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FlyArystan expands international network

SINGAPORE, 5 September 2023: FlyArystan, Kazakhstan’s low-cost airline, continues to expand its international network, with new services to India and Central Asia being due to launch in the next two months.

 FlyArystan, part of the Air Astana Group, operates a fleet of 16 A320s and will add two more Airbus A320neo aircraft to its fleet by the end of 2023 to support its ambitious international network expansion.

FlyArystan’s new service from Almaty to New Delhi starts in late September and will be the second service to India, with flights from Shymkent to New Delhi having been launched in May 2023. 

In addition to India, the carrier offers services from Kazakhstan to destinations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, China, UAE and Uzbekistan.

FlyArystan will commence operations between Astana and Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, this October and is also evaluating the launch of new services to destinations, including Abu Dhabi (UAE), Oman and Saudi Arabia, during the next stage of its network expansion.

“The launch of FlyArystan in May 2019 has proven to be a tremendous success for Air Astana Group in pioneering the rapid development of low-cost markets in Kazakhstan and Central Asia,” said Air Astana Group CEO and president Peter Foster. 

“Dramatic growth in demand from a completely new segment of passengers in these markets is being followed by an exciting new phase of international network expansion, with the launch of services to cities in dynamic India and Central Asia markets, plus others in the Middle East on the horizon.”

About FlyArystan

FlyArystan is a low-cost airline based in Kazakhstan. The airline commenced operations in May 2019 and operates a comprehensive network of low-fare flights on a fleet of 16 A320 aircraft from bases in Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, Aktau and Shymkent.

MH boosts flights to Indian cities

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 September 2023: Malaysia Airlines will expand its footprint to India with three new services from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Amritsar (ATQ), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) and Ahmedabad (AMD).

The Amritsar flight is scheduled for launch on 8 November, followed by Thiruvananthapuram on 9 November and Ahmedabad on 1 December 2023.

The expansion will give Malaysia Airlines point-to-point connectivity from Kuala Lumpur to nine cities in India. The airline operates direct flights to New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi.

The new routes will be served by Boeing 737-800 aircraft, configured with 160 seats – 16 in business and 144 in economy class.

Malaysia Airlines offers introductory fares with all-in return tickets starting from MYR999 in economy class and from MYR2,999 in business class for purchase until 9 September 2023 for travel from 8 November 2023 to 31 March 2024.

According to Malaysia Aviation Group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail: “India remains a key market for Malaysia Airlines with the average load factor at 81% year to date.

Flights from KUL to Amritsar

Flights from KUL to Thiruvananthapuram

Flights from KUL to Ahmedabad

More flights to Australia and China
With increasing demands for travel, the airline will increase frequencies in other key markets, including Australia, China and ASEAN.

Beginning December 2023, the airline will boost its weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) from 14 flights a week to 15 and 16 flights a week, respectively.

Additionally, flights from KUL to Guangzhou (CAN) will increase from five to seven flights weekly; Beijing (PKX) from three to seven flights weekly; Shanghai (PVG) from nine to 10 flights weekly; Hong Kong (HKG) from 11 to 14 flights weekly; Jakarta (CGK) from 28 to 35 flights weekly; Bangkok (BKK) from 34 to 42 flights weekly and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) from 15 to 19 flights weekly.

Women take control of Thailand’s tourism

BANGKOK, 5 September 2023: Thapanee Kiatphaiboon officially began her role as the new governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on 1 September 2023, following her successful appointment to the post last May.

Yesterday, she began her first official working week as the TAT governor, just days before the new Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, begins her official duties at the end of this week. It’s the first time in the history of Thai tourism that two women have been appointed to the country’s top posts in key roles crafting tourism policies and projects.

Photo credit: TAT. Thapanee Kiatphaiboon TAT Governor

Having been with the TAT in 1999 after earning a master’s degree in science from the University of Surrey in the UK, Thapanee has held various positions within the organisation, including deputy governor for tourism products and business and, most recently, deputy governor for domestic marketing.

Most recently, she was the TAT’s deputy governor for domestic marketing and responsible for initiating various marketing projects such as ‘workation in Thailand’, religious tourism routes, and solo travel. They were important elements in driving domestic trips past the 150 million milestone and generating THB641.5 billion.

She is a popular figure who has led social media campaigns and demonstrated the power of communicating with a global audience through digital technology.

Also, as deputy governor for tourism products and business, Thapanee was recognised for her leadership in initiating the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certification programme that enabled hotels and services to meet specific health and safety standards. The programme became a mandatory requirement for hotels seeking to register as quarantine facilities during strict COVID-19 control measures and also received global recognition in alignment with the WTTC SafeTravels protocols.

THAI picks up domestic routes from Thai Smile

BANGKOK, 5 September 2023: Thai Airways International will resume nine domestic routes previously served by its low-cost subsidiary airline Thai Smile during the winter flight schedule from October 2023 to March 2024.

From its home base at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, THAI will fly to Krabi (KBV), Khon Kaen (KKC), Phuket (HKT), Narathiwat (NAW), Chiang Mai (CNX), Chiang Rai (CEI), Hat Yai (HDY), Udon Thani (UTH) and Ubon Ratchathani (UBP) using A320 aircraft.

Of the nine routes, THAI and Thai Smile both served Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket. 

2023

Bangkok-Chiang Mai, five flights daily, starting 29 October 2023.
Bangkok-Phuket, eight flights daily, starting 1 December 2023.
Bangkok-Udon Thani, three flights daily, starting 1 December 2023

2024

Bangkok-Krabi, two flights daily, starting 1 January 2024. 
Bangkok-Khon Kaen, four flights daily, starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Narathiwat, one flight daily starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Chiang Rai, two flights daily starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Hat Yai, three flights daily, starting 1 January 2024.
Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, two flights daily starting 1 January 2024.

Thai Smile will wind down operations and prepare to merge with its parent airline in early 2024. In 2022, Thai Smile had a network of 16 destinations in Thailand and 14 regional destinations in Asia served by A320s. The low-cost airline started flying on 7 July 2012 on domestic and regional routes within the range of Boeing 737s or A320s, leaving THAI to concentrate on long-haul international routes as the premier national airline using wide-bodied aircraft, including six A380s that are now up for sale.

According to a report in Thaiger, a local online news service, Thai Smile will ditch its daily service from Bangkok to Surat Thani at the end of November. However, flights are still bookable on the Thai Airways International website, which shows Thai Smile operating the service.

Mondrian debuts in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, 4 September 2023: Mondrian Hong Kong is set to open its doors during Q4 2023 just in time to tap tourism recovery that has seen a recent surge in visits to Hong Kong.

Mondrian opened its first property in Los Angeles, followed by New York, Miami, London, Cannes, Doha and Seoul projects.

Mondrian envisions the Hong Kong property as the door opener for expansion in the Chinese market, a “milestone for our expansion,” according to brand COO Chadi Farhat.

The Mondrian Hong Kong is located in the heart of the famous shopping district Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, close to the MTR station. The 324-room property overlooks the busy Victoria Harbour. It will feature its signature spot for sunset cocktails at the Avoca bar on the 38th floor, with breathtaking harbour views and islands. There is also event rooftop space on the 40th floor. Opening rates start at USD356 a night during the first week of December.

Peterson Group chief executive officer Tony Yeung commented: “With the completion of multiple landmark projects in West Kowloon, Hong Kong’s culture scene is set to be redefined. Mondrian seeks to create a new hospitality experience for the global traveller rich in culture and surprises to align with this new future.

Emirates goes live with astronaut chat

Dubai, UAE, 4 September 2023: Going to the ends of the Earth in a quest for the best entertainment is nothing new for Emirates ice, and this time, the award-winning inflight entertainment system will feature a live interview with UAE astronaut Dr Sultan AlNeyadi, chatting about his ‘inflight experience’ in space – as he fearlessly floats 400 km above our planet.

Sprinkling some stardust on the ice experience, the interview will be live on the Emirates World Channel from 1 September 2023, the same day the esteemed astronaut will begin his journey home to Earth, having completed a six-month science mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The journey home from space is expected to take up to 16 hours, just one hour shorter than Emirates’ longest flight duration – 17 hours from Auckland to Dubai.

The interview for Emirates ice was conducted from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) Mission Control Centre via NASA in Houston through a space-to-ground communication link.

Interviewed by Emirates SVP of IFE & Connectivity – Patrick Brannelly, the discussion eclipses expectations as Dr AlNeyadi fondly describes his inflight meals, how he stays connected to family and the entertainment available onboard the spacecraft, with Patrick drawing parallels with the Emirates experience. At an incredible ISS altitude of 400 kilometres and an orbital speed of 28,000 kilometres per hour, the live footage is interspersed with Dr AlNeyadi enjoying his coffee in microgravity, conducting experiments, and strapping in for his daily workout where he overlooks spectacular views of planet Earth and takes in the weather conditions of our world at a glance.

Emirates has gravitated towards the journey of Dr AlNeyadi, since he rocketed to fame as an Emirati astronaut and the first Arab to serve on the ISS for a six-month mission as part of Expedition 69, as well as being the first Arab Astronaut to perform a spacewalk. Emirates was honoured to connect with one of the UAE’s national heroes and collaborate on this piece of history-making content on ice.

Launched onboard in 2003 with 500 channels, Emirates ice has been making a big bang for award-winning and world-class entertainment for the last 20 years. The IFE system now offers more than 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment, 80 Academy Award® winning films, over 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages, in addition to unmatched content like exclusive interviews live from space. In this case, the sky is not the limit for Emirates ice.

For more information visit https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/emirates-launches-out-of-this-world-interview-with-astronaut-live-from-space/ 

For information on flights and bookings, visit www.emirates.com

(Source: Emirates)

Australian agents sightseeing in Sarawak

KUCHING, 4 September 2023: In collaboration with Royal Brunei Airlines, the Sarawak Tourism Board hosted a familiarisation trip for Australian tour agents to update them on the region’s diverse offerings.

Nine Australian tour agents visited Sarawak on an 8-day familiarisation trip that originated in Brunei and reached Sarawak’s ecotourism jewel – Gunong Mulu National Park. The travel agents continued their Sarawak journey to Kuching to explore the capital city’s various leisure offerings, including visits to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.

Sarawak Tourism Board Marketing (Europe & Oceania) senior manager Gustino Basuan (second left) greeted the Australian travel agents led by Royal Brunei Airlines representative Amanda Board (third from right) upon their arrival at Kuching International Airport.

“Sarawak Tourism Board always looks to build marketing partnerships between our Sarawak travel agents and Australian partners towards enhancing Sarawak’s visibility as a premier ecotourism destination to the international market,” said STB marketing director for Europe and Oceania Maurice Balang.

“Familiarisation tours play a very important role in providing our Australian partners and tour agents with an immersive understanding of Sarawak as a destination, enabling them to effectively promote and market this region, especially as we become more actively engaged in Responsible Tourism activities, practices and promotions. STB would like to extend our gratitude to the Sarawak tourism industry of tour agents, hotels, restaurants and tourism-related organisations like the Sarawak Tourism Federation, whose support contributes to the success of our familiarisation tour programmes.”

Tour agents from Sarawak had the opportunity to engage and share their experiences and updates on their exceptional adventure and ecotourism products with the Australian agents during an engagement session organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board at a local hotel.

The event was part of the marketing and promotions partnership between Sarawak Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines, which promotes Sarawak as the preferred destination in Malaysia.

For more information on Sarawak visit www.sarawaktourism.com

(Source: STB)

Carnival names custom-built destination

SINGAPORE, 4 September 2023: Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the name of its new destination in the Bahamas is Celebration Key.

As Carnival prepares to open itineraries for sale in late September for cruises that will call on the cruise port destination on Grand Bahama in 2025, it revealed the name of the new cruise destination Celebration Key to guests, employees, travel advisors and Bahamian officials last week. 

Celebration Key is the first port destination exclusively designed for the Carnival Cruise Line. Once complete, it can welcome 2 million guests each year.

“We are working very closely with the Government of The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority to ensure that we are highlighting the best of Grand Bahama and its culture, combined with fun as only Carnival can provide,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. 

Grand Bahama is a northern island of The Bahamas known for its breathtaking beaches, lush vegetation, and friendly people. 

Celebration Key will offer a Bahamian experience with abundant features and amenities, including a one-mile stretch of white-sand beach and Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options for Carnival guests to enjoy. 

The adjacent cruise pier will be able to accommodate up to two of Carnival’s Excel-class ships simultaneously to allow guests to walk off the ship and arrive at Celebration Key. A groundbreaking ceremony for the destination was held in May 2022, and design, engineering and construction work is now underway.

In late September, Carnival plans to announce further details of the destination, along with opening for sale the first itineraries on at least 10 ships from multiple homeports that will include a visit to Celebration Key, with the first cruises calling at the new destination in July 2025.

CX confirms Southeast Asia appointments

HONG KONG, 4 September 2023: Cathay Pacific in Southeast Asia has announced changes to key management roles across the region to oversee the smooth running and expansion of travel, lifestyle, cargo and operations

Regional office Singapore appointments

Jonathan Ng, regional head of customer travel and lifestyle in Southeast Asia. He replaces Ray Fung, now head of lifestyle strategy and partnerships in Hong Kong.

He joined Cathay Pacific in 2011 and has worked in several key positions across various markets, including Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Before his current role, He was seconded to HK Express as general manager of corporate planning. He was part of the transition team following the acquisition of the low-cost carrier by the Cathay Group.

Ashish Kapur, regional head of cargo, Southeast Asia, effective 1 September 2023. He replaces Siddhant Iyer, who will be Head of Cargo Markets and Customer Solutions in Hong Kong.

His career with Cathay Pacific spans more than 22 years. During this time, he has held several managerial positions across various markets, including India, Africa, the Middle East and Northern Europe. Before his current role, he was area manager for Northern Europe, overseeing the entire Northern European operations and managing the teams based in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia.

Dominic Perret remains the regional general manager of Southeast Asia, where he is responsible for all commercial, operational and support functions across the seven countries* Cathay Pacific flies to in Southeast Asia.

New country managers in Southeast Asia

Tony Sham, country manager, Indonesia. Based in Jakarta, he replaces Matthew Choi, now general manager of corporate planning for HK Express.

He has been with Cathay Pacific for 34 years and achieved a wealth of experience in various parts of the business across several functional departments, including airline planning and international affairs, as well as in outports like Japan and Germany. Before his appointment, he worked as regional head of customer travel and lifestyle for Northeast Asia in Tokyo.

Vishnu Rajendran, country manager, Philippines. Based in Manila, he replaces Donald Morris, now country manager, Korea, based in Seoul.

Vishnu joined Cathay Pacific in 2008. Since then, he has taken on roles in marketing, sales and port management, and most recently was area manager in the Middle East. In addition to this role, Vishnu was also acting country manager for South Africa & Indian Ocean and acting country lead for Sri Lanka & Maldives.

Robbie Blackwood, country manager, Malaysia and Brunei. Based in Kuala Lumpur, he replaces Roger Li, now a cadet pilot with Cathay Pacific.

He joined Cathay Pacific in 2018 and has worked in various departments and key markets, including Hong Kong and Japan. Before his current role, Robbie gained experience in key areas for Cathay, including Cargo, Customer Experience, and People (HR).

Nicolas Masse, country manager, Vietnam & Cambodia. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, he replaces Jason Choi, now regional head of customer travel and lifestyle, Northeast Asia, based in Tokyo.

He has over two decades of experience in the aviation industry. He joined Cathay Pacific in 2007 and has since held several key positions overseeing sales, marketing and communications in Europe and Asia. Before his current appointment, he was Cathay Pacific’s country manager for Korea.

Keri Lui remains the country manager for Thailand, based in Bangkok.

*In Southeast Asia, Cathay Pacific flies to Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Penang), Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket), Indonesia (Jakarta, Denpasar and Surabaya), the Philippines (Manila and Cebu), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) and Cambodia (Phnom Penh).

Thailand names Cabinet line-up

BANGKOK, 4 September 2023: A Royal Command has been issued by His Majesty the King and published in the Royal Gazette on 2 September, confirming the line-up of 34 ministers and deputies serving in the government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

Here are the key ministerial appointments that interact with or impact Travel and Tourism at a policy-making level.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. https://www.khaosodenglish.com

Prime minister
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (also finance minister).

Deputy prime ministers 
Phumtham Wechayachai (also commerce minister; 
Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara ( also foreign minister); 
Somsak Thepsuthin; 
Anutin Charnvirakul (also interior minister); 
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (also energy minister);
Patcharawat Wongsuwan (also minister of natural resources and environment).

Travel & Tourism 
Minister of Tourism and Sports: Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol.
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit.
Deputy transport ministers Surapong Piyachote and Manaporn Charoensri.

Ministries pertinant to tourism
Prime Minister’s Office Minister Puangpetch Chunlaiad.
Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations Supamas Isarabhakdi.
Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Jantararuangtong.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich.
Education Minister: Permpoon Chidchob.
Industry Minister: Pimpatra Wichaikul.

(Source: Royal Gazette 2 September)