SINGAPORE, 19 December 2022: Ethiopian Airlines will resume direct services to Singapore from Adis Ababa on 25 March 2023 using a Boeing 787 for the four weekly flights.
Ethiopian Group CEO Mesfin Tasew confirmed last week the airline was resuming its Singapore service that was suspended in March 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic.
The flight will improve connectivity for passengers travelling from Southeast Asia to Africa through the Singapore hub.
Commenting on the news, Changi Airport Group managing director of Air Hub Development Lim Ching Kiat said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ethiopian Airlines to Changi Airport again. Ethiopian Airlines has been consistently voted as the Best Airline in Africa, and the network from its Addis Ababa hub is connected with more than 63 destinations on the African continent.
“This flight between Singapore and Ethiopia will offer more travel options for passengers from our region to visit Africa. For many Singaporeans, Ethiopia could also be an exciting new vacation destination as it boasts many attractions ranging from historical sites such as Axum to breathtaking natural geography such as the Simien Mountains and Blue Nile falls.”
Singapore’s Changi airport is one of the major global aviation hubs with the latest airport infrastructure and one of the best hub transfer services. Singapore is also one of the major financial hubs in the world.
ET638 will depart from Addis Ababa at 2320 and arrive in Singapore at 1450 plus one day. Flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
ET 639 will depart from Singapore at 0200 and arrive in Addis Ababa at 0550 (local time). Flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
DUBAI, 16 Dec 2022: Emirates promotes its line-up of bubbly saying it is currently the only commercial airline officially serving Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon onboard.
Global airline exclusive agreements are in place until 2024, meaning that Emirates is the only international airline offering a ‘taste of the stars’ to passengers, inviting them to experience the sparkling sensations of the world’s most outstanding champagnes – at 40,000 feet.
Despite the well-documented world shortage of champagne due to harsh weather and a reduced harvest in 2021, pandemic supply chain issues, and an explosion in demand for champagne globally, Emirates passengers remain well-served onboard with the finest selection of bubbles available, ready to toast the festive season, special occasions, and the hope and promise of a new year.
On Emirates, Dom Pérignon is served in First Class across all global routes, Veuve Clicquot is served in Business Class on routes to the Americas, UK, and Europe, and Moët & Chandon is served in Business Class on routes to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific including Australasia. Economy Class passengers can also purchase Moët & Chandon onboard.
Celebrating special moments in the sky, Emirates passengers have enjoyed Moët Hennessy Champagnes onboard for over 30 years. The ‘perfect serve’ is offered as each champagne is delicately presented by a highly trained cabin crew, at the perfect temperature, in a unique champagne glass, providing an unforgettable experience.
On Emirates, Dom Pérignon is served in First Class across all global routes, Veuve Clicquot is served in Business Class on routes to the Americas, UK, and Europe, and Moët & Chandon is served in Business Class on routes to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific including Australasia. Economy Class passengers can also purchase Moët & Chandon onboard.
There are many ways to enjoy champagne with Emirates, whether in your seat or at the onboard lounge of an A380. Economy passengers can also bring an extra sparkle to special occasions onboard by pre-booking a cake and champagne package. For USD43, the cabin crew will surprise a passenger onboard with a mini celebration – including a luscious vanilla cake or decadent chocolate cake paired with Moët & Chandon Brut 20cl.
Passengers can also enjoy champagne in Emirates Lounges in Dubai and across the globe before they board their flight. In Dubai, the Emirates Business Class Lounge in Concourse B even has a unique Moët & Chandon Champagne Lounge, where each iconic cuvée is matched with mouth-watering canapés created by Michelin-starred chefs. Passengers can learn more about the process of making champagne and the Emirates collection on the Emirates Wine Channel or speak to Emirates cabin crew, who are provided with food pairing and technical notes for each champagne.
Providing the highest level of luxury and quality is imperative to Emirates’ promise of ‘fly better.’ For the last 16 years, Emirates has invested more than USD1 billion into its wine programme. It buys exceptional wines and champagnes at the earliest opportunity to let some of the wines mature, allowing them to express their full potential before serving them on board.
Champagne Fun Facts from Emirates
1. Champagne comes from the north-eastern corner of France, the Champagne region, where winemaking dates back to the 17th century and vineyards span more than 84,000 acres across Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne and The Aube.
2. Emirates purchases more champagne than any other airline in the world.
3. Champagne gets its sparkle from being twice fermented in the bottle over prolonged periods of time via a labour-intensive practice often referred to as méthode traditionnelle or méthode Champenoise.
4. Emirates is the number 1 global partner in the world of Dom Pérignon and has a 30-year history of serving the iconic champagne onboard.
5. Contrary to popular belief, a champagne cork should not be ‘popped.’ If it pops, it could indicate that the champagne is too warm or too young. Instead, champagne corks should be gently released, eliciting a soft hiss.
6. Legend says that when Dom Pérignon first created his delicious bubbly champagne, he called out to his fellow monks, “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!”
7. The colour of the champagne gives clues to its age – younger champagnes tend to be pale yellow, while older ones have a straw hue. Younger champagnes are also much clearer, while more mature champagnes have less clarity. Older champagnes also have fewer bubbles, which move at a slower pace.
8. Emirates will often serve exclusive vintages and plenitudes onboard, offering First Class passengers an opportunity to taste exceptionally rare champagne. Business Class passengers will also get the chance to occasionally try a special vintage of Moët & Chandon or Veuve Clicquot, or perhaps a special rosé. Passengers can find out what is being served on their flight in advance by checking the Emirates website.
Download ‘Tasting Notes – Enjoy the world’s best Champagne onboard Emirates’ for more information.
BANGKOK, 16 December 2022: Centara Hotels & Resortshas confirmed the appointment of Rutjiret Ananphong as general manager of Centara Ubon.
The Thai national joined the Centara Ubon last August and led the pre-opening team. She will continue to direct all aspects of operations when the hotel officially opens next year as its general manager.
A respected member of the Centara Hotels & Resorts group, Rutjiret joined Centara Ubon from COSI Krabi Ao Nang Beach, where she was the GM. She successfully opened the property at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and managed to position the property as one of Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Best Reviews for Hotels in Krabi. She has previously held the roles of hotel manager at Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi and resort manager at Centra by Centara Coconut Beach Resort Samui.
Rutjiret brings over 20 years of experience to her latest assignment, which included stinks with Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Twinpalms Phuket, Iniala Beach House, and Buri Rasa Village Samui.
“Centara Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the appointment of Rutjiret Ananphong as general manager of Centara Ubon. With decades of hotel experience and a passion for hospitality, we are confident that she is the right candidate for this role and will continue to leverage her expertise to grow the hotel’s reputation and position as a leading destination in Southern Isaan”, said Centara Hotels & Resorts chief executive officer Thirayuth Chirathivat.
PHUKET, 16 December 2022: Celebrating 75 years of warm island hospitality, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has announced a comprehensive brand revitalisation in alignment with its bold mission to be “The Premier Beach Resort Company in the World”.
The new strategic direction incorporates a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art technology stack – notably, the all-new Outrigger.com website, which brings to life Outrigger’s premier beach resort product in a digital format. Developed in partnership with Rightpoint, the data-driven and dynamic website use the Optimizely platform to deliver a personalised, best-in-class user experience with rich, compelling content updated daily.
The launch of Outrigger.com comes on the heels of a very successful Cyber Sale, connecting guests to exceptional rates and re-introducing the Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty programme.
“Outrigger’s brand evolution was a project two years in the making,” said Outrigger Hospitality Group EVP and chief commercial officer Sean Dee. “Using qualitative and quantitative data, we leaned into our beach positioning and are now focused on delivering a cohesive brand experience across all platforms”.
In the last 18 months, five premier beach resorts have been added to the Outrigger portfolio: three in Thailand, one in the Maldives and one in Hawaii. The company has earmarked USD250 million to reinvest in its Hawaii assets, including the flagship Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, Waikiki Malia by Outrigger and Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel – which has more exciting enhancements on the horizon.
As part of the brand revitalisation, the name of Hawaii’s first and only craft hotel – Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger – has been changed to Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
“Moving the Outrigger brand to the front of our hotel’s name epitomises the confidence of our ownership and the maturing of our product – fulfilling the Outrigger standards of unforgettable happenings and unparalleled hospitality on the world’s most iconic beaches,” said Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel general manager Edwin Torres.
With its central location and steps to Waikiki Beach, Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel draws inspiration from local artisans who are integral to the craft property’s interior design and modern Waikiki vibe. The alliance of extraordinary collaborators named “The Beachcomber Originals” contribute to the hotel’s look, sound and taste to create a one-of-a-kind journey of the senses for its visitors.
OutriggerGuests will also start to see the new Outrigger icon throughout its properties, collateral and logo wear. Because watching the sunrise and sunset over the sea is an integral part of a beach vacation – the Outrigger “O” is akin to the warm island sun resting on an ocean wave.
Drawing hues from the sea, sand and sky, the brand’s new colour palette is fresh, bright and natural.
Elevated, authentic, iconic, lively, caring and playful, Outrigger invites guests to ‘Come Be Here’ at Outrigger Resorts & Hotels.
HONG KONG, 16 December 2022: Cathay Pacific gave the thumbs up to the Hong Kong SAR Government following the further easing of Covid-19 rules that should encourage Hong Kong’s travel recovery.
The airline underscored the importance of removing the Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass for inbound persons entering Hong Kong. The new rules came into effect on 14 December.
In its media statement, the airline said the adjustments would help boost travel confidence, especially among inbound visitors, and facilitate the resumption of travel activities, strengthening network connectivity at the Hong Kong aviation hub.
The Cathay Pacific Group, which includes Cathay Pacific and HK Express, has already added about 3,000 passenger flight sectors in the fourth quarter of this year. Cathay Pacific resumed flights to popular destinations such as Tokyo (Haneda), Denpasar (Bali) and Zurich in November, as well as Sapporo, Fukuoka, Penang and Dhaka in December. More popular destinations are set to be resumed in 2023, including Phuket and Nagoya in January.
Meanwhile, HK Express resumed flights to Tokyo (Haneda), Chiang Mai and Danang in December, with services to Jeju and Busan in the pipeline for January.
The group’s media statement reiterated a commitment to rebuild the connectivity of the Hong Kong international aviation hub.
“We are on track to achieve our target of operating up to one-third of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity levels by the end of 2022. We anticipate that we will be operating around 70% of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity by the end of 2023, to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024,” the statement concluded.
Latest changes to Covid-19 rules
The latest changes to Covid-19 entry rules see Hong Kong scrap the contact tracing app and movement restrictions for incoming travellers.
Local media confirmed that effective Wednesday, using the LeaveHomeSafe app to enter restaurants, gyms, and other venues is no longer mandatory. Curbs on visitors moving freely around Hong Kong also ended on Wednesday.
Visitors will not be given an amber code that was previously required by the health app. It barred visits to bars and restaurants for the first three days of their stay. However, bars and restaurants will still be required to scan a customer’s vaccination QR code on entry.
Visitors will still take a PCR test on arrival and again on the third day, but mobility restrictions have now been removed.
SINGAPORE, 16 December 2022: The annual ASEAN Tourism Forum and TRAVEX will be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 2 to 5 February 2023.
Billed as the region’s biggest and oldest B2B travel show, the ASEAN Tourism Forum is hosted alphabetically among the 10 ASEAN member countries.
For the travel industry, the two-day TRAVEX trade fare is the crucial component of the week-long rollout of government meetings leading off with the ASEAN Tourism Ministers summit. Closed-door meetings for ASEAN National Tourist Offices follow the summit. Airlines hold discussions on the sidelines, and hosted media programme brings in close to 100 journalists, bloggers and travel influencers. Around 1,000 delegates, travel buyers and sellers attend the event.
As part of the hosting agreement for the ATF, Yogyakarta’s provincial government funded the renovation of the Jogja Expo Centre, where the TRAVEX travel fair will be hosted. According to local media reports, the renovation will be completed by late December 2022.
Expectations are high, as voiced by the Yogyakarta Regional Tourism Promotion Agency, which sees ATF as a catalyst to revive Yogyakarta as a leading cultural and heritage destination in Southeast Asia. It is also the first major travel event to be hosted in Indonesia after almost three years of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
The annual event established in 1981 involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member states of ASEAN: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The 2022 ATF was hosted by Cambodia.
BANGKOK, 16 December 2022: Bangkok-based tour operator I Asia Thailand is exclusively partnering with Royal Orchid Holidays, the tour arm of Thai Airways International, to provide hospitality services and tour content through the airline’s overseas offices.
ROH and I Asia Thailand launched the new partnership on 14 December. The Bangkok-based tour company will supply hotel bookings, tour packages and activities, and ground transfers to ROH clients.
“Partnering with Royal Orchid Holidays and offering our products is a natural next step for I Asia Thailand,” said I Asia Thailand general manager Nick Critelli.
“We’ve already built a solid reputation and an array of offerings across Thailand. We now look forward to providing Royal Orchid Holidays with our products and services throughout Asia and then the world. I believe working with Royal Orchid Holidays, a strong brand under Thai Airways International, will strengthen our companies in the future.”
Part of Thai Airways International, Royal Orchid Holidays boasts a long history of industry-leading creativity, reliable service delivery and customised travel solutions, he said.
Commenting on the partnership, Royal Orchid Holidays team leader Panida Indrambarya added: “We’re pleased to now connect with I Asia Thailand and its existing products and services. On the launch day (14 December), we offered 1000 deals for hotels Pay Two get One night free for ROP members with added discounted attractions.”
HONG KONG, 16 December 2022: Cathay Pacific released its traffic figures for November 2022 on Wednesday, which reflect the first signs of recovery for the airline and the Hong Kong international aviation hub.
The airline carried 526,827 passengers last month, an increase of 652.1% compared with November 2021 but a 79.9% decrease compared with the pre-pandemic level in November 2019.
CX brings first class back
The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 565.5% year-on-year but were down 73.7% versus November 2019. The passenger load factor increased by 51.7 percentage points to 78.5%. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 127.2% year-on-year but decreased by 73.1% compared with November 2019 levels.
In the first 11 months of 2022, passengers carried increased by 220.5% against a 33.9% increase in capacity and a 211.9% increase in RPKs, compared with the same period for 2021.
Chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam said: “We continue to see positive signs for our travel business. Sentiment and demand for travel out of Hong Kong continued to improve in November. We also saw increased visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic into Hong Kong, particularly from long-haul origins such as North America, Europe and the South West Pacific. Transit traffic via the Hong Kong hub also improved as we grew our network of destinations.
“On average, we carried about 17,600 passengers daily in November, up from around 13,000 in October. Passenger flight capacity increased by about 16% versus the previous month. Overall, we operated 27% of pre-pandemic capacity levels in November.
“We continued to add more flights to more destinations last month, in particular to and from popular places in Japan as well as Southeast Asia, which saw huge demand from Hong Kong. As expected, Japan was our top destination regarding passenger numbers, while the load factor on these flights stayed at 86%. November also saw the resumption of passenger flights to Denpasar (Bali), Tokyo (Haneda) and Zurich.”
Outlook
Cathay Pacific welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s latest measures to facilitate travel to Hong Kong, particularly the decision to remove the Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass for inbound persons entering Hong Kong effective last Wednesday.
Lam said: “As we approach the festive Christmas and New Year holiday period, travel demand continues to improve. We are further increasing our passenger flight capacity and resuming more destinations, including Sapporo, Fukuoka, Penang and Dhaka in December and Phuket and Nagoya in January next year. We expect short-haul routes to leisure destinations such as Japan and Southeast Asia will remain strong, continuing into the Chinese New Year holiday peak as well.”
Premium First class service resumes on prime routes such as London Heathrow, specifically on the CX251/CX252 roundtrip flight. First class travel will also return to Paris (CX261/CX260) from 18 January 2023 and on the Tokyo (Haneda) route (CX548/CX549) from 1 February.
SINGAPORE, 15 December 2022: Emirates ensures passengers get the festive feel for the whole month of December, with magical moments sprinkled upon journeys from start to finish.
Wishing all passengers a Merry Christmas around the world, Emirates will have festivities and celebrations at check-in desks, across international lounges, and onboard – ensuring the 1.4 million passengers booked to travel this December are immersed in the merry mood.
Season’s greetings at Emirates lounges
It’s beginning to look like Christmas as a spread of delectable festive fare awaits passengers at Emirates Lounges everywhere. In Singapore, just for this festive season, passengers can enjoy traditional festive highlights of slow cooked oven roasted turkey breast, stuffing with sage, shallots and chestnuts complemented with breadcrumbs, and a selection of roasted root vegetables to fill up before their flights. There’s even Christmas log cake, a must-have for Christmas celebrations and a favourite for those with a sweet tooth!
Passengers transiting Dubai will enjoy festive treats at the Emirates Lounges in Dubai. Business Class Lounges will be serving warm and crumbly mince pies dashed with cream, traditional Stollen cake, soaked and spiced lady fingers with a Christmas dulce-whipped ganache, roasted chestnut and biscuit cake with a pop of lime and lemon sable. First Class Lounges will also have the flavoursome winter favourites – gingerbread profiteroles, dark chocolate salted caramel tarts and cinnamon baba au orange. Those dreaming of a white Christmas can enjoy gingerbread ice cream and Perrier’s winter white cosmo – festively flavoured water. For those who seek a warm and cosy feeling, savour the aromatic flavours of a cinnamon cortado, toffee nut oat latte, gingerbread mocha, or relax with a special festive tea brew by Dilmah- Charming magic or Christmas Holly Jolly. Around the globe, Emirates Lounges will be offering festive treats, too, with local favourites taking centre stage.
A December to remember
For the entire month of December, ’tis the season to be jolly onboard Emirates with festive meals and snacks in all cabins on select routes, with green and red Christmas lights aglow. First and Business Class passengers can indulge in all the classic Christmas dishes, from lemon and herb marinated king prawns with fennel salad and marie rose sauce, to cured salmon gravadlax with mustard crème fraiche to start, also enjoyed in Premium Economy Class. A full festive main course with all the trimmings will be available in all three classes– roasted turkey with cranberry compote, chestnut stuffing, pumpkin with honey and thyme, potato wedges and crunchy brussels sprouts peppered with turkey bacon. Desserts include a variety of delectable dishes – Christmas pudding with a generous dollop of crème anglaise, festive ginger cake smothered in dark chocolate ganache, or a vibrant redcurrant chocolate mousse cake in the shape of Santa. Economy Class passengers will also have a moreish Christmas meal featuring roasted turkey with chestnut roulade, pommes Parisienne, a medley of parsnip, carrots, and green peas, followed by a sumptuous gingerbread cake doused with cream cheese frosting and cinnamon sauce.
In the onboard A380 Lounge amidst festive florals, passengers departing Dubai can relax with some fragrantly spiced mulled wine, mince pies, panettone, gingerbread ice cream, and Christmas-themed pastries.
From 24 to 26 December, the Emirates cabin crew will be offering mini gifts of cinnamon cream profiteroles, chocolate truffles and gingerbread Christmas trees and snowmen to all passengers onboard.
The season of giving
Treat the ones you love to a gift from Dubai Duty-Free EmiratesRED onboard retail magazine, including exclusive jewellery, perfumes, and cult-favourite cosmetics on your next flight. The EmiratesRED.com pre-order service is also available on most flights, where passengers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight and browse a wide range of exclusive products – some of which are unavailable onboard. Passengers must provide their flight details during checkout, and the orders are delivered by cabin crew directly to the passenger’s seat.
Get the yuletide yays’ and gift some last minute décor, don a festive outfit, or grab a Christmas keepsake with Emirates Official Store, where the 2022 Christmas collection features exclusive Emirates branded Christmas baubles and decorations, mugs, stockings, Christmas jumpers, Babygro’s and matching couples pyjamas. Passengers can also use Skywards Miles to make purchases at the online store.
Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and give back with Emirates Airline Foundation, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children -with a simple donation onboard or from home. Passengers can donate in any currency on any flight using the envelope in the seat pocket or via credit card, cheque, or bank transfer. The foundation also accepts Skywards Miles in lieu of money, and 95% of donations go directly to assisting children living in extreme poverty and significantly impacting their well-being in the areas of food, health, housing, and education.
SAMUI Thailand, 15 December 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts invites guests to celebrate the holiday season amidst sophisticated tropical splendour at the first resort in Centara’s curated luxury collection of refined hotels, Centara Reserve Samui. It’s the most magical time of year, and Centara Reserve Samui has the recipe to make this a season to remember.
Embrace the festive spirit with exquisite gourmet feasts! Indulge in a special Christmas Eve dinner featuring the best of seasonal cuisine, wake up to a delightful brunch buffet on Christmas Day, and ring in the New Year with an extensive New Year’s Eve countdown buffet on the Resort Green Lawn, complete with magnificent views and unforgettable entertainment.
Celebrations continue after dinner with a Countdown Party at Salt Society that promises a spectacular extravaganza of live music, entertainment and festivities. At the same time, a delectable Special Beginnings Vitamin Sea Brunch will be ready to greet hungry holidaymakers on New Year’s Day. Treat your loved ones to the finest dining experiences this festive season.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town on 24 December
Christmas Family Night Out, enjoy soulful live music during dinner, create your memories with an exciting cinema feature and activities for the little ones and sip a cheerful Christmas welcome cocktail at Salt Society from 1200to 2230. Indulge in special festive dishes and drinks from 22 – 30 December 2022
At Act 5, dishes take centre stage as each masterpiece is presented with a theatrical flair for a romantic four-course Christmas dinner at THB3,500++ per person (food only) or THB 5,900++ per person, including wine pairing from 1800 to 2230.
Merry Christmas to All on 25 December
Salt Society will be serving some of the most exceptional gastronomy on the island – Christmas Vitamin SEA Brunch that feels the Christmas spirit with soulful live music and a DJ, including surprise gifts for children presented by Santa Claus from 1230 to 1600. Prices start from THB2,299++ per person.
New Year’s Extravaganza on 31 December
Ring in the New Year with a magnificent festive buffet at THB12,999++ per person at the Resort Green Lawn from 1900 to 2300. Delight in various exciting entertainment, including a Visual Poi display, a Neon and Laser Dance, Chalong Chai Thai Drum, live performances and win prizes with a surprise Lucky Draw.
Cheers to the New Year with high-octane entertainment, including a fire show, live performances, a DJ and fireworks from 2230 to 0200 at Salt Society. Partygoer Package at THB8,000++ for four persons, including one bottle of premium spirits.
New Year’s Day: Start of Something Great
Create a memorable impression on the first day of the year with a Special Beginnings Vitamin SEA Brunch and relax with soulful live music and a DJ at Salt Society from 1230 to 1600. Prices start from THB2,299++ per person, including carbonated drinks.
For more information and reservations, call +66 (0) 77 230 500, email: [email protected], or visit
