in Keelung Port, Taiwan.

The 3,780-passenger Italian-owned cruise ship has been sailing from its seasonal homeport of Port Klang in Malaysia since January, offering cruises to Penang, Langkawi, and Phuket. The cruise series is sold exclusively through Asian tour operators led by Hwajing Travel & Tours. During March, Costa Serena will sail from its seasonal homeport of Port Klang to the shores of Phuket, mooring off Patong Bay. Cruise packages start at MYR980 per person.

Photo credit: Hwajing Travel & Tours. Costa Serena visits Patong Bay Phuket island.

Once the school holidays close, the ship will sail to its homeport in Keelung Port, Taiwan, where it will resume sailings to South Korea (Busan) and Nagasaki in Japan. 

The January to March sailings in Southeast Asia marks the first time that Costa Serena has homeported seasonally in Port Klang, Malaysia. Costa Cruises and Hwajing Travel & Tours signed a partnership last October, making Port Klang the first international cruise port in Malaysia for a seasonal cruise series for the first quarter of 2024, a decision that tourism officials said was an “opportunity for Malaysia to show its attractiveness as a cruise tourism destination, but also brings a positive impact to the economy and promises a paradigm shift in the country’s cruise industry.”

During the launch press conference, Hwajing Travel & Tours managing director Kenny Cheong said that “collaboration with Costa Cruises was in line with the travel company’s commitment to exploring new markets and offering the best travel experience.”

Costa Serena has adapted to the Southeast Asia market by introducing services and offers to meet the needs of Muslim travellers. The ship gained Halal Certification before its stay in Malaysia to meet the needs of Muslim travellers in Southeast Asia.

Costa Serena offers a three-day, two-night voyage from Port Klang to Penang and extends the cruises to up to four days/five nights, including a stop in Phuket, Thailand. Next month, Costa Serena returns to Taiwan, docking at Keelung Port, where it joins France’s Ponant Le Soleal, which also made Keelung its home port. Norwegian Spirit will visit Taiwan this summer, making Keelung and Kaohsiung its dual home ports.

Klook, a trip and activity online booking platform, is selling two-night Costa Serena cruises that will sail to Busan, South Korea, on 8 June and visit Fukuoka and Nagasaki in Japan.

Women a driving force in travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 March 2024: To mark International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) underscored the pivotal role of women in the global travel and tourism sector.

According to WTTC data, women comprise a significant portion of the tourism sector’s workforce, accounting for nearly 40% of the total employment.

This marks a substantial increase from 2010 to 2019, highlighting a 24% surge in direct female employment within the sector, increasing from 38.6 million to 47.8 million.

Key findings reveal that hospitality stands out as the leading employer of women within the Travel & Tourism sector, with over half (52%) of all female employment in 2019 attributed to this segment.

WTTC president and CEO Julia Simpson emphasises the positive impact of women in the sector, stating, “Women in travel and tourism play a vital role. We are proud that our sector is one of the largest employers of women in the world.

“As our sector continues to grow, women have a key role to play; we have the opportunity to make travel and tourism more resilient and inclusive. Putting women at the heart of travel and tourism will be critical to securing a sustainable future for the sector.”

The global body’s data also reveals women in travel and tourism surpass the average workforce participation in other sectors globally. In regions such as the Americas, women make up a larger share of employment in the sector compared to the economy-wide workforce.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, this data underscores the significant contribution of women to the travel and tourism sector, portraying it as a catalyst for gender inclusivity and empowerment on a global scale.

WTTC remains committed to providing high-wage jobs, gender equality, fostering entrepreneurship through SMEs, and generating more high-level opportunities for women within large corporations.

(Source: WTTC)

United expands global network

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 11 March 2024: United is expanding its global route network, adding new nonstop flights between New York/Newark and Marrakesh, Morocco, plus Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines. 

United confirmed last week that it will also increase flights to popular destinations worldwide, including Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, and Porto, Portugal. Additionally, the airline will add four weekly flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai, as the Chinese and US governments recently agreed to increase flights between the two countries*.

Including the latest additions to its route network, United will offer nonstop service to 134 international destinations across 67 countries. 

“We have consistently been ahead of the curve in finding hidden gem destinations for our customers to explore and remain committed to providing the most unique slate of travel options for their adventures abroad,” said United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, Patrick Quayle. 

Tickets for United’s new Shanghai and Cebu flights are on sale now on the United app and United.com.

Asia network changes

Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines
United expands its presence in the Philippines with a new nonstop service from Tokyo-Narita to Cebu, starting 31 July. United will be the only US carrier to fly to Cebu with daily flights using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The flight will connect with  United’s flights out of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Newark-New York, and Houston to Tokyo-Narita. United is the only US carrier offering transpacific service to the Philippines, with daily flights between San Francisco and Manila. Also, it flies to Manila from Guam and Palau.

In addition, the airline is continuing to rebuild its mainland China schedule, with four weekly flights between Shanghai and Los Angeles on a Boeing 787-9 starting 29 August. By late October, the Shanghai-Los Angeles route will have a daily service. It will complement United’s daily service between San Francisco and Shanghai and San Francisco and Beijing. This enhanced service is enabled by the agreement between the governments of the US and China to increase flights between the two countries.

United will add more flights to Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. On 26 October, United will launch its second daily Los Angeles-Hong Kong flight on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, complementing its two daily flights from San Francisco to Hong Kong. The airline will also offer year-round, twice-daily flights between San Francisco and Seoul starting 25 October. Additionally, United will expand its Tokyo service with a new route between Haneda and Guam in May.

Myanmar’s Htoo Group faces sanction probe

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TTR WEEKLY
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ROME, 11 March 2024: Justice For Myanmar, a covert activist group campaigning for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar, calls on Italy to take swift action against Htoo Group shareholder and director Rachel Tayza, following a legal submission presented on 4 March 2024 by French lawyers William Bourdon and Lily Ravon 

The submission calls for Italian authorities to investigate Htoo Htwe Tay Za, alias Rachel Tayza, for her alleged “involvement as a shareholder and director of companies that are part of the EU-sanctioned Htoo Group of Companies, and, where appropriate, to freeze her assets and to remove her from Italy.”

The submission alleges that while residing in Italy, Tayza continues to hold shares and act as director of at least seven Htoo Group companies, including ones formed after the military’s coup in February 2021 and those in direct business with the Myanmar army.

It points the finger at the tourism and hospitality company Ayeyarwaddy Resorts and Lodges Company Limited as one of those identified companies. Justice for Myanmar alleges it has build-operate-transfer contracts with the Myanmar army’s EU-sanctioned Office of the Quarter Master General regarding a multipurpose commercial project, including a hotel, luxury residence towers and a shopping mall on 22 acres of land in Yangon. 

The US, UK, Canada, and the EU have extended sanctions against the Htoo Group. On 31 January 2023, the US sanctioned Rachel Tayza for her active role in the Htoo Group of Companies and for being the adult daughter of the Htoo Group chairperson, Tay Za. The EU, USA, UK, and Canada also sanctioned her. Rachel’s brothers, Pye Phyo Tay Za and Htoo Htet Tay Za, are also sanctioned by the USA, UK, and Canada.

In its reasons for sanctions, the EU noted: “Htoo Group of Companies has acted as an intermediary for the provision of military equipment which was used against civilian populations protesting against the 1 February coup, all across the country and in particular in areas with ethnic minorities.”

Justice for Myanmar describes Htoo Group as a “key node in the Myanmar military’s international network of businesses” that provides it with funds through its network of more than 60 businesses in Myanmar and Singapore. 

One of the enterprises, Aureum Palace Hotels and Resorts, operates 11 hotels in Myanmar that are promoted and bookable on various online travel agency websites. International booking websites that accept payments in USD and Euro through credit cards could breach US and EU sanctions.

Another company, Myanmar Treasure Resorts, is under Htoo Hospitality operations, while Htoo Trading closed two airlines, Air Bagan in 2015 and Asian Wings Airlines in 2019. According to a Justice For Myanmar investigation, Rachel Tayza has been residing in Milan, where she recently completed her studies at a fashion school supported by proceeds from the Htoo Group of Companies.

Justice For Myanmar urges the EU to impose sanctions on the whole Htoo Group network of companies and individuals, including Rachel Tayza, as well as all other Myanmar junta cronies and brokers.

Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung says: “Weak sanctions enforcement by Italian authorities has allowed Tayza to do business in Italy that funds an illegal and illegitimate military junta.   

(Source: Justice For Myanmar)

Vietjet flies to Hiroshima

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TTR WEEKLY
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HO CHI MINH CITY, 11 March 2024: Vietjet will launch direct flights from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, to Hiroshima in Japan starting 12 May.

Initially, the airline will schedule two weekly flights on Thursday and Sunday, using an A320 with a flight time of around four hours. 

Flights* will depart from Hanoi at 0600 (local time) and arrive in Hiroshima at 1230. The return flights depart from Hiroshima Airport at 1330 and arrive at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) at 1620.

Hiroshima is located in the Southwest of Japan. It has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Itsukushima Shrine with the Torii gate on the Seto Inland Sea. It also has many famous landmarks, such as Ueno-Hiroshima Park and Senkoji Park. 

Vietjet flies from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to famous Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nayoga, and Fukuoka. 

According to the latest update on flights between cities in Vietnam and Japan provided by OAG, Vietjet’s seat capacity is 34.7% of the total available seats. Vietnam Airlines commands the largest share at 41.6%, followed by All Nippon Airways at 12.8% and Japan Airlines at 10.9%.

(*Source: OAG Schedules Analyser data)

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