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Resorts World Cruises launch dual homeports

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 12 July 2022: Resorts World Cruises will be the first cruise line to add a Kuala Lumpur homeport (via Port Klang) for the Genting Dream starting on 18 July, in addition to the Singapore homeport, which commenced on 15 June.

With the dual homeport options, travellers can now choose to embark from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. The two-night cruises from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore will depart on Thursdays and Saturdays, and the three-night cruises from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and Singapore will depart on Mondays, with prices starting at MYR 688 and MYR988, respectively.

Departure days from Singapore will remain the same on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and from 22 July onwards, Friday cruises will re-introduce the two-night High Seas Weekend Getaway cruises.

The dual homeport caters to the demand for round-trip cruises, targeting the 10 million population residing in central Peninsular Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca) who live within a short drive of Port Klang, the embarkation port. With the international gateway of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport also located nearby, international travellers will now have greater flexibility in choosing airlines and fares.

Resorts World Cruises will also offer one-way cruises that will become an alternative to air and land travel for the millions of travellers between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, including Penang. Travel agents will now have a wider portfolio to offer for their popular Malaysia and Singapore holiday packages with one-way and round-trip cruises from either port of embarkation.

With each sailing, all crew and cruising guests are required to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to safeguard and provide peace of mind for all onboard. In addition, cruising guests will also have to undergo a self-paid pre-cruise Antigen Rapid Test (ART) for Covid-19 one day before departure.

AirAsia eyes Sabah for route expansion

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KOTA KINABALU, 11 July 2022: Philippines AirAsia will introduce more direct flights to Sabah and is considering establishing a hub in Sandakan as part of its expansion ambitions.

The airline is currently studying the potential for direct routes to Kota Kinabalu from Puerto Princesa and Davao in the Philippines. A possible connection between Zamboanga and Sandakan is also on the list of possible direct routes, according to an assessment in a media statement released by the Sabah Tourism Board.

Datuk Jafry Ariffin receiveS a souvenir from Philippines AirAsia chief executive officer Ricky Isla.

State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said Sabah welcomed the plan, which would help both countries in terms of economic spillover.

“One of the Sabah Maju Jaya plans is to ensure Sandakan Airport is upgraded to the international airport. We should explore additional direct routes into the state.

“Tawau, being a gateway to Semporna, might potentially serve as an operational hub too. So, whether it’s Sandakan or Tawau, we’ll let them study the viability,” he said.

Jafry was speaking at a recent press conference on the joint collaboration between the Philippines AirAsia and Sabah Tourism Board (STB)

Also present were Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of State Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Sr Yusrie Abdullah; STB deputy chairman Datuk Dr Jelani Hamdan; STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman; Philippines AirAsia chief executive officer Ricky Isla; and Philippines AirAsia SuperApp managing director Ray Berja.

The press conference was in conjunction with the familiarisation trip to Sabah for the Philippines media.

Speaking on the strategic partnership between STB and Air Asia, Jafry said the board is now finalising a collaborative technical campaign to encourage Filipinos to visit Kota Kinabalu.

Ricky stated that Philippines Air Asia now flies twice weekly from Manila to Sabah, with plans to expand frequency.

“We want to sustain the travel momentum, and for Sabah, we are not just looking at beaches but eco-tourism and agro-tourism, which are educational.

“We are looking into the prospect of opening a new destination in Sandakan, which has one of the highest Filipino populations in Sabah, as part of our expansion plan,” he said

Meanwhile, STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman said Manila has the potential to serve as another hub to attract international visitors and also to attract expatriates living in the Philippines.

Although having certain similarities, she said Sabah and the Philippines each have unique contrasts that both sides should explore.

Pre-pandemic, Noredah said the state of Sabah received 4.2 million visitors in 2019, with a promising rise in arrivals since the reopening of borders after two-year hiatus. Chinese visitors contributed the most arrivals in 2019, followed by South Koreans and Europeans.

Sabah pitches for domestic travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 11 July 2022: The Malaysia International Travel Mart convened for its 19th edition in Kuala Lumpur at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) at the weekend after an absence of two years.

The touring travel mart that focuses on two major urban areas in Malaysia (Penang and Kuala Lumpur) to rustle up domestic tour bookings launched the revived series of fairs in Penang earlier this month,

Photo credit: MITM

For the  MITM round in Kuala Lumpur, a team of seven tour agencies that are also members of the MTCA Sabah Chapter and the Sabah Tourism Board presented the state’s tourism message and travel experience tapping the vast potential for holiday bookings from West Malaysia and beyond. Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association organises the travel fair series claiming each venue generates around MYR70 million in booking turnover. At the latest count, Malaysia’s domestic tourism market stands at around 16.9 million potential travellers.

Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said: “We are really happy to see travellers returning to Sabah either as first-timers or returning visitors. In addition, there is the positive support received by the public in our attendance at consumer shows such as MITM.

“We hope with the participation in current and future travel fairs by tourism associations, agencies and support from the state’s tourism board we will boost Sabah to be the first choice destination for both domestic and international travellers.”

This year’s MITM Fair in Kuala Lumpur attracted 58 exhibitors with 250 exhibition booths. Earlier this month, Sabah Tourism Board, led by its Marketing Manager Puan Zarinah Amiludin along with four travel agents, participated in the recently concluded Penang MITM Fair from 2 to 3 July 2022.

For more information on Sabah visit: www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

Emirates serves up Eid meals

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TTR WEEKLY
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mandytoh.com

DUBAI, UAE, 11 July 2022:  In celebration of Eid Al Adha from 9 to 12 July, Emirates serves traditional and much-loved Eid dishes across all cabins.

Eid meals are being served on more than 60 routes departing Dubai; to the Gulf and Middle East region, Africa, UK and Europe, the Far East, and India.

The economy class selection includes Chicken Biryani or Lamb Gabuli for the main course, followed by the iconic Aseeda Eid pudding or classic date cake for dessert.

First and Business Class passengers enjoy Hamour Machbous, Chicken Biryani, or Lamb Gabuli, followed by decadent Baklava cheesecake or a fragrant cardamom cake.

A380 onboard lounges are also serving a selection of special Emirati-style pastries.

Eid al-Adha translates as the ‘Holiday of the Sacrifice’ and is the second and biggest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. It is just one of the many multicultural occasions celebrated onboard Emirates with cosmopolitan customers, including Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Orthodox festivals.

Passengers travelling over the busy Eid period are reminded to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight departure. They can streamline their boarding by using online and remote check-in options, self-check-in kiosks and ‘smart’ gates.

Visit: www.emirates.com.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

IATA: Summer air travel speeds up

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 July 2022: Global passenger data for May 2022 shows the recovery in air travel accelerated heading into the busy northern hemisphere summer travel season, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported at the weekend.

IATA’s performance update for Mays showed total traffic in May 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 83.1% compared to May 2021, primarily driven by the strong recovery in international traffic.

International traffic rose 325.8% versus May 2021. The easing of travel restrictions in most parts of Asia is accelerating the recovery of international travel. May 2022 international RPKs reached 64.1% of May 2019 levels.

Overall global traffic is now at 68.7% of pre-crisis levels achieved in 2019.

Domestic traffic for May 2022 was up 0.2% compared to the year-ago period. Significant improvements in many markets were masked by a 73.2% year-on-year decline in the Chinese domestic market due to Covid-19-related restrictions. May 2022 domestic traffic was 76.7% of May 2019.

“The travel recovery continues to gather momentum. People need to travel. And when governments remove COVID-19 restrictions, they do. Many major international route areas – including within Europe and the Middle East-North America routes – are already exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.

“Completely removing all COVID-19 restrictions is the way forward, with Australia being the latest to do so this week (8 July). The major exception to the optimism of this rebound in travel is China, which saw a dramatic 73.2% fall in domestic travel compared to the previous year. Its continuing zero-COVID policy is out-of-step with the rest of the world, and it shows in the dramatically slower recovery of China-related travel.”

 International Passenger Markets

European carriers’ Maytraffic rose 412.3% versus May 2021. Capacity rose 221.3%, and load factor climbed 30.1 percentage points to 80.6%. The impact of the war in Ukraine remained limited to areas directly impacted.

Asia-Pacific airlines had a 453.3% rise inMay traffic compared to May 2021. This is significantly higher than the 295.3% year-on-year gain registered in April 2022. Capacity rose 118.8%, and the load factor was up 43.6 percentage points to 72.1%. Improvements in the region are being driven by reduced restrictions in most of the region’s markets, except China.

Middle Eastern airlines’ traffic rose317.2% in May compared to May 2021. May capacity rose 115.7% versus the year-ago period, and load factor climbed 37.1 percentage points to 76.8%. The progressive re-opening of Asian markets is boosting traffic through Gulf hubs.

North American carriers experienceda 203.4% traffic rise in May versus the 2021 period. Capacity rose 101.1%, and load factor climbed 27.1 percentage points to 80.3%. With most restrictions removed for travellers from this region, tourism and a high willingness to travel continue to foster the international recovery as several other route areas are now outperforming 2019 results.

Latin American airlines’ May traffic rose 180.5% compared to the same month in 2021. May capacity rose 135.3%, and load factor increased 13.5 percentage points to 83.4%, which was the highest load factor among the regions for the 20th consecutive month. Some routes, including those from Central America to Europe and to North America, are outperforming 2019 levels.

African airlines had a134.9% rise in May RPKs versus a year ago. May 2022 capacity was up 78.5%, and load factor climbed 16.4 percentage points to 68.4%, the lowest among regions.

(Source: IATA)

HK airport opens its third runway

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 11 July 2022: Cathay Pacific landed the first commercial flight at Hong Kong International Airport’s third runway on 8 July.

The landing of freighter flight CX 3251 from Shanghai Pudong allowed stakeholders from the aviation community to become familiar with the related operating procedures.

Cathay Pacific’s chief executive officer Augustus Tang said: “We are delighted to be the first airline to operate a commercial flight using the new third runway, and for that flight to be operated by the ‘Queen of the Skies’, one of our 747 freighters.

“Our freighter fleet has played a pivotal role in keeping essential supplies, notably vaccines and testing kits, moving between Hong Kong and the rest of the world throughout the pandemic.

“The commencement of the third runway is a milestone achievement for the Hong Kong international aviation hub that will greatly enhance its capacity and capability for handling passenger and cargo flights.

“As an aviation hub, Hong Kong has a critical role to play in the country’s development, as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan. The growth potential afforded by the commencement of the Three-Runway System at HKIA, together with the opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area, will ensure that Cathay Pacific and our home hub will remain competitive for many years to come.”

Bloomberg reported the new third runway was part of the “HKD141.5 billion (USD18 billion) project that will increase the airport’s footprint by 50%, adding 650 hectares (1,606 acres), equivalent to the size of Gibraltar.

“Also under construction is a HK$20 billion entertainment, retail and commercial complex being built by local conglomerate New World Development Co that will be larger than New York’s Grand Central Terminal.”

Hong Kong remains considerably behind the pace as far as recovering passenger traffic. During the first five months of 2022, the airport handled 545,000 passengers compared with 31.4 million during the same period in 2019.

Flights Land on Third Runway as Operation Familiarisation Commences

https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/media-centre/press-release/2022/pr_1602

(Source: Cathay Pacific and Bloomberg)

CWT tweaks carbon emission indicators

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TTR WEEKLY
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CWT Launches Enhanced CO2 Emission Reporting

SINGAPORE, 11 July 2022: CWT, a global travel management platform, tweaks its carbon footprint indicators to offer clients a more accurate dashboard of company emissions linked to travel.

Following the launch of carbon footprint indicators in March, CWT continues working with the carbon intelligence platform, Thrust Carbon, to improve its existing CO2 reporting capabilities.

CWT Launches Enhanced CO2 Emission Reporting

Integrated into CWT’s business intelligence solution, customers now have access to new Carbon Emission Summary dashboards, providing a simple, all-in-one view of a company’s emissions using either DEFRA or Thrust Carbon methodology.

Available to all CWT customers globally, the new dashboards help companies understand their CO2 footprint resulting from corporate travel, improve their environmental impact, and effectively reach their responsible travel program goals. 

“We know that when it comes to CO2 data, greater accuracy and clarity supports greater accountability and better choices,” said CWT head of product management, travel management portfolio Charlie Sullivan.

“Companies pursuing climate initiatives seek more comprehensive greenhouse gas emission data and analytics. 79% of our global customers have told us as such in a recent survey. With that in mind, and in keeping with our longstanding commitment to providing clients with tools and services to build more responsible travel programs, these latest enhancements are designed to help integrate corporate sustainability goals into all of our customer’s travel programmes.” 

Vistara ramps up Thailand flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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NEW DELHI, 11 July 2022: Vistara, India’s full-service carrier, will add a new route to its international network to link Mumbai and Bangkok, starting 5 August 2022.

In a media statement released on 9 July, the airline said it would offer five weekly flights from Mumbai to the Thai capital using an Airbus A320neo aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration.

Vistara UK0123 departs Mumbai at 0745 and arrives in Bangkok at 1335 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. UK 0124 departs Bangkok on the same day at 1450, arriving in Mumbai at 1740.

It will bolster its existing connectivity between India and Thailand to meet the growing demand for Thailand holiday bookings in the Indian travel market. The airline boosted seat capacity on the Delhi to Bangkok route, increasing frequencies to daily flights.

Vistara chief executive officer Vinod Kannan said: “Thailand remains one of the most preferred tourist destinations for Indians, and we are excited to commence flights between Mumbai and Bangkok, in addition to the existing daily connectivity to the city from Delhi. There is huge potential for a full-service carrier like Vistara on this route, and we are confident that travellers will thoroughly appreciate our world-class product and services along with easy and direct access to their favourite destination.”

Bookings for flights between Mumbai and Bangkok are open on all channels, including Vistara’s website, www.airvistara.com, Vistara’s iOS & Android mobile apps and through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and travel agents.

Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for cabin cleanliness and safety standards. Vistara has crossed the mark of flying 35 million passengers in seven years since starting operations.

Introductory all-inclusive, round-trip fares between Mumbai and Bangkok are as follows:

RouteEconomyPremium EconomyBusiness
Mumbai-Bangkok-MumbaiINR 22,849INR 31,899INR 54,299
Bangkok-Mumbai-BangkokTHB 10,949THB 12,449THB 30,449

Airbnb destinations target digital nomads

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 8 July 2022: Airbnb will partner with 20 destinations worldwide to attract digital nomads, including Thailand, Bali, Lisbon, and the Caribbean.

Earlier this year, Airbnb launched its ‘Live and Work’ Anywhere initiative to identify some of the most remote worker-friendly destinations in the world and support governments and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) in helping to revive tourism and provide economic support to communities after two-plus years of travel restrictions.

The 20 destinations Airbnb will spotlight

  • Baja California Sur, Mexico
  • Bali, Indonesia
  • Brindisi, Puglia, Italy 
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Caribbean
  • Canary Islands, Spain
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • Colombia
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • Malta
  • Mexico City, Mexico
  • Palm Springs, California, USA
  • Queensland, Australia
  • Rural France
  • Salzkammergut, Austria
  • Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
  • Thailand
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Over the next few months, Airbnb will work closely with destination partners ranging from whole countries to smaller, lesser-known towns. They were selected based on their attraction to remote workers and progressiveness in evolving policies for those looking to live and work in a different region and attract a new type of traveller. The initiative builds off work during the pandemic, which saw Airbnb partnering with more than 160 governments and DMOs to specifically support efforts to encourage the return of tourism — including through remote working.

Millions of people are now more flexible about where they live and work. As a result, they’re spreading to thousands of towns and cities, staying for weeks, months, or even entire seasons at a time.

About one in five guests globally said they booked Airbnb to enable them to work remotely while travelling in 2021. That trend has continued into Q1 2022, with long-term stays at an all-time high, doubling in size from Q1 2019. They are essentially “living” on Airbnb as guests have already planned stays in over 72,000 cities and towns* this summer.

Research conducted by the Harvard Business School shows that while it is clear that digital nomads, and remote workers in general, can be a boon to any economy, they also might play a key role in fostering entrepreneurship in the communities where they stay, creating “technology clusters” around the world.

Airbnb co-founder and chief strategy officer Nathan Blecharczyck said: “In the two years since the pandemic began, a new world of travel has emerged in which many workers are untethered to an office. In collaborating with these destinations, we want to make it easier for workers to enjoy this flexibility and support the return of safe and responsible travel. We know that travel brings significant economic opportunity to local communities and connects people around the world. We’re excited to launch this one-stop-shop for anyone considering joining the millions of workers already enjoying this new trend of working flexibility and travel.”

*Cities and towns expected to have guest check-in between 1 June to 31 August 2022, as of 29 April 2022.

AirAsia drops base fare in the Philippines

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 8 July 2022: AirAsia Philippines drops its base fares to as low as PHP77 on bookings made to midnight 10 July as part of its 7.7 Mid-Year Sale Promotion.

The base fare drop is also a bid to sustain the momentum of travel for both its domestic and international flights. As of June 2022, AirAsia Philippines recorded an average month-on-month growth of 31% in domestic passengers. The uptick in passengers was seen following the relaxation of border protocols and the downward trend of daily Covid cases in the country. The reopening of international flights and the gradual increase in flights to international destinations led to average month-on-month growth of 157% from February to June 2022 for AirAsia Philippines’ international routes.

AirAsia Philippines spokesperson and head of communications and public affairs Steve Dailisan commented: “We at AirAsia Philippines are determined to sustain travel momentum notwithstanding market movements such as the rise in fuel surcharge cost. As we remain committed to our DNA of affordable and inclusive flying, we buttress this increase through major promotions such as the 7.7 Mid-Year sale and through regular minor promotions throughout the month.”

Among the domestic destinations covered by the PHP 77 base fare are Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Puerto Princesa and Caticlan.

Filipino globetrotters should check Kota Kinabalu and Singapore, which come with a PHP777 base fare, while Hong Kong and Bangkok lead-in fares pegged at PHP1,377 and PHP1, 777, respectively.

The 7.7 Mid-Year sale booking period ends 10 July 10 for travel from 1 September 2022 to 25 March 2023.

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