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A&K releases 2026 private jet journeys

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TTR WEEKLY
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SYDNEY, 13 February 2025: Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), a luxury adventure travel platform, announced Tuesday a first look at its 2026 Private Jet Journeys, featuring four around-the-world itineraries.

Wildlife Safari: Around the World by Private Jet  (4 – 28 February 2026)

Portland, OR | Japan | The Philippines | Malaysia | India | Madagascar | Rwanda | Kenya | Boston.
25 days | USD262,740 per person, double occupancy.

Tropics to the Arctic: Around the World by Private Jet (1 to 26 May 2026)

Boston | Colombia | Easter Island | French Polynesia | Solomon Islands | South Korea |Mongolia | Kazakhstan | Armenia | Iceland | Boston.
26 days | USD262,740 per person, double occupancy.

Iconic Wonders: Around the World by Private Jet (28 –19 September 2026)

Fort Lauderdale, FL | Peru | Easter Island | Fiji | Australia | Cambodia| India |Kenya | Greece | Boston.
23 days | Price TBA.

Around the World with Geoffrey Kent: An Inspiring Expedition by Private Jet (2 – 25 October 2026)

Los Angeles | Cook Islands | Australia | Indonesia | India | Mozambique |Cote d’Ivoire | Portugal | Boston.

Join Geoffrey Kent, founder and pioneering spirit of Abercrombie & Kent, on an expedition that spans the globe, beginning in the idyllic Cook Islands. 
24 days | Price TBA.

IHG to open Holiday Inn Express in Hat Yai

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 13 February 2025: IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) introduces its first property in Hat Yai, the largest city in Songkhla province, Thailand, 

Developed by Park Avenue Property Company Limited, a residential real estate company based in Hat Yai, the property is scheduled to open in 2027.

Vivek Bhalla, Managing Director, South East Asia & Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts (centre right). Prawit Phongprapat, Managing Director, Park Avenue Property Company Limited (centre left).

The 160-key Holiday Inn Express Hat Yai will be the first internationally branded hotel in Hat Yai.

IHG Hotels & Resorts Managing Director, South East Asia & Korea Vivek Bhalla said: “In Thailand, more than half of IHG’s existing estate and close to half of our pipeline are Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express hotels.”

A 25-minute drive from Hat Yai International Airport and a 10-minute drive from the city centre, Holiday Inn Express Hat Yai offers facilities such as a 24/7 Express Café & Bar, a fitness centre, and meeting facilities.

Hat Yai, a major city in Southern Thailand, is popular with locals and international travellers from the neighbouring region. With a vibrant food scene and rich culture, it is particularly popular with travellers from Malaysia and is just a three-hour drive from Penang Island. 

There are 25 open Holiday Inn Express properties in Southeast Asia and Korea following the brand’s latest regional openings — Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Central Pier and Holiday Inn Express Bali Sunset Road. Another 13 properties are in a growing regional pipeline, including Thailand and the Philippines.

Jazeera Airways makes net profit gains

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 13 February 2025: Jazeera Airways reports a KD10.2 million net profit for 2024, representing a 66.2% increase compared to 2023. 

The airline’s operating revenue rose 5.3% to KD208.6 million, while EBIT surged by 46.8% to KD 17.3 million.

Passenger traffic continued its upward trend, demonstrating the most active year on record — exceeding 4.9 million — an increase of 5.1% from 2023, supported by a strong summer travel demand. 

The airline also achieved a load factor of 78.4%, reflecting high seat occupancy. In Q4 2024, group operating revenue climbed 15% to KD 45.1 million, with quarterly losses reduced by 41.1% to KD4.2 million, compared to KD7.14 million in Q4 2023. 

Financial highlights 

Jazeera Airways Chairman Marwan Boodai said: “Jazeera Airways’ strong performance in 2024 reflects our strategic agility, operational excellence, and commitment to our passengers. A significant growth in profit amid industry challenges underscores our resilience and ambition. 

“As we drive forward with digital transformation in 2025, we remain focused on enhancing connectivity and customer experience…We are excited for the journey ahead, building on this momentum to deliver greater value and innovation in the coming years.” 

2024 operational review

2024 was operationally a record year for Jazeera Airways. With 18,374 aircraft movements, Jazeera was the most active airline at the Kuwait International Airport for the third consecutive year.  

Despite geopolitical challenges, regional airspace disruptions, and a global IT outage in peak summer, the airline improved its On-Time Performance (OTP) from 74% in 2023 to 86% in 2024, ensuring reliability for its passengers. 

By adding two new routes, Krakow in Poland and Batumi in Georgia, and relaunching flights to Bhairahawa in Nepal, Jazeera expanded its network alongside resuming key seasonal destinations. 

The airline strengthened its fleet, adding a new aircraft and acquiring six Airbus A320 CEOs, aiming to reduce costs and mitigate supply chain challenges. 

Jazeera Airways is accelerating digital transformation. Fleet optimisation includes shifting to a 180-seat configuration by Q3 2025, with 26 new aircraft arriving from 2027 onwards. Jazeera Terminal 5 upgrades are also planned to support growing passenger demand.

Backed by a solid financial foundation, fleet expansion, and digital innovation, Jazeera Airways is well-positioned for continued growth in 2025, our 20th year of flying and beyond.

Cities leading the hotel pipeline charts

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 13 February 2025: Among markets outside of the US, Shanghai, London and Dubai are projected to open the most hotel rooms in 2025, according to CoStar pipeline data. 

CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics for property markets.

Europe

In construction: 171,294 rooms (0.0%)
Final Planning: 86,438 rooms (-22.3%)
Planning: 163,184 rooms (-8.6%) 

Europe shows 106,729 projected room openings in 2025, including those already opened this year. Three major markets in the region are projected to open more than 3,000 rooms for the year: London (5,632), Istanbul (3,920) and Dublin (3,197).   

Asia Pacific

In construction: 511,666 rooms (+4.9%)
Final Planning: 47,241 rooms (-57.6%)
Planning: 396,598 rooms (+36.4%)

The region has 228,468 projected room openings for this year, with Shanghai (7,953), Chengdu (4,821), Shenzhen (3,946), Kuala Lumpur (3,841), Suzhou (3,403), and Bangkok (3,199) among the market leaders. 

Middle East & Africa

In construction: 104,572 rooms (-6.7%)
Final Planning: 28,875 rooms (-21.8%)
Planning: 94,056 rooms (+17.1%)

Mostly focused in the Middle East, the region is at 50,683 projected room openings for 2025, with notable counts in Dubai (5,344), Makkah (4,749), Qatar (3,936), Riyadh (3,485) and Jeddah (3,156). 

Americas

In construction: 204,217 rooms (+1.8%)
Final Planning: 301,645 rooms (+4.3%)
Planning: 407,254 rooms (+10.1%)

The region is projected for 138,909 room openings in 2025. Excluding the US, which is led in projected openings by New York City and Nashville, leaders include the Dominican Republic (3,543) and Toronto (1,460).

For more information about the company and its products and services, visit costargroup.com.

Delta says G’Day to Melbourne

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TTR WEEKLY
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SYDNEY, 13 February 2025: Delta is strengthening its presence in Australia and the South Pacific by launching a three-weekly nonstop service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL), beginning on 3 December 2025. 

The new route will offer easy connectivity to Australia from the West Coast USA, flying the 275-seat Airbus A350-900 with a four-class configuration. Flights will depart Los Angeles on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Photo credit: Delta: Skyline of Melbourne, Australia.

“Delta’s new service to Melbourne reflects our commitment to connecting customers with the world’s most exciting destinations,” said Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning Paul Baldoni. “As the largest carrier at LAX, we’re proud to provide a premium experience, whether customers are exploring Melbourne or connecting through our Los Angeles hub to destinations worldwide.” 

This new route makes Melbourne Delta’s third nonstop destination in Australia, joining Sydney and Brisbane, and expands Delta’s reach in the South Pacific to five cities, including Auckland and Papeete.

Flight schedule

DL011 will depart Los Angeles (LAX) at 2125 and arrive in Melbourne (MEL) at 0815 plus two days.
DL012 will depart Melbourne (MEL) at 1025  and arrive in Los Angeles  (LAX) at 0610 (Wed, Fri, Sun).

Discover Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, full of creativity, flavour, and adventure. Explore its dynamic arts and music scene, from world-renowned galleries to street art. Savour the city’s food culture, where award-winning restaurants meet hidden laneway cafes, or catch the excitement of iconic sporting events like the city’s Grand Slam tournament. 
For nature lovers, Melbourne is the gateway to Australia’s most breathtaking landscapes, including the dramatic cliffs and pristine beaches of the Great Ocean Road, the Yarra Valley vineyards, and the Phillip Island penguins. 

Emirates Skywards teams up with Accor ALL 

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 February 2025: Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, and ALL — Accor’s loyalty programme — have taken their partnership to new heights, offering members additional benefits and opportunities to maximise rewards through seamless conversions. 

Through this enhanced collaboration, Emirates Skywards members who are also members of ALL can now convert their Skywards Miles into ALL Reward Points, unlocking extraordinary experiences across Accor’s extensive network of over 5,600 hotels across more than 45 Accor brands and 5,000 Limitless Experiences. 

For every 4,000 Skywards Miles, members will receive 1,000 ALL Reward Points, which can be redeemed for stays, exceptional dining experiences, or exclusive Limitless Experiences available on ALL.com.

In an exciting development, the partnership introduces seamless two-way conversions between the two loyalty programmes. This feature empowers members to maximise rewards and enjoy unparalleled lifestyle and travel experiences with both brands. 

ALL Members can also convert their ALL Reward Points into Skywards Miles, with 4,000 ALL Reward Points equating to 2,000 Skywards Miles. Skywards Miles can be redeemed for an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on Emirates and partner airlines, flight upgrades, gift cards, hotel stays, and hospitality at sporting and cultural events and tours.

Emirates Skywards Divisional Senior Vice President Dr Nejib Ben Khedher said: “At Emirates Skywards, we’re constantly exploring new ways to help our members maximise the value of every Skywards Mile earned and redeemed. And our enhanced partnership with ALL – Accor’s loyalty programme will offer exactly that. Emirates Skywards members can now convert Skywards Miles to ALL Reward Points and access exceptional hotel stays at more than 45 Accor brands worldwide.

ALL loyalty members can also convert ALL Reward Points to Skywards Miles and enjoy fantastic benefits Emirates Skywards is renowned for – including flight rewards to more than 140 destinations across Emirates’ extensive network. We’re delighted to expand our partnership and work together to offer our members the most rewarding travel experiences in the air and on the ground.” 

From iconic destinations like Dubai, Paris, and the Maldives to hotspots like Riyadh and Bali, members can seamlessly combine exceptional hotel stays with world-class air travel, ensuring unforgettable journeys at every step. 

For flight information and to make bookings, visit www.emirates.com. 

Firefly’s 737s fly direct to Kuching

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, Malaysia, 11 February 2025: BESarawak reports that the low-cost airline FireFly will start direct flights between Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak, effective 24 March 2025.

The airline, part of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), will also launch direct flights between Subang and Changi Airport Singapore on the same day. Direct flights from Subang to Kuching will encourage business event organisers to plan meetings in Sarawak and add a new dimension to BESarawak’s pitch to Malaysian corporations offering flights from both KLIA and Subang airports.

FireFly’s new direct flights between Subang and Kuching will make it more convenient for Malaysian residents to attend business events in Sarawak.

Firefly, a subsidiary of the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), will expand its jet operations from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang (SZB), with two new direct flights to Kuching (KCH) and Changi International Airport (SIN) beginning 24 March with six weekly flights to both destinations increasing to daily flights on 30 March.

Passengers can enjoy all-in, one-way promotional fares from MYR219 to Kuching and MYR189 to Singapore to celebrate the launch. 

Firefly’s retrofitted Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be deployed on four routes, offering 28 weekly flights to Kuching, Singapore, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

Flight Schedule:

BESarawak attends AIME

BESarawak’s sales team is attending the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) from 10 to 12 February at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Adrian Goh Sze Liang and Farah Mardziah head the BESarawak sales delegation at AIME.

AIME presents business networking opportunities for the BESarawak team to headline Sarawak’s varied business events venues as the state encourages more airlines to offer direct flights to Kuching to support the hosting of international events.

For more information on business events in Sarawak, visit

Business Events Sarawak.

(Source: BESarawak plus FireFly)

A&K opens Mexico DMC

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 February 2025: Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), a global luxury travel firm, has opened its newest Destination Management Company (DMC) in Mexico, with offices in Mexico City and Merida. 

“Mexico is a country renowned for its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and warm hospitality,” says A&K veteran Graeme Bull, who was named GM for the new office in Mexico. “Our team is eager to leverage our expertise and passion for crafting authentic travel experiences, showcasing the best of Mexico to our guests.”

With the addition of the Mexico DMC, A&K now operates over 55 offices in more than 30 countries worldwide, representing the largest network of luxury DMCs worldwide. The Mexico DMC marks A&K’s 36th DMC, further solidifying its position as a global leader in luxury travel.

“The opening of our Mexico DMC marks a significant milestone in A&K’s ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled travel experiences in the Americas,” says A&K Chief Destination Officer Rebecca Osman.

“With Graeme’s leadership and the upcoming property in the Yucatan, we are poised to curate even more extraordinary journeys that delve into the heart of Mexico.”

Asian Trails Laos priorities ChildSafe training

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 11 February 2025: Asian Trails emphasises the importance of child safety, placing it at the forefront of all its travel services as the firm’s staff in Laos recently completed ‘ChildSafe’ Awareness training.

ChildSafe is an organisation committed to protecting children from abuse and exploitation, particularly in tourism-related settings. The training equips travel firms with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond effectively to potential risks, helping safeguard vulnerable children.

Asian Trails Laos team leaders receive letters of recognition for participating in the ChildSafe Awareness Training.

“This instruction not only strengthens our team’s dedication to ethical and responsible travel practices, it also reinforces our commitment to delivering meaningful and rewarding experiences for our guests. By prioritising child safety, we continue to create a positive and secure environment for children and travellers”, Asian Trails stated in a press statement.

A damp lease will speed up IndiGo’s expansion

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TTR WEEKLY
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DELHI, India, 11 February 2025: IndiGo, India’s low-cost airline flying short to medium-haul international flights, has signed an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for a so-called damp lease for a Boeing 787-9 aircraft to introduce long-haul flights to Europe during the summer timetable 

In a recent press statement, the airline confirmed the aircraft should arrive in India over the “next few weeks to start operations in March 2025.” 

Photo credit: Flynorse.com.

The lease agreement was termed “damp” because Indigo will supply the cabin attendants instead of a wet lease that includes the fee for the aircraft, cockpit crew, and cabin attendants.

The official announcement said the lease agreement “underscores IndiGo’s strategic efforts to expand its geographic reach and provide its customers with more options for international travel.”  The aircraft will be deployed on long-haul routes.

The agreement’s initial term is six months, but it can be extended to 18 months, subject to regulatory approvals. Both parties remain committed to exploring opportunities to extend the lease period further and extend the contract to cover additional aircraft to accelerate its long-haul expansion. 

IndiGo has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus 350-900 wide-body aircraft with an option for an additional 70 aircraft, with deliveries expected to commence in 2027.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers commented: “As part of our broader strategy to significantly expand our international network, we are pleased to confirm this damp lease of one Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways. Our vision is to transform into a global player by 2030 while having strong roots and continuous expansion in India, and we are strategically moving ahead in that direction.”

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