JAPAN’s ANA Holdings has signed a MoU with Vietnam Airlines to purchase an 8.8 per cent stake in the the South-east Asian state-owned carrier for a sum of 2.43 trillion dong (US$108 million).

This satiates ANA’s ambition to enter into the region’s fast-growing aviation market. It almost transacted a deal for 49 per cent of Myanmar’s Asian Wings Airways for US$25 million in 2013, but backed out because of increasing competition.

Vietnam Airlines, which completed an IPO in 2014, but has yet to list due to insufficient return on equity, in turn gets much-needed funding and a partner with plenty of operational expertise to tap on.

Also, as part of the deal, the two airlines will codeshare on certain routes, have their loyalty programmes combined, and have an ANA-appointed member sit on Vietnam Airlines’ board of directors.

FOLLOWING an analysis of over one billion flight searches, travel tool Kayak.sg has unveiled when Singapore travellers should book flights in order to get the lowest prices.

Visits to popular Asian cities should be booked two to three months in advance to save up to 56 per cent on airfares. For instance, trips to Bali and Hong Kong can see potential savings of over 40 per cent when booked two months in advance, while Tokyo and Taipei is best booked five months in advance with savings amounting up to 63 per cent compared to the most expensive month to book.

As well, it is more cost-saving to travel to Asian cities on weekdays. Travellers are advised to depart on a Wednesday and return on a Tuesday for trips to Hong Kong or Bangkok. Trips to Tokyo and Chennai sees cheaper fares when departure and return is booked for a Friday.

For longhaul destinations like Los Angeles or Paris, it is recommended to book up to six months prior to departure while other popular international cities like Melbourne or London is best booked three to five months earlier, with savings of up to 48 per cent on airfares for the latter.

The best way to save on airfare for international flights to cities such as Zurich, Perth and Los Angeles is to book departure and return on the same weekday, where Saturdays are recommended for these cities.

It is also recommended to consider the hour of day when making bookings. For instance, savings of up to 34 per cent on airfares can be enjoyed should flights be booked in the morning at around 08.00 as compared to the most expensive hour to book.

An infographic on the analysis can be viewed here.

MOST domestic flights at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport now operate from the partially reopened Terminal 2 since December 24, 2015.

Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airports of Thailand, revealed that the terminal had undergone renovation works and is set to help ease traffic at the overcrowded Terminal 1 which now takes care of Don Muang’s international flights. Terminal 2 will fully open in February.

According to Petch Chancharoen, director of Don Muang Airport, Terminal 1 only has the capacity to serve 18.5 million passengers a year. In 2015, the estimated traffic at Don Muang stood at 28.5 million.

The reopening of Terminal 2, with a capacity of 11.5 million passengers a year, will increase the total serving capacity of Don Muang to 30 million passengers a year.

Going forward, Airports of Thailand states that more renovation works and the construction of a new Junction Terminal will be undertaken.

By Athip Jittarerk

THE recently set up Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau has identified several initiatives targeted at improving ground services and product development, slated to be introduced in the city in the first quarter of 2016.

These include positioning Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia’s cuisine haven; introducing weekly cooking classes for international tourists and spouses of MICE delegates; launching two new heritage walking trails; creating culture hubs in the city including Central Market and Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre; publishing a luxury tourism product directory; forming a business events desk within the bureau to coordinate business events in the city; and offering short courses for front-liners in the hospitality industry, including taxi drivers, aimed at improving service quality.

Noraza Yusof, general manager at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau explained that in 2016, “the bureau will also promote medical and educational tourism in a strategic manner, and attractions in the city will be graded to ensure quality are on par with global standards.”

The bureau was set up on November 11, 2015 with an initial funding of RM16 million (US$3.63 million) and is essentially a rebrand and replacement of the Tourism Unit of City Hall. “The organisation structure provides greater focus on sustainable development of tourism segments and key support functions,” said Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz, mayor of Kuala Lumpur.

An advisory board provides guidance to the bureau and comprises representation from the city police, the Tourism and Culture Ministry, the Land Public Transport Commission and representatives of tourism linked associations.

Adam Kamal, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association deputy president 2, said: “Noraza is a capable and experienced person to helm the bureau and under her leadership, I am sure the bureau will meet all that it has set out to do. It is good to have a dedicated government body to systematically develop and promote tourism in the city as Kuala Lumpur is the main gateway.”

MYANMAR’s Ministry of Immigration and Population announced yesterday new visa regulations effective immediately.

Under the new system, there are 12 types of entry visas: Diplomatic; official; tourist; social; journalist; crew; workshop; business; employment; religious; educational; and transit.

The diplomatic visa is free and the duration offered is based on the length of duty required. The 28-day official and tourist visas cost US$20, while the 70-day business, employment, religious and education visas cost US$36. Meanwhile, the 28-day social, journalist, crew and workshop visas cost US$36. The 24-hours transit visa costs US$18.

Applications for business, workshop, crew and transit visas can be obtained on arrival at Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport while other visas can be applied at Myanmar embassies worldwide.

There are also three types of multiple-entry visas. Multiple-journey special re-entry visas cost US$180, while special re-entry visas cost US$54 for permitted period. Six-month re-entry visas cost US$4.

Re-entry visas can be applied in Yangon, at the Foreign Affairs Branch located at 122 Pansodan Street, Kyauktada Township.

Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, chairman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing said the new visa system was introduced to better align with ASEAN standards.

“I find this new visa system will have no significant effect on the leisure market, but it is diversifying visa categories for work and business. It will likely draw more business travelers to the country,” he added.

Artist impression of Tanjong Pagar Centre

SINGAPORE and Kuala Lumpur will be welcoming a new Sofitel property in 4Q2016 and 2H2016 respectively.

The 222-key Sofitel Singapore City Centre will be located between Chinatown and the CBD, and will be part of the upcoming multi-billion dollar Tanjong Pagar Centre, which will be the tallest tower in the city, standing at 290 metres, when completed. The tower also features a residential and office tower, as well as retail and event spaces.

Meanwhile, the 312-room Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara is part of a new 3.4 hectares integrated development in Damansara City. The development also consists of two office towers, two luxury high-rise residences and a F&B-centred lifestyle mall.

The two new properties will be managed by AccorHotels as signed in a deal with developer GuocoLand.

RAYANI Air, Malaysia’s newest airline, began operations last month with services linking Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi and Kota Bharu.

The full-service carrier is positioned as a Shariah-compliant airline, with onboard food and beverages prepared by halal sources, a strict no alcohol policy, prayers recited on every route and female Muslim cabin crew donning hijabs.

Sumar Lee Hashim Lee, COO of Rayani Air said average load factor at the start will be low as operations began towards the end of the Malaysian school holidays, but from Chinese New Year onwards, the average load is expected to reach 50 to 60 per cent of capacity.

Jaafar Zamhari, managing director of Rayani Air, said the airline is operating with a fleet of two B737-400s, both 22-year-old aircraft.

Jaafar was formerly the alternate representative of Malaysia on the Council of ICAO, from 2008 to 2011. In September 2015, he retired from the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia and joined Rayani Air.

Going forward, the airline plans to add two B737-800 aircrafts to its fleet this year and increase its domestic network to include Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. There are also plans to extend its network overseas to Jakarta and Manila as well as cities in China and the Middle East.

Langkawi International Airport is Rayani Air’s current home base with klia2 standing as its secondary hub.

When asked why Langkawi, Jaafar replied: “There are a lot of charters coming to Langkawi and we hope to tap on the tourists using these charters. Somebody must start something over there.”

The airline also hopes to offer charter services in the future.