SINGAPORE, 26 JUNE 2023: Australian Federation of Travel Agents has signalled the green light to a new Constitution.
A comprehensive “yes” vote from 100% of the voting membership adopted the new Constitution at the 46th Annual General Meeting held in Sydney last week.
Richard Taylor, Dean Long with Directors James Kavanagh, Shelley Beasley, Chair Tom Manwaring, Roy Merricks, Christian Hunter, Danielle Russom, David Greenland (Directors attending in Sydney).
Meanwhile, the Association received six eligible nominations for AFTA Director. Those formally re-elected to the Board are:
Christian Hunter Graham Turner Laura Ruffles Danielle Russom Shelley Beasley Cinzia Burnes
Tom Manwaring was re-elected chair, and Christian Hunter and Graham Turner as vice chair.
AFTA chair Tom Manwaring commented on AGM outcomes: “It’s been a busy year hallmarked by extensive consultation across AFTA, the Travel Sector and more widely as we reshape the organisation to deliver for all members.”
“One of the cornerstone commitments that shape all our decisions is a focus on fairness, which is embedded in our new Constitution. The reforms are many, including at voting level with Member votes now aligned in a more balanced and fairer structure.”
“The adoption of the new Constitution is one of the most significant milestones in this organisation’s existence and cements the Board’s focus on renewal and growth over the past 12 months.”
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), founded in 1957, represents the majority of travel agents and businesses in Australia and includes all major travel agency groups.
SINGAPORE, 26 June 2023: SalamAir, based in Muscat, Oman, adds Fujairah, UAE, to its route network effective 12 July 2023.
The airline will schedule four weekly flights, comprising morning and evening flights on Mondays and Wednesdays. With the latest addition of Fujairah, SalamAir will serve 39 destinations across 13 countries.
Flight OV251 will depart Muscat at 0800 every Monday and Wednesday and arrive in Fujairah at 0855. The evening Flight OV253 will depart Muscat at 1830 and arrive in Fujairah at 1925. Flight time: 55 minutes. The cheapest no-frills one-way fare starts at around OMR41, and the highest fare in the “Benefit” category is around OMR55, according to the airline’s website.
Fujairah is the latest addition to SalamAir’s growing list of destinations, offering travellers an opportunity to experience the culture, history, and natural beauty of the United Arab Emirates. The launch of this new destination comes in response to the rising demand for economical and practical air travel options among both leisure and business travellers.
SalamAir CEO Captain Mohamed Ahmed commented: “Introducing Fujairah to our network is part of our strategic plan to expand our reach within our regional routes. We are certain that this new route will be a popular choice for all travellers, especially given the convenient connections from Fujairah to some of our most sought-after destinations.”
Fujairah travel tips
Fujairah City is the capital of the emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. It is the seventh-largest city in the UAE, located in the Gulf of Oman. It is the only Emirati capital city on the UAE’s east coast. ((Source: Wikipedia)
The airline’s scribes describe the city as a treasure of the Arabian Peninsula with an “illustrious history that extends back thousands of years”.
Natural attractions: The destination is best known for its stunning beaches, clean oceans, and rugged mountain terrain. Tourists visit Fujairah to enjoy its beaches, which offer a variety of water sports like windsurfing, snorkelling, and scuba diving.
Heritage: It is also famous for its markets and distinctive culture and heritage. Markets are packed with spices and textiles. There is also a thriving trade in gold and jewellery in the city’s busy marketplaces. The Fujairah Fort and the Al-Bidya Mosque, the oldest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and a tribute to the city’s rich cultural past, are just two of the city’s historical sites.
Bookings opened last week on SalamAir’s website for the new destination. The airline’s network consists of 39 destinations.
Domestic destinations: Muscat, Salalah, Suhar, Duqm, and Masirah.
International destinations: Dubai, Fujairah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Shiraz, Tehran, Mashhad, Istanbul, Rize, Trabzon, Khartoum, Alexandria, Beirut, Almaty, Baku, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Sarajevo, Bangkok, Phuket, Chattogram, Dhaka, Colombo, Jaipur, Karachi, Kathmandu, Lucknow, Multan, Sialkot, and Trivandrum. SalamAir also flies directly from Suhar to Salalah, Shiraz, Trabzon, and Salalah to Calicut and Bahrain.
SalamAir commenced its commercial operations in 2017. In six years, SalamAir has achieved growth in its operations and expanded its region’s reach with its fleet of six A320neo, five A321neo, and an Airbus A321 freighter.
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 June 2023: AirAsia won the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 (Skytrax) held in Paris last week for an unprecedented 14th consecutive time.
As a global benchmark of airline quality and excellence, the final award results include more than 325 airlines, with AirAsia emerging on the top in its category. Over 100 nationalities of travellers participated in the online survey, with 20.23 million eligible entries counted in the results from September 2022 to May 2023, when AirAsia steadily increased its network back to over 130 destinations.
Capital A CEO, Tony Fernandes received the award in Paris last week.
In accepting the award at a ceremony at the Paris Air Show 2023 in France last Tuesday, Capital A CEO, Tony Fernandes said: “We are immensely proud and grateful for this meaningful award given to us by the Skytrax organisers, voters, and the incredible supporters of AirAsia. Getting an award of excellence for 14 consecutive years is a remarkable achievement, one that fills our hearts with joy and humility. This is an extraordinary feat for any company in any industry, even more so for our proudly ASEAN brand.”
With 170 planes back in service across the Group, AirAsia expects to have all 204 reactivated by the end of August this year. Not only will it achieve 100% of pre-pandemic capacity in the coming months, but the airline is also looking to spread its wings even further by adding 19 new planes which will take flight this year, including four Frontier planes.
To celebrate winning the award for the 14th time, the airline cut fares to say thank you. Thailand dropped fares to THB414 on domestic routes, but the deal expired on 25 January.
SEPANG, 26 June 2023: Aviation Group’s AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Philippines are flying high again, with 157 aircraft reactivated as of 1Q2023, according to a recent Capital A financial update to shareholders attending the AGM.
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes told shareholders that “with enhanced profitability amid rationalised airfares and stabilising external factors”, the airline group had activated 229 routes so far with a target to operate 290 by the close of the 4th quarter of 2023.
Photo credit: AirAsia. Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes
On the airline group’s health check, he told shareholders attending the recent AGM: “2022 has truly been a defining year for Capital A for many reasons: the company generated strong revenue ofMYR2.6 billion and recorded the first full year of positive EBITDA since the beginning of the global pandemic.
All businesses within the group have benefited from the robust return of air travel and delivered stronger margin levels. As we overcame all odds of not only surviving but growing, despite the unprecedented challenges of Covid and other macroeconomic headwinds without any government support, we are proud to announce that we have successfully progressed from an airline to now a low-cost, high-value inclusive aviation and travel group.”
He confirmed ‘Move – AirAsia Digital’ has received board approval to be renamed MOVE. It will cover the business activities of AirAsia Superapp and fintech provider BigPay to provide an accessible, affordable travel app, to meet the needs of all travellers, including on-ground travellers with ride-hailing offerings on AirAsia ride.
He made the comments in a presentation at the close of the Capital A 6th Annual General Meeting earlier this month when the financial results of FY2022 were received and passed by its shareholders.
Fernandes confirmed that the group’s latest airline venture, AirAsia Cambodia, should start scheduled flights during the last quarter of 2023, possibly by mid-December, almost a year after the official launch of the new airline.
“We are expanding across ASEAN based on a wide network and a strong brand, with the launch of AirAsia Cambodia expected to start operating in Q4, we are looking for opportunities in the remaining ASEAN countries that deserve an airline,” he told the AGM.
Capital A Berhad will own 51% of AirAsia Cambodia in partnership with hospitality group Sivilai Asia which will hold the remaining share, according to a report in Laotian Times.
The joint venture agreement with Sivilai Asia was signed last December by Tony Fernandes and Vissoth Nam, director of Sivilai Asia at Rosewood Phnom Penh.
Media sources in Kuala Lumpur have reported that AirAsia Cambodia, the group’s fifth airline venture, will start flights to destinations in Asia within a four-hour flight time perimeter using A321-200 aircraft. AirAsia has not confirmed details so far, but it is understood the airline could eventually fly 15 aircraft flying to neighbouring countries from Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 26 June 2023: It’s official; Vietjet’s Facebook post confirmed last Friday the airline plans to increase flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Australia starting this December to meet growing travel demand on the routes to three Australian cities.
By December, flights to Melbourne will increase from three to four weekly.
Flights to Sydney from Ho Chi Minh City will increase from three to daily. The service launched on 12 April, just days after the launch of a service to Melbourne from the southern hub of HCMC on 8 April.
In December, flights to Brisbane will increase from two to three per week from the airline’s Ho Chi Minh City hub.
Vietjet launched the twice-weekly service from Ho Chi Minh City – Brisbane on 16 June. All the Australian services use A330 aircraft.
BANGKOK, 23 June 2023: Thailand’s delegation to the travel show IMEX Frankfurt 2023 concluded positively according to the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s post-event evaluation.
Fielding one of the largest delegations since 2019, TCEB claimed Thailand netted 120 leads that could yield 61,141 overseas MICE visitors over the next two years. It estimated 109 meeting and incentive groups (21,561 persons), and 11 convention groups (39,580 persons) were in the pipeline resulting from discussions initiated during the show.
TCEB said Thailand’s sales team logged 866 appointments with overseas buyers during the three-day show, 23 to 25 May 2023, while the TCEB team logged 94 roundtable discussions with event organisers.
The Thailand sales team comprised 29 exhibitors – nine hotels from Bangkok, five from Phuket, and one each from Samui and Khao Lak. In addition, seven destination management companies, three venues, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Airways International and TCEB participated.
TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said: “Thailand had one of its best showings at IMEX this year. The Thai Team chalked up impressive appointments and leads – a sign that Thailand continues to command great interest among international buyers.”
Last May, Bangkok ranked third and Phuket 10th in Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting Destinations in Asia-Pacific.
At IMEX 2023, TCEB highlighted two upcoming events – the ICCA Annual Congress scheduled for 12 to 15 November 2023 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group scheduled for 2026 in Bangkok.
DUBAI UAE, 23 June 2023: Gearing up for a busy summer travel season, Emirates is launching customer experiences that echo Emirates’ sentiment of ‘travel is not just about the end destination; it’s also about how you get there’.
Making journeys magically memorable, Emirates passengers will enjoy delightful moments this summer, including complimentary ice cream in the airport, duty-free summer specials, delicious seasonal delicacies and summer mocktails onboard, and the world’s best library of movies and bingeable box sets on ice.
Scoop a complimentary Emirates ice-cream
Travel through Dubai International Airport on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and scoop a free Emirates ice-cream for the whole family. From 23 June to 16 July, Emirates will have six eye-catching ice-cream carts positioned around the various Departures areas to offer passengers a refreshing treat of vanilla, Arabic coffee and dates ice cream, or mango sorbet before setting off on the summer holiday.
Binge a box set or blockbuster movie
For the thousands of passengers embarking on summer vacations, Emirates is making every journey special with endless entertainment onboard – as ice just got even better. By far the biggest library of content in the air, ice offers up to 6,500 channels of on-demand, multi-language entertainment, with each one hosting heaps of episodes, more than 45 Academy Award® winning films, over 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages.
This summer, passengers can enjoy thousands of movies, including new releases Avatar: The Way of the Water, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. There is a vast selection of movies for kids and kids-at-heart, including an all-new Disney Classics collection, plus Marvel Studios and Star Wars collections, and the complete Harry Potter movies series. There are also lots of new kids and preschool kids TV from CBeebies, Nickelodeon, Disney TV, Cartoon Network and more. Adults can settle in to enjoy all seasons of award-winning hit TV series Succession on HBO Max, inspire a holiday mood with series like White Lotus, or relax with awe-inspiring nature documentaries from BBC Earth, on top of content from new streaming partners Discovery+, Bloomberg Originals, BBC and Shahid.
Sports and news fans won’t miss a moment of action with five channels of live TV, including news channels BBC, CNN and Sky News Arabia, and live sports coverage on Sport 24 and Sport 24Extra. Summer live sports highlights include Formula 1, Wimbledon and The Open Championship.
Indulge in seasonal specialities onboard
Passengers onboard Emirates will be treated to various delicious dishes like fresh, seasonal strawberries and burrata. For a refreshing respite from the summer heat, Emirates summer mocktails Tropical Twist, Rose Iced Tea, Citrus Twist, Raspberry Spice, and Mint Lemonade will feature on all flights in July and August.
In July, all passengers flying to and from the UK with Emirates will enjoy the luscious indulgence of fresh, ripe strawberries. The strawberries are grown perfectly in Bustanica vertical farm in Dubai, without pesticides or herbicides. A British summer staple, First Class passengers will enjoy flavourful strawberry tarts with compote or rhubarb and strawberry charlotte served with whipped cashew cream and custard. Business Class passengers will be offered white chocolate cheesecake served with strawberry basil confit or strawberry éclair, a choux pastry filled with crème anglaise, topped with fresh seasonal strawberries. Premium Economy passengers will also enjoy éclairs or strawberry panna cotta. Economy passengers can tuck into succulent strawberry cheesecake topped with crumble or fresh strawberries with vanilla whipped cream and hazelnut streusel. Even the lounges will get in on the strawberry passion, serving a Strawberry and Basil Gin Fizz alongside classic strawberries and clotted cream with a dollop of almond butter crumble.
Throughout August, First and Business Class passengers on routes to and from Italy will be treated to the perfect summer dish – smooth and creamy Burrata and fennel salad with grapefruit and orange segments, garnished with a tapioca crisp.
Scent of summer in the air
This summer, EmiratesRED.com has more than 70 new luxury products onboard from Tom Ford, Jo Malone, La Mer, Tumi, Secrid, Alexandre J, Dolce & Gabbana and many more. Passengers can take advantage of summer specials and save $15 off any two fragrances purchased. Passengers can pre-order duty-free Shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive duty-free products, which are then delivered to their seats once in the air. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and passengers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight. Passengers need to provide their flight details during checkout, and the orders are delivered by cabin crew directly to the passenger’s seat in flight.
KOTA KINABALU, 23 June 2023: A Korean-based low-cost airline, T’way Air, introduced its first-ever direct scheduled flight from Incheon to Kota Kinabalu earlier this week.
The inaugural flight, which carried 188 passengers last Monday, 19 June, further strengthens links between South Korea and Sabah as the state continues to draw international visitors.
Group photo with Sabah Tourism Board officials and crew members of T’way Air at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on Monday evening.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai was at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to warmly welcome the passengers.
Joniston emphasised the importance of enhancing international connectivity to Sabah, recognising its immense value to the region.
“Having more international direct flights creates a vital balance that not only benefits our tourism industry but also fuels economic growth in Sabah.
“By enhancing connectivity, we are opening doors for more visitors to experience the natural wonders and cultural heritage that Sabah offers while simultaneously generating employment opportunities and driving sustainable development,” he said.
South Koreans have consistently shown a keen interest in exploring Sabah’s natural wonders, evident in their dominant position as the top international visitors to the state.
The Sabah Tourism Board registered 68,685 South Korean visitors between January and April this year compared to 720 arrivals in the same period last year.
The debut of T’way Air’s direct route is expected to accelerate this growing trend and build even deeper tourism linkages between the two destinations.
This surge in South Korean tourists underscores the growing popularity of Sabah as a preferred destination, fueled by its captivating natural wonders, cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality.
Sabah’s islands, beaches, and golf courses are popular among Korean tourists. They are also interested in diving and birding.
The Sabah Tourism Board has strategically planned two notable events – the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) and the Asian Bird Festival – that aim to attract international participants, including from South Korea.
Sabah’s commitment to hosting these events underscores its dedication to becoming a premier destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers, added Joniston.
T’way Air, which initially began as Hansung Airlines, underwent reorganisation and rebranding in 2010. As of 2019, it was the third-largest Korean low-cost carrier in the international market.
The regional manager of T’way Air Kota Kinabalu station Kim Minkeun expressed enthusiasm about connecting travellers to Sabah, saying: “Sabah has long been known for its captivating natural wonders, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality.
“As T’way Air spreads its wings to this remarkable destination, we aim to bring travellers closer to the magic of Sabah, creating memories that will last a lifetime,” he said.
The collaboration between Sabah Tourism Board and various airlines underscores the joint efforts to unlock the full potential of Sabah’s tourism industry.
Currently, Sabah is connected to 10 international cities, namely Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan, Taipei, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Incheon, Busan, and Manila.
In addition to the T’way Air flight, Sabah is expected to receive more direct flights in the coming months.
Shanghai Airlines is scheduled to reinstate daily direct flights to Sabah on 2 July, offering further connectivity between Sabah and Shanghai.
AirAsia also plans to commence routes from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu (daily) on 2 July and from Macau to Kota Kinabalu (4 times weekly) on 16 July.
Additionally, Jin Air will upgrade its aircraft from the B738 to the B777, with a maximum capacity of 393 passengers instead of 189, starting in July 2023.
GEORGETOWN, Penang, 23 June 2023: Georgetown, Penang, will host the 6th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB) from 2 to 5 July 2023.
The global event, organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia, will bring together prominent scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts worldwide, united by their commitment to saving marine biodiversity.
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran announces global marine conservation event.
The WCMB 2023 represents a unique opportunity for Penang to showcase its unwavering commitment to marine conservation, research and sustainable practices.
WCMB 2023 will feature a diverse array of sessions, special symposiums, and panel discussions, offering attendees the opportunity to delve into emerging technologies, cutting-edge research and successful case studies in marine conservation and resource management.
“We are honoured to have been selected as the host city for the 6th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2023,” Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran explained.
He added that “the insights gained from this global gathering will inspire further research, innovation, and sustainable practices, positioning Penang as a leading hub for marine biodiversity conservation and research.”
The conference will contribute an estimated economic impact (EEI) of MYR 3.2 million and attract more than 400 delegates, of which 70% are international participants.
Over the years, science conferences have significantly contributed to Penang’s economy generating nearly MYR40 million earned from around 8,056 delegates who attended events on the island recently.
“The long-term effects of the WCMB 2023 will reverberate throughout Penang’s marine and environmental sectors. The knowledge shared, research presented, and collaborations formed during the conference will foster further innovation, shaping the future of marine biodiversity conservation. Penang will emerge as a recognised centre of excellence in the field, attracting investments, partnerships, and scientific talent,” he concluded.
Penang has been chosen by the International Association for Biological Oceanography (IABO) to be the first-ever host city in Malaysia and ASEAN for this tri-annual global conference. The next General Assembly of IABO will also be held during the WCMB 2023 in Penang.
PUTRAJAYA, 23 June 2023: Malaysia has confirmed attendance at the UK’s leading exhibition for the events, meetings and incentives community, The Meetings Show 2023.
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) will lead a sales team to engage with global industry players at The 11th edition of The Meetings Show to be hosted at Excel London from 28 to 29 June 2023.
Photo Credit The Meetings Show. Networking at the 2022 event in London.
MyCEB acting Chief Executive Officer Zain Azrai bin Rashid said Team Malaysia has high expectations.
“The Business Events industry in Asia is soaring once more, and Malaysia is ready to be part of the action in welcoming business visitors back to the region,” Zain said.
He continued, “While our presence at the event is to position Malaysia as the preferred Business Events destination in Asia, we are also looking towards boosting the region’s presence. We believe concerted efforts with other ASEAN countries through knowledge sharing and business exchange is the way forward”.
At the show, Team Malaysia will present a cultural theme inspired by the traditional art of embroidery. The theme embodies Malaysia’s aim to fabricate golden opportunities to create masterpiece events representing the Best of Asia. MyCEB will also present support packages for international business event planners to assist them in bringing international events to Malaysia.
Team Malaysia will be led by MyCEB director – experiential & Events Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim, with Borneo Kuching Convention Centre, Business Events Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
