SINGAPORE, 1 April 2025: Qantas introduced a new direct service on Sunday connecting Australia’s Northern Territory capital Darwin with Singapore four times weekly.
The new service adds 70,000 seats between Darwin and Singapore providing business and leisure travellers with direct flights between Australia’s Top End and Singapore, a leading aviation gateway for travel to India and Southeast Asia.
Photo credit: Qantas. Left-to-right: Oliver Craven-McLeay, Manager Communications and Government Affairs Asia, Qantas; The Hon Robyn Cahill OAM, Minister Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Northern Territory Government; Florence Liau, Associate General Manager – Air Hub Market & Passenger Development, Changi Airport.
Return fares from Singapore to Darwin start at SGD434 in economy. All Qantas fares include checked baggage, meals, beverages and entertainment. Fares are on sale at Qantas.com or via travel agents.
Qantas CEO International, Cam Wallace, commented: “We’re delighted to offer another option for Singaporeans to experience the magic of Australia’s Top End and strengthen the important trade and business links between the Lion City and Australia. By adding over 70,000 new seats from our hub in Singapore, this new route will open up more options for travellers to make Darwin the first stop on their Australian itinerary.”
Singapore Tourism Board’s Executive Director, International Group HQ & Oceania, Oliver Chong, added: “It’s fantastic that Qantas is creating more access for Aussies to visit Singapore from the top end. With Singapore just under a five-hour flight from Darwin, the city is a perfect choice for a quick break, whether it be a whirlwind tour of our food, shopping and attraction offerings or a chill-out time indulging in wellness and bar options.”
Flights operate four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, operated by Qantas Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 12 business and 162 economy seats. Flight time is four hours and 50 minutes.
Flight schedule
QF113 departs Darwin at 1455 and arrives in Singapore at 1815. QF114 departs Singapore at 1920 and arrives in Darwin at 0140, plus a day.
Qantas will compete head-on with Singapore Airlines, which has been flying the route five times weekly and increased to daily on 31 March. It uses a Boeing 737-9 with 154 seats. The average roundtrip fare on the route is USD650. Both airlines offer business class.
BANGKOK, 31 March 2025: BWH Hotels, the leading global hospitality network comprising WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels, has expanded its presence in Pakistan with the launch of a brand new hotel in Quetta, the capital and largest city in the province of Balochistan.
Now open and welcoming guests, Best Western DHA Hanna Mall Quetta forms part of a major new mixed-use development. Travelers can stay in complete comfort with a choice of 25 spacious rooms and suites, all fully equipped with modern and comfortable amenities.
This contemporary hotel also features extensive facilities for business and leisure, including an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a yoga studio, and a business centre. The five meeting rooms will enable companies to conduct professional conferences, and all guests will enjoy the convenience of direct access to the Hanna Mall retail complex.
The hotel is conveniently situated on the city’s outskirts and easily accessible via National Highway 25. It is approximately 20km from Quetta’s historic centre and 10km from Quetta International Airport, which offers direct connections to and from major cities including Dubai, Jeddah, Karachi and Lahore.
Best Western DHA Hanna Mall Quetta becomes BWH Hotels’ fifth property in Pakistan, following the group’s popular Best Western Premier® hotels in Lahore and Islamabad and two new Best Western® properties in Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. It also marks the first internationally-branded hotel in Quetta, a vibrant regional commercial hub home to more than one million people.
“We are delighted to start welcoming guests to Best Western DHA Hanna Mall Quetta, which marks the start of an exciting new era of world-class hospitality in this major city. An integral part of the new DHA Hanna Mall complex, I am confident this outstanding property will become one of the most popular places to stay, meet, shop and dine in Quetta,” said BWH Hotels Vice President – APAC Olivier Berrivin.
With five hotels now operating and several more in the pipeline, BWH Hotels is one of the leading hotel operators in Pakistan.
BWH Hotels is a leading global hospitality enterprise comprising three hotel companies: WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 18 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market.
DUBAI UAE, 31 March 2025: Emirates will reinstate its second daily flight between Dubai and Beirut starting 1 April 2025 operated with a Boeing 777-300ER.
The additional flight will boost weekly passenger capacity by more than 5,000 seats (roundtrip), offering customers flexibility and catering to the growing demand.
Emirates’ flight EK957 will take off from Dubai at 0730 and arrive in Beirut at 1035. The return flight EK958 will depart from Beirut at 1205 and arrive in Dubai at 1655.
The additional daily flight will offer travellers from Beirut a second option to visit friends and family in Dubai. This service is also a convenient, seamless layover for those connecting and travelling beyond Dubai to Emirates destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Mauritius, and other key points across Asia and the Indian Ocean.
For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked through the Emirates’ app, retail stores, the contact centre, or via travel agents.
SINGAPORE, 31 March 2025: Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter embarked on their maiden voyages from Australia, departing from their respective homeports in Sydney and Brisbane at the weekend.
With the addition of these two ships, Carnival Cruise Line now has the largest fleet in its 53-year history, totalling 29 ships worldwide.
Photo credit: Carnival. Carnival Encounter.
In Sydney, Carnival Adventure was officially welcomed into the Carnival fleet during a special celebration led by Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy on Friday. A second celebratory event took place on Saturday in Brisbane, the homeport of Carnival Encounter. Once the celebrations ended, the ships welcomed guests onboard for their maiden voyages from both homeports.
Completing the integration of P&O Australia into the Carnival brand, the ships previously known as Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter have been reimagined to deliver Carnival’s signature features while retaining some of P&O’s most-loved elements. They will join Carnival’s Splendor and Carnival Luminosa, with the cruise line forecasting more than 500,000 guests will sail on its four ships from Australian homeports this year.
Carnival’s HubApp is now available for guests sailing on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. Guests can use the app on personal devices to easily make dining and excursion reservations, chat with other guests and explore onboard activities.
HONG KONG, 31 March 2025: Hong Kong will increase its Air Passenger Departure Tax on 1 October 2025 from HKD120 to HKD200, 20 years after it last increased the tax.
The Hong Kong SAR Government said the new tax rate will apply to air tickets purchased on or after 1 October, generating an estimated annual increase of HKD1.6 billion.
“Under the Air Passenger Departure Tax Ordinance (Cap 140) (APDT Ordinance), certain classes of people are exempted from payment of the APDT, including passengers under 12 years of age, direct transit passengers, connecting flight passengers, passengers who arrive at and depart from Hong Kong by aircraft on the same day, and passengers who arrive at Hong Kong International Airport by vehicle via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge or by ship and subsequently depart from Hong Kong by aircraft while remaining within the restricted area at all times before departure.”
Under the APDT Ordinance, airlines and helicopter companies collect the APDT from air passengers on behalf of the government and process applications for exemptions and refunds in return for an administration fee. The bill also proposes amending the APDT Ordinance to streamline the government’s financial arrangements for handling administration fees.
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2025: Malaysia Airlines marked its return to Paris last week with daily direct flights between its home base at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
Flight MH22 departs from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 2345 local time (MYT) and arrives in Paris at 0640. It’s Malaysia Airlines’ 68th destination.
The inaugural flights received an overwhelming response, with flight loads for MH22 and the return sector MH21 reaching 95% and 98%,, respectively.
Malaysia Airlines scheduled four weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Paris before increasing to daily flights on 29 March.
As part of this resumption, Malaysia Airlines also introduced the Time for Memorable Journeys Pocketbook for all passengers flying on this new route. The Paris edition, the first in an ongoing series, is designed to enhance the travel experience by providing valuable tips to navigate the city.
Malaysia Airlines expands travel options for passengers flying beyond Paris through its long-standing partnership with American Airlines. Passengers can connect with flights to four additional US destinations from Paris: New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA), and Orlando (ORD).
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2025: International passenger traffic and cargo uplift continued to grow, supported by positive business and consumer demand across the region, according to preliminary data for February released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
An aggregate total of 30.8 million international passengers flew on the region’s airlines in February, representing a 5.9% increase over the number recorded in the same month last year on the back of the Lunar New Year holiday period.
In revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, demand grew by 9.2% year-on-year, reflecting relative strength in long-haul markets. When considering an 8.6% expansion in available seat capacity, the average international passenger load factor edged 0.4 percentage points higher to 82.2% for the month.
Meanwhile, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), international air cargo demand grew by a more modest 2.8% year-on-year in February, as export activity slowed across the major manufacturing hubs, notably China, during the festive celebrations.
Offered freight capacity increased by 6.0%, outpacing the growth in demand to result in a 1.7 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 56.5% for the month.
Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Subhas Menon,said: “In the first two months of the year, combined international passenger traffic for the region’s carriers rose by a robust 13%, reaching a total of 66 million passengers. During the same period, international air cargo demand increased by 4% year-on-year, supported by higher consumer and intermediate goods demand.”
Looking Menon noted: “Overall, airlines are expected to continue to benefit from sustained travel demand and growth in air shipments due to ongoing expansion in e-commerce activity. However, the region’s carriers are facing headwinds, particularly as rising costs, driven partly by fleet capacity constraints, continue to exert pressure on revenue.”
He concluded: “The recent rise in protectionist sentiment also presents potential trade and broader business activity challenges. In response, Asian airlines are maintaining a cautious stance, closely monitoring evolving operating conditions while actively exploring opportunities in high-potential growth markets.”
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2025: The Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) has designated Macao as the International Favourite Destination for the MATTA Fair 18-20 April 2025.
The biannual travel show will be held at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur.
In partnership with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the MATTA Fair aims to showcase Macao’s attractive travel deals and holiday packages to visitors at the fair.
Recognising Macao as the International Favourite Destination at the 56th edition of the MATTA Fair goes beyond celebrating its exceptional appeal. It reflects MATTA’s commitment to broadening the tour and travel markets at the fair, driving sales for MATTA members, travel agencies, and other exhibitors.
Located on Level 2 of the MITEC International Halls, the Macao Pavilion visitors can expect special promotions and interactive experiences to highlight Macao’s integrated resorts, iconic heritage monuments and famous cuisine.
“We are proud to be named the International Favourite Destination at MATTA Fair in April 2025. This reflects our strong partnership with MATTA in bringing more Malaysians to Macao. MATTA Fair is the perfect platform to showcase Macao’s exciting new attractions and highlight why it remains a top short-haul destination for Malaysian travellers,” said MGTO Marketing Division Head Cora Vong.
“MATTA Fair plays a primary role in connecting travellers with a world of opportunities while driving business for our members, especially in both inbound and outbound sectors. Our collaboration with Macao as this year’s International Favourite Destination is a testimony to how strategic partnerships can open new doors for visitors and industry players,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong.
“In line with our commitment to strengthening travel businesses for our members, MATTA has also announced the arrival of the first-ever international travel business-to-business (B2B) event, MATTA Connect, on the day preceding the consumer travel show.”
The event provides an opportunity for international sellers from many different countries to connect with local Malaysian travel agents as buyers to explore new international destinations and to establish new business partnerships. MATTA Connect will convene on 17 April 2025 at MITEC.
To ensure a smooth visitor experience, MATTA Fair offers free admission and is open from 1000 to 2100 from Friday to Sunday, 18 to 20 April.
For the latest updates, visit the MATTA Fair’s website MATTA Fair and social media platforms on Facebook, X and TikTok, or subscribe to the new Instagram page @mattafair.official and Telegram channel @MATTA_Fair.
HONG KONG, 31 March 2025: The Cathay Group will boost flights between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland this summer, providing close to 300 weekly return flights during the peak season.
In a press statement released over the weekend, the airline noted it would increase flights, strengthen direct services between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland cities, and cater to the growing demand for two-way travel between China and destinations worldwide.
Photo credit: Cathay Group
Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau commented: “We are delighted to expand our flight schedule in the Chinese Mainland this summer with services to 20 destinations and increased frequencies to many of our popular routes.”
Focusing on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta regions, both major national strategic areas, Cathay continues to boost flight capacity and provide flight schedules to ensure frequent and convenient travel services throughout the day to Beijing and Shanghai. Meanwhile, the airline group has also increased flights to other key Chinese Mainland cities to meet significant leisure and business travel demand.
Beijing: Increasing to seven daily return flights to Beijing Capital International Airport, together with a daily flight to Beijing Daxing International Airport operated by HK Express, for 56 weekly flights to Beijing’s two major international airports.
Shanghai: Increasing to eight daily return flights to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, along with 11 flights per week to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Cathay Pacific will operate 67 weekly roundtrip flights between Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Zhengzhou, Ningbo, Haikou, Chongqing: Each increasing from four return flights per week to daily flights, with HK Express also operating daily flights to Ningbo this summer, significantly enhancing flight frequencies between Hong Kong and these popular destinations.
Other routes with more flights: Flights to Hangzhou are increasing to four return flights per day, flights to Nanjing increase to twice per day, flights to Wenzhou increase to 10 per week, and flights to Wuhan to 12 per week.
In addition, Cathay Pacific will launch direct flights between Hong Kong and Urumqi on 28 April. Together with HK Express, the Cathay Group will operate close to 300 return flights per week between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland during the peak period this summer – nearly 40% more than in 2024 – reinforcing connectivity between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the world while promoting economic and cultural exchange.
In addition to enhancing connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the Cathay Group is expanding its global network to solidify Hong Kong’s status as a leading international aviation hub. The group is adding 13 destinations to its network this year, including Hyderabad, Dallas, Urumqi, Rome, Munich and Brussels for Cathay Pacific, and Sendai, Nha Trang, Ishigaki, Komatsu, Cheongju, Daegu and Miyako (Shimojishima) for HK Express.
SIHANOUKVILLE, 28 March 2028: TravelLife Gold Certification tips the scale in favour of Royal Sands Koh Rong when searching for an eco-conscious holiday destination that gives you peace of mind.
Since it achieved TravelLife Gold Certification in October 2024, Royal Sands Koh Rong is the only hotel in Cambodia to achieve the prestigious accreditation. That’s no mean feat for a luxury island resort located off the coast of Sihanoukville province in southern Cambodia. Success required strict compliance to sustainability criteria, including emissions, biodiversity, human rights, fair labour, child safeguarding, and animal welfare, verified by a stringent independent audit carried out by TravelLife-approved accessors and followed by the submission of monthly data.
“Our Gold Certification is valid until October 2026, after which we will undergo a new audit to retain our status,” explained the resort’s general manager, Mario Piazza. “The Gold level is the highest certification within Travelife’s framework, and achieving and maintaining the Travelife Gold Certification has positively impacted our resort in several ways.”
When you stay at Royal Sands Koh Rong, a spectacular view unfurls from the luxury villas — an uninterrupted squeaky-clean beach stretches as far as the eye can see, and clear seas sparkle in the sunlight. It doesn’t get better than this for travellers seeking a getaway, stress-free island sojourn that ticks all the sustainable travel boxes.
As you tuck into Eggs Benedict for breakfast, you’ll have peace of mind knowing Travelife certification works in the background to curate a sustainable beach holiday experience without compromising the eco-system.
Back-of-the-house improvements at work: “The TravelLife framework has guided us in refining our sustainability policies, reducing waste, and enhancing energy and water efficiency. We implement best practices in responsible tourism that align with global sustainability standards,” the GM explains.
Teamwork with staff engagement: “Our team actively participates in sustainability efforts, with contributions from our engineering and food & beverage teams, alongside our dedicated sustainability coordinator. Regular environmental clean-ups around the island and beaches foster a culture of responsibility and environmental awareness.”
Then there’s the guest experience: “Many travellers, mainly from Europe and the UK, actively seek eco-conscious properties, and we provide easy access to information regarding our sustainability initiatives on our website.”
Industry recognition: “Sustainability certification has become increasingly important for tour operators, particularly in the European market, where travellers demand proof of responsible practices. From a market perspective, we have observed a steady recovery since the pandemic, with a balanced mix of visitors from Europe, the UK, and other international markets.”
“While our primary market consists of couples, families, and solo travellers, we have successfully hosted some corporate incentive groups, typically those who travel first to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh visit our resort for leisure-focused retreats at the close of business meetings or events,” the GM acknowledges. “Yes, demand for incentive travel to our luxury island resort exists, but it remains a niche market.”
Piazza recognises that accessibility remains a challenge for the island resort. Sihanoukville needs more direct international flights from Asian cities to support the growth of luxury resorts and beach tourism. Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor Wat Historical Park, is Cambodia’s most popular destination by a substantial margin. However, travellers visiting the cultural and heritage sites of the Angkor Wat Historical Park can extend their holiday with a beach stay simply by boarding a domestic flight for the one-hour hop from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville.
Getting there the fast way
Getting to Koh Rong island was more manageable during the pre-Covid pandemic era when Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia scheduled direct flights from Bangkok to the airport on the outskirts of Sihanoukville town. The airlines have not resumed those services.
However, two direct international routes to Sihanoukville Airport (KOS) have resumed. Cambodia Angkor Air flies from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and AirAsia flies from Kuala Lumpur.
Cambodia Angkor Air flies daily between Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Sihanoukville (KOS). K6839 departs SGN at 0755 and arrives in KOS at 0915. Flights are on the 70-seat ATR72.
AirAsia flies between Kuala Lumpur and Sihanoukville four times weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun). AK264 departs Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 1210 and arrives in Sihanoukville (KOS) at 1300. Flights are on the 180-seat A320.
An alternative is a direct international flight to Phnom Penh from cities in Asia and then a 215 km air-conditioned bus or private car transfer on the much improved Sihanoukville Highway 4, which takes around three hours.
The Royal Sands Koh Rong provides a private ferry boat service for guests from Sihanoukville. (It also offers private taxis and helicopter pickups). The ferry port is 10 to 15 km from the airport, depending on the route. The resort arranges a transfer from Sihanoukville airport to the ferry pier and then to the island directly by the resort’s ferry. The refreshing ferry ride takes 40 minutes to Koh Rong island.
Luxury villa island getaway
The five-star Royal Sands Koh Rong spans a private 400-metre beach on the tropical island of Koh Rong, Cambodia, “offering an intimate glimpse of island life as it was meant to be”.
The luxury villas (67 units) are decorated in a contemporary tropical style and have an outdoor Sala lounge area. Free Wi-Fi is available in all villa rooms. Around half of the units feature private swimming pools. Bathrooms have an indoor and separate outdoor rain shower and double sinks. A range of spa treatments are on offer. The Chill Beach Bar & Grill, located right on the beach, serves Asian, European and Mediterranean dishes.
For more information on Royal Sands Koh Rong and to make a booking, visit the website: The Royal Sands Koh Rong
