HONG KONG, 7 January 2022: Hong Kong’s newest airline,
Greater Bay Airlines, takes a step closer to flying following an agreement with
Amadeus to distribute fares and schedules online to travel agencies worldwide.
Planning to fly its first commercial services possibly by
the end of the first quarter of 2022, GBA applied for traffic rights to operate
to 104 destinations across Asia, including mainland China. It will launch
services with three leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft and says it will muster a
fleet of 30 aircraft by 2027.
GBA obtained its Air Operator’s Certificate on 8 October
2021, despite considerable objections from Cathay Pacific carrier suggesting
the market could not sustain another airline start-up.
Amadeus-connected travel sellers – including travel management companies, corporations, tour operators, retail travel agencies, online travel agencies, and metasearch – will be able to search, book and service reservations on Greater Bay Airlines once it starts flying.
Amadeus airline distribution sales, Asia Pacific regional
vice president Frederic Saunier said: “We are excited that Greater Bay Airlines
will be using Amadeus’ technology as it embarks on its new journey when it
begins flights end of this year.
HONG KONG, 7 January 2022: Airline passengers who have been
in Australia for more than two hours within 21 days before their arrival in
Hong Kong will not be allowed to board flights to Hong Kong starting from
midnight on 8 January the latest Australian government travel advisory warns.
Passengers arriving before 8 January will be subject to 21
days of compulsory quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel on arrival,
followed by seven days of self-monitoring. They will also need to take several
mandatory Covid-19 tests during their quarantine.
The travel advisory also warns that dual citizenship is no
longer recognised in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region following the
Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China.
HONG KONG, 7 January 2022: Marriott International has signed an agreement with Nanjing OCT Properties to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Nanjing.
W Nanjing is set to open in 2025, located along the southern
bank of the iconic Yangtze River.
The 257-room property will be part of the OCT Fundland
complex, a one-stop destination with office buildings, cultural centres as well
as luxury apartments situated on the bank of the Yangtze River.
Marriott International currently operates 10 hotels in Nanjing,
with several new projects in the pipeline spanning W Hotels, St. Regis, JW
Marriott and Marriott Hotels. W Nanjing is expected to mark the second W Hotels
in the Jiangsu Province.
BANGKOK, 7 January 2022: For decades, Thai Airways
International’s fleet breakdown resembled the festive season’s tin of assorted
biscuits; the aircraft types pleased everyone except those who had custody of
the balance sheet. THAI is about to change all that.
In a recent presentation to the media, the airline unveiled its ‘Discover Brand New Sky’ that promises to reduce aircraft types from an unwieldy nine to a manageable four if you include its daughter airline, Thai Smile. It’s been long overdue, and aviation experts will be watching to see if the airline can deliver on its promise and scale down its fleet.
THAI says it is now a priority to sell off 24 aircraft and
terminate lease agreements on another 16 as it speeds up its restructuring plan
that was approved by the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling last year. The plan calls
for the airline to serve its domestic and international network with 58
aircraft.
If successful, the airline will have just four aircraft types on its books — Boeing 777s (Total 18; four 777-200ERs, 14 777-300ERs), Airbus A350-900s (12 aircraft) and Boeing Dreamliners (Total eight; six 787-8 and two 787-9). Domestic services offered by Thai Smile will use exclusively A320s (20 aircraft).
It’s a massive ask to sell off 24 aircraft a mix of A300s,
A330s, A340s Boeing 777s, Boeing 737s and 10 ageing 747-400s, especially when
the list includes two A380-800s. On top of that, the airline has to terminate
lease agreements on another 12 A330-300s and four A380s.
The airline’s worldwide network has shrunk in response to two years of Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions. We can expect the national airline to increase frequencies to tourist generating markets worldwide. However, the airline will be hard-pressed to restore its pre-Covid-19 network during 2022 or even 2023.
In Europe, it was serving just four destinations (27 weekly flights) in the final quarter of 2021, and that will increase to nine destinations and 32 flights weekly during the first quarter of 2022. Initially, the airline will focus on reopening travel from the UK and Germany to Thailand during the first quarter of 2022
In Asia, the first quarter of 2022 will see destinations
served increase from nine to 19 raising weekly flights within the region from
38 to 100 flights weekly.
Australia will be served in the first quarter with daily
flights to Sydney up from four weekly in the last quarter of 2021. The sales
emphasis remains to support the Phuket Sandbox scheme with flights to Phuket
direct from Sydney.
Thai Smile will increase domestic flights from 106 flights
weekly to 13 destinations to 280 per week to 14 destinations.
The airline intends to revisit commercial relations with travel agencies and tour operators worldwide neglected in recent years when it concentrated on direct online channels.
In the 2022 Discover Brand New Sky presentation, the airline says it will unbundle economy fares and charge additional fees for baggage, seat selection, upgrades and other inflight options.
On sales distribution, the airline asserts the need to
“balance and leverage direct online and travel agency channels” and introduce
“performance-based incentive sales support.”
What travellers can expect
Fare deals relevant to all destinations knock 15% off standard fares for bookings made directly on the airline’s website using Mastercard. The booking period opens from 19 to 25 January for travel from 15 January to 30 October 2022.
If you are flying business class, you will be treated to an individually brewed cup of Black Silk Blend coffee at the close of meal service. The coffee brand is specially selected and roasted at an organic plantation on Doi Tung mountain in far north Chiang Rai, exclusive to THAI flights.
And it might not be too long before THAI can ramp up its
inflight service once the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand eases inflight
rules for airlines.
We asked the airline’s chairman and recovery plan
administrator, Piyasvasti Amranand, the timeline for the full resumption of
inflight service?
He responded: “CAAT’s rules and regulations do not
allow us to offer full service like before Covid yet. We have to follow CAAT
guidelines. But we are hoping to resume full-service during in the first
quarter of 2022.”
In the meantime, travellers can book their inflight meal choice online until the luxury of printed menus are back in seat pockets, and passengers can enjoy a last-minute change of heart switching their main course choice as the trolley approaches.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 6 January 2022: Bars, dance clubs, karaoke and massage parlours will reopen in Vietnam’s commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City, starting 10 January, according to a Municipal People’s Committee decision confirmed by the country’s news portal.
Strict rules will apply to ensure safety as Omicron variant
infections increase. All employees working at bars, dance clubs and karaoke
parlours must either be fully vaccinated or have proof they have fully
recovered from Covid-19 for at least 14 days.
Customers must also show they have been fully vaccinated,
recovered, or have proof of a negative Covid-19 test result issued within 72
hours before visiting entertainment spots.
Karaoke and massage parlours, bars, and nightclubs in the
southern city have been closed since 30 April 2021.
HCMC has been the hardest-hit locality in Vietnam since the
fourth virus wave began on 27 April 2021 with nearly 505,000 infections.
Meanwhile, Vietnam agreed on 30 December to resume scheduled international flights starting this month to the US, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, and Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Transport. The five nations recognise Vietnam’s vaccine passport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam approved flight
details for Vietnam Airlines to resume commercial flights to Japan on 5
January 2022. Vietjet Air and Japan’s
All Nippon Airways resume flights today, 6 January.
Effective 1 January 2022, Vietnam authorised flights to nine
destinations that have high vaccination rates and credible pandemic control
measures. The authorisation identified Bangkok (Thailand), Beijing/Guangzhou
(China), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), San Francisco or Los Angeles (the US), Seoul
(the Republic of Korea), Singapore, Taiwan (China), Tokyo (Japan), and
Vientiane (Laos).
SINGAPORE 6 January 2022: As the highly contagious Omicron variant emerges as a significant threat disrupting travel confidence in Asia, International SOS warns us to be careful and consider the risks involved when travelling.
International SOS’ Jamon Ngoencharee comments: “It is vital
that employers continue to share up-to-date advice to help their employees
travel safely. Don’t overlook the simple measures that decrease Covid-19 risk –
masks, social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding crowds – don’t drop your
guard.”
Top tips for safe travel
Get vaccinated against Covid-19. As soon as you are eligible, get your booster when offered. An annual flu jab will help protect you from circulating influenza viruses. Don’t forget to wear masks wherever required, avoid large crowds if you can, social distance whenever possible and keep washing your hands.
Maintain flexible itineraries. It’s a good practice to keep departure and return times/routes as flexible as possible. Contingency plans are more important than ever, as travel restrictions may be imposed at short notice, or you may need to self-isolate.
Stay on top of the latest travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant surge in Asia and the related changes in travel rules. It is important to check which specific restrictions may impact you, particularly as this can vary based on vaccination status and nationality. Understand if pre- or post-departure Covid-19 tests are necessary, if there are any self-isolation or mask requirements or whether you have to download a digital health pass to verify your vaccination status.
Timing is everything. Build-in additional travel time to reach your destination due to additional and changing travel requirements and procedures. For international travel, there might be new forms to complete or extra health checks. It is also likely that transit hubs and roads will be more congested due to the increased volume in travel during the festive season.
Be Crowd Safe. When we travel, we can frequently encounter queues and crowds. This is often the case as passengers have to go through additional Covid-19 checks. Once at your destination, you may also experience large crowds at festive events like markets or religious services. It is important to be crowd safe: stay vigilant, keep valuables secure or out of sight, also identify your closest points of exit and abide by local directives if an incident does occur.
Eat, drink and be informed. With numerous restrictions still in place, the key to travelling successfully is to keep informed of the most up-to-date information and any emerging developments. This is particularly important for international travel, as restrictions still vary significantly from country to country and can be imposed with little notice.
LANGKAWI, 6 January 2022: Home to three geoforest parks and
some of the oldest rock formations in Southeast Asia – from Machincang Cambrian
Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest
Park – Langkawi is a dream destination for those who love to lose themselves in
nature.
Whether you are looking forward to enjoying a stroll in the
sunshine at Pantai Cenang (Cenang Beach), escaping to Telaga Tujuh Waterfall or
appreciating the beautiful sightseeing of mangrove nature, there is plenty to
get excited about!
Dangli Island is one of the best snorkelling spots in Langkawi.
Did you know Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the
Andaman Sea and is the first recognized UNESCO Global Geopark in Southeast Asia
since 2007? The island’s karst landscape was shaped by the erosion and
formation of rocks since 550 million years ago.
Meanwhile, the island’s high biodiversity consists of limestone
forests, sandstone forests, granite forests and mangroves. Machincang Cambrian
Geoforest Park, which has the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia, is the
only geoforest made from sandstone in the world!
The formation of Machincang peak geosite, for example, is
derived from the uplifting of the ocean floors, forming sandstone deposition
followed by prolonged weathering and erosion processes by rainwater.
Thanks to the SkyCab by Panorama Langkawi, 360 degrees of
Langkawi’s breathtaking viewpoint at the peak of the Machinchang Range is now
accessible via this world’s steepest cable car.
There are myriads of places to explore in Langkawi, but here
are some recommended destinations and activities for a perfect getaway on the
island.
Pulau Tuba (Tuba Island)
A herd of buffaloes roaming freely on the paddy field at Pulau Tuba.
Leave the skyscrapers and crowded cities behind and head out to
this lesser-known inhabited island, located about 5 kilometres off the south
coast of Langkawi’s main island.
The best way to explore this idyllic fishing village is by
renting a bike or a van, and it is accessible by boat from Pekan Rabu Jetty.
For a leisurely and laid-back experience, you can enjoy paddy field scenery
with buffaloes roaming the roads or discover colourful village houses at Desa
Keda Teluk Berembang.
Alternatively, you may opt for hiking at Bukit Licin, exploring
Gua Wang Buluh and Gua Kelawar, trekking Bukit Kecik for its geological wonders
or enjoying prawn noodles at Tanjung Pandan.
The formation of striped stones found in Bukit Kecik was due to
high-pressure phenomena about thousand years ago.
Dayang Bunting Island
Jet Ski Safari
Cruising around Dayang Bunting Island by jet ski.
For a fantastic experience, try Dayang Bunting Island Jet Ski
Safari conducted by Mega Watersports based in Pantai Cenang. Embark on four
hours adventure zipping on the Andaman Sea, complete with a professional guide
and enjoy several stops at eight islands, including Dayang Bunting, Beras
Basah, Singa Besar, Rebak Besar as well as The Fjords of Langkawi.
Feel the rush of adrenaline as you accelerate and increase the
speed once you turn on the jet ski ignition switch. A good rule of thumb to
avoid capsizing is to keep the load balanced and centred. Believe me, you will
not fall off even though you are a beginner!
The longest free span and curved bridge in the world in Langkawi.
The Langkawi Cable Car
Hopping on Langkawi’s cable car will bring you an elevated
experience at 708 metres above sea level. Located on the west coast of the
island, this SkyCab journey by Panorama Langkawi covers a total distance of 2.2
kilometres linking the Base Station at the foot of Machinchang Range to the top
station at the summit.
Besides that, visitors can go on a spine-chilling walk on the
125-metre Sky Bridge, the longest free span and curved bridge in the world.
Other activities in Panorama Langkawi include visiting SkyRex,
Oriental Village, 6D Cinemotion and 3D Art Langkawi.
Dining at Kerisik Restaurant, Laman Padi.
Kuah Town Tour & Laman Padi
Spend a day in Kuah Town, a former fishing village in Langkawi,
now becoming a favourite tourist destination for shopping under the duty-free
island. Some of the must-buy items among the local tourists include chocolates,
kitchenware, and perfumes. There are also other tourist attractions such as
iconic Dataran Lang, National Art Gallery Langkawi and Maha Tower.
Experience dining in a little wooden hut overlooking paddy
fields at Kerisik Restaurant, Laman Padi, near Pantai Cenang, with several
choices of Malay traditional cuisines, including Nasi Set Tuba, Nasi Set Padang
Lalang, Nasi Set Sunda and Nasi Set Kedawang. The view is certainly stunning at
night. Another nearby attraction is Underwater World Langkawi.
Kubang Badak BioGeoTrail
This island’s newest eco-tourism destination has bagged the
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2021 under Heritage
Category. Kubang Badak BioGeoTrail consists of 12 sites to explore by boat,
starting at Kubang Badak Jetty.
Located on the northwest coast of the island, Kubang Badak
BioGeo Trail is generously endowed with high geological diversity, pristine
mangrove forests and a history of an early settlement of the Thai community
with the discovery of 100-year-old igloo-like charcoal kiln remnants used for
fuel production dating back to the 18th century.
In short, visitors can admire three different types of rock
formations with sandstone Machincang Range in the west, granite rocks of Bukit
Sawar in the south, and landscape of karst hills of steep slopes as well as
rough peaks of limestone in the east.
Gua Pinang is a remnant of an ancient sea cave formed by waves when the sea level was about 15 metres higher than the current level, about 6,000 years ago.
BANGKOK, 6 January 2022: IHG Hotels and Resorts will open
the first Vignette Collection hotel in Asia this March following a management
agreement with Sindhorn Midtown Bangkok.
The latest management agreement follows the opening of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok in 2020 that launched IHG’s global boutique brand in Southeast Asia. It is the second IHG lifestyle branding involving a Siam Sindhorn property. Both hotels are situated in Sindhorn Village, a development project that spans 42 rai located on a real estate plot between Bangkok’s Langsuan Road and Soi Tonson. The 393-room Sindhorn Midtown opened in March 2020.
IHG vice president development, SEAK, Serena Lim commented:
“We welcome Sindhorn Midtown as our first Vignette Collection hotel in
Asia…We developed a strong working relationship with the team at Siam Sindhorn,
working closely together on Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, which became the talk of
the town when it launched in the middle of the pandemic.
IHG will open its second Vignette Collection hotel in
Pattaya, and in the long run, Thailand could muster as many as 100 Vignette
Collection hotels globally over the next 10 years.
Thailand continues to be a strong growth market for IHG,
with 29 hotels across eight brands in the country and another 34 properties in
the pipeline.
Vignette Collection recently became the sixth addition to
IHG’s brand portfolio in the past four years, taking it to 17 in total across
nearly 6,000 hotels in more than 100 countries. IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first
collection brand is part of the Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio of brands,
along with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts,
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and
Hotel Indigo.
HONG KONG, 6 January 2022: Despite the
suspension of Singapore’s travel lanes, HK Express will start a new direct
service between Hong Kong and Singapore, 1 February 2022.
The airline’s CEO Mandy Ng confirmed HK
Express remains committed to supporting Hong Kong’s role as one of the world’s
leading international aviation hubs. The airline continuously strives to
enhance connectivity across the region while making travel more accessible for
the Hong Kong community.
Travellers who are planning to visit
Singapore must comply with local entry requirements, which may include pre-and
post-travel testing, quarantine and declaration forms.
As part of its ongoing commitment to
protect the health of customers, HK Express has implemented several layers of
precautions, including HEPA filters onboard, enhanced cabin sanitisation measures
and adjusted meal services.
HK Express customers are recommended to use
online check-in and e-boarding services to facilitate a smooth and safe
journey. Face coverings must be worn in the airport, onboard and during
disembarkation while maintaining social distancing.
MANILA, 6 January 2022: AirAsia Philippines expanded its
domestic market share to19% in 2021, climbing 3.5 notches up from its 15.5%
share in 2019.
The low-cost airline has also peaked at 95% load factor over
the course of the recent holiday period while ending December at 88% – both
record-high figures over the past 1.5 years.
In December, AirAsia Philippines ranked third most popular
airline in terms of flight bookings among AirAsia territories, following
Malaysia and Thailand.
The past year came with its own set of challenges – from new
Covid-19 variants to stricter travel restrictions. However, the airline showed
resilience throughout the year through strategic mitigation strategies that
included new revenue streams, budget management and diversification of
offerings. The airline mounted 619 charter repatriation flights and reunited
50,000 people with their families and loved ones. This has helped defray upkeep
costs to ensure the viability of the company.
AirAsia also observed that domestic travel is gaining
stronger momentum during the last quarter of 2021, primarily because of the low
positive infection rate and daily case count. In the first half of the year,
the majority of airline bookings were done within three days, mainly for
essential travel. But recently, the airline has witnessed a significant
increase in bookings for travel 1 to 3 months in advance – a
telltale sign of growth in leisure travel and more substantial consumer
confidence. AirAsia Philippines also recorded a 15 to 20% increase in bookings for near-term travel
within 30 to 60 days over recent times.
AirAsia has also resumed its flight operations to Hong
Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, servicing Overseas Filipino Workers and business travellers in these
countries.
A Look at 2022
There is strong pent-up demand for travel, and Filipinos are
ready to get back in the air. And compared to the previous two years, all
stakeholders – airlines, government units and customers – are now much more
conscious of the critical strategies and measures needed to properly approach
travelling amid the pandemic. The country is now better equipped to face new
variants and potential surges.
AirAsia is also closely monitoring the impact of the
Covid-19 Omicron variant and has adopted three specific priorities.
They focus on: Cash availability and management to support recovery strategies; Sustainable cost management and rationalisation to operate commercial flights and staff-related costs, marketing and other operating costs; Expansion of the domestic network from 14 destinations (2021) to 18 (2022) and to grow regional routes by exploring opportunities in the Middle East, United States and Australia.
