Wednesday, April 30, 2025
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AAV clinches core profit closes Covid chapter

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 March 2025: Asia Aviation Public Company Limited (AAV), the sole shareholder of Thai AirAsia Company Limited (TAA), has delivered a strong financial performance for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2024 (4Q2024), reinforcing its growth momentum and operational resilience as travel demand continues to be on an uptrend.

Revenue from sales and services stood at THB13,226 million, an increase of 6% year-on-year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) amounted to THB3,396 million, a 7% increase YoY. Core profit, which excluded losses from foreign exchange, was recorded at THB1,454 million, a 40% increase YoY. Total passenger traffic reached 5.5 million, representing an 8% growth YoY, with a passenger load factor of 89%.

For the full financial year ended 31 December 2024 (FY2024), AAV reported revenue from sales and services of THB49,436 million, a 20% increase compared to the previous year. EBITDA was recorded at THB10,171 million, a 43% increase YoY. Notably, the core profit marked its first positive result since the pandemic, at THB3,007 million, signalling the end of the Covid pandemic and a return to growth. 

Total passenger traffic for FY2024 was 20.8 million, a 10% increase compared to the previous year, with a passenger load factor of 91%, reflecting continued high travel demand, particularly in the domestic market. The full-year passenger mix was 63% domestic and 37% international. The fleet expanded to 60 aircraft by year-end, following the addition of four new planes.

Moving forward

The company remains focused on accelerating growth despite ongoing challenges by leveraging its service excellence and modern fleet. It targets a mid-teens percentage YoY revenue increase in sales and services, supported by adding six Airbus A321neo aircraft, bringing its fleet to 66 aircraft by year-end.

With a strong commitment to reinforcing its market leadership, the company aims to consistently boost its domestic market share above 40%, driven by network expansion from its Suvarnabhumi base. 

In early February, Thai AirAsia launched two new domestic routes – Suvarnabhumi-Udon Thani and Suvarnabhumi-Khon Kaen—bringing its total Suvarnabhumi network to six routes. Further international expansion is planned throughout the year, including direct flights from Thailand and the strategic utilisation of Fifth Freedom rights. With these initiatives, the company aims to serve 23 to 24 million passengers in 2025, setting a new record.

2025 Tropical Cities Tourism Event heads for Sanya

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 28 February 2025: Sanya Tourism Board (STB) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), have whittled down the date options for the 2025 Tropical Coastal Cities Tourism Event to the first or second week of November 2025.

Sanya Tourism Board will continue to host the second edition following the event’s inaugural launch in 2024, which was backed by the PATA Travel Association. Finalised dates and a conference theme should be announced shortly.

Photo credit: Sanya Tourism Board.

The event will bring together leaders, experts, and stakeholders from tropical coastal destinations to exchange insights and foster collaboration in tourism development, sustainability, and cultural exchange. 

Sanya Tourism Board reports that a key highlight will be the establishment of the Tropical Island Tourism Alliance (TITA), a new platform aimed at promoting cooperation among tropical coastal destinations.

The annual event is a by-product of a collaboration between PATA and the Sanya Tourism Board, signed last year and valid for three years, to develop tourism in tropical coastal cities through innovative international tourism marketing strategies that support local communities and champion sustainable development. 

Key event features

  • Insight-sharing sessions.   
  • One-on-one meetings with tourism enterprises.   
  • Local cultural performances.  
  • Business Matching.

The aim of the 2025 event is to establish a charter for the Tropical Coastal Cities Tourism Alliance.

Collaboration

The event is organised by the Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, TV and Sports of Sanya City and Sanya Tourism Board and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).   

The partnership between the Sanya Tourism Board and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) involves a multi-year collaboration which kicks off with the annual co-hosting of the Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event for an initial three years, 2024 to 2026. 

Goals

To boost tourism consumption.
To establish Sanya as an international tourism hub.
To allow for the exchange of best practices and solutions among coastal cities.   

To find the most up-to-date information regarding the 2025 event, keep an eye on the websites:
The Sanya Tourism Board: https://www.visitsanya.com/en/
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA): https://www.visitsanya.com/en/ 

The three-year collaboration sees the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) partnering with the Sanya Tourism Board to focus on sustainable tourism growth in Hainan and other Asia Pacific tropical islands. 

During last year’s partnership launch, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid commented: “On behalf of the association, I am pleased to solidify our collaboration with Sanya. We can elevate tropical islands and coastal destinations as premier travel hubs by joining forces.

“PATA is dedicated to helping these destinations worldwide uncover their unique strengths and create more meaningful travel experiences that attract international visitors while preserving their rich cultural heritage and protecting their extraordinary natural resources.

“Sanya, as the most representative tropical coastal city in China – it has rich tourism resources and unique geographical advantages – is one of PATA’s important cooperative partners for future development.”

The 2024 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event convened last September was themed ‘The Next Wave: Shaping the Future of Tourism Marketing in Tropical Coastal Cities’. 

AirAsia offers fixed fares for Hari Raya

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 28 February 2025: AirAsia is providing fixed low-cost fares for Hari Raya Aidilfitri*** with more than 16,000 seats up for grabs on over 90 late-night flights between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.

From 28 March 2025 to 5 April 2025, travellers can enjoy fixed fares at MYR328* one-way between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, or Miri, as well as between Johor Bahru and Kuching and Sibu. Meanwhile, flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, or Tawau and Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu are available at MYR388* one-way.

These promotional fares are available for booking starting today until 5 April 2025 on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app.

In addition to more than 90 late-night flights at fixed fares on 10 routes between Peninsular and East Malaysia, AirAsia also operates 287 weekly flights at regular fares to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to support the government’s festive season initiative.

Malaysia’s  Minister of Transport YB Loke Siew Fook said: “The government remains committed to ensuring that air travel remains affordable and accessible for all Malaysians. Initiatives such as the MYR499** ceiling fare subsidy and the FLYsiswa programme are part of our continued efforts to ease the financial burden of travellers, particularly students commuting between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. 

“As we work hand in hand with industry partners like AirAsia, our priority remains the well-being of the people by ensuring fair and reasonable airfares. AirAsia’s fixed-fare initiative for Hari Raya is a crucial step in making travel more inclusive, allowing more Malaysians to reunite with their loved ones without financial strain. This government and airline industry collaboration reflects our shared mission to serve the people, particularly during peak travel seasons.”

For more information, visit: AirAsia 

Guests travelling this festive season are encouraged to self-check in using the AirAsia MOVE app, which is available as early as 14 days before the departure date, and use the e-Boarding Pass to board the flight. Guests are also advised to arrive at least three hours before the scheduled departure time for domestic flights to clear all travel formalities during this peak period.

*Promotional fixed fares quoted are for one-way travel, including passenger service charges, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. Valid for selected flights only. T&C apply.

**Flights with base fares that cost less than RM499 will be sold at the current fare. Fares are non-refundable and subject to other terms and conditions. The government’s subsidy for purchases of one-way economy class tickets of over RM499 from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan is applicable four days before Hari Raya.

***Eid al-Fitr › Malaysia  
Evening of Sun, 30 March, 2025 to Tue, 1 April, 2025
Public holiday: Mon, 31 March 2025 – Tue, 1 April 2025

Meliá signs resort on Phu Quoc

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TTR WEEKLY
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HO CHI MINH CITY, 28 February 2025: Meliá Hotels International is adding a new hotel to its pipeline through an agreement with local real estate developer CityLand Group. 

The two companies signed a hospitality management agreement on 20 February 2025 for a new five-star Meliá resort on the popular tropical island of Phu Quoc off Vietnam’s southern coast.

Meliá Phu Quoc Forest Bay will open in 2028 on a northern beach on the island. This will be the third Meliá property on Vietnam’s largest island, joining Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc in the northwest and SOL by Meliá Phu Quoc in the southern part of Phu Quoc. The new partnership is Meliá’s first with CityLand Group, a leading real estate developer in Vietnam.

Meliá Hotels International has expanded rapidly in Vietnam in the last three years, with 20 operational hotels and six in the pipeline.

Located on a 700-metre shoreline, Meliá Phu Quoc Forest Bay will cover a 21-hectare site in the Bai Thom master plan district—one of the most promising areas in northern Phu Quoc. The total planned area is 173 hectares. 

The project will be developed in two phases. Phase one (expected to open in 2028) involves the launch of approximately 128 luxury villas and 130 hotel rooms. Phase two (expected to be completed in 2030) will add approximately 108 villas, bringing the total room count to 773.

HBX drives Turkish Airlines Holidays

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 February 2025: HBX Group, an independent B2B travel technology marketplace, and PerfectStay, a travel company specialising in travel packaging technology, announce the strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines that has curated the launch of Turkish Airlines Holidays.

Turkish Airlines passengers will now have access to HBX Group’s extensive global inventory of hotels, experiences, and transfers, powered by PerfectStay’s dynamic packaging technology, allowing travellers to conveniently book customised travel packages tailored to their preferences. 

Passengers will have the best price guaranteed and bundled package benefits for holiday packages in over 60 countries and 200 destinations, including tailor-made holiday and tour programmes.

With Turkish Airlines being one of the largest and most influential airlines in the world, covering the largest global network of international flights, this collaboration is a significant milestone in the HBX Group’s strategic focus on airlines and loyalty programmes, a key segment that accounted for 13% of total transaction value (TTV) of HBX Group’s accommodation segment in 2024. Turkish Airlines Holidays also will announce its entry into the US market in the coming months.

HBX Group’s Nicolas Huss said: “Today’s travellers expect a seamless and connected booking experience. With this in mind, we are proud to embark on this strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines to launch Turkish Airlines Holidays. Through this collaboration, passengers can now enhance their journeys by combining flights with our extensive global inventory of accommodations, transfers and experiences, powered by PerfectStay’s advanced packaging technology, to create the ideal getaway. As a company dedicated to connecting global travel, we are thrilled about this opportunity and eager to shape the future of travel together.”

Turkish Airlines Chief Executive Officer Bilal Ekşi added: “We are excited to launch Turkish Airlines Holidays globally. Offering the convenience of booking an entire trip on a single platform, Turkish Airlines Holidays will redefine how travellers plan and experience their holidays.”

Chinese airlines add flight links to KUL

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 28 February 2025: Tourism Malaysia welcomed the arrival of China Southern Airlines’ inaugural flight from Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, earlier this week. 

The flight makes a stopover in Guangzhou on its way to Kuala Lumpur (KUL). 

The route from northwestern China to Kuala Lumpur operates twice weekly (Monday and Saturday) using a Boeing 737 with 152 seats. The airline plans to expand to daily flights starting in April 2025. The new service complements the airline’s direct Guangzhou-Kuala Lumpur flights, which operate five times weekly.

Guests on the inaugural flight from Urumqi were welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 by a delegation led by the Tourism Malaysia director-general YBhg Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, representatives from China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), and Aero Darat, the airline’s ground handling agency.

Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines introduced direct flights between Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China, and Kuala Lumpur on 23 February.

Xi’an is a significant urban hub in northwestern China, witnessing rapid population growth, especially among middle-class families with rising disposable income.

This new route will operate daily with a 156-seat A320 aircraft and complements China Eastern Airlines’ existing daily Kunming-Kuala Lumpur service.

AirAsia X also serves the Xi’an-Kuala Lumpur route, offering four weekly flights. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday).

Codeshare fares open for Lufthansa Group airlines

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TTR WEEKLY
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ROME, 28 February 2025: Italian-based ITA Airways announces the launch of ticket sales for codeshare flights with five airlines from the Lufthansa Group: Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Air Dolomiti, for travel starting 30 March.

With these codeshare agreements, passengers can book a single ticket, check in at the departure airport, and collect their baggage at their final destination.

ITA Airways passengers will enjoy greater choice and flexibility, with access to over 100 new connections starting from the upcoming summer season.

“The codeshare agreements with the Lufthansa Group airlines represent a key step towards a major increase in connectivity for our passengers, who will benefit from connections to more than a hundred new destinations,” said ITA Airways CEO and General Manager Joerg Eberhart. “This collaboration will not only enhance our customers’ travel experience but also mark the beginning of a phase of strategic synergies to strengthen our market position”.

Likewise, Lufthansa Group customers can easily reach destinations served by ITA Airways’ extensive network, including Italy’s most sought-after tourist locations, such as Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, and Apulia. They will have access to both domestic destinations (such as Brindisi, Florence, Milan Linate, Palermo, Turin, and Venice) and international destinations, including Tirana, Sofia, Malta, and Athens, via ITA Airways’ hubs in Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate.

ITA Airways passengers will be able to fly under the AZ code on Lufthansa-operated flights from Frankfurt and Munich to several cities in Italy (Verona, Cagliari, Olbia, Bologna, Catania, Milan Linate and Malpensa, Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence, and Turin), in Germany (Hamburg, Berlin, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Dresden, and Bremen), and selected international destinations (Prague, Dublin and Krakow).

Through the partnership with SWISS, ITA Airways passengers will have access from Zurich to the major Italian cities (Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Venice, and Naples) as well as multiple international destinations within the Swiss carrier’s network, such as Warsaw, Copenhagen, and Stockholm.

The agreement with Austrian Airlines will allow ITA Airways customers to reach destinations served by the Austrian airline from Vienna, both in Italy (Rome, Cagliari, Naples, Palermo, Bari, Milan Malpensa, and Florence) and across Europe, including Innsbruck, Warsaw, Podgorica, Chișinău, and Varna.

Additionally, with Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways passengers can travel from Brussels to several Italian destinations (Milan Malpensa, Venice, Bologna). Air Dolomiti will offer numerous connections to within Italty (Venice, Florence, Turin, Milan Linate and Malpensa, Verona, Bologna, Cagliari) from Munich and Frankfurt, as well as one international route to Krakow.

In addition to the convenience of a single ticket, allowing check-in at the departure airport and baggage collection at the final destination, members of ITA Airways’ loyalty program, Volare, will be able to earn and redeem points on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.

Moreover, an exclusive commercial offer will enable them to earn extra points on their flights between 1 March and 15 April 2025. Similarly, the 36 million members of Miles & More, Lufthansa Group’s frequent flyer programme, can earn and redeem points on all ITA Airways flights.

These new commercial agreements, along with the partnership between Volare and Miles & More, mark the first major synergies between the Italian carrier and Lufthansa Group, following the completion of the transaction that officially brought ITA Airways into the German Group. 

Khiri Travel showcases sensory and colonial-themed tours

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 28 February 2025: Khiri Travel will present a new lineup of sensory urban day tours in five Southeast Asian countries and multi-day colonial tours featuring ornate 19th-century mansions and heritage hotels at the ITB Berlin from 4 to 6 March.

The sensory urban day tours have been launched in five countries — Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam — with Laos, Philippines, and Myanmar coming soon. In each of the private, guided tours, guests will experience sights such as sunsets from golden stupas, the smell of fresh turmeric as they make a herbal drink, the sound of Balinese gamelan or Sri Lankan baila music, mind-boggling tastes – need we say more, this is Asia – and the physical touch of a good massage or yoga session.

Consolidating its role as a product-first DMC, Khiri Travel has also launched a series of heritage and history tours ranging from nine to 13 days in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos, with Myanmar to follow. The focus is on colonial-era mansions, antique decor and grand estates from the times of Henri Mouhot and Francis Garnier.

Guests get to stay at heritage-era buildings repurposed as hotels, such as The Phoenix Hotel in Yogyakarta, Azerai La Residence in Hue, 137 Pillars in Chiang Mai, and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan. They can also enjoy expert insights from historians such as Francis Engelmann in Luang Prabang and, in Hoi An, Rehahn, an award-winning photographer specialising in the ethnic groups of Vietnam. 

“Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a history lover, or simply seeking a journey through time, our history and heritage mansion house tours promise a deep connection to the elegance, intrigue, and timeless beauty of Asia’s colonial-related past,” says Khiri Travel Group Product Coordinator Sofia Tan.

Enhanced Agent Hub

In-depth details on each of the senses and mansions tour series have been uploaded to Khiri Travel’s online Agent Hub, which is being upgraded and will be released as a soft launch at ITB Berlin, 4-6 March. Agents can also view all newly featured Khiri specialist tours, sample itineraries, and an online photo gallery. They can use the Hub’s images to market and promote Khiri products.

Norse will wing winter runaways to Bangkok

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 February 2025: Norse Atlantic Airways will introduce a new direct route between London Gatwick and Bangkok, starting with the winter timetable 2025, effective 26 October.

The new service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok (BKK) will launch on Sunday, 26 October 2025. Flights will operate up to four times weekly, with return fares starting from UKP295, including taxes.

Weekly flights between Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) and Bangkok (BKK) will increase from two to four starting Friday, 5 December 2025. One-way fares, including taxes, will start from SEK3,546.

Flights between Oslo (OSL) and Bangkok (BKK) will increase from three to four times weekly beginning Wednesday, 3 December 2025, with one-way fares from NOK2,578, including taxes.

London Gatwick is Norse Atlantic’s UK home and a strategic hub for the airline. The airline currently has daily flights to key destinations across the Atlantic and to South Africa. Asia will join the network once the winter timetable kicks in, starting with Bangkok. The airline will fly to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). 

Bangkok has been a favoured destination among Norse Atlantic passengers from Oslo, Norway, since 2023. The new direct connectivity out of London Gatwikc, UK, and Stockholm, Sweden, during the winter months of November 2025 to March 2026, is part of the airline’s expanded winter schedule.

“We’re excited to launch direct flights between London Gatwick and Bangkok, a top choice among our travellers. This addition strengthens our existing network between Asia and builds on our routes from London Gatwick to destinations across the Atlantic and South Africa. 

For us, it’s all about offering more travel options at great prices without compromising on comfort and service for those looking to enjoy a beautiful and warm winter sunshine destination,” said Norse Atlantic Airways Chief Executive Officer and Founder Bjørn Tore Larsen

About Norse Atlantic Airways 
Founded by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen in March 2021, Norse Atlantic operates a modern fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These aircraft seat 338 passengers and offer premium economy and economy classes. They serve a growing network of destinations across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.]
Passengers can fly with Norse Atlantic to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Bangkok, Cape Town, Oslo, Athens, London, Berlin, Rome, and Paris.

NATAS Fair partners with Etiga Insurance

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 February 2025: Etiqa Insurance Singapore returns as the Official Travel Insurer for the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) Travel Fair 2025. 

Themed ‘Travel, Explore, Live It!’, Singapore’s largest consumer travel fair, will be held at the Singapore Expo from 28 February to 2 March 2025.

Etiqa will provide insurance coverage to patrons, including discounts of up to 35% off Etiqa’s Travel Infinite* insurance plan to ensure comprehensive travel protection for all Singaporean travellers. 

Travellers can choose the cover that best suits their needs, ensuring they have the proper protection for their trip.

“At Etiqa Insurance Singapore, our mission is to protect what matters most; our customers. We are excited to continue our partnership with NATAS and help more travellers explore the world with confidence,” said  Etiqa Insurance Singapore CEO Raymond Ong,

Etiqa will also offer one lucky visitor a chance to win SGD3,000 worth of travel vouchers with any policy purchase at the fair. In addition, all participating customers who purchase Etiqa’s travel insurance products at the fair will receive a complimentary gift, subject to a minimum premium of SGD50.

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