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Spicejet upgrades Hahn Air pact

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 June 2023: SpiceJet recently signed an interline agreement with Hahn Air, a German airline and global distribution services provider.

Since 2016, SpiceJet has been available under Hahn Air’s H1 code in all major Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) but with the new interline agreement, the airline’s fares and booking platform will be operational under its SG code in the Amadeus GDS.

Photo credit: SpiceJet

Travel agents worldwide can issue SpiceJet flights on the insolvency-safe HR-169 ticket by choosing Hahn Air as the validating carrier. In addition, travel agents using the Amadeus GDS can combine SpiceJet’s flights with other Hahn Air partners’ flights on a single ticket.

SpiceJet is an Indian low-cost carrier headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. The airline serves various destinations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2022, SpiceJet earned several accolades, including Safety Performer of the Year by DIAL and Wings India Aviation Innovation Award 2022. Its fleet comprises 27 Boeing and eight DHC Q400 aircraft.

“We are proud to extend our partnership with SpiceJet”, said Hahn Air vice president of agency distribution Kimberley Long. “We are excited to give the travel agent community various options to access this carrier, even in markets where SpiceJet does not grant ticketing authority for SG or where the airline is not a member of the local BSP or ARC.”

SpiceJet chief commercial officer Shilpa Bhatia added: “The interline agreement with Hahn Air and the strong distribution network of 350 airlines will benefit SpiceJet to increase its global reach under its own SG code.”

For more information about SpiceJet and other Hahn Air partners, visit www.hahnair.com/partner-carriers.

About Hahn Air

Hahn Air is a German scheduled and executive charter airline. Since 1999 it has offered indirect distribution services to other airlines and thus provides ticketing solutions to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets. 

Hahn Air is 100% owned by the Hahn Air Group, an international corporation based in Dreieich near Frankfurt, Germany. The fleet of Hahn Air Lines operates out of the airports of Dusseldorf and Frankfurt Egelsbach. The group has offices worldwide, including Minneapolis, Montevideo, Casablanca, New Delhi, Manila and Johannesburg.

Pelago presents Miles Rush Week

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 June 2023: Pelago, a travel experience platform under the Singapore Airlines Group, will launch a new quarterly rewards programme titled “Miles Rush Week”.

The exclusive programme designed for KrisFlyer members allows them to accelerate mileage accumulation and enjoy thousands of travel activities worldwide via the Pelago platform.

Photo credit: Pelago.

The programme’s first installation will take place from 28 June to 4 July 2023. This exclusive link offers KrisFlyer members, who are new Pelago users, 25 bonus miles per SGD1 spent (capped at 2,500 miles). The bonus miles will be credited to their accounts upon completing the activity by 30 November 2023.

No matter where travellers are going, whether it’s cooling off from the summer heat at Bali’s renowned Waterbom theme park, enjoying an exciting experience at Universal Studios Japan, or having a blast at Pelago’s Silent Disco Full Moon Party atop SkyPark Observation Deck at Marina Bay Sands, they can benefit through the Pelago programme.

Starting from 28 June, Pelago will triple its always-on miles earn rate to 3 miles per SGD1 spent on all eligible transactions for new and existing users. KrisFlyer members can indulge in travel activities such as tours and day trips, adventures, exquisite dining experiences, iconic attractions and landmarks, and more while accumulating miles.

About Pelago

Launched in 2021, Pelago is a travel experience platform by Singapore Airlines that connects flying passengers to at-destination experiences.

As a part of the Singapore Airlines family, travellers can earn or use their miles on every booking on Pelago. For more information, visit www.pelago.co.

PATA rewards loyal members

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 27 June 2023: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) honoured members for their valuable contributions to the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.

It presented PATA Life Membership and the PATA Award of Merit during the PATA Annual Summit and Adventure Mart 2023 in Pokhara, Nepal.

L/R: Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes director, Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and Dr Chris Bottrill, associate vice president international, Capilano University, Canada.

PATA chair Peter Semone said: “As we look towards the future of travel, it is always important to remember the past and recognise the individuals who have greatly contributed towards a more responsible travel and tourism industry. Their achievements should inspire us all to work harder for the responsible and sustainable recovery of the travel industry. I sincerely congratulate them for their valuable contributions and support to PATA and the travel and tourism industry.”

PATA Life Membership was awarded to Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.

The PATA Award of Merit was presented to Dr Chris Bottrill, Associate vice president, international, Capilano University, Canada. 

In addition to PATA Life Membership and the PATA Award of Merit, the Association also presented special awards to Nepal Tourism Board CEO Dr Dhananjay Regmi and Asia China Pte Ltd Singapore CEO Soon Hwa Wong.

Soon Hwa Wong CEO AsiaChina Pte Ltd Singapore; Peter Semone chair PATA and Dr Dhananjay Regmi CEO Nepal Tourism Board.

Outrigger invests in Hawaii beach resort

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 June 2023: OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels will add to investments in its home market of Hawaii with a planned acquisition at Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa.

Located in Līhu’e town on the ‘Garden Island’ of Kaua’i, the resort spans 25 lush acres of beachfront property and features 350 guestrooms with unparalleled ocean views. The transaction is expected to be completed and closed on 22 August 2023.

OUTRIGGER Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa.

Once acquired, Kaua’i Beach Resort & Spa will represent an important milestone in OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels’ ongoing expansion efforts – offering guests a full-service resort on all four of the major Hawaiian Islands.

“OUTRIGGER’s legacy in Hawaii spans 75 years; we remain committed to being exceptional stewards of this special place and its rich cultural heritage while contributing to the prosperity of the local community,” said OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels President and CEO Jeff Wagoner. “OUTRIGGER managed Kaua’i Beach Resort & Spa in the ’90s, so this transition feels like a welcome home – we look forward to further enhancing the property for our guests and hosts”.

This news comes on last month’s announcement that OUTRIGGER will be the new steward of Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel on Maui. It will be the seventh acquisition the company has made in the last two years here in Hawaii, Thailand and the Maldives.

The OUTRIGGER brand is renowned for its premier beach locations, must-see beach bars, authentic live music, signature experiences and a commitment to conservation.

For reservations and other information regarding the Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa, visit:  www.kauaibeachresortandspa.com

Music festival signals Sarawak’s recovery

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, 27 June 2023: The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) made a spectacular comeback this year, with ticket sales surpassing 2022 figures.

The festival opened last Friday and attracted sell-out crowds nights through to the finale on Sunday evening. Entertainment reached a full crescendo with internationally renowned musicians, ‘Big Mountain’ famous for their song, ‘Baby, I Love Your Way’, closing the festival on Sunday.

This year’s RWMF created a new record for the Malaysia Book of Records for “Most Percussionists in a Music Festival”.

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) targeted the record over the three-day RWMF celebration, which involved a massive turnout of percussionists sending a strong message of unity, togetherness and oneness, at the same time elevating international recognition of the iconic RWMF.

Another highlight of day 2 was the launch of the ‘Market @ RWMF 2023’ by the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, YB Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. The market showcased products by over 200 local vendors, including crafts, fashion, lifestyle and wellness-related services, drawing the bulk of the RWMF crowd.

The second day also witnessed the crowd being thrilled by the performance from Grammy Award winner Gipsy Kings Featuring Tonino Baliardo, famous for the hit ‘Bamboleo’.

“The overwhelming response in the first two days of RWMF 2023 has exceeded our expectations and proven the strong appeal of our festival’s content, ‘beyond music’ – with culture, food and overall strong camaraderie among local and international performers and visitors. We continue to advocate Responsible Tourism creating awareness on the importance of planetary health, which has further fuelled a defining zeitgeist movement of sustainability among our audience extending the spirit of RWMF beyond the traditional music-based festival,” according to Sarawak Tourism Board CEO, Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor.

Themed ‘Reflections’, the RWMF’s first full physical experience since the pandemic, was ruminated on the experiences and lessons learned in the last three years of the pandemic and how far the RWMF had evolved since its inception in 1998.

The opening night of Rainforest World Music Festival 2023 saw original performances by Rastak from Iran, At Adau from Sarawak and local Sarawakian international artist Zee Avi.

The Sarawak Cultural Village, home of the RWMF, housed performances at the ‘Jungle Stage’ and the ‘Tree Stage’ and workshops from the Bidayuh, Iban, Chinese and Malay houses. Additional performances also livened the atmosphere throughout the grounds of the festival.

Building on its commitment to Responsible Tourism, the RWMF has been consistently steadfast in its sustainability efforts. This year, the festival has taken further steps to reduce its ecological footprint. One such initiative was the introduction of seed paper for festival tags, a biodegradable material embedded with seeds that grow when planted in soil, reinforcing the festival’s deep connection to nature.

The festival also banned single-use plastics, encouraging attendees to use reusable water bottles and providing on-site water refill stations. Additionally, to alleviate carbon emissions and promote greener transportation, the festival provided a free shuttle bus service from and to the grounds.

These initiatives are part of the festival’s broader strategy to promote sustainability, demonstrating that the festival’s commitment to the environment extends far beyond the stage. Through these initiatives, RWMF continued to harmonise the celebration of world music and cultures with the overall protection and sustainability of planetary health.

RWMF 2023 was supported by sponsors, namely Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia Ride, TV Sarawak, Carlsberg, PEPSI, Plaza Merdeka & Waterfront Hotel, Spin Sportwear, Petroleum Sarawak Berhad, SACOFA, Midvalley Megamall Kuala Lumpur, Hornbill Skyways, Sarawak Timber Associations and ATS Global Travel & Chapter Sdn Bhd.

For more information, visit www.sarawaktourism.com.

HKIA passenger traffic growth pauses in May

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 27 June 2023: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) reports the growth in traffic figures at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) during May stalled, maintaining the same pace as recorded in April.

During May, HKIA handled 3.1 million passengers, about the same as April’s throughput, while flight movements increased month-on-month by 3% to 22,200.

For year-on-year comparisons, the passenger volume and flight movements in May represent increases of over 17 times and 113% due to the low base last year.

Separately, cargo throughput in May dropped 4% to 350,000 tonnes compared to last year. Cargo volume continued to be impacted by global economic uncertainties. Overall cargo volume declined in May, with imports decreasing by 30% compared to last year. Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Japan significantly reduced during the month.

Over the first five months of the year, the airport handled 13.2 million passengers and 96,410 flight movements, marking an increase of over 23 times and 89%, respectively, from the low base in the same period of 2022. Cargo volume declined year-on-year by 6.1% to 1.6 million tonnes.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume at HKIA increased year-on-year by more than 10 times to 18.3 million, while flight movements rose by 27.9% to 184,170. Cargo throughput saw a decrease of 16.0% to 4.1 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, HKIA has won the Gold Award in the “Over 35 million passengers per annum” category of the Green Airports Recognition 2023. Established by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific, the programme recognises airports with outstanding accomplishments in sustainability projects.

AAHK general manager of sustainability Peter Lee said: “We are honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects our dedication and commitment to developing HKIA into the world’s greenest airport. We will continue to work closely with the airport community to minimise our environmental footprint, strengthen waste management initiatives and expand the scale of our recycling efforts.”

(Source: AAHK)

Cathay reports positive trends

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 27 June 2023: Cathay Pacific rebuilds flight connectivity at the Hong Kong international aviation hub, reflected in positive traffic figures recorded in May.

The airline released details of its traffic figures for May 2023 at the weekend, which recorded 1,417,906 passengers last month, an increase of 2,345% compared with May 2022.

The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased by 1,664% year on year. Passenger load factor increased by 24.7 percentage points to 85.1%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 1,152% year on year. In the first five months of 2023, the number of passengers carried increased by 3,281% against a 1,786% increase in capacity and a 3,062% increase in RPKs, compared with the same period for 2022.

The airline carried 109,834 tonnes of cargo last month, an increase of 18.8% compared with May 2022, when cargo capacity was significantly reduced due to stricter aircrew quarantine measures. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 73.4% yearly. The cargo load factor decreased by 14.2 percentage points to 61.5%, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs), increased by 113.6% yearly. In the first five months of 2023, the tonnage rose by 28.2% against a 154.6% increase in capacity and a 107.2% increase in RFTKs, compared to the same period for 2022.

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “May was another good month for our travel business. We continued progressively increasing our passenger flight capacity to popular destinations in the US, South Asia and Japan.

“Although demand reduced temporarily following the Easter holiday peak, it picked up again over the Lord Buddha’s Birthday holiday weekend towards the end of May, with travel to Japan and Thailand, particularly popular. Transit traffic via the Hong Kong hub was also encouraging, with considerable demand to and from the Chinese Mainland.”

Outlook

The airline forecasts a positive outcome in traffic figures during the summer, driven by a boost in students returning to Hong Kong after the school term ends.

“On rebuilding our network, we will bring back the seasonal Christchurch service from 16 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 with three return flights per week, following the earlier announcement of service resumption to Johannesburg and Chicago from August and October 2023, respectively,” said Lau.

AAPA appoints new technical head

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 June 2023: The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) announces the appointment of Captain Roshan Joshi as its new Technical Head.

Captain Joshi joins the Association after a 40-year aviation career, having served in various senior management roles in flight operations within the Singapore Airlines Group, notably Singapore Airlines and Vistara Airlines.

With his experience in fleet management, corporate safety, security and quality, Joshi is a highly-respected industry professional with the necessary expertise to lead the Association’s Technical Department and manage multiple stakeholder relationships in technical areas.

Welcoming Joshi to his new role, AAPA director general Subhas Menon said: “AAPA is privileged to have someone of Roshan’s calibre join the Association. His extensive experience in key technical areas, such as safety, security, flight operations and aviation sustainability, are well aligned with AAPA’s priorities and very timely after the retirement of his predecessor Martin Eran-Tasker in 2020. We look forward to working with Captain Joshi to further the mission and work of the Association in serving its members.”

Batik Air Malaysia expands routenet

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 June 2023: Batik Air Malaysia will boost flights to Taiwan and Japan during the northern winter timetable from 1 November 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Formerly branded Malindo Air, the airline is home based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Photo credit: Batik Air.

According to the airline’s advance timetable, flights from Kuala Lumpur will stop in Taipei, Taiwan, before flying to Japan – Nagoya, Osaka Kansai and Tokyo Narita. All flights use Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft configured with 12 business class seats and 150 in economy class.

In addition, the airline will start a twice-weekly service to Okinawa’s capital city of Naha on 16 August 2023, increasing to four weekly flights effective 1 November. The flight will make a stop in Taipei.

Japan: 1 November to 31 March schedule

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan – Nagoya three weekly.

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan – Okinawa four weekly.

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan – Osaka Kansai daily.

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan – Tokyo Narita daily.

Meanwhile, last month, Batik Air resumed flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from Kuala Lumpur.

The airline launched six weekly direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to the Maldives last week with 121 passengers on board the 737 Max 8 aircraft. Concierge Group Maldives has been appointed GSA for ticketing sales.

On 23 June, Batik Air introduced its first flight to Seoul, Korea.

It will launch flights from Medan, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Chennai in India in mid-August.

It is also planning to start flights to  Auckland, New Zealand, with a stop in Perth, Australia, effective  24 August from its base in KLIA.

China’s outbound travel gains traction

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TTR WEEKLY
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SHANGHAI,27 June 2023: Hong Kong, Bangkok, Macau, Tokyo and Singapore were the most popular destinations for Chinese travellers booking overseas trips during last week’s three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, 22 to 24 June, according to a Ctrip report.

Owned by leading travel service provider Trip.com Group, Ctrip released their Chinese mainland outbound and domestic Dragon Boat Festival travel trends Monday, with outbound bookings for the three-day festival increasing more than 12 times year-over-year.

Photo Credit: HKTB. Hong Kong is the top destination during Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

Global Times estimated overall outbound travel during the festival week increased by 32.3% generating 12.8% more trips than recorded pre-Covid. Notably, the average cost of outbound travel reduced for a one-way air ticket by 6%, compared to the May Day holiday. The primary groups engaged in outbound travel from Mainland China were individuals born in the post-80s (37%) and post-90s (36%) generations who preferred leisurely holidays.

Hong Kong, Bangkok, Macau, Tokyo and Singapore were the most popular destinations, with post-80s and post-90s spending an average of RMB2,981 (USD415) per hotel booking.

Hong Kong was the most popular option for Chinese Mainland travellers, with hotel bookings from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong increasing more than 18 times year-over-year. Many travellers chose to take the high-speed rail to Hong Kong, with orders for high-speed rail on Ctrip’s platform rising by more than 60% compared to last month.

Most millennials opted for destinations based on proximity, visa and flight convenience, with many selecting routes within a three-hour flight time. Shanghai-Osaka, Shanghai- Jeju Island, Beijing-Seoul, and Beijing-Tokyo were among the most popular outbound routes.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a brief national holiday in the Chinese mainland, prompting many individuals to travel less domestically.

Nearby, cross-provincial routes were the mainstay for travellers on vacation, selecting a radius of 300 kilometres or less. The Top 10 popular domestic city destinations were Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Qinhuangdao and Shenzhen.

The price of domestic hotels per night decreased compared to the May Day holiday. Xi’an, famously known for the Terracotta warriors, saw hotel prices fall by 29%, compared to May, with Nanjing and Guangzhou hotel prices down 22% and 19%, respectively.

Ctrip’s latest data show bookings are growing for summer vacations, with search data rising 50% over 2022.

Families are eager to explore and make memories together this summer. As of 14 June, Ctrip has seen a surge in bookings for parent-child tours, making up over 30% of all summer bookings and more than seven times compared to last year.

With growing supply capacity, it is clear that Chinese travellers have newfound confidence, with many families welcoming in trips this summer season and a positive indication of travel recovery.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, Qunar and TrainPal. The group was founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 202. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.

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