Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Home Blog Page 30

Norse will wing winter runaways to Bangkok

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 28 February 2025: Norse Atlantic Airways will introduce a new direct route between London Gatwick and Bangkok, starting with the winter timetable 2025, effective 26 October.

The new service from London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok (BKK) will launch on Sunday, 26 October 2025. Flights will operate up to four times weekly, with return fares starting from UKP295, including taxes.

Weekly flights between Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) and Bangkok (BKK) will increase from two to four starting Friday, 5 December 2025. One-way fares, including taxes, will start from SEK3,546.

Flights between Oslo (OSL) and Bangkok (BKK) will increase from three to four times weekly beginning Wednesday, 3 December 2025, with one-way fares from NOK2,578, including taxes.

London Gatwick is Norse Atlantic’s UK home and a strategic hub for the airline. The airline currently has daily flights to key destinations across the Atlantic and to South Africa. Asia will join the network once the winter timetable kicks in, starting with Bangkok. The airline will fly to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). 

Bangkok has been a favoured destination among Norse Atlantic passengers from Oslo, Norway, since 2023. The new direct connectivity out of London Gatwikc, UK, and Stockholm, Sweden, during the winter months of November 2025 to March 2026, is part of the airline’s expanded winter schedule.

“We’re excited to launch direct flights between London Gatwick and Bangkok, a top choice among our travellers. This addition strengthens our existing network between Asia and builds on our routes from London Gatwick to destinations across the Atlantic and South Africa. 

For us, it’s all about offering more travel options at great prices without compromising on comfort and service for those looking to enjoy a beautiful and warm winter sunshine destination,” said Norse Atlantic Airways Chief Executive Officer and Founder Bjørn Tore Larsen

About Norse Atlantic Airways 
Founded by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen in March 2021, Norse Atlantic operates a modern fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These aircraft seat 338 passengers and offer premium economy and economy classes. They serve a growing network of destinations across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.]
Passengers can fly with Norse Atlantic to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Bangkok, Cape Town, Oslo, Athens, London, Berlin, Rome, and Paris.

NATAS Fair partners with Etiga Insurance

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 27 February 2025: Etiqa Insurance Singapore returns as the Official Travel Insurer for the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) Travel Fair 2025. 

Themed ‘Travel, Explore, Live It!’, Singapore’s largest consumer travel fair, will be held at the Singapore Expo from 28 February to 2 March 2025.

Etiqa will provide insurance coverage to patrons, including discounts of up to 35% off Etiqa’s Travel Infinite* insurance plan to ensure comprehensive travel protection for all Singaporean travellers. 

Travellers can choose the cover that best suits their needs, ensuring they have the proper protection for their trip.

“At Etiqa Insurance Singapore, our mission is to protect what matters most; our customers. We are excited to continue our partnership with NATAS and help more travellers explore the world with confidence,” said  Etiqa Insurance Singapore CEO Raymond Ong,

Etiqa will also offer one lucky visitor a chance to win SGD3,000 worth of travel vouchers with any policy purchase at the fair. In addition, all participating customers who purchase Etiqa’s travel insurance products at the fair will receive a complimentary gift, subject to a minimum premium of SGD50.

Emirates and Garuda Indonesia scale-up benefits

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

DUBAI UAE, 27 February 2025: Emirates and Garuda Indonesia have unlocked new opportunities for frequent flyer members with the launch of a joint loyalty programme offering this week. 

Emirates Skywards and GarudaMiles members can now earn and redeem Miles while travelling across a combined network of more than 200 destinations.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Aviation Festival Asia 2025 by Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, and Rahmaniar, Miles & Ancillary Group Head Garuda Indonesia.

The two carriers launched a codeshare agreement in 2022 and have since expanded their partnership to offer loyalty programme members more destinations, more ‘Miles’, and more rewards.

Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said: “At Emirates Skywards, we’re always exploring new ways to offer more choice, value, and opportunities for our members. Our exciting new partnership with Garuda Indonesia will significantly benefit both Skywards and GarudaMiles members.

This strategic collaboration aligns with Skywards’ vision of creating a truly global loyalty experience for our members worldwide. It will open new doors for frequent flyers to earn and redeem miles across our combined networks while also expanding our renowned loyalty offering in Southeast Asia. We look forward to growing this partnership and delivering even greater value to our members.”

Garuda Indonesia President & CEO Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan explained: “We are thrilled to present this enhanced value partnership for both Garuda Indonesia and Emirates loyal passengers. With this new joint loyalty programme, Garuda Indonesia represents its commitment to always delivering exciting offers to our GarudaMiles members while adding more benefits for Skywards members.”

‘Earn better’ and ‘Spend better’

Emirates Skywards is renowned for its extensive brand partnership portfolio. The loyalty programme’s new partnership with Garuda Indonesia means Skywards members can now unlock exclusive benefits while travelling in the following five ways.

Explore and earn: Earn and redeem Miles while travelling with Garuda Indonesia to 37 destinations in the archipelago and to more than 15 destinations worldwide.

Pile on the Miles: Earn up to 1 Skywards Mile per mile flown in economy class; 1.25 Skywards Miles in business class, and two Skywards Miles in First Class.

More ways to redeem: Redeem Miles for travel on Garuda Indonesia flights in Economy Class and Business Class, with redemptions starting at 8,000 Miles.

Rewards flow both ways: The partnership will also enable GarudaMiles members to ‘make every Mile count’ and ‘unlock rewards faster.’ GarudaMiles Members can earn and spend Miles across Emirates’ global network, including flight rewards on Emirates Economy and Business Class cabins. 

Seamless connectivity:  Emirates currently operates double daily flights to Jakarta and Bali with its iconic Emirates A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft – connecting Indonesian customers to more than 140 destinations across six continents. The airline’s codeshare agreement with Garuda Indonesia offers customers seamless connectivity across the Americas, Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Award-winning loyalty programme

Emirates Skywards has more than 34 million members worldwide. The loyalty programme offers four tiers of membership: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with each tier earning exclusive privileges. Members can also earn Miles with many partners across hotels, car rentals, retail, lifestyle and more worldwide.

Miles can be redeemed for an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on partner airlines, flight upgrades, gift cards, hotel stays, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, tours, and money-can’t-buy experiences.

For more information on flights and to make a booking visit: www.emirates.com. 

Qatar Airways speeds up ‘Starlink’ rollout

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

DOHA, 27 February 2025: Qatar Airways has achieved a new milestone by installing Starlink on its 30th aircraft and successfully equipping over 50% of its Boeing 777 fleet ahead of schedule. 

The achievement comes four months after the airline launched the world’s first Boeing 777 Starlink-enabled flight and two months after surpassing its initial 2024 target of 12 installations by upgrading 15 aircraft with Starlink connectivity.

Qatar Airways has significantly accelerated its Starlink rollout, cutting installation time per aircraft from three or two days to just 9.5 hours, reducing the retrofit by nearly three-quarters of the initial timeline. The airline has ensured a seamless process without impacting operations or flight schedules by carefully timing the installations to fit within a 12-hour overnight timeframe.

The installation was initially planned to be completed in two years. However, the airline has optimised its process and will complete the entire Boeing 777 fleet rollout in the second quarter of 2025. 

Sheraton flag unfurls over new-build Phuket resort

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

BANGKOK, 27 February 2025: Marriott International recently signed an agreement with property developer Jee Teng Hospitality to open Sheraton Nai Harn Beach. The new-build resort will mark the debut of the iconic Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand in Phuket. 

Designs indicate the resort will feature 600 rooms. Located on a 4.3-hectare beachfront site along Nai Harn Bay, most of the resort’s 600 rooms, suites and villas will offer uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea. 

Artist impression: Sheraton Nai Harn Beach.

Plans include two swimming pools, a large fitness centre and spa, six treatment rooms, and a Kid’s Club. The property will also feature 763 sqm of function space to host events such as weddings.  

Nai Harn district is known for restaurants, boutique shops, a lively beachside night market, and the spectacular sunset and sunrise vistas of Promthep Cape, Phuket’s southernmost point, a 3km drive from the property. 

Sheraton Nai Harn Beach will become the fifth Sheraton-branded property in Thailand, complementing existing locations in Bangkok, Koh Samui, Hua Hin, and Pranburi. The current status regarding an opening date is “in the pipeline.” However, a Sheraton executive reckons it should be ready to accept guest bookings in 2029.

TransNusa starts Guangzhou flights

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

JAKARTA, 27 February: TransNusa confirms it will become the first Indonesian airline to launch scheduled flights from Bali, Indonesia, to Guangzhou, China, starting 13 April.

The flights from Guangzhou to Bali will connect with a recently launched service departing Bali for Perth in Western Australia.

TransNusa Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Bernard Francis said: “We are always looking at developing new routes to benefit our passengers. While traditional routes such as Bali to Perth and Bali to Guangzhou are important, we also strive to go the extra mile to provide fast and seamless connectivity to our passengers.

“With the launch of our new Bali-Guangzhou route, passengers can now enjoy one of the fastest scheduled connecting flights to either Guangzhou or Perth via the airline’s hub in Bali, with a transit duration of either one hour and 30 minutes or two hours and 35 minutes, depending on the day and time of the scheduled flights.

“From 13 April to 31 May, there will be three connecting flights from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Perth International Airport, Australia, while from Perth, there will be two connecting flights weekly via Bali to Guangzhou,” Datuk Francis said, noting that connecting flight from Guangzhou will be every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday while the connecting flight from Perth to Guangzhou via Bali will be on Monday and Saturday.

The CEO elaborated that the airline will fly daily from Perth and Guangzhou to Bali from June onwards. Passengers can also enjoy daily connecting flights. The Guangzhou to Perth flight ticket price will start as low as CNY1899, USD259 and AUD399.

TransNusa kicked off 2025 by announcing the launch of its Bali-Perth route in January, with tickets priced as low as IDR1.799.000, AUD169, CNY782, and USD163.

At the initial stage, from 13 April to 31 May, TransNusa will operate four flights a week from Denpasar International Airport. The TransNusa 8B969 flight will depart Bali at 2015 and arrive at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 0100.

TransNusa flight 8B968, will depart Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 0205 and arrive in Bali at 0740. The TransNusa flight 8B969 will depart Bali to Guangzhou every Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, while flights will depart Guangzhou on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. For the five-hour flight, TransNusa will deploy an A320neo configured with 174 seats

AAPA reports strong passenger traffic in January

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 February 2025: Preliminary January 2025 traffic figures released Wednesday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed that international passenger markets enjoyed a robust start to the year, driven by a surge in leisure travel during the Lunar New Year festive period.

The region’s carriers achieved a solid 19.9% year-on-year growth for the month, transporting 35.2 million international passengers. As measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), demand increased by 22.5%, surpassing the 17.4% year-on-year expansion in available seat capacity. Consequently, the average international passenger load factor rose by 3.5 percentage points to 83.7% in January.

Despite growing uncertainties in the broader trade environment, air cargo markets also sustained growth in the new year. Higher demand for consumer goods in anticipation of the festive season resulted in a 4.7% year-on-year increase in international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), adding to the double-digit growth recorded in January 2024. Expansion in belly-hold space drove a 10.9% increase in offered freight capacity year-on-year. The average international freight load factor dipped 3.3 percentage points to 55.2% for the month.

AAPA Director General Subhas Menon commented on the results: “The year began on a positive note for Asia Pacific carriers, with both international air passenger and cargo markets posting encouraging growth, underpinned by the timing of the Lunar New Year holidays.”

Menon added, “The relatively high load factors reflect strong demand but also ongoing capacity constraints, compounded by the grounding of aircraft due to engine issues and delays in aircraft deliveries. These challenges have contributed to increased expenditure on maintenance, aircraft leasing, and labour, while greater competition saw lower yields and operating margins.”

He concluded: “Growth prospects remain promising in the coming months, against a backdrop of steady expansion in global economic activity. However, ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions pose potential risks to both business sentiment and consumer demand in the months ahead. The region’s airlines are closely monitoring developments whilst carefully managing costs to boost operating economics.”

Resort World Cruises revives iconic brands

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 27 February 2025: Resorts World Cruises confirms the return of two of Asia’s iconic cruise brands – StarCruises (a refreshed version of the previous Star Cruises brand) and Dream Cruises. 

The Resorts World Cruises brand, which was used to restart cruising in Asia after the Covid pandemic, will return to its roots that span three decades.

The brand transition period will take approximately three months, with the renewed ambition to reinforce StarCruises and Dream Cruises as pioneers of the Asian and global cruising industry.

Launched in June 2022, Resorts World Cruises has welcomed close to 2 million passengers, setting the foundation for the next transformative steps. 

In a press statement released Wednesday, the group outlined the fleet’s transition under both iconic brands.

  • The Resorts World One cruise ship will be renamed Star Navigator, joining Star Voyager under the StarCruises brand banner.
  • Genting Dream will continue to sail under the Dream Cruises brand.

StarCruises brand represents:

  • Mid-sized ships (2,000 passengers) for a more intimate and accessible voyage.
  • Short port-intensive itineraries for domestic and fly-cruise passengers.

Star Navigator will begin four-night sailings from Singapore on 7 March 2025 to Krabi and Penang before being deployed to Taiwan for an exclusive eight-month operational period starting 28 March. 

During the eight-month sailing schedule, she will offer diverse itineraries that connect Taiwan’s scenic coastlines with various destinations in Japan and South Korea. 

Star Voyager will set sail on 26 March 2025 from multiple seasonal homeports in Singapore, Jakarta, Melaka, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh.

Dream Cruises represents:

  • A sophisticated luxury onboard experience.
  • Spacious ships catering for up to 3,000 passengers.
  • Vibrant onboard entertainment, world-class dining and themed experiences.
  • Luxury fly-cruise itineraries.

Genting Dream, the flagship of Dream Cruises, will homeport in Singapore year-round, offering itineraries to Malaysia and Thailand for travellers who seek a seamless combination of a Singapore city stay and a cruise escape to the region.

Demand for Asia’s branded residences soars

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 26 February 2025: The branded residences market in Asia is soaring as buyers worldwide purchase second homes in “playground cities” or tropical resort destinations. 

C9 Hotelworks’ research unveils a booming regional market for branded residences as Singapore’s property sector’s “cooling measures” lead to a flight of capital from the Lion City.

(left) Sudara Residences, Phuket; (right) 888 Brickell, Dolce & Gabbana, Miami.

Singapore buyers are leading regional buyers, fuelling the sector’s growth, driven by a domestic environment not conducive to investment in second or third homes given high taxation and stamp duty.

In a marketplace valued at USD26.6 billion for a supply of 68,001 units, the top regional branded residences destination is Thailand, which commands 23.3% market share, according to the recently released C9 Hotelworks’ Asia Branded Residences Market Update, and where Phuket has the highest number of units at 4,771 across 26 developments.

Following Thailand is the Philippines, with a 17.3% share, and South Korea, with 11.6%. Singapore has a branded residences market value of USD2.78 billion, but it has the third highest value, USD23,026 per sqm, behind Niseko and Seoul.

“The value of the Singapore branded residence market is significant,” said  C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett.

“But the headline here is the strong appetite of Singaporean buyers to buy in the region, buoyed by the confidence and service benefits international luxury brands bring to the table, and Thailand is the leading beneficiary.”

The growth is not lost on top regional developers, some of whom are establishing their own brands, such as Hong Kong’s Lang Kwai Fong Group. The conglomerate recently launched its second project in Phuket, the lifestyle-focused award-winning Sudara Residences, following the success of the pioneering exclusive Andara villa development.

Asia branded residences snapshot 

“There’s a trust factor here,” said CBRE Head of Advisory & Strategic Transactions, Hotels and Hospitality – Asia Ananth Ramchandran. “Singaporeans take a lot of comfort in investing with recognised developers.”

Sudara Residences Senior Director of Sales and Marketing Jason Thelen added: “Singapore has quickly become our top regional market for buyers looking for second homes, making up over 45% of regional purchases.”

Ascott’s entry into the branded residences sector has also caught the attention of many industry observers.

“Ascott has a long-standing reputation of operating serviced residences, hotels, resorts and co-living properties over the years,” said The Ascott Limited Vice President of Business Development, Saowarin Chanprakaisi. “As more developers enter the branded residences space, we look forward to partnering with them to deliver distinctive brand experiences homeowners look for through our Ascott, The Crest Collection, and Oakwood Premier brands.”

Luxury brands outside the international hospitality chains are also eyeing the sector, where automobile brands such as Bentley and luxury fashion brands including Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi Casa are entering the fray.

Brought to Asia by The One Atelier, having launched celebrated projects in Miami and Dubai, such as 888 Brickell Dolce & Gabbana, Miami and Casa Canal with interiors by Fendi Casa, Dubai, the company is finding fertile ground in Asia.

About C9 Hotelworks
C9 Hotelworks is led by founder and Managing Director Bill Barnett, who brings over 30 years of experience in the Asian hospitality and real estate sectors. Before founding C9 in 2003, he held senior executive roles in hotel operations, development and asset management. He promotes industry insight through regular conference presentations at key events and contributes to numerous industry publications. For more information, contact www.c9hotelworks.com  

Traveloka rolls out birthday bargains

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

BANGKOK, 26 February 2025: Traveloka launches its Birthday Sale as part of its 13-year celebrations, offering exclusive discounts, special coupons, and flash sales across Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. 

Running flat-out until midnight on 4 March 2025, Traveloka invites travellers to plan their 2025 adventures with greater ease, value, and flexibility.

Reflecting on the company’s journey, Traveloka President Caesar Indra said: “With over 40 million active users and operations in eight countries, we have grown into a global travel platform, evolving with our travellers to offer innovative, tailored experiences. The Traveloka Birthday Sale celebrates this journey — our way of giving back to customers.” 

Every Journey More Rewarding 

As a token of appreciation for its valued customers, Traveloka offers exclusive deals to help travellers in Thailand maximise their 2025 travel plans. With the support of thousands of partners — including airlines, hotels and attractions — Traveloka is offering special promotions that provide exceptional value:

  • Enjoy up to 50% off on flights, hotels, and travel experiences, making dream destinations more affordable.
  • Unlock Everyday Flash Sales twice daily at 09:00 — 11:00 AM and 09:00 – 11:00 PM.
  • Take advantage of the Limited Flash Sale from February 24 to March 4.
  • Benefit from Additional Flash Sale Hours on March 3 from 00:00 – 02:00 AM & 01:00 – 03:00 PM and on March 4 from 01:00 – 03:00 PM
  • Exclusive perks during Birthday Peak from February 28 – March 1.
  • Explore South Korea with exclusive discounts until May 31. 

Traveloka partners with the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) to offer the following codes for travellers heading to South Korea:

  • Flights: Code LOVEKOREAFL – Up to THB 2,000 off
  • Accommodations: Code LOVEKOREAHT – THB 400 off
  • Experiences: Code LOVEKOREATA – THB 100 off
1...293031...598Page 30 of 598

Stay ahead with the
latest travel news
on Southeast Asia.

Subscribe now


Contact Us
TTR Weekly (TTRW) is published in Bangkok, Thailand, registered since 1978.
/ month
placeholder text
/ month
placeholder text
Press releases, announcements, events for calendar should be sent to: [email protected]
/ month
placeholder text

Copyright © 2023 TTR Weekly, all rights reserved.