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Coral Princess visits Singapore

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE, 24 March 2026: Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess arrived in Singapore on Sunday, 22 March 2026, at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre as part of her 131-night World Cruise before sailing on the next chapter of her epic journey —  a 56-night journey to Alaska and the West Coast of the United States.

Carrying 2,000 guests, Coral Princess is currently navigating a 35,000+ nautical mile ‘Circle Pacific’ itinerary spanning 60 ports across 19 countries with calls to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This milestone voyage marks the most destinations ever visited on a Princess world Cruise, reinforcing the brand’s leadership in global exploration.

Photo credit: Marina Bay Cruise Centre Coral Princess.

The journey began in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on 5 January 2026, taking guests through the Panama Canal, Hawaii, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia after more than 70 days at sea.

The remaining part of the World Tour comprises several segments, which can be combined into a 56-night cruise from Singapore to Los Angeles.

The 14-night Thailand & Vietnam Cruise features stops in Samui Island and Laem Chabang, a Gulf of Thailand coastal port (overnight in Bangkok), Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City), Hanoi (overnight), Da Nang, before arriving in Hong Kong on 5 April, where the ship will stay overnight.

On an 11-night Japan, Korea and Taiwan cruise, the ship will continue north on a tour of Asia, visiting Taipei and Seogwipo in South Korea, before an extensive journey in Japan and arriving in Yokohama on 16 April.

The 31-night Alaska & North Pacific Crossing cruise will visit destinations in Japan, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and California. The ship will visit Japan (Miyako, Aomori, and Hakodate) before crossing the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and embarking on an extensive programme in Alaska. The ship then sails to Canada to visit Victoria and Vancouver, then onward to Seattle, Astoria (Oregon) and Santa Barbara. The ship will then make a maiden call at Ensenada, Mexico, and the journey will end in Los Angeles on 16 May.

After completing her World Cruise, Coral Princess will join seven other Princess ships in Alaska for Princess Cruises largest Alaska season, featuring eight ships, including the debut of the new Star Princess, 180 departures and 19 destinations.

Looking Ahead: 2027 World Cruise Grand Circle Pacific voyage

Coral Princess will sail the 129-night cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles on 6 January 2027, visiting over 60 destinations across 20 countries. The voyage will feature a transit of the Panama Canal and visits to Hawaii, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Japan, Alaska and Canada.

(Source: Princess Cruises)

SQ pauses Singapore-Dubai flights

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE, 24 March 2026: Singapore Airlines has suspended direct flights to Dubai until 30 April, the airline confirmed in a statement released last Friday.

Citing the “geopolitical situation in the Middle East”, the airline confirmed the cancellation of SQ494, departing Singapore for Dubai, and the return flight SQ495, departing Dubai for Singapore.

Photo credit: SQ.

Flight schedule

SQ494 departs Singapore (SIN) at 1430 and arrives in Dubai (DBX) at 1800.
SQ495 departs Dubai (DBX) at 1945 and arrives in Singapore (SIN) at 0730 (plus a day). 

Up until the suspension announced on 20 March, the airline served the route daily, deploying a 264-seat B77-300ER with a flight time of seven hours and 15 minutes. 

SQ advises customers to visit SIA’s Flight Status page (https://tinyurl.com/389fx3ys ) for the latest information on their flights.

In contrast, Emirates schedules four daily flights between Singapore and Dubai according to the winter timetable 2025-2026, deploying an A380-800 with 510 seats. However, some of the services have been suspended due to missile and drone attacks on Dubai.

Before the war with Iran disrupted travel to the Gulf countries, the average round-trip fare on the route was USD550. On 24 March, Google Flights quoted a fare of USD564 in economy class.

(Source: SIA)

TAT confirms TTM venue in Pattaya

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Newsdesk
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BANGKOK, 24 March 2026: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) confirms Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2026 will take place from 10 to 12 June 2026 at the NICE Pattaya Convention and Exhibition Centre, spotlighting tourism attractions in Chon Buri province’s eastern seaboard and across Thailand.

The event reinforces Thailand’s position as a leading destination for international business events and tourism investment, while underscoring TAT’s continued focus on traveller confidence, safety, and well-being.

Photo credit: TAT. NICE venue, Pattaya, Chon Buri province.

TAT Governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, said: “Hosting this year’s edition in Chon Buri allows us to present a wide range of tourism products and business opportunities under our ‘New Thailand’ strategic direction and the ‘Healing is the New Luxury’ campaign. We aim to strengthen international partnerships and drive sustainable growth across the tourism sector.”

Now heading for its 23rd edition,  TTM+ 2026 should welcome over 400 Thai sellers and 400 international buyers from more than 50 countries, generating over 11,000 pre-scheduled business appointments. The programme will feature product showcases, curated networking sessions, and knowledge-sharing forums addressing global tourism trends, sustainability, and innovation — delivering both commercial value and strategic industry insights.

Pattaya is located in Chon Buri province, and TTM+ 2026 will highlight a diverse portfolio of both established destinations and emerging attractions beyond the famous beaches and entertainment that have made Pattaya a popular gateway destination, just 130 km southeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok. 

The Nong Nooch Pattaya International Convention and Exhibition Centre (NICE) venue is located in the famous Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden on the outskirts of Pattaya. It is designed to host a wide variety of events, including international trade shows, conventions, concerts, and grand banquets.

The centre spans a total area of 15,500 sqm and can accommodate more than 12,000 people. The main exhibition area (5,760 sqm) can be used as one grand hall or divided into three smaller halls to suit different event sizes.

TTM+ 2026 is projected to generate significant tourism revenue, creating a positive economic impact for businesses, communities, and supply chains across Thailand.

Pattaya City is just a 24 km drive from the TTM venue at Nong Nooch.

(Source: TAT)

United upgrades Dreamliner cabins

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SINGAPORE, 24 March 2026: Travellers can book seats on United’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring the first United Polaris Studio suites, roomier seats, larger seatback screens and Bluetooth connectivity at every seat in every cabin

The inaugural international flight, UA1, is scheduled for 22 April from San Francisco to Singapore, with ticket sales open since 19 March on the airline’s website and app.

Photo credit: United.

The aircraft will also launch its second international route, UA901 from San Francisco to London, on 30 April. Over the next few weeks, customers may see the plane flying on select domestic routes between San Francisco and Houston as the plane prepares for international service.

United plans to have at least 30 7879’ss with the elevated cabin interiors flying worldwide by the end of 2027:

Eight new Polaris Studio suites;
56 Polaris seats;
35 Premium Plus seats;
39 Economy Plus and 84 Economy seats.

(Source: United)

Cathay Pacific expands partnership with Adyen

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE, 24 March 2026: Adyen, a global financial technology platform, has announced the expansion of its longstanding partnership with Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s home airline. 

Adyen is now providing direct acquiring services for the airline in markets including Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Japan, and most recently, India.

Adyen’s partnership with Cathay Pacific, which began in 2014, has evolved from its initial scope to become a core component of the airline’s global commerce strategy. With the successful implementation of direct acquiring in Cathay Pacific’s key markets, this expansion underscores Adyen’s role as a strategic growth partner, using direct acquiring capabilities to increase authorisation rates, reduce payment fees, and unlock new revenue.

Notably, with the recent rollout in India, Adyen’s acquiring solution ensures performance. Since its implementation, Cathay Pacific has achieved a 10% increase in authorisation rates.

(Source: Adyen)

IndiGo adjusts flights through to 28 March

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Newsdesk
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NEW DELHI, 24 March 2026: In response to the situation in the Middle East, IndiGo will operate 252 weekly flights to and from the Middle East through to 28 March 2026.

IndiGo is almost back to operating its regular schedule with 126 weekly flights to and from Saudi Arabia and 28 weekly flights to and from Oman. 

Photo credit: IndiGo.

Additionally, IndiGo will operate 98 weekly flights to and from the UAE.

The airline will continue to monitor the situation given the ongoing geopolitical risk, airspace restrictions, airport constraints, consistently rising fuel and insurance costs, and other uncertainties.

Schedule of IndiGo flights to and from the Middle East, until 28 March 2026.

Customers from the above cities in the Middle East will continue to be able to connect to multiple cities in India and beyond, using IndiGo’s network.

Additionally, as part of the network adjustments, planned operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah will remain suspended until 28 March 2026.

(Source: IndiGo)

AirAsia flies Bali-Melbourne route

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Newsdesk
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MELBOURNE, 24 March 2026: AirAsia has introduced flights from Bali to Melbourne earlier this week, marking the start of the daily connection between the two cities. 

Indonesia AirAsia deploys an A320 for the daily flight, adding an annual 130,000 seats on the route for Victorian travellers planning their next Bali or Indonesian getaway.

Photo credit: AirAsia. (L-R) Peppy Adi-Purnomo – VP Airline Business Development, South and South East Asia Melbourne Airport, Jim Parashos – Chief of Aviation, Melbourne Airport, Yohannes Jatmiko Heru Prasetyo, Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne, Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, General Manager of Indonesia AirAsia, Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, Head of Indonesia Affairs and Policy, Indonesia AirAsia.

Indonesia AirAsia General Manager Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman said the launch reflects strong demand for Bali and reiterated the airline’s commitment to Australia.

“Bali continues to be the most popular international holiday destination for Australians, and we’re excited to give Victorians another great value option when planning their next escape,” he said.

“This new service supports AirAsia’s goal to make travel more accessible for Australians who wish to experience Bali, while also discovering the many remarkable destinations across the wider Indonesian archipelago.” 

“From Bali, passengers can easily connect to some of Indonesia’s fastest-growing destinations, including Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the iconic Komodo National Park; and Balikpapan, a vibrant culinary and cultural hub in Kalimantan, and to the Capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.”

The Melbourne to Denpasar service marks AirAsia’s third Australian route to Bali, complementing the airline’s existing services from Perth and Adelaide. The airline recently increased frequency out of Adelaide in response to rising demand from Australian travellers.

AirAsia is offering special promotional fares from Melbourne to Bali starting at AUD209 one way. Travellers can also grab a ‘Fly-Thru’ deal with fares starting from AUD289 one way from Melbourne to Singapore (via Bali), Melbourne to Bangkok from AUD316 (via Bali) and AUD316 from Melbourne to Phuket (via Bali).

Fares are bookable via the airasia MOVE app, airasia.com, online travel agents, and authorised travel partners.

(Source: AirAsia)

PAL updates status of Middle East flights

By
Newsdesk
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MANILA, 24 March 2026: Philippine Airlines has confirmed the suspension of flights from Manila to Doha (DOH) and Dubai (DXB) until 30 April 2026 due to the Iran war and drone and missile attacks on the Gulf countries.

The suspension came into effect on 20 March and ends on 30 April, except for PR 685, which ends on 1 May.

PR 658 Manila-Dubai
PR 659 Dubai-Manila

PR 684 Manila-Doha
PR 685 Doha-Manila

The precautionary measure is being taken considering the security situation affecting parts of the Middle East and the resulting operational uncertainties in certain regional airspace corridors and airport operations.

PAL continues to closely monitor developments and coordinate with aviation authorities and relevant stakeholders to determine when normal operations can safely resume.

Assistance for affected passengers

Passengers with affected bookings may avail themselves of the following options:

• Free rebooking once flights resume

• Conversion of tickets into travel credits for future use

• Full refunds, in accordance with applicable policies

PAL’s customer service teams are actively assisting passengers through our website, contact centre, and ticket offices.

(Source: PAL travel advisory)

Vietjet wins AirlineRating awards

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE, 23 March 2026: Vietjet has once again been recognised by AirlineRatings with two major accolades for 2026: “World’s Best Ultra Low-Cost Carrier” and a place among the Top 10 “World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines”. 

The recognition comes as Vietjet continues to expand its presence in Singapore, with the newly announced service to Nha Trang, among connections to Vietnam’s Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc.

Photo credit: Vietjet.

According to AirlineRatings, the awards are based on measurable criteria for onboard service. Vietjet was recognised for its competitive fares, customer-focused innovation, and products designed to meet different traveller needs. 

The airline has held the title of  “World’s Best Ultra Low-Cost Carrier” since 2018 and has remained consistently ranked among the world’s leading low-cost airlines. This reflects a long-term strategy focused on delivering value, enhancing the travel experience, and expanding access to air travel for millions of passengers each year.

Vietjet continues to expand its international network across Asia-Pacific and beyond, operating a modern fleet and offering year-round promotions on routes linking Vietnam with Singapore, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and other markets. 

(Source: Vietjet)

Royal Caribbean schedules Singapore homeport season

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Newsdesk
-

SINGAPORE, 23 March 2026: Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas will once again homeport in Singapore, offering cruises in Asia in 2027.

From October 2027 to March 2028, families and friends can choose from three to 10-night vacations from Singapore, sailing to the beaches, cities and cultures of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan with the convenience of starting and ending their holiday in one of Asia’s best-connected hubs.  

Photo credit: Royal Caribbean—Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific Chad Grospe said: “With these 2027-28 holidays, we’re building on the strong demand we’ve seen over past seasons — from three and four-night getaways to longer adventures that connect vacationers to spectacular landscapes, cuisines, and cultural wonders around Asia. Whether it’s a multigenerational family holiday or a getaway with friends, it’s all about making memories together.”

Highlights of the 2027-28 season

Guests can experience the ultimate weekend escape with three and four-night getaways through Southeast Asia’s most captivating destinations, savouring the world-renowned street food of Penang’s historic George Town and unwinding on the sun-soaked shores of Phuket.

Those looking for more time away can choose between four- and five-night adventures to the sun-soaked shores of Phuket, Thailand, or a 10-night cruise that extends to Bangkok, Thailand.

There are also 10-night cruises to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, as well as bucket-list destinations in Japan such as Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe. 

(Source: Royal Caribbean)

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