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Emirates ramps up Manila flights

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Your Stories
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DUBAI, UAE, 21 January 2026: As part of its ongoing growth strategy in Southeast Asia and commitment to the Philippines, Emirates will introduce four additional weekly flights between Dubai and Manila from 2 April.

On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Emirates’ flight EK330 departs Dubai at 1245 and arrives in Manila at 0125 the next day. Emirates’ return flight EK331 will depart Manila at 0325 and arrive in Dubai at 0825. All times are local.

Currently, the airline schedules three daily flights (21 flights weekly) on the Dubai-Manila route — 0745, 1815, and 2355 departures from DXB.

Flights EK330/331 will be operated by Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class, and 304 seats in Economy Class. With this expansion, the airline will offer greater choice and enhanced connectivity for corporate travellers, marine customers as well as the large Filipino diaspora across Emirates’ global network, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, the US, Kuwait, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal and South Africa.

The new flights also provide shorter connections from and to Canada and the US, as well as late-morning European departures, including Milan, London, Budapest, and Athens via Dubai. 

Travellers to and from Manila will benefit from Emirates’ award-winning service and industry-leading products in the air and on the ground across all classes, with regionally-inspired dishes and complimentary beverages and the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system which offers more than 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages including Tagalog, featuring movies, TV shows, and an extensive musical library along with games, audio books and podcasts.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents, as well as Emirates’ retail stores. 

More flights, more cargo

An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft can carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo in its bellyhold with a full passenger load. By adding four more flights to its weekly operations to Manila, operated by this wide-body aircraft, Emirates will increase cargo capacity further to strengthen imports and exports between Manila and Dubai, as well as key trade markets across Europe, the United States and the Indian subcontinent.

The UAE and the Philippines have recently signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). With its extensive operations in Manila and Cebu/Clark, Emirates is well-positioned to support the growing economic and trade ambitions between the two countries.

Three decades of steady performance

Emirates launched services to Manila in 1990 and has progressively grown its operations to include a circular service to Cebu and Clark. The airline currently serves the Philippines with 28 weekly flights and will expand to 34 weekly services with the addition of EK330/331 from 2 April.

Through its partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL), Emirates further connects travellers to additional domestic destinations beyond its own network, including five points via Manila, seven via Cebu, and three via Clark. They offer convenient baggage check-through to final destinations.

Last year, the airline opened an Emirates World Store in the heart of Manila*, its first in Southeast Asia. Customers can visit the store to get a closer look at some of Emirates’ most popular products, including the A380 onboard lounge bar and browse through a curated selection of Emirates-branded merchandise and travel accessories, including the airline’s NBA collection for basketball fans.

* World Store located at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

(Source: Your Stories — Emirates)

Minor Hotels sharpens 2026 growth agenda

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Newsdesk
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BANGKOK, 21 January 2026: Minor Hotels will pursue a focused approach to growth in 2026, building on a year of record development momentum to prioritise market depth, portfolio diversification and capital-efficient expansion.

The group signed 40 new hotel contracts and master agreements in 2025 — its highest annual total to date — and expects to secure a further 25 signings in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting sustained owner demand and signalling another record growth year ahead.

Photo credit: Minor Hotels. NH Collection Paris Ponthieu Champs-Élysées.

With its strongest pipeline to date and a portfolio of more than 640 properties globally, the year ahead marks the beginning of a new phase of growth for the hotel owner and operator, marked by targeted asset-light expansion and supported by the addition of four new hotel brands and a strengthened global platform under the Minor Hotels master brand.

Of the 25 new deals that Minor expects in Q1, more than 60% will be in the Middle East and Asia, signalling the group’s intent to drive a higher contribution from those regions to balance its substantial presence in Europe, which currently accounts for more than half of the group’s portfolio.

In 2026, the group will debut multiple brands in North America, including in key strategic cities such as New York and Miami, and in the Caribbean, with a selection of its brands, including in the luxury segment. This marks a significant step in strengthening its presence in the high-priority North America market. This luxury portfolio expansion will also extend into Australia, where the group already operates more than 60 properties, mainly under the Oaks and Avani brands.

Pipeline growth will continue across Asia, with a focus on Japan following a recent joint venture with Royal Holdings to develop 21 properties across the country. India also remains a priority market, supported by the strong performance of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur and a growing pipeline of more than a dozen projects.

New brands

Minor Hotels will use 2026 to bring its newest brands to market, with a series of carefully selected openings and signings across multiple segments.

Central to this strategy are the group’s new collection brands – Minor Reserve Collection and Colbert Collection – which are designed to support conversion-led growth in mature markets, particularly Europe and the Middle East. These brands offer independent owners the flexibility to retain their individuality while gaining access to Minor Hotels’ global distribution, loyalty, marketing and operational platforms, opening development opportunities for high-quality properties that may not fit traditional brand frameworks.

The Wolseley Hotels is positioned as a deliberately rare luxury proposition, with 2026 focused on establishing the brand’s presence through a small number of carefully selected projects, reinforcing its long-term positioning in first-tier global gateway cities.

At the more accessible end of the spectrum, iStay Hotels is expected to play a key role in supporting franchise-led growth.  

(Source: Minor Hotels)

Centara kicks off Icons of Football Stay Experience

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Your Stories
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BANGKOK, 21 January 2026: Centara Hotels & Resorts presents Icons of Football Stay Experience, an exclusive package for CentaraThe1 members attending the Reignwood Icons of Football 2026 taking place at Robinswood Golf Club from 31 January until 1 February 2026.

As the Official Hotel Partner, Centara invites guests to enjoy special members-only rates with complimentary General Admission tickets at five stunning Bangkok properties. The tournament will see football icons, including Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Fowler, Ryan Giggs, and Luis Figo, compete in an exciting Team England versus Team World showdown.

Participating properties 

  • Centara Grand at CentralWorld
  • Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok
  • Centara Watergate Pavilion Hotel Bangkok
  • Centara Life Government & Convention Chaeng Watthana
  • Centara Life Hotel Bangkok Phra Nakhon

Members receive up to two tickets to Reignwood Icons of Football 2026 per room per night, with single-night bookings (31 January or 1 February) including one-day access, and two-night stays receiving full two-day passes. Bookings are available until 31 January 2026 for stays from 26 January until 7 February 2026.

CentaraThe1 membership is free at https://centara1card.com/, unlocking the Icons of Football Stay Experience and additional exclusive privileges at Centara destinations worldwide. To book the Icons of Football Stay Experience, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/icons2026

Beyond the Centara The 1 stay experience, a special 30% discount on Hospitality Tickets for Reignwood Icons of Football 2026 is also available to the general public, offering access to exclusive viewing areas, complimentary drinks and snacks, and additional curated privileges throughout the event. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmelon.com/iconsseries/reignwoodicons2026

For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com.

For more information about the Icons Series, visit www.icons-series.com.

(Source: Your Stories — Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Sabre extends Lao Airlines partnership

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Newsdesk
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VIENTIANE, Lao PDR, 21 January 2026: Sabre Corporation, a leading global travel technology company, has entered into a 10-year agreement with Lao Airlines to enable the national carrier to adopt an offer-order-based retailing model.

The agreement extends Sabre’s long-standing relationship with Lao Airlines to select the SabreSonic Passenger Service System (PSS), while extending the Sabre distribution partnership. The carrier will continue to be part of the SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace and also join Sabre’s cloud-based PSS suite.

Photo credit: Lao Airlines.

“This marks a pivotal step in Lao Airlines’ growth journey,” said Sabre vice president and regional general manager, airline IT solutions, Asia Pacific, Maneesh Jaikrishna. “Sabre’s technology will be instrumental in helping them achieve their vision for network expansion and improved customer experience. This win also underscores Sabre’s growth momentum in the region and demonstrates the strength of our integrated retailing and distribution capabilities.”

Since its founding in 1989, Lao Airlines has served as a vital link between Laos and its neighbours — China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

(Source: Sabre)

Cebu Pacific offers fly & Stay deals

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Newsdesk
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CEBU, 21 January 2026: Cebu Pacific launches a limited-time Fly & Stay offer, in partnership with the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRACI).

It’s part of the airline’s “Happy Starts in Cebu” campaign initiative, encouraging travellers to begin their Philippine journey in Cebu.

Photo credit: Cebu Pacific. Exclusive travel deals at the Cebu gateway.

As the exclusive airline partner, CEB is offering discounted fares from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong to Cebu, until 31 January 2026. The travel period runs from 1 February to 31 July 31, 2026.

The seat sale supports the DOT’s “Visit Cebu” campaign launched in December last year, marking the first-of-its-kind partnership between DOT and CEB to put Cebu on the map for 2026 travels.

Guests booking CEB’s direct international flights to Cebu are eligible to purchase a two-night stay with breakfast for two, with the bonus of the third night free with breakfast, at participating Cebu hotels and resorts. The offer is available for purchase until 31 January 2026, for stays from 1 February to 30 August 2026.

The 2 + 1 offer is subject to availability and applies only to accredited participating properties listed below:

(Source: Cebu Pacific)

Etihad closes 2025 on a high note

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Newsdesk
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ABU DHABI, 21 January 2026: Etihad Airways carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 21% year-on-year and the highest annual total in the airline’s history. 

Passenger load factor for the full year reached 88.3%, up two percentage points from 2024, reflecting strong commercial performance throughout the year.

Photo credit: Etihad Airways.

The airline closed the year on a high note, carrying 2.2 million passengers in December, up 28% compared with the same month in 2024. Passenger load factor for the month reached 87.6%, maintaining consistently high utilisation during the peak end-of-year travel period.

At year-end, Etihad’s operating fleet stood at 127 aircraft, following the addition of 29 aircraft during 2025 – the largest single-year fleet expansion in the airline’s history. This growth included the introduction of the Airbus A321LR, which extended Etihad’s premium cabin product to a broader range of short- and medium-haul destinations and supported continued network expansion.

Etihad’s growth in 2025 accounted for approximately half of passenger growth in the UAE, based on reported projected airline traffic growth across the country, reflecting the airline’s central role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism and economic ambitions.

2025 performance highlights

(Source: Etihad Airways)

HopeGo app sets up shop in Malaysia

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Newsdesk
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KUALA LUMPUR, 21 January 2026: HopeGoo, a one-stop travel app first launched in Mainland China and Hong Kong, has confirmed its launch in Malaysia. 

Currently designed especially for tourists visiting China, the service will soon expand to include more destinations.

HopeGoo, your all-in-one booking app

After serving users across mainland China and Hong Kong over the past two years, HopeGoo is now bringing its travel services to more travellers across Asia as part of its next phase of growth.

Malaysia was selected as one of HopeGoo’s key growth markets as China has long been one of the top outbound travel destinations for Malaysians, alongside regional favourites such as Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. Combined with the close tourism and cultural ties between Malaysia and China, these factors create a strong foundation for HopeGoo’s local expansion.

The launch also comes ahead of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, and school holidays — all of which are peak travel seasons. 

Tourism Malaysia’s Outbound and Domestic Travel Behaviour Report 2023 showed that 91% of Malaysians travel overseas for leisure. This demonstrates a continued outbound travel demand and a clear growth opportunity for HopeGoo in supporting Malaysia–China travel flows.

“As we introduce HopeGoo to Malaysian travellers, our priority is to ensure the experience reflects how Malaysians plan, book, and travel overseas,” said  HopeGoo Malaysia Apps User Growth Senior Manager, Kent Chin. “Just one year after launching in Hong Kong, HopeGoo entered the ranks of Hong Kong App Store’s most popular travel apps. This gives us strong confidence in bringing the same customer support-driven experience to Malaysian travellers.”

HopeGoo’s rollout is backed by its parent company, Tongcheng Travel, which has established a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia in 2023 to explore inbound tourism development.

“Putting local users at the heart of our strategy while connecting broader travel journeys has always been our guiding principle,” said Yu Chi Xiao, Group Vice President, Tongcheng Travel. “Leveraging the group’s more than 20 years of accumulated industry experience, HopeGoo has built strong integrated capabilities across technology, resources, and service, supported by deep partnerships and proprietary AI systems to underpin our localisation efforts.

In Malaysia, we remain committed to a ‘built for local users’ approach. We strongly believe in the long-term potential of Malaysia’s travel market, and HopeGoo will continue to evolve its products and services from a local perspective.”

About HopeGoo
HopeGoo, founded by Tongcheng Travel, is a one-stop global travel platform committed to building a trusted, leading brand for travellers visiting China. It offers a comprehensive range of services across six key segments — flights, hotels, train tickets, attractions, ferry tickets, and local experiences, supporting payments in 16 currencies and multiple operating languages.

AirAsia X ushers in new corporate structure

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Newsdesk
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KUALA LUMPUR, 21 January 2026: Following the acquisition of both AirAsia Berhad (AAB) and AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (AAAGL) from Capital A Berhad (Capital A), the Board of Directors of AirAsia X Berhad (AirAsia) have approved a new management structure.

Bo Lingam has been appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, providing overall strategic leadership and direction. 

Photo credit: AirAsia Group. Bo Lingham, Group Chief Executive Officer.

Farouk Kamal has been appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, responsible for overseeing corporate functions and operations and driving performance across the business. 

Low Kar Chuan has been appointed Chief Financial Officer.

Lavinia Louis has assumed the role of Head of Group Finance, managing group-wide financial management, reporting and controls. 

Benyamin Ismail has been appointed General Manager and will continue to be the accountable manager in running the day-to-day operations of AirAsia X as an airline operating company. 

Commenting on the appointments, AirAsia X Chairman Dato Fam Lee Ee said: “This new management structure reflects the Board’s commitment to strengthening the leadership depth and ensuring that the Company is well positioned to execute its strategic priorities. With Bo’s proven leadership and deep understanding of the business, we are confident AirAsia X is in good hands. Each appointment brings relevant experience and capability that will support AirAsia X as it continues its transformation and long-term value creation journey.”

AirAsia X Group Chief Executive Officer Bo Lingam said: “On behalf of the new leadership, I thank the Board for their trust and confidence. With both our short-haul and long-haul capabilities now under a single unified structure, we can drive greater efficiency,  strengthen our network and deliver a more seamless travel experience for our guests. Our focus remains on operational excellence and creating sustainable value for all stakeholders in this next phase of growth.”

AirAsia X also announced the successful listing and quotation of 606,060,606 Placement Shares and 2,307,692,307 Consideration Shares, marking the completion of its Proposed Private Placement. The company is evaluating a possible change of name to reflect the consolidation of the group’s aviation business, with any proposals subject to the relevant approvals and further announcement in due course.

(Source: AirAsia Group)

PKFARE inks deal with Citilink

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Newsdesk
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SHENZHEN, 20 January 2026: PKFARE, a global travel wholesaler, announced this week the signing of a strategic partnership with Citilink, a leading Indonesian low-cost airline. 

Through this direct connection, PKFARE’s 2000-plus travel seller clients can access Citilink’s full content, including ancillary and branded fares, at competitive prices. At the same time, Citilink will broaden its global distribution reach while maintaining integrity controls.

Photo credit: PKFARE.

Citilink has established itself as a major force in Indonesia’s domestic aviation market, serving as a vital connector for affordable air travel across more than 50 domestic destinations. 

Building on its strong domestic foundation, the airline is also expanding its footprint across Southeast Asia, having recently commenced flights to Bangkok, Thailand.

“PKFARE’s strong distribution presence in these regions enables us to better capture inbound demand, while maintaining distribution control and content integrity aligned with our commercial strategy. We are delighted to partner with Citilink to support its global distribution growth,” said PKFARE Founder and President Jason Song.

“This collaboration enables our travel seller clients to offer more competitive and diverse flight options across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. By strengthening direct airline partnerships, we continue to deliver better pricing, improved service quality, and integrity-assured content.”

According to IATA projections, the Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, with air traffic forecast to grow 7.3% year over year in 2026. PKFARE has established direct connections with leading regional airlines, including AirAsia, Lion Air, VietJet Air, and IndiGo, and will continue to accelerate partnerships with major APAC carriers to deliver curated, high-quality content to global travel sellers.

About PKFARE 
PKFARE, a subsidiary of DerbySoft Group, is a leading global travel wholesaler focused on curating high-quality content and driving efficiency to fuel real growth. It specialises in delivering relevant travel content spanning flights, hotels, and ancillaries. By expanding direct partnerships with airlines and hotels and leveraging a blended multi-sourcing model, PKFARE provides both breadth of choice and competitive pricing.

(Source: PKFARE)

Sapa clocks a surge in travel interest

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE, 20 January 2026: Sapa in northern Vietnam has emerged as the fastest-growing destination for attracting international travellers in Asia, according to digital travel platform Agoda’s latest New Horizons ranking. 

Vietnam’s scenic mountain destination is followed by Okayama (Japan), Bandung (Indonesia), Matsuyama (Japan), and Takamatsu (Japan) as the top five rising stars in Asia, registering the highest growth in international travel interest. 

Agoda’s New Horizons ranking, which is released annually, compares the accommodation booking ranks of the two previous years to identify the highest climbers in international travel in Asia.

In addition to the top five emerging destinations, Agoda also reports newcomers joining the ranks of the top 100 Asian destinations in 2025 for the first time, indicating their growing popularity among international travellers. 

These include Ko Phangan (Thailand), Nagano (Japan), Nara (Japan), Shizuoka (Japan), Ko Tao (Thailand), Kagoshima (Japan), and Aomori (Japan). The trend indicates that even when visiting popular destinations such as Thailand and Japan, travellers are seeking out fresh, new adventures in lesser-known locales.

Agoda Regional Director North Asia, Jay Lee, shared: “Lesser-known destinations are rapidly emerging as preferred choices for travellers seeking authenticity and immersive cultural experiences. Whether it’s the breathtaking scenery of terraced rice fields in Sapa or the refreshing seaside landscapes of Takamatsu, secondary destinations are capturing a growing share of traveller interest and spending, signalling a shift in the tourism landscape for 2026 and beyond.”

(Source: Agoda)

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