SINGAPORE, 17 March 2023: Myanmar Airways International will add three weekly flights from its Yangon home base to Singapore starting 28 March, giving the airline 10 weekly flights.
The new flights are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The airline resumed daily flights to Singapore last December using an Airbus 320 with 180 seats.
Even with 10 flights weekly, the Yangon -Singapore route is the airline’s busiest, with seats fully booked on 25 and 26 March, according to the airline’s Facebook post. Most of the passengers are business visitors. Fares start at USD149, one-way.
MAI’s three A320s serve destinations in Asia and Dubai in the Middle East.
On routes to India, MAI operates three weekly flights to Delhi (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) with fares starting at USD165. Kolkata is served a twice weekly flight on Thursday and Sunday with fares starting at USD115.
Other destinations include Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand.
SINGAPORE, 16 March 2023: Emirates has boosted operations by 31% (total ASKMs) since the start of its financial year and will ramp up seat capacity in its latest published northern summer schedule starting 26 March 2023.
Among its upcoming route enhancements, Emirates will relaunch its daily direct flight between Singapore and Melbourne from 26 March 2023 in response to strong travel demand.
In the past months, the airline has planned and executed the rapid growth of its network operations – reintroducing services to 5 cities; launching flights to 1 new destination (Tel Aviv); adding 251 weekly flights onto existing routes; and continuing the roll-out of service enhancements in the air and on the ground.
Emirates’ chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim said: “Emirates continues to expand its global network and deploy its capacity to meet travel demand worldwide. Our financial year started relatively quietly as we held back our ramp-up until the planned northern runway rehabilitation program at Dubai International airport was completed in June. From July 2022 onwards, it’s been non-stop expansion.”
He added: “Customer demand has been very strong, and our forward bookings are also robust. Emirates is working hard on several fronts – to bring back operating capacity as quickly as the ecosystem can manage while also upgrading our fleet and product to ensure our customers always enjoy the best possible Emirates experience. So far, four of our A380 aircraft have been completely refurbished with our new cabin interiors and Premium Economy seats. More will enter service as our USD2 billion cabin, and service enhancement program picks up pace.”
In the coming months, established routes to Europe, Australia and Africa will be served with more Emirates flights, while in East Asia, more cities are seeing route restarts.
Upcoming A380 deployments in the Northern Summer 2023 season
Emirates continues to scale up its A380 operations with the reintroduction of the iconic double-decker across its network: Glasgow (from 26 March), Casablanca (from 15 April), Beijing (from 1 May), Shanghai (from 4 June), Nice (from 1 June), Birmingham (from 1 July), Kuala Lumpur (from 1 August), and Taipei (from 1 August).
Route enhancements by region
EUROPE
Amsterdam: from 14 to 19 weekly flights starting 02 April.
Athens: Addition of a daily seasonal service to serve summer demand between 1 June to 30 September.
Bologna: from five weekly flights to a daily service starting 1 May.
Budapest: from five weekly flights to a daily service by 1 June.
London: start of second daily service to London Stansted on 1 May. This will take Emirates’ London operations to 11 daily flights – including six times daily to London Heathrow and three times daily to Gatwick.
Venice: from 5 to 6 flights a week from 26 March, increasing to a daily service from 1 June.
AFRICA
Cairo: from 25 to 28 weekly flights by 29 October.
Dar es Salam: from five weekly flights to daily flights starting 1 May.
Entebbe: from six flights a week to daily flights starting 1 July.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Emirates’ non-stop Australia flights will return to pre-pandemic levels to Sydney from 1 May, Melbourne from 26 March, and Brisbane on 1 June.
Brisbane: An additional daily service starting 1 June will take Emirates to 14 flights per week to Brisbane.
Christchurch: restart of daily service from Dubai via Sydney from 26 March.
Melbourne: addition of a third daily service to Melbourne from 26 March via Singapore. This adds capacity to Melbourne and re-establishes connectivity between Singapore and Melbourne. The other two daily flights from Melbourne fly non-stop to Dubai.
Sydney: addition of a third daily non-stop service from 1 May.
EAST ASIA
Bangkok: Addition of a fifth daily service from 1 August.
Beijing: To commence daily non-stop Boeing 777-300ER service from 15 March, upgrading to an A380 effective 1 May. A second daily service will commence effective 1 September with an A380.
Hong Kong: Addition of a daily non-stop flight from 29 March. This increases Emirates’ operations to 14 weekly flights, including its daily Dubai-Bangkok-Hong Kong service.
Kuala Lumpur: Addition of a third daily service from 1 June.
Tokyo: Resumption of services to Tokyo Haneda with daily flights on 2 April. This takes Emirates’ Japan operations to 21 daily flights, including a daily A380 service to Tokyo-Narita and a daily Boeing 777 service to Osaka.
KOTA KINABALU, 16 March 2023: Three years after the pandemic, Chinese and Malaysian divers reunited last week for a dive trip to Mabul island off the southeastern coast of Borneo in Malaysia.
About 60 Chinese and 20 Malaysian divers joined a six-day dive trip at Mabul island. AirAsia flew the China Chinese from Guangzhou to Kota Kinabalu on a route that was reinstated on 2 March.
“Now flights from China have resumed, the dive trip illustrates we are rebuilding tourism to Sabah,” said Sabah Tourism Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew in a statement on Sunday. “This dive group is a testimony of that.”
With the reopening of China’s outbound tourism market and the resumption of international flights, there will be a surge in diving trips to Semporna and Sabah as a whole,” she added.
The event was co-organised by the Enthusiast Scuba Diving Association Guangzhou China, One Diving Services Guangzhou China, Guizhou Dive Diving Club China, Malaysia China Folklore Culture Tourism Association – MCCTA, Guangzhou Asian World Travel China, Master Wei Xuan Student Trip and Majestic Dive Malaysia with the support Sabah Tourism Board and Tourism Malaysia.
Semporna is a world-class diving and tourism hotspot located on the east coast of Sabah. Sipadan Island, the only deep-sea island in Malaysia, is a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts. It is also well-known as one of the top 10 diving sites in the world.
It takes only 15 minutes to transfer by boat from Sipadan Island to Borneo Diving Resort on Mabul island. It features 113 luxury villas and comprehensive facilities, targeting elite divers and up-market guests.
SINGAPORE, 16 March 2023: Regent Seven Seas Cruises opens sales, 23 March, for arguably the longest World Cruise, due to set sail on 10 January 2026 from Miami, Florida.
Regent’s 2026 World Cruise – The Sense of Adventure – will cruise three oceans over 154 days departing Miami, Florida, on the cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner.
The cruise will explore destinations in the Americas, South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and Europe, sailing 39,722 nautical miles. Guests will explore 77 ports of call in 41 countries across six continents. The three new ports of call have been added to the 2026 World Cruise – Lifou Island and Maré of the Loyalty Islands in the New Caledonia archipelago and the wild and rugged Waingapu (Sumba), Indonesia.
Before boarding Seven Seas Mariner, guests will kick off their round-the-world adventure with a one-night stay in a luxury hotel in Miami, Florida.
Fares for the 154-night voyage start from USD94,999 per guest for a Deluxe Veranda Suite and USD266,499 per guest for the Master Suite.
The 2026 World Cruise opens for reservations on 23 March 2023, but guests can pre-register their booking intention.
SINGAPORE, 16 March 2023: The third edition of the online Halal In Travel Global Summit (HITGS 2023) is set to take place on 30 May to 1 June, hosted by CrescentRating & HalalTrip.
With more than 60 experts from national tourism organisations, travel industry stakeholders, and online travel industry players sharing ideas, HITGS 2023 is billed as a must-attend event for anyone interested in the Halal travel space. Registration is free for the online summit. Visit this link to learn more about HITGS 2023
The Muslim travel market is expected to play a crucial role in the next phase of the industry’s growth. International Muslim traveller arrivals reached 160 million in 2019. It is projected that Muslim traveller arrivals will reach 140 million in 2023 and return to the 2019 level of 160 million in 2024. Visitor arrivals are projected to reach 230 million with an estimated expenditure of USD225 Billion by 2028.
In addition to keynote presentations by tourism ministers, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in discussions on some of the key areas the industry needs to prepare to welcome Muslim travellers.
The HITGS 2023 will also feature the launch of the 8th edition of the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2023, the third edition of the HalalTrip 40, and the Halal In Travel Awards 2023. The GMTI is the premier index in the travel industry for the Halal travel space, providing a comprehensive annual report that ranks the top Muslim-friendly travel destinations worldwide based on factors such as the availability of Halal food, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly accommodation options.
This year’s ranking will put more emphasis on sustainability initiatives by destinations. The Halal In Travel Awards were launched in 2022 to honour excellence in the Halal travel space. These awards recognise destinations, organisations, companies, and individuals who have considerably impacted the Muslim lifestyle travel segment.
There are four categories of awards, and nominations for the 2023 awards will close on 14 April 2023. Visit this link to learn more about the HIT Awards 2023.
The HalalTrip 40 was initiated in 2021 to recognise inspiring Muslims who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, and this year’s list will be launched at the HITGS 2023. The list is a compilation of inspiring Muslims who have contributed eagerly, persistently, and arduously and have significantly impacted the community through their craft, product, or service. The compilation comprises four categories: Trailblazers, Advocates, Inspirers, and Creators. Visit this link to learn more about the HT40 2023.
“We are thrilled to host the Halal In Travel Global Summit 2023, bringing together key players in the travel industry to explore the vast potential of the Muslim travel market. As we navigate the challenges of the post-pandemic world, it is increasingly clear that the Muslim travel market will be a key driver of tourism growth,” said CrescentRating & HalalTrip CEO Fazal Bahardeen.
BANGKOK, 16 March 2023: Thai Vietjet’s ‘Spring Special’ promotion gets underway, offering fares for travel on the airline’s entire domestic network, starting from THB499 (inclusive of taxes and fees).
The booking window opened on 15 March and remains open for three more days until midnight on 18 March. The THB499 fare is valid for travel from 15 May to 31 October.
However, during the peak school holiday break from 1 April to 14 May, the best fare offer is THB799 (inclusive of taxes and fees). And it is not available during public holidays such as the Songkran holiday.
The special promotional fare, whether THB499 or 799, applies to the airline’s entire domestic network from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani and cross-country routes connecting Phuket to Chiang Mai.
You can buy the fare on all distribution channels, including the airline’s website, mobile app, Facebook, travel agencies and booking offices.
BANGKOK, 16 March 2023: Chapman Freeborn, a global aircraft charter specialist and part of Avia Solutions Group, is partnering with Thailand-based tour operator Tourladfah.
Tourladfah, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, was established in 2018. It organises outbound tours to Georgia, Japan, South Korea, India and Turkey. Last month, Tourladfah commissioned Thai Vietjet to supply charter flights on the Bangkok-Okinawa Japan route. The first flight will depart on 16 March to Okinawa, chartered by Tourladfah, which sells inclusive travel packages bundled with a roundtrip fare through its online channels, such as Facebook.
Andy Hudson, President – APAC at Chapman Freeborn and Arthit Thepchai, Managing Director at Tourladfah.
The new partnership will see Chapman Freeborn providing charter solutions for the Thai tour operator, sourcing aircraft to support the surge in travel demand that Tourladfah is witnessing post-Covid.
Chapman Freeborn, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, says it is “optimising growth in the Asia Pacific region, developing and implementing products and services in this comparatively untapped geography.”
Chapman Freeborn, vice president of passenger solutions – Asia Pacific Paul Tsang said: “Our passenger charter department is relatively new to the APAC region, and this partnership is a major boost. We are delighted to assist Tourladfah and show our prospective clients, not just in Thailand but across the whole region, that we can find them the ideal (charter) solution.”
Chapman Freeborn president of APAC, Andy Hudson, added: “Chapman Freeborn values long-term relationships, and partnering with Tourladfah highlights our commitment and dedication to the Asia Pacific region.
“As we expand further into APAC, we will build strong relationships and deliver excellent capacity solutions for our clients, further emphasising the importance of our role in this part of the world.”
About Chapman Freeborn
The Chapman Freeborn group was established in the UK in 1973. It has offices in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In the cargo market, Chapman Freeborn Airchartering specialises in the charter and lease of aircraft for freight forwarders, multinational corporations, governments and humanitarian agencies.
In addition to freight services, Chapman Freeborn offers specialist passenger services, including private jet charters for executive travel, large aircraft for crew rotations and international group travel, and onboard courier services.
SINGAPORE, 16 March 2023: The Russia-Myanmar Friendship Association and business owners in Myanmar have signed deals to promote travel to a Ngapali beach resort in Rakhine State, Irrawaddy online news reported recently.
The association president Anatoly Bulochnikov met junta boss Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Daw to discuss tourism and trade, particularly the expansion of tourism facilities. Ngapali has the potential to become a popular beach resort destination if facilities and airline connectivity improve.
Construction of a luxury seafront apartment project in Ngapali is one of the projects expected to start soon following the agreement between a Ngapali beach resort in Rakhine State and the Russia-Myanmar Friendship Association, Irrawaddy reported.
The online news channel identified Aung Myo Min Din, a hotelier with close ties to Min Aung Hlaing’s family, who owns a resort hotel in Ngapali. He appears to be a key player in long-term projects to expand hotel and tourism facilities in the southern beach resort.
Aung Myo Min Din founded Amazing Hotels & Resorts and expanded the company’s hotel portfolio to 12 properties since 2011 when Min Aung Hlaing became the military chief. He bought the Ngapali Resort from its owner Zaw Zaw in 2015 when it was still under construction and named it the Amazing Ngapali Resort. Zaw Zaw is the chairman of Max Myanmar Group of Companies, a major conglomerate and the president of the Myanmar Football Federation since 2015.
Aung Myo Min Din also heads Adventure Myanmar Tours & Incentives, a company involved in inbound and outbound travel in Myanmar since 1996 and owns two golf courses and two restaurants.
KOTA KINABALU,15 March 2023: Malaysia Airlines London and Sabah Tourism Board hosted 14 UK travel agents to Sabah on a familiarisation tour focusing on wildlife and cultural adventure.
Welcoming the group, which arrived in Sandakan last week, State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew said the UK was one of our key target markets to promote Sabah’s nature and wildlife tours.
“Sandakan is a nature-based destination known for its wildlife attractions and historical heritage, making it one of the destinations we promote in the UK market. In addition, Malaysia Airlines has direct flights to Sandakan from Kuala Lumpur,” she said.
The group visited main attractions such as the Agnes Keith House, St. Michael and All Angel’s Church, Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre, and wildlife adventure in Kinabatangan.
The six-day familiarisation trip also included hotel inspections in Kota Kinabalu, a cycling tour in Tuaran, a cultural experience at the Bajau Sama Cultural Centre, a traditional food cooking class at Bijan Cafe and Guesthouse and a fun yacht ride at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Resort Karambunai and Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu co-sponsored the group.
SINGAPORE, 15 March 2023: As the travel industry regains its footing, Emirates ramps up a recruiting mission to hire experienced commercial pilots in Singapore.
The airline will hold a pilot recruitment roadshow in Singapore for the first time in eight years to provide a glimpse into the opportunities and benefits of joining Emirates and living in the vibrant city of Dubai.
Pilot Information Sessions will be held at The Westin Singapore on Sunday, 2 April, at 1000 and 1300, and Monday, 3 April, at 1000. Experienced pilots keen to join Emirates as first officers, A380 direct entry captains, or via the accelerated command programme are welcomed.
Prior registration is not required, and pilots are only required to attend one of the sessions. At the session, prospective Emirates pilots can learn more about the airline’s recruitment process, available opportunities, training programmes, expected career trajectory, and benefits and speak to pilots currently flying with Emirates.
Emirates’ country manager for Singapore & Brunei, Rashid Al Ardha said: “Emirates pilots fly one of the world’s youngest and most modern all-wide-body fleets to diverse destinations across an extensive network of 140 cities on six continents. They undergo a robust, evidence- and competency-based in-house training programme at Emirates’ cutting-edge training facility. Pilots will be based in Dubai, one of the world’s safest, most vibrant, and tech-savvy cities and a lifestyle destination with global annual sporting events, spectacular attractions, and adventure sports for kids and families. We look forward to having more talented pilots from Singapore come onboard our airline as we expand our operations in response to strong customer demand.”
Flying with Emirates
With a network spanning over 140 destinations, Emirates pilots will have the opportunity to fly to diverse destinations. The airline’s constant investment in renewing its fleet also means its pilots will fly the world’s youngest and most modern fleet of all wide-body aircraft; the Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.
Emirates offers a range of company benefits for pilots and their families, including a competitive tax-free salary, 42 days of annual leave, a generous allowance for accommodation and education, full medical benefits, and discounted travel benefits for the wider family and friends.
The selection process is held in two stages. The first assessment stage will be conducted remotely, while the second stage will be held in Dubai over two days. Emirates will provide a pair of return economy class tickets (upgradeable to Business Class, subject to availability) for applicants and their legal spouses when they travel to Dubai for the second assessment stage.
