KUALA LUMPUR 15 November 2022: AirAsia celebrated its post-pandemic inaugural flight to Kaohsiung from Kuala Lumpur on 12 November, ending two years of no air connectivity between the cities.
Flight AK170 took off at 1725 and arrived at 2155 l in Kaohsiung, carrying 114 guests onboard.
AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said: “The inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kaohsiung is a long-awaited occasion for us. Our Kaohsiung and Taipei routes have been amongst our most popular and frequented by many since we commenced operations in the region in 2005.
“Now that travel restrictions have eased worldwide, we look forward to connecting more travellers to Kaohsiung and soon to Taipei when the flights resume in December.
Kaohsiung, famed for its picturesque harbour and sprawling landscape, is one of AirAsia’s most popular destinations in North Asia.
To celebrate the resumption of flights to Kaohsiung and Taipei, travellers can purchase fares from MYR349 for all-in-fare travel between 1 January 2023 and 30 March 2024. The booking window closes on 20 November.
Since 13 October 2022, travel restrictions have been eased for most international visitors to Kaohsiung and Taipei. Malaysians (as well as citizens from selected countries) can visit these cities without visas, vaccinations, Covid-19 tests or quarantine requirements.
The Travel & Booking Period for new Taipei and Kaohsiung services on sale now.
SINGAPORE, 15 November 2022: MSC World Europa docked in Doha, Qatar, at the weekend for its official naming ceremony on Sunday before adopting the role of a floating hotel for the duration of the FIFA World Cup.
Once the World Cup closes, MSC World Europa will spend its inaugural season in the Gulf, offering seven-night cruises starting 20 December from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates and Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The LNG-powered ship spanning 22 decks, with 2,626 cabins, is an urban metropolis at sea. Once its inaugural season closes on 25 March 2023, MSC World Europa will head to the Mediterranean Sea for summer 2023.
MSC Cruises, recognised as the world’s third-largest cruise brand, is partnering with Qatar Airways as part of the World Cup celebrations.
Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker commented: “While Qatar Airways is the global aviation gateway to Qatar, the marine industry is very important to tourism and the long-term economic and cultural connections it brings.”
During the FIFA World Cup from 20 November to 18 December, MSC World Europa will be joined by two other cruise ships on floating hotels duty to host fans.
SEPANG, 14 November 2022: AirAsia will upgrade its reservation and passenger-processing systems between 23 November 2022, 2100 (GMT+8) and 24 November 2022, 0300 (GMT+8).
While the airline expects a smooth transition, it advises passengers that they could face service disruptions during the system upgrade.
These include self-check-in online via the AirAsia Super App and website, flight bookings on AirAsia Super App and website, and AirAsia rewards redemption. The system upgrade will also impact ground operations and affect the availability of check-in and baggage drop services at all airports where AirAsia operates.
All other services on the AirAsia Super App and website, namely AirAsia ride, AirAsia food, hotels, and AirAsia Travelmall will not be affected.
Affected guests travelling during the upgrade timeframe will be notified of this exercise through email and SMS. It is recommended that guests update their contact details to ensure they receive the latest notifications on the status of their AirAsia flights.
Travellers flying with AirAsia are strongly encouraged to perform self-check-in online via the AirAsia Super App and website – available 14 days before departure for all flights and arrive at the airport at least four hours before their departure time for a smooth and seamless journey. Guests are also highly advised to use the e-boarding pass where it’s available.
MANAMA, Bahrain, 9 November 2022: Emirates and Gulf Air have signed a unilateral codeshare partnership starting this December.
The new agreement will offer easy connections and expanded choices for Gulf Air customers connecting to Dubai and onwards to a host of Emirates destinations across Europe, Africa, South America and the Far East.
The agreement was signed on the first day of the Bahrain Airshow, signalling a growing relationship between both airlines following the framework of cooperation established last year. The agreement was signed by Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline and Gulf Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Al Alawi, in the presence of HE Zayed R Alzayani, Gulf Air’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. The signing ceremony was also attended by members of each airline’s executive management teams.
The expanded partnership will see Gulf Air place its marketing code “GF” on Emirates-operated flights beyond Dubai to a selection of some of the most attractive global tourism hotspots, offering new holiday options for Gulf Air customers. Travellers can connect to points including Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Algeria, Tunis, Bali, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei and Sao Paulo.
The new codeshare agreement’s mix of unique points comes as travellers from the GCC have become more well-informed, value-driven and savvy, increasingly looking for new, diverse experiences and attractions beyond their traditional holiday destinations.
The new partnership will also offer customers the convenience of combined ticketing and check-in, a unified policy and seamless transfers for baggage, and competitive single fares on a multi-airline journey when connecting on Emirates. Customers can book their travel on Gulf Air’s website, through Gulf Air’s point of sales and online travel agencies, as well as with local travel agents.
BANGKOK, 14 November 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, celebrates the reopening of Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi on 15 November 2022 with a special ‘The Place to Be’ offer, welcoming guests back to its tropical hideaway.
With ‘The Place to Be’ reopening offer, guests can enjoy a variety of exciting perks, including up to 30% off the best available room rates, THB 500 resort credit to spend on Food & Beverage for stays of 2 consecutive nights and 20% discount on food at all outlets. Other benefits include late check-out and a complimentary room upgrade to the next room category, both of which are subject to availability.
Located steps away from the soft sands of Nopparat Thara and Ao Nang beaches, Centara Anda Dhevi Krabi offers the ideal base to explore Krabi’s tropical wonders, including world-class rock climbing, diving, and snorkelling cruises to nearby karst islands. At the resort, guests have access to an expansive 43-metre swimming pool complete with a swim-up bar, waterslide and direct pool access rooms. Kids can enjoy the children’s pool, while adults indulge in quiet time at the resort’s award-winning SPA Cenvaree or the fully-equipped fitness centre and steam room. Three delectable dining venues offer culinary experiences every guest will remember.
Guests can book and stay with ‘The Place To Be’ from 15 November 2022 to 30 June 2023. The offer also includes complimentary Wi-Fi, daily breakfast for two guests, and free stays for up to two children.
For reservations or more information, please contact the Centara Contact Centre at [email protected] and +66(0) 2101 1234, or via live chat.
BANGKOK, 14 November 2022: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged the Asia-Pacific region to prepare for the anticipated surge in traffic and provide policy support for the industry’s decarbonisation efforts as the region moves forward from Covid-19.
“The last three years have been extremely challenging for the airline industry. Asian airlines, in particular, were hit hard, accounting for about a third of the industry’s losses between 2020 and this year. With the region finally emerging from Covid-19, governments have a key role to play in accelerating the recovery and supporting the industry’s sustainable growth,” said IATA’s senior vice president and deputy director general Conrad Clifford.
Clifford addressed the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Bangkok last week.
Emerging from Covid-19
“Asia has been a laggard. The rest of the world started lifting restrictions and reopening borders last year. However, it was only around April this year that positive momentum was seen in Asia. That is why international passenger demand in September was only at 41.5% of 2019 levels, the lowest among regions,” said Clifford. North American carriers led the way at 89% of 2019 levels, while the other regions were in the 73%-83% range.
“Asia-Pacific governments can accelerate the recovery. There is no reason why we cannot travel as we did before the pandemic. The region also needs to prepare for the surge in traffic. The delays and congestion experienced in Europe and North America should be a stark reminder for airports and government agencies in Asia-Pacific. Now is the time to get the capacity in place, both in terms of infrastructure and manpower,” said Clifford. IATA is also calling for more digitisation of processes to be able to handle the increase in traffic.
Clifford recognised the region’s recovery would be held back as long as China remained closed to international travel. “We must learn to live, travel and work with COVID-19. We hope the Chinese government will have the confidence to reopen its borders soon and connect with the world,” he said.
Policy support for decarbonisation
In 2021, IATA’s members committed to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Last month, the governments’ meeting at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly adopted a Long Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
“We are extremely encouraged by the LTAG agreement at the ICAO Assembly. With both governments and industries focused on the same goal, the significance of LTAG cannot be overstated. But to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, government policy support in key areas of decarbonisation is critical. One such area is incentivising the production capacity of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF),” said Clifford.
SAF is expected to account for 65% of carbon mitigation in 2050. It will be the largest contributor to the industry’s sustainability. Airlines bought every drop of SAF available in 2021 and have committed to over $17 billion of forward purchasing agreements.
“The problem is the limited supply and high costs. I urge Asia-Pacific governments to look at stimulating SAF production,” said Clifford. Government incentives for SAF could see 30 billion litres of production capacity globally by 2030. Japan and Singapore have demonstrated an exemplary approach to SAF, actively involving the industry in the consultation process and in promoting domestic production of SAF.
Clifford also highlighted the need to address air traffic congestion on routes between Asia and Europe, which has been increasing due to airlines reinstating their networks, coupled with diversions to avoid airspace over Afghanistan, Russia and Ukraine.
“Over the Bay of Bengal, air navigation service providers in India and Malaysia have been working towards trials to reduce separation standards safely between aircraft to increase the airspace capacity. This is positive. We need the neighbouring states to cooperate, work with airlines, to implement procedures that make full use of the capabilities of modern aircraft,” said Clifford.
DELHI, 14 November 2022: Vistara, a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, announced at the weekend that nonstop flights would resume between Mumbai and Muscat, the capital of Oman, starting 12 December 2022.
The airline will operate daily flights between the two cities using its A320neo aircraft. It will be the only airline to offer the choice of premium economy class on the route, in addition to business and economy class. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and travel agents.
Vistara chief executive officer Vinod Kannan said: “We are excited to expand our presence in the Middle East by adding Muscat as the fourth city in the region. Given the strong bilateral ties and the thriving trade and investment relations between India and Oman, this new route will further aid the growing traffic between the two countries. The capital city of Muscat continues to attract many ex-pats, traders, business travellers, and high-end leisure travellers from India who will now have the choice of flying business class and premium economy.
Introductory all-inclusive, round-trip fares are as follows:
Sector
Economy
Premium Economy
Business
Mumbai – Muscat – Mumbai
INR 15,999
INR 21,999
INR 49,999
Muscat – Mumbai – Muscat
OMR 99
OMR 199
OMR 349
Schedule of flights to/from Muscat, Oman, effective 12 December 2022:
Sector
Flight No.
Days of Operation
Departure
Arrival
Mumbai – Muscat
UK 0233
Daily
20:00 Hrs
21:35 Hrs
Muscat – Mumbai
UK 0234
Daily
22:55 Hrs
3:10 Hrs (+1)
* All timings shown are in local time zones
*+1 indicates next-day arrival
Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor. The airline has recently been featured amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines while being recognised as the ‘Best Airline in India and Southern Asia’ for the second time in a row, ‘Best Airline Staff Service in India and Southern Asia’ for the fourth consecutive year, ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and Southern Asia’ for the second time in a row and ‘Best Business Class in India and Southern Asia’ at the coveted Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022.
BANGKOK, 14 November 2022: Thai Airways International will reconnect with Asia Pacific airlines for interline partnerships, capitalising on the opportunities to re-establish Bangkok as a hub feeding TG’s long-haul network.
The national airline is speeding up its rehabilitation phase, having resumed around half of its services compared to the Covid-19 pandemic era.
Providing an update during the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ 66th Assembly of Presidents meeting in Bangkok Thai Airways International chief commercial officer Korakot Chatasingha said: “When we look at opportunities in the Asia Pacific, we share AAPA’s estimation that Asia Pacific’s recovery is quite slow as the major player like China continues its Zero covid policy.
“Therefore, the growth forecast for the Asia Pacific through 2023 is still below the global average. But by 2025, Asia Pacific’s growth rate should overtake the global growth trend.”
Airports of Thailand (AOT) announced last week its projection claiming passenger traffic at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport should recover in 2024 and 2025, matching 2019’s pre-Covid performance.
“In 2019, passengers, including domestic and international, hit 65 million, and we’ll be back to the same level as 2019 by 2025,” Korakot added. “For domestic passengers, we’ve seen an upward trend that suggests we will fully recover in the domestic space in 2023.”
Korakot said that the airline has now resumed about 50% of its operations when compared with 2019. In October, the airline carried 18,000 passengers per day, with a load factor of 81% and should see passengers increase to 20,000 per day in November.
“Looking at the incoming traffic opportunities, THAI is ramping up its fleet management with a focus on flying the right aircraft for our routes that ensure we have the right demand size and timing to meet the pent-up demand in the post-Covid-19 period.”
Currently, THAI and its daughter airline Thai Smile Airways, serve 68 domestic and international destinations with 713 flights per week. THAI uses 44 wide-body aircraft, focusing operations on key markets in Europe, Asia and Australia. It operates to eight destinations in Europe with 63 flights per week, 44 destinations in Asia with 402 flights per week and two destinations in Australia with 21 flights per week.
Thai Smile Airways operates 20 narrow-body A320-200s, covering 10 domestic and 17 regional routes with flight times of one to three hours serving Mekong Region cities and secondary cities in India.
“Currently, we cover all regions except the USA and China that still imposes the Zero-Covid strategy. However, we are preparing for flights to China as we expect the country to reopen its borders in the second quarter of next year,” said Korawot.
“We are looking at resuming flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Canton. Meanwhile, we resumed flights to Sydney and Melbourne and increased double daily flights to Melbourne, giving us 21 flights per week to Australia. Also, we’re looking at adding more capacity in Japan and Korea to cover these potential markets.”
THAI will focus on long-haul flights to and from Bangkok while using Thai Smile to provide connecting flights to domestic destinations and cities in Southeast Asia.
BANGKOK, 14 November 2022: The reopening of borders and the recovery of air traffic supported by the strong tailwinds of pent-up demand for travel in the post-Covid-19 era are the drivers pushing air traffic recovery in the region, according to the Asia Pacific Airlines Association.
But AAPA warned that ramping up services to meet market demand may be slower than travellers’ expectations. AAPA noted the aviation industry is also buffeted by severe headwinds such as recruitment challenges, onerous regulations, supply chain disruption, and fuel supplies amid the backdrop of softening economic outlook.
Airline presidents gathering in Bangkok last week’s AAPA 66th Assembly of Presidents raised the issues calling for a coordinated approach from governments to ensure speedy recovery in the region’s aviation sector materialises in the coming months.
According to AAPA, from January to September, Asia Pacific airlines recorded a robust five-fold increase of 62 million international passengers compared to the same period in 2021. Consequently, with capacity expanding by 125% over the same period, the regional passenger load factor jumped by 40 percentage points to an average of 70%.
However, the recovery pace in the Asia Pacific region falls short of other areas, which are already seeing air traffic volumes close to 90% of the 2019 levels.
AAPA director general Subhas Menon said the critical factor slowing recovery in the Asia Pacific is China’s zero-Covid strategy that maintains border controls and travel restrictions.
“It bears repeating that the pandemic is not over. Many of us are still learning to live with it, but we can be hopeful that Asia Pacific air traffic volumes will recover to at least two-thirds of the 2019 levels by year-end. Full recovery may take another year, provided the global economic outlook doesn’t get any worse.”
He noted: “As much as the outlook for air travel looks bright, at least for now, there are signs that the global economic outlook may get bleaker and that the industry’s recovery coincides with a looming recession, will be a cause for concern.”
Overall, airline margins remain under pressure. Asia Pacific airlines still see operating margins at -16.4% in the first quarter of this year, but the figures show some improvement from -21.9% in the same period last year.
“Revenue side, yields are quite strong, but for the cost side, aviation faces strong headwinds. Costs are escalating, in particular, fuel costs. Plus, interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve boosting the dollar also affect the cost and diminish spending power.”
Menon said that the softening global economic outlook is happening in a tight job market, as employment rates are robust. Ironically, job vacancies in the aviation industry are at their highest.
“Manpower left the industry during the Covid-19. We need to get them back and train them. As air travel gradually recovers, airlines continue to invest in recruitment and training to address additional manpower needs.”
Limited capacity, growing expenses, and strong demand from a wide range of travel segments, including business, pleasure, and VFR (visiting friends and relatives), have increased ticket prices.
“Pricing reflects the inability of supply to catch up with the demand, but this will not continue forever. Sooner or later, the supply will catch up, and airlines will bring back their services. Fares will settle down.”
AAPA airline chiefs stressed the critical importance of governments adopting a more coordinated approach relating to Passenger Facilitation, Safety and Sustainability,
“AAPA carriers have shown great resilience in confronting the challenges brought about by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic whilst maintaining the highest safety standards,” according to Menon. “However, the lack of coordination of travel requirements across borders, and the burden of restrictive government regulations, hold back the sustainable recovery and growth of Asia’s carriers, as well as their ability to fully contribute to the social and economic development of the region.”
Passenger Facilitation
AAPA calls on governments and border control agencies to work together in adopting interoperable digital applications for air travel, according to ICAO guidance, to reduce unnecessary pre-departure congestion, delays and inconvenience to the travelling public.
AAPA also calls on governments to use existing passenger data exchange systems to provide integrated pre-travel verification responses to aircraft operators related to immigration, security and public health requirements while fully respecting passenger privacy rights.
AAPA airlines are concerned about unilateral regulations introduced by national/regional aviation regulators, failing to consider the international nature of airline operations, such as unresolved spectrum issues relating to aeronautical safety services. AAPA calls on governments, aviation regulators, safety agencies and other stakeholders to support the ICAO frequency spectrum strategy. AAPA also calls on governments to consult with aviation safety regulators, subject matter experts and airspace users to provide all necessary considerations and to establish regulatory measures to ensure that incumbent aviation systems and services are free from harmful interference.
Meanwhile, for Sustainability, AAPA member carriers are fully committed to achieving the ambitious industry target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. AAPA calls on governments to work with relevant stakeholders such as fuel suppliers to accelerate the fuel research, certification and development as well as processing technology and feedstock production, and the certification of new aircraft and engines to allow the scaling-up of SAF in sufficient quantities at a competitive cost to meet the long term needs of the industry. The Association also renews the call on governments to participate in the CORSIA scheme, to respect the scope and the integrity of CORSIA and refrain from applying duplicative requirements on international aviation CO2 emissions.
DUBAI, 11 November 2022: The Emirates Group announced Thursday its half-year results for its 2022-23 financial year, confirming a 2022-23 half-year net profit of AED 4.2 billion (USD1.2 billion).
It represents a record half-year performance and a turnaround of almost AED10 billion from its AED 5.7 billion (USD1.6 billion) loss for the same period last year.
The group also reported an EBITDA of AED 15.3 billion (USD4.2 billion), a marked improvement from AED 5.6 billion (USD1.5 billion) during the same period last year, illustrating its strong operating profitability.
Group revenue was AED 56.3 billion (USD15.3 billion) for the first six months of 2022-23, up 128% from AED 24.7 billion (USD6.7 billion) last year. This was driven by the strong demand for air transport across the world with the further easing and removal of pandemic-related travel restrictions.
The group closed the first half year of 2022-23 with a strong cash position of AED 32.6 billion (USD8.9 billion) on 30 September 2022, compared to AED 25.8 billion (USD7.0 billion), as on 31 March 2022. The group has tapped its strong cash reserves to support business needs, including debt payments and pandemic-related commitments.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group said: “The group’s record performance for the first six months of 2022-23 is the result of forward planning, agile business response, and the efforts of our talented and committed workforce.
“Across the group, the recovery of our operations accelerated as more countries eased and removed travel restrictions. We were ready and amongst the first movers to serve the strong customer demand thanks to our robust business plans, the support of our industry partners, and our ongoing investments in people, technology, and products and services.
“For the coming months, we remain focussed on restoring our operations to pre-pandemic levels and recruiting the right skills for our current and future requirements. We expect customer demand across our business divisions to remain strong in H2 2022-23. However, the horizon is not without headwinds. We are closely monitoring inflationary costs and other macro-challenges such as the strong US dollar and the fiscal policies of major markets.”
Sheikh Ahmed added: “The group expects to return to our track record of profitability at the close of our full financial year.”
In line with increased capacity and business activities, the Emirates Group’s employee base, compared to 31 March 2022, grew 10% to an overall count of 93,893 on 30 September 2022. Both Emirates and dnata have also embarked on targeted recruitment drives to support their future requirements.
Emirates airline
Emirates continued to focus on restoring its global passenger network and connections through its Dubai hub, restarting services and adding flights to meet customer demand across markets.
In June, it launched services to Tel Aviv, a new destination. Expanding connectivity options for customers, Emirates launched codeshare and interline agreements with 12 airlines in the first six months of 2022-23: Airlink, AEGEAN, ITA Airways, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Finnair, Royal Air Maroc, Sky Express, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines.
By 30 September, the airline operated passenger and cargo services to 140 airports, utilising its entire Boeing 777 fleet and 73 A380s.
During the first six months of 2022-23, Emirates took delivery of 2 new Boeing 777 freighters and returned 1 older freighter from its fleet as part of its long-standing strategy to minimise its emissions footprint and operate modern, efficient aircraft. With new passenger aircraft only expected to arrive in 2024, Emirates began its multi-billion dollar programme to retrofit 120 aircraft with its latest cabin interiors and products.
Emirates continued introducing new products and customer initiatives to deliver on its ‘fly better’ promise, including enhanced menus across all cabin classes and launching a new hospitality programme to uplift service training and delivery. In August, Emirates launched its full Premium Economy experience to hugely positive, “booked-out” customer response on its flights to London, Paris and Sydney. Emirates plans to introduce its Premium Economy product on 5 more routes before the end of 2022-23, as more aircraft fitted with these popular seats roll out of its retrofit programme.
Overall capacity during the first six months of the year increased by 40% to 22.8 billion Available Tonne Kilometres (ATKM) due to an expanded flight programme as more countries eased travel restrictions. Capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASKM) increased by 123%, whilst passenger traffic measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKM) was up by 265% with an average Passenger Seat Factor of 78.5%, compared with 47.9% during the same period last year.
Emirates carried 20 million passengers between 1 April and 30 September 2022, up 228% from last year’s period. Emirates Skycargo uplifted 936,000 tonnes in the first six months of the year, a 14% decrease compared to the same period last year, as the airline shifted capacity from its “mini-freighters” back to passenger operations.
Emirates’ profit for the first half of 2022-23 hit a new record of AED4.0 billion (USD1.1 billion), compared to last year’s loss of AED5.8 billion (USD1.6 billion). Despite an unfavourable currency exchange environment, Emirates revenue, including other operating income, of AED50.1 billion (USD13.7 billion) was up 131% compared with the AED21.7 billion (USD5.9 billion) recorded during the same period last year. The airline’s strong turnaround performance is driven by strong passenger demand for international travel across markets and shows its ability to plan to meet the demand, activate capacity, and attract customers with its high-quality products and value proposition.
Emirates’ operating costs increased by 73% against overall capacity growth of 40%, mainly due to the substantial increase in fuel costs which more than tripled compared to the same period last year. This was primarily due to a 65% higher fuel uplift in line with increased flight operations and the doubling of average oil prices during this period. Fuel, the largest component of the airline’s operating cost in pre-pandemic reporting cycles, accounted for 38% of operating costs, one of the highest ratios ever, compared to 20% in the first six months of last year.
Driven by strong demand and increased operations during the six months, Emirates’ EBITDA grew nearly three times to AED 14.7 billion (USD4 billion) compared to AED5 billion (USD1.4 billion) for the same period last year.
