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Capital A airlines lift load factor

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 July 2022: Capital A Berhad Consolidated Airlines continues to post significant performance improvement, with a notable load factor of 84%, akin to its pre-pandemic levels signalling that air travel revival is well underway.

Capital A Berhad (formerly known as AirAsia Group Berhad) announced its operating statistics for its aviation, digital and logistics businesses for the second quarter of the Financial Year 2022 (“2Q2022”) earlier this week.

Capital A’s Consolidated Airlines carried over 5.6 million passengers, a 633% increase year-on-year (“YoY”) and a 48% increase quarter-on-quarter (“QoQ”).

Consolidated Airlines flew more than 35,000 flights in the quarter, up 483% YoY compared to last year, supported by the growing domestic demand and the resumption of international travel in ASEAN countries.

Correspondingly, Available Seat Kilometres (“ASK”) rose by 456% YoY, and Revenue Passenger Kilometres (“RPK”) increased by 582% YoY. In 2Q2022, the total operating aircraft for AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Philippines were 45, 12 and 8, respectively.

AirAsia Malaysia posted a stronger load factor of 84% in 2Q2022, up by 20 percentage points (“ppts”) YoY and 10 ppts QoQ. Passengers carried, and capacity increased significantly by 1276% YoY and 955% YoY to 3.8 million and 4.6 million, respectively, with more operating aircraft added to support the huge demand surge for domestic and international flights. Load factor for international flights achieved 81% with 31 additional destinations reinstated, and the highest number of international passengers carried post-pandemic, attributed mainly from Malaysia-Singapore routes, followed by Malaysia-Indonesia and Malaysia-India routes.

AirAsia Indonesia recorded an encouraging load factor of 77% in 2Q2022, an increase of 10 ppts YoY. Domestic flights achieved a healthy load factor of 73%, while the load factor for international flights was stronger at 86%. Passengers carried and capacity improved by 132% YoY and 102% YoY, respectively, on the back of the resumption of international flights, with 29% of the total number of seats sold from international flights. The number of flights flown has increased by 102% YoY.

AirAsia Philippines posted the highest load factor among the Group’s airlines at 93%, which grew by 15 ppts YoY. In 2Q2022, the number of passengers carried increased by 480% YoY and capacity expanded 388% YoY. Flight frequencies were added on popular routes to meet strong demand, which increased ASKs by 309%, and the number of flights flown jumped 388% YoY. AirAsia Philippines resumed international routes to Kota Kinabalu, Seoul, Hong Kong and Guangzhou in June.

In 2Q2022, AirAsia Thailand carried over 1.7 million passengers, up 133% YoY with a load factor of 75%, rising 14 ppts compared to the prior corresponding period. The airline added flight frequencies and routes to meet rising demand, resulting in an 87% increase in flights flown, to a total of 12,326 flights with 25 operating aircraft during the quarter. More international flights were reinstated during the quarter, operating 19 routes to 8 countries by 2Q2022. As a result, the ASK and seating capacity significantly rose by 116% and 90%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the average sector length grew by 16%, mainly driven by flights from the South Asian market.

STB suspends Continental Travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 July 2022: Singapore Tourism Board (STB) suspended Continental Travel Singapore Pte. Ltd’s travel agent licence (TA02102) from conducting travel agent activities for five months commencing 19 July 2022, under the Travel Agents Act 1975.

Continental Travel Singapore’s Facebook page.

The suspension follows Continental Travel Singapore’s appeal against the Notice of Intent to suspend its travel agent licence (issued in October 2021) for its alleged involvement in fraudulent SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRV) redemptions.

Continental Travel Singapore allegedly engaged in cashback arrangements by partially refunding, in cash, the value of the SRV bookings made by some members of the public. The company’s sales office is located at People’s Park Complex.

STB takes a serious view of errant travel agents and will not hesitate to take necessary action to protect the reputation of Singapore’s travel industry, including referring cases to the Police.

On 27 September 2021, the Police arrested three persons linked to Continental Travel Singapore for their alleged involvement in a series of suspected fraudulent SRV redemptions. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.

(Source: STB)

TPB pitches for Rotary convention

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 26 July 2022: The Philippines seems to be on the right track as the country bids to host the Rotary International Convention (RIC) in Manila in 2028 after a successful campaign during the recent RIC in Houston, Texas held on June 4-8, 2022.

Manila was shortlisted with Krakow, Poland, as the final bid contenders to host the prestigious event that gathers people from all cultures to take action and make positive changes for communities worldwide.

The Philippines’ Tourism Promotions Board and its representatives, Arnold Gonzales and  Raquel Ruth Tria-Joya, (Acting Head and Sales and Accounts Management Division and acting head of the agency’s MICE Department), joined the Philippine delegation of around 300 Rotarians to showcase what the Philippines has to offer during the five-day event in Houston.

A traditional Philippine Breakfast, attended by more than 400 Rotarians from the Philippines and Asia, was organised, paving the way for the Philippines to announce its bid formally. The event also highlighted the support given by the TPB and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to bring the convention to the Philippines.

“The traditional Philippine breakfast provided friendly and fun interaction among the Rotarians. Foreign guests actively participated in Philippine traditional dances. Some even sang Philippine songs,” Gonzales recounted. But for the MICE head, innate Filipino hospitality also played a vital role. “The unique selling point of Philippine Rotarians is the legendary Filipino hospitality. Guests are looking forward to a fun convention experience as what our country brand promises to its visitors.”

The RIC 2028 Bidding Committee, composed of various Rotary clubs in the Philippines, is now preparing for the ocular inspection of the Rotary International Board in Manila on 13-15 September 2022. The winning bidder is scheduled to be announced upon completion of the ocular inspection in Manila and Krakow at either end of 2022 or early 2023.

Hosting a major MICE event is not new to the TPB team, but for Gonzales, it still boils down to the overall packaging of a country as a result of collective efforts that allow bids to be successful. “The unique attributes of a destination are the basis for competitive advantage,” he said. “Country brand strength, among other aspects, appears as an important foundation for a successful MICE destination, particularly in terms of political and economic stability as well as general attractiveness and capability as a tourism destination.”

For more information visit: https://www.tpb.gov.ph/

(Your Stories: TPB)

Asian nations have the strongest passports

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 26 July 2022: Passport holders with the greatest global access are currently the most restricted and reluctant to enjoy their travel freedom, according to the latest results from the Henley Passport Index.

Based on official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the research data shows Japan holds the number one spot for having the strongest passport based on the number of destinations citizens can access without a prior visa.

Japan scored 193 countries its citizens can visit without a pre-arranged visa, followed by Singapore and South Korea, which shared second place with an equal score of 192.

But despite the record-breaking worldwide access afforded to citizens of these three nations over the index’s 17-year history, international passenger demand in the Asia-Pacific region has only reached 17% of pre-Covid levels, according to IATA’s latest statistics, having hovered below 10% for most of the past two years.

This figure is far behind the global trend, where markets in Europe and North America have recovered to around 60% of pre-crisis travel mobility levels.

Commenting in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q3, Marie Owens Thomsen, Chief Economist at IATA, says passenger numbers should reach 83% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022: “By next year, many markets should see traffic reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels, while we expect this to be the case for the industry as a whole in 2024.”

EU member states dominate the remaining top 10 ten spots on the latest ranking, with Germany and Spain in joint-third place, with access to 190 destinations visa-free. Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg follow closely behind in joint-fourth place with 189 destinations, and Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden shared fifth place with their passport holders able to travel to 188 destinations worldwide without a visa.

Both the UK and US have dropped down a rank, to sixth and seventh place, respectively. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to access 27 destinations worldwide visa-free. The global mobility gap between the world’s most and least powerful passports now sits at an unprecedented 166 destinations.

Langkawi in T+L top islands list

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 26 July 2022: Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands off the coast of Kedah in Malaysia, was recently named one of the top island destinations in Southeast Asia according to Travel + Leisure.

Ranked number five in the list among the likes of Phuket, Samui and Bali, Langkawi is home to the only site in Southeast Asia that has been granted the highly coveted UNESCO Geopark status, thanks to its array of impressive rock formations surrounded by ancient jungle, vast caves with stalactites and stalagmites, sea caves and tunnels as well as wildlife.

As the pioneering agency in Langkawi’s tourism development, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) has been playing a major role in establishing Langkawi into the renowned world-class tourism the destination that it is today.

Throughout the years, LADA’s commitment has never wavered, hoping to position the island as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the world.

“It has been an honour, and we take great pride in having attained this award as one of the best islands in Southeast Asia. This award is a testament to our continuous efforts and dedication, especially throughout the pandemic when tourist arrivals to the island reached an all-time low. While faced with many challenges, we remained optimistic and took it upon ourselves to ensure that the island showed resilience in its journey towards recovery and remained top of mind,” said LADA chief executive officer Encik Nasaruddin Abdul Muttalib.

“As we progress further into the year and with more travel restrictions being loosened, we anticipate the arrival of more international travellers that could potentially revitalise the economy and spur the

 four principal components, namely Leisure (International & Domestic), Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and Tourism Events. Our action plan also ranges from promoting green, experiential, and responsible tourism to incentives such as duty-free shopping and creating Instagram-worthy spots to ensure that we can retain our position as one of the best islands in Southeast Asia”.                                

For more information on LADA, please visit https://www.lada.gov.my/en/

(Your Stories: LADA)

Vietjet green lights aircraft order

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TTR WEEKLY
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Beautiful View Of Halong Bay, Vietnam

SINGAPORE, 26 July 2022: Vietjet and Boeing have successfully agreed to reaffirm the previously announced order for 200 737 MAX aircraft during the 2022 Farnborough International AirShow that closed on 22 July.

Accordingly, both sides will execute a flexible aircraft delivery schedule to support Vietjet’s growth plans as traffic worldwide continues to recover. The first 50 aircraft will be delivered to Thai Vietjet, the affiliate company of Vietjet in Thailand.

As part of the agreement, Boeing is committed to supporting Vietjet with technical services, training, technology transfer, and research & development (R&D) to ensure lasting and sustainable growth with the highest efficiency, reliability and affordability levels.

Vietjet and Boeing earlier signed order deals totalling 200 B737 Max with maintenance and technical support package. The first order for 100 B737 Max was announced in 2016. In 2019, both parties increased the order to 200 aircraft, making the order a record for Boeing.

Vietjet managing director Dinh Viet Phuong said: “Today’s agreement is a milestone in the long-standing and trustful relation between Vietjet and Boeing as well as the Vietnam – U.S trade relation. Considering the recent aviation infrastructure constraints in Vietnam, the first 50 aircraft will be delivered to Thai Vietjet,  embedded with Vietjet’s signature livery. These Boeing aircraft will soon take off to Thai sky with investment from global finance resources.”

Nepal’s travel trade on a mission

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 26 July 2022: Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter is hosting a half-day Nepal Sales Mission 1 August for the travel trade in Bangkok.

The chapter teams up with partners Nepal Airlines, Thai Travel Agents Association, SS Group and JGI, to bring Nepal’s Covid-19 recovery message to Thailand’s outbound travel agents.

In the media statement announcing the event, the chapter said: “We firmly believe that Nepal Sales Mission 2022 in Bangkok (Thailand) will be a timely and productive initiative to support our post-pandemic tourism recovery; promoting the newly built Gautam Buddha International Airport and new avenues and opportunities for sustainable tourism between Thailand and Nepal.”

Date and venue

Date:  Monday, 1 August 2022;
Time:  1400-1630 (B2B Session) | 1700 onward formal function;
Venue: Rembrandt Hotel & Suites Bangkok, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, Sukhumvit Road.

Programme 

GHM opens Chedi Katara in November

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 26 July 2022: General Hotel Management Ltd confirms the scheduled opening of the Chedi Katara this November 2022, along the beachfront of the Katara Cultural Village district in Doha, Qatar.

The Chedi Katara will be GHM’s latest hotel opening and third property in the GCC region, adding to the group’s pipeline of seven projects.

The property’s launch is in conjunction with GHM’s 30th-anniversary celebrations in 2022, and it will join the group’s portfolio of luxury hotels comprising The Chedi Muscat, Oman, The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland and The Chedi Hotel and Residences Lustica Bay, Montenegro.

Sandwiched between desert and sea across a 66,000 sqm plot, The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort comprises 91 rooms, suites and villas, and five dining and entertainment venues.

The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort is the latest property opening for GHM, adding to the group’s strong pipeline of seven projects in destinations like Taiwan, India and Thailand. This includes The Chedi El Gouna, an upcoming beachfront resort slated to open in 2022 on the Red Sea in Egypt.

Scoot knows how to party

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 26 July 2022: Scoot celebrates its 10th Anniversary by hosting its largest flight ticket giveaway, 10,000 free tickets to anywhere across the airline’s network.

Dubbed the ‘This Is How We Party giveaway’, 10 lucky passengers on selected Scoot flights up to 31 August will each win a return trip or their next flight out on Scoot. 

The giveaway span July and August for lucky winners on selected outbound flights from Singapore. Passengers travelling on a Scoot flight up to 31 August could be one of the lucky winners, randomly selected by cabin crew onboard these ‘Scootitude’ flights through a lucky draw.

For short-haul flights (flight travel time not exceeding three hours), passengers will be given a scratch card for a chance to win tickets.

The ticket giveaway will also run on select regional radio stations and Scoot’s  Facebook and Instagram pages.  

A decade ago, Scoot began with just one aircraft in its flee serving Sydney. It now serves a network of 72 destinations1 across 16 countries and territories, spanning Southeast Asia, North Asia, India, Australia and Europe.

Jetstar is back flying to Japan

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 25 July 2022: Jetstar’s flights between Tokyo and Cairns are back after nearly two and a half years, with the airline preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from Japan into tropical north Queensland each week.

While restrictions remain for independent tourists from Australia to Japan, Japanese citizens can now travel freely between the two countries, driving strong demand for Jetstar’s relaunch of direct services to Cairns.

The airline is now operating up to five return flights per week between Cairns and Narita (Tokyo), bringing up to 1,600 people into Australia from Japan every week and providing an important boost to local tourism.

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans called the return of the Cairns – Tokyo flights another important milestone in rebuilding Jetstar’s international network.

“Australia has always been a popular destination for Japanese travellers, and we’re excited to reconnect the two countries, providing a significant tourism boost to the local Cairns community and Queensland more broadly,” Evans said.

“Jetstar is the first Australian carrier to relaunch flights between Australia and Japan, and we’re already seeing a lot of pent-up demand from Japanese travellers eager to visit Australia.

“Japan has also always been a popular destination for Australians, and we look forward to welcoming an announcement from the Japanese Government about easing international restrictions, which will allow two-way travel between the two countries.”

Jetstar will resume services between Cairns and Osaka (Kansai) on 26 July.

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