SINGAPORE, 27 October 2026: Ponant Explorations invites travellers to plan their next journey at sea with a reduced deposit offer on all new bookings made by 31 January 2027.
With an initial deposit of just 10%, reduced from the usual 25%, guests can secure their preferred small-ship voyage while keeping more of their travel budget available for longer.
Photo credit: Ponant.
The offer applies to new bookings on 350 small-ship sailings across many destinations in late 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, and to voyages by sister company Paul Gauguin Cruises. Whether exploring the Kimberley’s dramatic coastline, discovering the Mediterranean’s historic ports, island-hopping through French Polynesia or venturing into the polar regions, travellers can lock in their next adventure with a smaller upfront commitment.
Terms and conditions: Valid on all new bookings made by 31 January 2027. A reduced deposit is required at booking, with a further deposit equal to 15% of the booking value due 212 days before departure. Standard final payment, booking and cancellation terms apply. Combinable with selected promotional offers.
MUMBAI, 27 October 2026: Air India Group will begin operating from Navi Mumbai International Airport, starting with select domestic and West Asia services in December 2026.
As part of the broader transition plan for domestic and international airlines to make way for the redevelopment of Terminal 1 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Air India Group will begin phasing some of its West Asia services to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
Photo credit: Air India Group.
Air India Express will operate four daily domestic flights from December 2026 and, from January 2027, planned services to Kuwait* and existing services to Oman.
Air India Group will progressively transition Air India Express services to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha, Muscat, and Sharjah to NMIA, with the process expected to be completed by the IATA Northern Summer 2027 season.
Both Indian and international airlines will support the long-awaited redevelopment of CSMIA Terminal 1. The phased move also supports the development of Mumbai’s dual-airport system while enabling Air India Group to continue serving the market efficiently and preserve existing operating slots at CSMIA.
Operating from both CSMIA and NMIA will strengthen connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, give travellers more choice and convenience, and support continued growth in the region’s aviation infrastructure.
Adani Airport Holdings Limited welcomed Air India Group’s plans to commence operations from NMIA. Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed with advanced technology, multimodal connectivity and scalable infrastructure to support the region’s future aviation growth and deliver a seamless travel experience.
*The transition of services to Kuwait from NMIA is subject to the requisite approvals.
BANGKOK, 27 October 2026: Finnair launched daily scheduled services between Helsinki and Melbourne on 25 October 2026, marking the Finnish flag carrier’s debut in Australia.
Photo credit: Finnair.
The 22-hour flight operates Helsinki-Melbourne via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the A350-900 makes a two-hour transit stop for a crew change. The airline enjoys fifth freedom rights in Bangkok, allowing it to sell tickets on the Bangkok-Melbourne roundtrip sectors
Photo credit: Finnair Facebook post.
Fares for a roundtrip Helsinki-Melbourne journey start at EUR998.
Meanwhile, Finnair announced earlier that it will strengthen its Japan network and operate up to three daily flights to Tokyo during the summer 2027 timetable.
In a press statement, Finnair said it was responding to growing demand for travel to Asia, particularly Japan. The airline will increase frequency on its Tokyo Narita route during the peak summer travel period, operating up to two daily flights. In addition, Finnair will continue to serve Tokyo Haneda Airport daily.
With the additional Narita frequencies, Finnair will offer a record number of connections between Helsinki and Tokyo next summer, with up to three daily flights at peak times. The flights have been timed to provide smooth onward connections from Japan across Finnair’s European network.
With the additional frequencies, Finnair’s services to Japan will increase from 28 weekly flights this summer to up to 32 weekly flights in summer 2027, further strengthening Finnair’s position as one of the largest airlines between Europe and Japan.
Finnair operates year-round services to Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka. In summer, Finnair also flies to Nagoya, the only European airline serving the Japanese city.
Additional Narita frequency from 12 May to 14 August 2027 (excluding HEL-NRT on 13 May and NRT-HEL on 14 May):
AY71 HEL-NRT 1220-0715 (plus a day) AY72 NRT-HEL 0855-1535
HONG KONG, 27 October 2026: HK Express Airways officially turns 13 and celebrates with discounted fares to 36 destinations.
“Over the past 13 years, we have been proud to connect passengers to a growing network of popular and emerging destinations across Asia. As Hong Kong’s only low-cost carrier, we now carry one in eight passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport,” said HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao. “Being named as the ‘World’s Best Low-Cost Carrier’ and ‘World’s Safest Low-Cost Carrier’ for 2026 is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our team, as well as the trust our passengers place in us.”
To mark its 13th anniversary, the airline introduces its “Gotta Go” Ultra Offer, a limited-time promotion offering “Lite” one-way fares starting from HKD13.
Customers can buy the fare on the airline’s website and app until 2345 on 30 October 2026. The fare is valid for travel from 3 January 2027 to 27 March 2028 (varies by destination).
*Limited availability; terms and conditions apply. The offer is valid only for initial round-trip bookings of flights departing from Hong Kong (including open-jaw tickets). The offer does not apply to one-way tickets. Fares do not include taxes and surcharges.
^Summer seasonal service from 28 March to 30 October 2027.
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 October 2026: Lufthansa Airlines celebrated the launch of its new nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt on Monday, connecting Malaysia’s capital with one of Europe’s leading aviation hubs.
The new service, initially five flights weekly, uses a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 287 seats across three classes and Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabin.
The launch marks a key expansion of Lufthansa’s Southeast Asian network and gives customers in Malaysia direct access to Frankfurt and onward connections across Europe and the world.
Lufthansa Group Senior Vice President Global Sales Frank Naeve noted: “Today marks an important milestone for Lufthansa and our customers in Malaysia. With the launch of our nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt, we are strengthening the connection between Malaysia and Europe while bringing our latest long-haul aircraft and Allegris travel experience to the market.
“Malaysia is an important economic centre in Southeast Asia and a growing destination for international business and investment, while its rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions make it equally appealing to leisure travellers.”
LH705 departs Kuala Lumpur at 2355 and arrives in Frankfurt at 0600 the following morning. LH704 departs Frankfurt at 2130 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 1640 the following day.
The schedules are coordinated with Lufthansa’s wider Frankfurt hub network, enabling customers travelling from Malaysia to connect onward to numerous destinations across Europe, North America and other international markets.
For Lufthansa, the launch further strengthens its Southeast Asian network, which also includes Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket. Kuala Lumpur becomes the airline’s fourth Southeast Asian destination.
Customers travelling between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt will experience Lufthansa’s latest long-haul product aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The aircraft features Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin, introduced to offer greater choice and personalisation across all travel classes. The aircraft is among Lufthansa’s most modern and efficient long-haul aircraft.
The introduction of the Boeing 787-9 and Allegris on the Kuala Lumpur route forms part of Lufthansa’s broader expansion of its premium long-haul offering during the Winter 2026 schedule. Lufthansa is introducing Allegris on several new destinations from its Frankfurt and Munich hubs during the Winter season.
Strengthening ties between Malaysia and Germany
The new connection supports tourism and business travel between Malaysia and Europe and provides a direct link to Germany via Malaysia’s premium Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Malaysia welcomed 42.2 million visitors in 2025, making it Southeast Asia’s most visited country. Germany is also Malaysia’s most important trading partner within the European Union, with more than 700 German companies operating in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said: “In line with the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 campaign, we welcome Lufthansa’s new nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Frankfurt, which further enhances Malaysia’s connectivity with Germany and the wider European market. Strong air connectivity is fundamental to tourism growth, strengthening economic links and fostering greater cultural exchange.
“This direct connection provides greater convenience for travellers from Germany and across Europe, while supporting our efforts to attract high-value visitors and showcase Malaysia’s diverse attractions, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.”
PHU QUOC, Vietnam 26 October 2026: Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is scheduled to open in December 2026 as the first Park Hyatt resort in Vietnam.
Conceived as a contemporary Vietnamese Village by the Sea, the resort is designed to feel like a private seaside residence, blending Vietnamese character with home comforts.
Photo credit: Park Hyatt Phu Quoc.
Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is arranged as a collection of courtyards, shaded pathways and gardens woven with the natural landscape and leading down to the Sea. Balancing community with privacy, the resort will have 114 rooms and suites, 54 pool villas,
At the heart of the resort, The Courtyard will serve as the village centre, bringing together six dining venues, two infinity pools and a sunset bar.
Just a 25-minute drive from Phu Quoc International Airport, Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is a private base for exploring the island’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage.
Phu Quoc has direct international flights from Singapore, China, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Hong Kong, South Korea and India.
Park Hyatt Phu Quoc is accepting reservations for arrivals beginning 18 December 2026.
CHICAGO, 26 October 2026: United Airlines (UAL) has reported pre-tax earnings of USD1.3 billion, with a pre-tax margin of 7.3%.
Adjusted pre-tax earnings were USD1.1 billion, with an adjusted pre-tax margin of 6.2%. Fuel expense rose USD1.8 billion versus third-quarter 2025 as jet fuel prices remained volatile.
United continued to see broad-based strength across all revenue streams: compared to the third quarter of 2025, Premium revenue was up 17%, basic economy revenue was up 16%, loyalty revenue was up 17%, and cargo revenue was up 23%. Contracted business revenue rose 26% during the quarter versus the third quarter of 2025, showing strong, resilient close-in demand across all industries. Economy cabin revenue grew for the third consecutive quarter, with unit revenue up 17% year-over-year.
United now offers Starlink on more than 640 aircraft, equipping approximately three more aircraft per day. United now offers more daily Starlink flights than the entire US industry, further strengthening its competitive advantage. In September, more than 5.4 million United customers experienced Starlink. United expects to make it available fleet-wide by the end of 2027.
Ongoing customer investments include the new concourse in Terminal B at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The United ClubSM in the new, three-level concourse is the largest airline club in the Americas, with seating for 800 people and an outdoor terrace. During the quarter, United also unveiled modernisation plans for Washington Dulles International Airport together with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the US Department of Transportation, with new and expanded airport facilities expected to support more flights.
Network expansion
UA announced the largest-ever international network expansion with service to 10 new destinations planned to start in summer 2027, including Catania, Italy; Ibiza, Spain; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Luxembourg; Marseille, France; Okinawa, Japan; Olbia, Italy; Terceira, Portugal; Toulouse, France; and Valencia, Spain. All new routes are subject to government approval.
The airline also announced additional summer 2027 service on four international routes: Los Angeles-Osaka, Washington Dulles-Milan, Denver-Paris, and San Francisco-Tel Aviv.
Resumed service from Newark to Tel Aviv in early September.
Launched nonstop service from Newark to Seoul and four new domestic routes from Newark: Bentonville, Arkansas; Charlottesville, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Omaha, Nebraska.
Expanded 787-9 Elevated service from San Francisco to Zurich and Seoul, joining the Singapore and London routes introduced in the second quarter of 2026. These premium-configured aircraft feature 99 premium seats, including eight United Polaris Studio suites and 56 United Polaris seats.
SURAT THANI, Thailand, 26 October 2026: There are places where the landscape provides a backdrop to the journey, and there are places where the landscape is the journey. Khao Sok belongs firmly in the latter category.
A gentle giant on the water’s edge in Khao Sok, an unscripted reminder that here the visitor enters the wildlife’s territory.
From the moment we entered this extraordinary corner of Surat Thani, the great limestone mountains seemed to be everywhere. They rose beyond the road, appeared unexpectedly through breaks in the forest and towered above the river. Even from our accommodation, they formed a dramatic natural skyline.
This was not the Thailand of beaches, shopping malls and rooftop bars. This was an older land of a green and wonderfully untamed Thailand.
Our base was Lost Horizon Resort, surrounded by rainforest and those extraordinary limestone formations that dominate this part of southern Thailand. The resort was a comfortable retreat, but it never felt disconnected from the landscape we had come to experience.
A landscape written in limestone
You can’t experience Khao Sok without looking up. Great grey-white karst limestone pinnacles rise abruptly from an almost impenetrable sea of green. The limestone here was formed hundreds of millions of years ago, when this part of the world lay beneath an ancient sea. Over immense periods of time, geological movement, tropical rainfall, and flowing water sculpted the cliffs, caves, and dramatic karst formations that define the landscape today.
Standing beneath them, however, the numbers become almost irrelevant. What matters is their sheer presence.
From the river, they seem immense. From Lost Horizon, they feel almost theatrical, great limestone walls rising above the forest. As the light changes through the day, so do the mountains: sometimes cloaked in early-morning mist or sharply defined against a blue sky, and sometimes softened by cloud and tropical humidity.
In Khao Sok, you don’t simply visit the landscape. You live beneath it.
Into the green
Our journey through the forest was one of those occasions when slowing down became part of the experience. The road narrowed, and the vegetation seemed to close around us. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating palms, bamboo and tropical trees in constantly changing shades of green. Then came one of those unscripted encounters that no carefully arranged excursion can reproduce.
A macaque wandered casually across the road in front of us, seemingly far less interested in us than we were in him. Colour appeared everywhere once we began looking for it. Brilliant red hibiscus stood out against the forest, while exotic heliconias emerged from the undergrowth like splashes of tropical paint.
Khao Sok rewards those prepared to slow down and look.
Taking to the water
The perspective changed completely when we reached the river. From a simple bamboo raft, Khao Sok suddenly seemed even larger. The water gently carried us through dense vegetation beneath soaring limestone mountains, with the forest pressing towards the river’s edge. There is something wonderfully calming about surrendering to the river’s gentle pace as we drifted along this meandering highway through the forest. Time seemed to slow with us. It was one of those rare moments when you stop thinking about where you are going and enjoy being exactly where you are.
And then came the moment I will probably remember longest: A wild elephant appeared beside the river. We watched from the water as she moved through the vegetation along the riverbank. There was no performance and no carefully constructed wildlife encounter. We were simply fortunate enough to see this magnificent animal roaming in her natural surroundings. For a few moments there was little conversation. None was necessary. Khao Sok provided its own theatre.
Elsewhere we swam and floated in the jungle surrounded by forest and limestone. No artificial entertainment was needed. The landscape provided it.
Tourism with a local purpose
Experiences such as these also remind us that responsible tourism is about people as well as places. Our local guides knew the river and forest intimately. Around Khao Sok, tourism employs guides, drivers, restaurant and resort staff, farmers, and many others whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly connected to visitors.
At Our Jungle Camp — which shares its roots and philosophy with Lost Horizon Resort — gardens, vegetable beds, and nursery plots offered another glimpse of a tourism model closely connected to its surroundings.
Founded by Richard “Dick” Sandler, Lost Horizon is part of a story that also embraces Our Jungle House and Our Jungle Camp. All three share a philosophy of connecting visitors responsibly with Khao Sok’s extraordinary landscape and its communities, combining conservation and sustainability with local employment and meaningful tourism experiences.
It is a symbiotic relationship. Tourism supports the local community, while the community has every reason to protect the environment that brings visitors here. In Khao Sok, you can see that relationship at work.
A name that brought back memories
The name Lost Horizon also held a wonderfully personal connection for me. James Hilton’s celebrated 1933 novel Lost Horizon introduced the world to the fictional paradise of Shangri-La, a secluded sanctuary hidden among magnificent mountains.
I stayed at my first hotel in Thailand, Shangri-La Bangkok, in 1991, where copies of the novel sat in guest rooms. More than three decades later, staying at Lost Horizon beneath Khao Sok’s magnificent mountains brought back very happy memories.
A comfortable retreat
After days dominated by jungle, river, and rock, returning to Lost Horizon felt like a welcome contrast. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with warm timber furnishings and views towards the surrounding greenery. Thoughtful details made it welcoming, while the architecture and landscaping let nature, not the buildings, command attention. That was perhaps the property’s greatest luxury. The mountains remained outside. The forest remained close.
And Khao Sok never felt shut away behind a hotel door.
Back at our jungle camp
After a day exploring, returning to Our Jungle Camp brought us to another side of the Khao Sok experience. The property feels connected to its surroundings rather than separated from them. Tropical vegetation dominates, traditional-style accommodation sits among the greenery, and gardens and cultivated areas provide a softer transition between resort and forest. After days dominated by jungle, river, and rock, returning to comfortable accommodation felt like a welcome contrast.
Our room was spacious and pleasantly traditional, with warm timber furniture, twin beds and a balcony opening directly towards the surrounding greenery and stream.
The bathroom combined contemporary fittings with traditional decorative touches, including a particularly handsome patterned basin, while the large rain shower was especially welcome after a humid day exploring.
Small details mattered too. Tea, coffee, snacks and a proper coffee machine made the room feel welcoming rather than austere.
The public areas continued the property’s character with rattan furniture, timber, patterned floor tiles, and artwork recalling an earlier era of tropical travel.
It had a gentle nostalgia, a suggestion of the days when travelling somewhere remote really did mean leaving much of the outside world behind.
More than a national park
What struck me most about Khao Sok was the variety contained within a relatively short journey. We encountered wildlife, brilliant tropical flowers, forest, caves, rivers and some of the most dramatic limestone scenery in southern Thailand.
Yet Khao Sok does not need to shout. No manufactured attraction could improve the view from a bamboo raft. No giant screen could compete with wild elephants moving beside a river. No architect could design a more impressive backdrop than mountains formed over hundreds of millions of years.
As travellers increasingly seek nature, authenticity, and meaningful experiences, places like Khao Sok represent an enormously important part of Thailand’s tourism future. The challenge is to protect them while ensuring that the communities living alongside them share meaningfully in tourism’s benefits.
Khao Sok is not simply somewhere to photograph. It is somewhere to listen, observe and occasionally do very little at all.
About the author Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer, tourism commentator and former hotelier based in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of hospitality and tourism experience in Asia and Europe. A long-standing member of Skål International since 1992, Andrew has held senior leadership positions in Thailand and across Asia. He is also an elected Director of the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC), responsible for tourism, and remains actively involved with Thailand’s tourism and hospitality community. The views expressed are personal.
NEW DELHI, 26 October 2026: Air India and Standard Chartered have successfully concluded a partnership that combines Standard Chartered’s international banking and cross-border wealth capabilities with Air India’s premium Maharaja Club loyalty programme.
The proposition, available in the coming weeks, will deliver travel privileges and access that meet the cross-border lifestyle and wealth needs of ‘Global Indians’, particularly those resident in Singapore and the UAE.
Photo credit: Air India.
Standard Chartered will offer eligible Affluent Global Indian clients in Singapore and the UAE Air India’s Maharaja Club Gold or Silver status.
Air India Maharaja Club status offers exclusive travel benefits, including extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, airport lounge access, upgrade vouchers, and bonus Maharaja Points, with benefits varying incrementally from Silver to Gold tiers.
In particular, Maharaja Club Gold members also enjoy the benefits on eligible Air India journeys[1], as well as Star Alliance Gold status, which provides access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, priority airport services, and extra baggage benefits, and instant recognition around the world across 25 other Star Alliance member airlines in addition to Air India.
Managing cross-border financial needs
Air India customers banking with Standard Chartered in the UAE or Singapore who meet the eligibility criteria will receive dedicated relationship management support, market outlook insights from the Bank’s Chief Investment Office, invitations to exclusive thought leadership events, and tailored wealth solutions to support their cross-border financial needs.
Standard Chartered Head of Wealth and Retail Banking, UAE & Jersey, and Head, Global Indian Clients Rajesh Kannan said: “By combining Air India’s expanding global footprint with Standard Chartered’s international network and wealth capabilities, we are delivering exclusive multi-market travel benefits to our affluent clients while supporting their broader global lifestyle, business and wealth management needs.”
Air India Chief Commercial Officer, Nipun Aggarwal, added: “Combined with Standard Chartered’s cross-border banking and wealth management expertise, the proposition supports the increasingly international lifestyles of our customers while strengthening their connection with Air India.”
With a simplified structure, more customer-friendly features, renamed tiers, and an updated identity, Maharaja Club has added millions of new members since the programme was redesigned in 2024. Maharaja Club members are now able to earn and redeem Maharaja Points on flights operated by Air India and Air India Express to and from 104 destinations across North America, Europe (including the UK), Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, in addition to 25 other Star Alliance member airlines. Maharaja Club’s partnerships with over 100 other brands across categories, including hospitality, retail, lifestyle, and financial services, also let members earn Maharaja Points on a broad range of travel and everyday spends.
[1] Benefits on eligible Air India journeys include complimentary seat selection, applicable fee waivers, additional baggage allowance, lounge access, priority airport services, upgrade vouchers, and bonus Maharaja Points, subject to the programme’s terms and conditions.
SINGAPORE 26 October 2026: Comarch Loyalty, a global leader in AI-driven loyalty programmes, has announced it has overhauled AZAL Miles, Azerbaijan Airlines’ frequent flyer programme.
By implementing the Comarch Loyalty platform, the airline has shifted from a traditional distance-based reward system to a broader fintech model. The updated system ties status miles directly to ticket spend.
Comarch Loyalty integrated a QR scanner into the AZAL app, letting members earn and spend miles across a network of non-airline partners. This infrastructure connects the loyalty program with companies across a wide range of sectors.
Comarch Loyalty also deployed a “Cash+Miles” payment module, enabling passengers to split transactions between cash and accumulated miles at checkout.
The new Comarch Loyalty architecture supports direct third-party API connections, including a recent integration with Bolt. Passengers can exchange miles for ride-hailing vouchers directly within their accounts.
On the backend, the Comarch Loyalty automation engine manages the programme’s rewards process. This includes issuing Welcome Miles for new registrations, distributing annual Birthday Miles, and deploying targeted promo codes to specific user segments without manual oversight.
As the technological partner for the AZAL Miles program, Comarch Loyalty provides the scalable architecture needed to drive the airline’s ambitions to create new opportunities for members and offer more personalised services.
About Comarch Loyalty Comarch Loyalty is a global leader in AI-driven loyalty solutions, empowering high-scale B2B, B2C, and coalition programmes for more than 1.3 billion members in over 50 countries across six continents.
