ABU DHABI, UAE, 28 March 2023: Etihad Airways has launched reciprocal interline partnerships with three new airline partners – Philippine Airlines (PAL), Austrian Airlines (OS) and Airlink South Africa (4Z)
It has also re-launched interline links with Biman Bangladesh and codeshares with Air Seychelles (HM) and ITA Airways (AZ).
The deal means customers travelling with airline partners will enjoy enhanced connectivity to destinations across networks, can book on a single ticket and only have to check in once at the start of their flight, with their baggage checked through to their end destination.
The six interline/code agreements make life easier for guests of all the airlines involved. With Austrian Airlines, this tie-in gives guests access to up to 58 European destinations via Vienna, operated by Etihad daily during the summer, and joins the other four members of the Lufthansa Group with whom we already have interline or codeshare agreements.
Airlink South Africa gives connecting guests via the Johannesburg flight seamless access to 16 domestic destinations in South Africa and 25 regional African destinations.
Philippine Airlines provides easy access to 19 domestic destinations, including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Kalibo, to and from Etihad’s double daily Manila service.
KOTA KINABALU: An exciting game race is set to take place in September and will highlight historical buildings or sites within Kota Kinabalu city.
Organised by KSRun Athletics Club, the running event dubbed North Borneo Race is limited to only 70 teams, each of which comprises four people.
The race will take participants on a nostalgic journey, during which they must decipher riddles to get to the next checkpoint in the run.
Last week, the event organiser Wendy John briefed the Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai about the race, for which 20 teams have already registered.
Joniston said that the race fits well with the new Sabah destination logo, ‘Feel Sabah, North Borneo,’ and he believed that an event of this nature could draw participants from other states and tourists.
“Kota Kinabalu city, which serves as the state capital and the main entry point into Sabah, is home to several historical landmarks that not everyone knows about.
“The North Borneo Race is something I consider to be educational and beneficial to anyone interested in joining because it is a great way to learn about the city’s past,” he added.
The Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment also said holding the race in September is an ideal time because it coincides with the celebration of Malaysia Day.
Meanwhile, Wendy stated that participants in the North Borneo Race would have to find their way into the city and interact with locals.
She said that the race was supposed to take place in June but moved to September in conjunction with Malaysia Day, adding they will announce the official date for the event on their social media.
“During the race, teams will face some physical and mental challenges that emphasise parts of the location’s culture and history,” she explained, adding that the teams will travel by car and on foot throughout the race.
The winning team will receive MYR3,000, the first-runner-up MYR2000, and the second-runner-up MYR1000. Those interested in participating can visit the KSRun Athletics Club Facebook page.
DUBAI, UAE, 28 March 2023: Emirates will deploy its signature A380 aircraft to Bali starting from 1 June 2023, marking a milestone in Indonesia’s aviation history as the first A380 service to the country.
The new two-class Emirates A380 service will replace one of the two daily services to Bali currently operated by a two-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The airline’s debut A380 flight EK368 will depart from Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 0325, arriving at Denpasar International Airport (DPS) at 1635. The return flight, EK369, will depart Bali at 1940, arriving in Dubai at 0045. All times are local.
Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, the Emirates App, at Emirates sales offices, and via online and offline travel agents. Travellers should check the Emirates website for the latest travel requirements.
Emirates’ chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim said: “The Emirates A380 is synonymous with our fly better promise and world-class products and services. We’re excited to offer our travellers the opportunity to experience its uniqueness and unmatched beauty on flights to and from Bali. We’ve been working closely with our partners at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to ensure our A380 operations will be seamless and smooth.
“Bali continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in our network and strategic markets in Southeast Asia. The Emirates A380’s debut in Indonesia underscores our long-standing commitment to its travel and tourism sector.”
Emirates launched nonstop daily services from Dubai to Bali in 2015, adding to its scheduled flights to Jakarta which began in 1992. The airline has operated more than 49,000 flights, carrying over 9 million passengers between Indonesia and Dubai. Emirates currently serves Indonesia with 28 weekly flights to Bali and Jakarta and offers increased connectivity to 29 more domestic cities via the two gateways through its partnership agreements with Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air.
On a two-class Emirates A380 aircraft, passengers are offered 58 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 557 generously pitched seats in Economy Class. Customers travelling to and from Bali can look forward to enjoying Emirates’ spacious and comfortable cabins, signature products that offer travellers the best experiences in the sky, like the Onboard Lounge, as well as regional cuisine, including Indonesian dishes.
Emirates continues to expand its A380 network to meet increasing travel demand globally. The airline’s flagship aircraft is currently deployed to 41 destinations, including Dubai and is likely to expand to nearly 50 destinations by the end of the summer.
HONG KONG, 28 March 2023: JLL takes on the role of exclusive sales agent for the Sheraton & Four Points by Sheraton Tung Chung Hotel in Hong Kong.
Opened in late 2020, the property marks Marriott’s first dual-branded project in Hong Kong, and with over 1,200 keys, it’s the second-largest hotel in the territory as measured by room inventory.
The hotel features 3,400 sqm of indoor and outdoor meeting space to meet the diverse needs of both MICE and wedding clients, including one of the largest ballrooms in Hong Kong.
According to JLL, the sale will include T-Bay, Tung Chung’s newest community hub of restaurants, bars and shops.
The property is a 10-minute drive from Hong Kong International Airport and AsiaWorld-Expo, attracting aircrew, corporate guests and leisure travellers.
The hotel is close to the Hong Kong Macau-Zhuhai Bridge, the Shenzhen border-crossing and local attractions, which include designer shopping in Citygate Malls, The Big Buddha, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car and Hong Kong Disneyland.
JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group senior vice president Ling Wei Tan
said, “Hong Kong’s hotel industry is on the cusp of full recovery in 2023, fuelled by the recent reopening of China’s borders and the dropping of the last Covid-19 measures.”
Hong Kong has historically been a well-sought-after investment market, with an average hotel transaction volume of USD1 billion between 2007 and 2022. JLL expects hotel deal volume to increase by 24% in 2023, boosted by a return of investors’ confidence in this resurgent market.
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of USD20.9 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 103,000 as of 31 December 2022. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.
BRISBANE, Australia, 28 March 2023: Queensland Minister For Tourism, Innovation and Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe, has announced a major sponsorship for the third annual Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference in Asia-Pacific (AITCAP 2023).
The Minister says: “More and more people with a disability and their families are looking for travel options that cater to their needs. We want this year to be the transformation that creates an enduring legacy for Queensland as an inclusive, world-class visitor destination. Queensland’s great lifestyle and world-class visitor experiences are too good not to be enjoyed by everyone.”
Well timed to help meet the objectives of the Year of Accessible Tourism, AITCAP 2023 will engage tourism operators and destinations on how to meet best the needs of the 20% of travellers that have a disability and allow them to connect with various organisations around the region who are working toward a common goal of making travel more accessible for everybody.
The hybrid event comprises a one-day in-person conference on 28 April in Queensland, a one-day virtual conference on 11 May, and events on the sidelines.
GetAboutAble is proud to partner with the Queensland Government. It has demonstrated a commitment to being a world-leading accessible & inclusive destination through initiatives like the Accessible Tourism Toolkit, the Accessible Tourism in Queensland project and declaring 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism with associated funding.
The event agenda
28 April 2023 – a one-day in-person event at Sea World Resort Conference Centre, Gold Coast, Australia. 11 May 2023 – a one-day virtual event, Dedicated AITCAP Platform
SINGAPORE, 28 March 2023: Air Astana has switched to a spring-summer operating schedule effective from 26 March to 29 October 2023, when it will increase international flights.
The airline confirms it will continue to operate direct daily flights to Thailand, with flights from Almaty to Bangkok three times a week and four times to Phuket.
More international flights
Services from Almaty to Antalya (Turkey) will increase to 10 flights a week, while those from Astana will increase to seven services weekly.
Almaty to Tbilisi (Georgia) services will increase by seven flights a week, and those from Astana to Tbilisi will increase by three flights a week.
Almaty to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) jumps to 14 flights a week, and Astana-Tashkent to five flights weekly. The Almaty to London service will increase to five flights weekly, and Almaty to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to nine flights.
In addition to a weekly flight to Chengdu, Air Astana will serve Beijing daily from Almaty and up to twice a week from Astana. The Almaty to Istanbul route will be served by 11 flights a week, from Astana up to seven flights a week, and from Atyrau three flights a week.
Services from Almaty to Baku (Azerbaijan) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan) will be increased to four weekly flights.
The spring-summer operating schedule also includes the relaunch of seasonal services between Almaty to Bodrum (Turkey) and Heraklion (Greece), as well as those from Almaty and Astana to Podgorica (Montenegro), operating three times a week and from Almaty to Batumi (Georgia) operating five times a week.
Air Astana will also continue operating direct daily flights to Thailand, with flights from Almaty to Bangkok three times a week and four times to Phuket.
About Air Astana Group
Air Astana commenced operations in May 2002 as a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund, Samruk Kazyna, and BAE Systems, with respective shares of 51% and 49%. The airline is a full-service international and domestic carrier with its low-cost division, FlyArystan.
DELHI, India, 28 March 2023: Air India Express will introduce direct flights from Indore to Sharjah and Dubai starting 30 March 2023.
Indore is the largest and most populous city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The airline’s starting fares
Indore to Sharjah at INR9727 Sharjah to Indore at AED399
Indore to Dubai at INR10,777 Dubai to Indore at AED439
The airline also introduced on its Facebook page this week @AirIndiaX, a new home for travel deals and online bookings.
Air India Express is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. It is operated by Air India Charters Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian flag carrier Air India. It delivers around 649 flights per week to 33 destinations, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“Air India Express parent Tata Sons acquired AirAsia Aviation Group’s remaining 16.33% shareholding in AirAsia India last year, making the low-cost carrier a 100% owned Tata subsidiary. Shortly after the acquisition, AirAsia India was rebranded AIX Connect as the first step in a previously announced merger with Air India Express,” according to the latest report by ch-aviation.com.
BANGKOK, 28 March 2023: Thai Smile increases services from its home base at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to five Mekong Region cities during its summer timetable, effective from 26 March to 28 October.
The airline posted its summer schedule at the weekend through an assortment of Thai language graphics on its Facebook page without even a translation of city names.
An airline that cannot be bothered translating a city name? It’s Yangon.
Flights to five major destinations in the Mekong region increase to twice daily, up from daily flights.
According to the summer schedule presentation, the airline has no immediate plans to resume flights to Siem Reap in Cambodia and Luang Prabang in Laos. A check of the airline’s booking website returns the message “not available” as far forward as September 2023. It suggests it is unlikely flights to the two UNESCO World Heritage destinations will resume until the winter timetable begins November 2023, when the peak travel season begins for Europeans heading for the region.
More flights to Mekong Region cities
Phnom Penh: Two daily flights now serve Cambodia’s capital.
An early morning flight (WE587) departs Bangkok at 0735, arriving in Phnom Penh at 0850. A second flight (WE583 departs Bangkok at 1815, arriving in Phnom Penh at 1935
Vientiane: Twice-daily flights to the Lao capital
WE570 departs Bangkok at 1125, arriving in Vientiane at 1240. WE574 departs Bangkok at 1825, arriving in Vientiane at 1945.
Yangon;
Myanmar’s commercial gateway city gets two daily flights.
WE301 departs Bangkok at 0930, arriving in Yangon at 1030. WE303 departs Bangkok at 1705, arriving in Yangon at 1800.
Ho Chi Minh City: Twice-daily flights now serve Vietnam’s southern gateway.
WE550 departs Bangkok at 0735, arriving in HCMC at 0905. WE556 departs Bangkok at 1735, arriving in HCMC at 1905.
HANOI: Viertnam’s capital gets twice daily flights.
WE560 departs Bangkok at 0745, arriving in Hanoi at 0935. WE564 departs Bangkok at 1750, arriving in Hanoi at 1940.
Discounted 10 to 15% fares are valid on routes from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Vientiane, Laos; Yangon, Myanmar; and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam. (The discount for bookings made on 28 March is 15%, and 10% for bookings made on 29 March, the final day of the promotion.) Travel is valid up to midnight on 31 May 2023. Bookings must be made on the airline’s website or via the call centre and airport customer service centre.
The airline’s summer timetable graphic indicates it will fly daily from Bangkok to Kathmandu, Nepal and Penang, Malaysia. It will also offer four weekly flights to Jaipur, India.
SINGAPORE, 27 March 2023: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced “Beetlejuice” The Musical as the headline production aboard its newest groundbreaking ship, Norwegian Viva, along with the ship’s full lineup of onboard entertainment offerings debuting August 2023.
Marking the first time the Tony Award®-nominated musical will be performed at sea, the 90-minute Broadway adaptation of Tim Burton’s iconic 1988 film narrates the story of the Deetz family as they attempt to remodel an uproariously haunted house. The musical’s paranormal antics will be heightened by NCL’s three-story multi-purpose Viva Theatre & Club and its immersive special effects, cutting-edge lighting, and audio.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s incoming president David J Herrera said: “NCL has a history of pioneering the cruise experience and delivering the high-calibre entertainment programming our guests expect. We are dedicated to pushing the envelope, delivering on those expectations, and putting our guests first as we elevate our onboard offerings for the ultimate vacation at sea. This summer, I cannot wait to bring the fun and nostalgia of ‘Beetlejuice’ to our all-new Norwegian Viva.”
NCL’s senior vice president of entertainment and cruise programming, Richard Ambrose, added: “We pride ourselves on not only delivering amazing performances for theatre fans but introducing guests to Broadway and West End-calibre shows, which are made even more special by the incredible setting of the Viva Theatre & Club that seamlessly transforms from a best-in-class theatre experience to an expansive nightclub.”
The elaborate “Beetlejuice” production will charm and captivate guests as performers dance and sing along to show tune classics, including “Day-O” and “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora),” while also revelling in the nostalgia from the pop culture classic film. Michelle D’Amico, a cast member of the Broadway production of “Beetlejuice” will join Norwegian Viva playing the role of “Lydia” for the first-at-sea rendition.
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its unwavering commitment to bringing world-class productions to the high seas, having debuted shows including “Six,” “Jersey Boys,” “Footloose”, and more across its current 18–ship fleet. This announcement also comes on the heels of the wildly popular debut of “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” aboard Norwegian Prima, which featured a show-stopping performance from “American Idol” season two finalist Kimberley Locke during its 2022 inaugural season.
After the successful debut of one of the world’s most iconic game shows, “The Price is Right LIVE,” aboard Norwegian Prima last year, Norwegian Viva will also offer a live game show experience with the cruise industry’s first “Press Your Luck LIVE” at-sea. The immersive experience invites the audience to be part of the classic show and win incredible grand prizes.
The palatial Viva Theatre & Club features sophisticated special effects, a multi-story video wall, a show-stopping chandelier and VIP lounge seating, making it the ideal venue for Vegas-style night club events, such as “Ocean Music Fest,” the ultimate jam session where multiple musicians merge their talents on one stage for a world-class immersive concert.
Norwegian Viva will also feature returning guest favourites, including “Improv @ Sea” Comedy Club; “Syd Norman’s Pour House,” which features rock-and-roll tributes to Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and other legendary artists of the Classic Rock genre; and more.
Norwegian Viva is the second of six vessels in the Cruise Line’s highly anticipated Prima Class, the Brand’s first new class of ships in nearly ten years. The elevated offerings of the Prima Class prioritise guest experience and raise the bar on cruising through world-class cuisine, the Brand’s most spacious design yet, and stellar onboard activities, including the Viva Speedway—the three-level racetrack. Boasting nine new dining and beverage options, guests can sample cuisines worldwide by visiting Indulge Food Hall, the upscale food market exhibiting 11 unique eateries, or enjoy the elevated menus at Hudson’s, the complimentary restaurant overlooking 270 degrees of ocean views. Norwegian Viva also features the fastest slides at sea, The Drop and Rush, and NCL’s industry-exclusive sustainable cocktail bar with Metropolitan Bar. Debuting in August 2023, Norwegian Viva will sail a selection of bucket-list-worthy Greek Isles and Mediterranean voyages through November before homeporting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in December for a season of Caribbean itineraries.
For more information about NCL’s award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call Hong Kong on +852 800 901 951 and Southeast Asia on +65 3165 1680 or visit www.ncl.com
KUCHING, 27 March 2023: Sarawak welcomed back its first cruise ship this year from Singapore, reinstating cruise arrivals in Sarawak after a three-year hiatus.
Star Breeze anchored at Sim Kheng Hong Port on Thursday, 23 March 2023, bringing 201 passengers for a brief visit to Sarawak before heading for Hong Kong.
The passengers, mostly from the US, UK, Europe, Australia and ASEAN countries, were given a warm traditional garlanding welcome before visiting Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Sarawak Cultural Village and around Kuching for the Kuching Heritage tour.
Sarawak Tourism Board’s (STB) director of stakeholder relations Maurice Balang said the arrival of “Star Breeze” marks the reinstatement of cruise arrivals into Sarawak after a three-year hiatus, with another cruise ship expected to arrive in Sarawak in November 2023.
“Kuching needs a deep-sea port to make Sarawak a viable cruise destination in the future to accommodate mega cruise ships with the capacity of more than 3,000 passengers”, he added.
Star Breeze left Kuching in the late evening of the same day, sailing to its next destination in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Other destinations on the cruise include several islands in the Philippines before arriving in Hong Kong on 4 April 2023. Star Breeze is owned by Windstar Cruises, based in the USA.
