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Sarawak steps up with Double the Deals

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TTR WEEKLY
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SARAWAK, 2 March 2022: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) announced Tuesday the launch of its Sia Sitok Sarawak (SSS) 3.0 and Sia Sitok Sarawak Accommodation (SSSA) 2.0 campaign.

The campaign offers “double the deal, double the fun”, exclusively for Sarawakians and non-Sarawakians residing in Sarawak with work permits.

Through the SSS 3.0 campaign, Sarawakians will be able to enjoy over 88 exciting packages for tours and activities throughout Sarawak, which includes day trips and multi-day trips.

SSSA 2.0 campaign, on the other hand, offers attractive staycations packages, local hotels and resorts under the Malaysian Association of Hotel’s Sarawak Chapter at hotelsarawak.com.my. The booking period for both deals starts from 1 March 2022 until 30 April 2022, while the travelling period is open until 31 May 2022.

Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said: “We started Sia Sitok Sarawak, which translates to Ke Sana Ke Sini Sarawak, as a measure to boost the local tourism industry during the pandemic as well as to revive the economy for the state. We are heartened that this homegrown brand and campaign has grown from strength to strength, cementing our confidence in the culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals (or CANFF) of our state.

“With SSS 3.0 and SSSA 2.0, we have expanded the number of packages available, giving Sarawakians even more opportunities to discover the uniqueness of the state. Ultimately, we want Sarawakians to explore their own backyards and become tourism ambassadors for other travellers around the world.

“We urge Sarawakians to leverage on this exclusive opportunity and grab the limited SSS 3.0 and SSSA 2.0 deals. There is no better way to travel than with friends and family, and what better opportunity it is to discover the beautiful culture, adventure and nature in Sarawak. Do not miss this opportunity.

“We are optimistic that the campaigns will contribute towards realising the state’s tourism targets for the year. 2022 is a chapter of resilience, resurgence and growth for the travel industry, and STB will continue focusing on building and creating new ways of doing business beyond the Covid-19 pandemic,” concluded Puan Sharzede

Among the enticing packages and activities up for grabs include the Kuching Sunset Night Cycling ride, which covers 85% of Kuching’s “sights” as listed by the Lonely Planet, explore  Bung Jagoi Heritage, an old Bidayuh village established 175 years ago, or hop onto the Irrawaddy Dolphin Morning Cruise.

If you are looking to explore Central Sarawak, you can escape to Central Coastal’s Villages Exploration in Bruit, Daro and Matu, 3D/2N Bakun getaway, or visit Mukah: The Melanau Heartland (3D2N). For those who are looking to check Mulu off their bucket list, explore a UNESCO Heritage site by a 4D/3N Mulu 4 Show Caving Tour or challenge yourself to 5D4N Mulu / Pinnacles Tour to view the magnificent Mulu Pinnacle.

“Alternatively, you can challenge yourself by climbing Mount Murud, or go for some relaxing downtime with Miri Golfing at Eastwood Golf Club Miri, or experience Lun Bawang Heritage in Lawas, just to name a few.”

Be it for single travellers, couples, families with children, those in need of a weekend getaway, a round of golf, a fun dive, or to simply to be in nature. There certainly is something for everyone in the Sia Sitok Sarawak tour and staycation packages!

For more details, see: siasitok.sarawaktourism.com

Vietjet lops cost of domestic travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 2 March 2022: Thai Vietjet launched an exclusive promotion, ‘Amazing Thailand’, offering fares starting from just THB499 (inclusive of taxes and fees) for travel on the airline’s entire domestic flight network.

The promotion is valid for bookings from now until 7 March, with the travel period running from 8 March to 30 June 30, 2022 (excludes public holidays. Some terms and conditions apply).

The fare is valid for the airline’s domestic network in Thailand from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani. It also applies to cross-country routes connecting Phuket to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, together with the flight from Chiang Rai to Hat Yai.

The promotional fares are also available on all other distribution channels, including the airline’s website and mobile app. Payment can also be made with ‘True Money Wallet’ and international debit and credit cards.

Saudi back flying to Bangkok

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 March 2022: Saudi Arabian Airlines’ landed its first flight at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday after a 32-year hiatus.

Airports of Thailand welcomed the inaugural flight with a water cannon salute. The airline said 120 passengers were on board Flight SV846, which landed at 1805. The return flight took off 2035 from Bangkok.

The airline will fly three weekly services – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – on the Riyadh – Bangkok route.

Bangkok Airways eases ticket rules

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 March 2022: Bangkok Airways revised its ticketing rules, easing them to assist passengers impacted by the recent spike in new Covid-19 cases, the highest since August 2021.

Thailand reported 22,311 new cases on 28 February. Currently, there are 980 cases in ICU, an increase of 25 on the previous day, and the death toll reached 42, representing an overall mortality rate of 0.79%. Cases peaked last August around 23,000, but the emergence of the Omicron variant has seen steep increases in cases since the beginning of 2022.

The airline has extended the amendment of Thailand tickets for travel scheduled until 31 March 2022.

Passengers who wish to amend their travel plans can do so without having to pay the usual fees for ticket changes when rebooking travel or changing to an “open ticket”.

They can also request a refund through the issue of a travel voucher or seek a cash refund according to civil aviation rules in Thailand.

Bangkok Airways says passengers can make changes to their tickets up to 24 hours before their flight departure time.

YouTrip dishes out incentives

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 March 2022: Reopening of borders, expanded Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) and relaxed measures have unlocked pent-up demand and are propelling  Singaporeans to resume travel.

In light of this travel interest, Southeast Asia’s neobank, YouTrip, gives users more savings when they book their next flight with Singapore Airlines. Happening from now until 21 March, with every SGD500 spent, customers can earn the following incentives:
SGD$20 cashback credited to their YouTrip wallet;
SGD30 Changi Gift Card to spend in stores

If travellers purchases a VTL flight ticket worth SGD2,000 they gain four times the rewards – a maximum of SGD200 payout per customer. 

To be eligible, YouTrip users need to book a round trip or return flight from Singapore to an eligible VTL destination by 21 March 2022 through the Singapore Airlines website, Singapore Airlines Mobile App, or via Singapore Airlines appointed travel agents and pay with their YouTrip Mastercard. Only specific VTL destinations are eligible for this promotion.

“The resumption of VTLs is fantastic news for Singaporeans who had to put a temporary pause on their travel plans. In fact, this strong demand for travel was already observed during the holiday season last year, with airline bookings spiking 700% year-on-year, and we’re optimistic that this behaviour will only rise with the border reopening,” said YouTrip regional general manager Kelvin Lam.

More details of this travel campaign can be found here: https://www.you.co/sg/blog/singapore-airlines-youtrip/ 

About YouTrip

YouTrip is a Southeast Asian neobank offering the region’s first and leading multi-currency wallet. YouTrip was launched in Singapore in 2018 and subsequently in Thailand in partnership with Kasikornbank in 2019. To date, it has received over 1.5 million downloads and processed close to 20 million transactions.

Emirates supports Thailand promotions

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 March 2022: Emirates is supporting Thailand’s tourism promotions through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), last week.

Under the agreement, both the tourism body and Emirates will explore joint initiatives and opportunities for collaboration that will enhance each party’s marketing and promotional efforts to attract travellers to Thailand.

The MoC was signed by Emirates senior vice president Commercial Operations – Far East Orhan Abbas, and TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas)

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya. Emirates Group chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, also attended the ceremony.

Through the MoC, Emirates will develop initiatives to boost tourism to the Kingdom by showcasing it to customers across its global network. The airline will also engage in efforts to promote the country through its network of agents in key strategic markets in addition to collaborating on joint familiarisation trips designed to appeal to various customer segments.

Thailand continues to be an essential part of the Emirates network that spans almost 130 destinations. Emirates’ services to Bangkok were launched in 1990. By 2012, direct flights to the resort island of Phuket were established.

Emirates resumed operations to Bangkok in September 2020 and currently provides two daily services to Bangkok utilising the Boeing 777-300ER and an additional daily flight aboard its flagship A380 aircraft. Emirates also flies to Thailand’s exotic holiday spot, Phuket, 11 times weekly.

Visit: www.emirates.com

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Asia’s airline traffic remains depressed

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 1 March 2022: Preliminary January 2022 traffic figures released Monday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed international passenger demand remained depressed compared to pre-pandemic levels caused by travel restrictions due to the Omicron variant.

The region’s airlines carried a combined 2.7 million international passengers in January, representing 8.1% of the 35.2 million recorded during the same month in 2019. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), international passenger demand averaged only 8.9% of 2019 levels, while available seat capacity was 17.9% of 2019 volumes. The international passenger load factor averaged 41.3%, the second consecutive month where load factors surpassed the 40% mark.

Meanwhile, the opening month of 2022 saw further growth in international air cargo markets, underpinned by increased shipments ahead of the Lunar New Year festive period. In addition, global manufacturing activity, while moderating slightly due to Omicron related disruptions, remained largely supportive.

Overall, in January, international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne-kilometres (FTK) recorded a 5.1% year-on-year increase, on top of the substantial 20.2% annual increase achieved for the full year 2021. The international freight load factor fell slightly, by 2.2 percentage points to a still elevated 69.4%, after accounting for an 8.5% year-on-year expansion in offered freight capacity.

Commenting on the results, AAPA director general Subhas Menon said: “Travel restrictions along with uncertainties resulting from the rise in Omicron infections dampened the anticipated recovery in international travel at the start of the new year.”

“Nevertheless, in the light of increased vaccination rates and the relatively reduced risk of severe illness from the transmission of the Omicron variant, an increasing number of Asian governments have since adapted to living with Covid-19, including reversing or reducing international travel restrictions. As we move into 2022, recovery in international air travel should gain momentum.

“Airlines still face challenging operating conditions. The current escalating conflict in Ukraine may have a wider operational and economic impact on Asian airlines, whilst elevated fuel prices threaten to suppress earnings in an industry already struggling to survive.” 

THAI prepares for evacuation flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 March 2022: Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Thai Airways International Public Company (THAI), is providing support for the government’s mission to evacuate Thai citizens from Ukraine. 

THAI, in a statement Monday, said it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide evacuation flights to bring citizens home from Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, the airline has re-routed its European operations to avoid passing through Ukraine airspace, which will add at least one hour to the flight time. 

THAI flies to seven destinations in Europe

Bangkok – London: six weekly flights.
Bangkok – Copenhagen: three weekly flights.
Bangkok – Frankfurt: daily flights.
Bangkok – Paris: twice-weekly flights.
Bangkok – Zurich: three weekly flights.
Bangkok – Stockholm: three weekly flights.
Bangkok – Brussels: twice-weekly flights.

Finnair suspends Asian flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 March 2022: Finnair confirmed Monday it would continue flying to Singapore, Delhi in India and Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, but other Asian services are suspended until 6 March.

Finnair in a Twitter statement on Monday said it was joining many other European airlines to suspend flights through Russian airspace for one week. The suspension ends on 6 March.

Flights that span Russian airspace to Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo and Shanghai in Asia, along with flights from Helsinki to Moscow and St Petersburg, are grounded.

Flights from Helsinki to Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore and Delhi and from Stockholm Arlanda to Bangkok and Phuket remain operational, but the flight time increases by one hour. 

Meanwhile, the airline reported to the Helsinki stock exchange that the Russian airspace closure would notably impact air traffic between Europe and Asia, which plays a vital role in Finnair’s network.

In response, the company withdrew its financial guidance related to Q1 2022 and the operational environment in the half-year 2022 provided in the airline’s results released for Q4 2021.

“The crisis in Ukraine touches all Europeans, and we understand the EU’s decision to close its airspace. We are implementing our contingency plan as the situation has a considerable impact on Finnair. Bypassing the Russian airspace lengthens flight times to Asia considerably and, thus, the operation of most of our passenger and cargo flights to Asia is not economically sustainable or competitive”,  said Finnair CEO, Topi Manner.

Finnair is currently preparing new traffic and cost savings plans in case the situation prolongs and will provide further information during the coming weeks.

Contactless check-in wins passenger support

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TTR WEEKLY
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SEPANG, 28 February 2022: AirAsia has migrated 95% of its passengers to contactless self-check-in via the AirAsia Super App and its website, an initiative made mandatory at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

Check-in for flights via the AirAsia Super App is done with just a few steps. Guests can add baggage, inflight meals, travel insurance and choose their preferred seat. They can perform self-check-in as early as 14 days before the departure date.

On completion, they will receive an e-Boarding Pass within the app that can be used to board their flight. A QR code will also be produced for them to flash against the scanner at any contactless kiosk at the airport to have their baggage tags printed before proceeding to the self baggage drop machines.

Guests who have been checking in via the website are also encouraged to migrate to the super app so they can enjoy greater convenience, including inflight services and inflight wifi connection onboard our flights.

At the same time, AirAsia will be limiting the counter check-in service facility at all airports in Malaysia from 1 April 2022.

With the gradual removal of the counter check-in service, no counter check-in fee will be applicable from 1 April 2022 as only eligible passengers in the following categories will be accepted for counter check-in service.

• Senior citizens aged 70 and above.
• Bookings made under Malaysian Armed Forces and Government warrants.
• Charter flight passengers.
• Passengers who have self checked-in but need to reprint boarding passes.
• Those with reduced mobility who hold a valid Persons with Disability (OKU) card.
• Group bookings of 10 guests and more.
• Young adults travelling alone (aged 12-16).
• Passengers affected by schedule changes and flight cancellations.
• Travellers who need seat upgrades and/or add-on purchases at the check-in counter.
• Passengers affected by system outage of the super app, website or kiosk.
• Those who were not assigned a seat during self-check-in.
• Corporate Full Flex and Premium Flex guests.

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