MALAYSIA’S beleaguered Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will lay off some 6,000 employees this June as it recalibrates its business strategy following a trying 2014.

According to Malaysian daily The Star, as estimated 6,000 employees will receive termination letters on June 1, with the rest to be absorbed into the newly formed MAB Airlines.

MAB take over the national carrier’s operations and liabilities on July 1, but Christoph Mueller will assume his role as managing director and group CEO from May 1.

The move is part of Khazanah Nasional’s 12-point restructuring scheme for MAS, which was hit hard last year by the MH370 and MH17 tragedies.

The Star reported that MAS completed a comprehensive talent assessment exercise in February and is still in the process of identifying talent to be retained.

TOURISM Australia announced yesterday the appointment of Andrew Hogg to the role of regional general manger Greater China.

Hogg joins Tourism Australia from Qantas, where he has held his current position of general manager China since 2011. He has also worked in a number of other senior roles in a career spanning over 25 years with the airline, covering finance, sales, marketing and operations.

In his new role, Hogg will take up the key position of leading the company’s China and Hong Kong teams.

China is Australia’s second largest by volume and most valuable inbound tourism market, currently worth more than A$5 billion (US$3.8 billion) annually. Recent forecasts by Tourism Australia indicate the market could be worth up to A$13 billion by the end of the decade.

NEW airlines in India cannot mount flights to international destinations within a six-hour flight radius and must earn credit before being allowed to fly longhaul, proposes a new rule put forth by the government that looks like a backpedal from promises of a more transparent and business-friendly environment.

Under the proposed system, airlines would need to accumulate 300 domestic flying credits (DFCs) to ply international longhaul routes – a feat considering that carriers will need to have been in business for at least a year and own a fleet of six Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 category aircraft to reach 200 DFCs.

DFCs are earned for each domestic flight operated.

TTG Asia e-Daily is unable to independently verify the criterion for flying to international destinations within the six-hour radius.

Nevertheless, this effectively dents the aspirations of new carriers like Vistara and AirAsia India by forbidding flights to commercially profitable destinations like Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in favour of protecting existing legacy airlines.

The proposal will be deliberated by the cabinet and implemented in April, and is meant to replace the unpopular 5-20 rule which stipulates that new airlines must have operated domestically for at least five years and own a fleet of 20 aircraft before it can start international flights.

News analysts have speculated that the proposed rule is partially aimed at pacifying existing Indian carriers that had objected to India revoking 5-20 for the new start-ups like Vistara.

 Rajendra Churiwala, director-eastern region, IATA Agents Association of India, said: “(The new system) is a way to protect the national carrier from competition. When most flying rights between India and the Middle East have been used up and routes monopolised by the three leading carriers from the UAE and Qatar, new carriers should get a shot at these shorthaul routes. Conversely, Air India, until now, has not used their limit of flying rights to the Middle East.”

He added: “In contrast, a new airline like Air Arabia was allowed to fly into multiple Indian destinations without any restriction.”

THE former Hotel Nikko Tokyo will be rebranded and managed by Hilton Worldwide under the name of Hilton Tokyo Odaiba later this year.

Property owner Tokyo Humania Enterprise had signed an agreement with Hilton Worldwide for the conversion, and the move brings Hilton’s current presence in Japan to 11 hotels strong.

Located 16km away from Haneda International Airport, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba is situated within the popular entertainment and shopping area in Odaiba’s waterfront area. It is well connected by road and rail, with the key business and commercial districts of Shinagawa and Ginza easily accessible from the hotel.

Standing at 15 storeys, the hotel is equipped with 453 rooms and suites, each with a private balcony that offers views of Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge. A selection of 10 F&B outlets, event spaces including a 1,200m² ballroom, business centre and two wedding chapels, a fitness club, spa and indoor pool are also found within hotel premises.

Upon its launch, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba will become the sixth Hilton property in the Kanto area, joining Conrad Tokyo, Hilton Tokyo, Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa, Hilton Tokyo Bay and Hilton Narita.

ROUBLE trouble from major source market Russia was unable to blot out Thailand’s visitor arrival progress in January this year, with almost all source markets showing recovery, especially Asia.

Total arrivals surged 16.3 per cent to reach 2.7 million arrivals in January 2015 alone compared with the same time last year, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

With the exception of Europe and Oceania, all regions showed improvement, with East Asia hogging the biggest market share of 58.2 per cent.

Arrivals from China and Malaysia grew at breakneck speeds of 57 per cent and 92.6 per cent year-on-year respectively with 560,399 and 279,517 visitors. South Korea was the third biggest source market and grew 13.1 per cent in January, while Japan came fifth with a five per cent increase in tourists.

Neighbouring South-east Asian countries each witnessed double-digit growth in outbound travel to Thailand, an indicator of the restoration of trust in Thailand.

Traveller numbers from the Americas was up 1.4 per cent; South Asia did well at 19.1 per cent; the Middle East powered through January with 31.1 per cent; and Africa sent 0.8 per cent more tourists.

However, Europe and Oceania both registered a marked decline. While most European markets recorded weak but positive increases, juggernaut Russia’s 46 per cent year-on-year tumble offset all gains for a 14.3 per cent drop in European arrivals overall.

Russia fielded 145,605 travellers this January, almost half of last year’s 269,479 visitors, but remains Thailand’s fourth largest market.

Over in Oceania, arrivals fell 6.4 per cent as Australian visitors declined 7.1 per cent to 71,904 and New Zealand, 3.5 per cent to 8,647.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is aiming for 28 million international visitors this year and 1.4 trillion baht (US$42.9 billion) in tourism earnings.

NOW accepting forward bookings are JW Marriott Hotel Macau and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, which are set to open this May 27 as part of the Galaxy Macau integrated resort.

With 1,015 rooms and suites offering views of Galaxy Macau’s Grand Resort Deck and the Cotai Strip, JW Marriott Hotel Macau will serve as the brand’s flagship hotel in Asia.

Dining options at the hotel include Cantonese fare as well as international cuisine, a JW Kids’ Club and 2,700m² in flexible meeting space, including a pillarless grand ballroom and function rooms.

In addition to an outdoor pool, guests can access Galaxy Macau’s Grand Resort Deck, which contains the world’s largest Skytop Wave Pool, the Skytop Rapids and a 350-ton white sand beach from the hotel.

The Ritz-Carlton, Macau will feature over 250 suites on the top floors of the integrated resort. The hotel is equipped with a variety of dining options, an outdoor pool overlooking Cotai, poolside cabanas, an ESPA and event spaces.

Marriott International is offering special opening rates for both hotels until May 16. Prices start from MOP2,488 (US$311) for JW Marriott Hotel Macau and MOP5,888 for The Ritz-Carlton, Macau for a one-night stay for two guests.

For more details, visit www.jwmarriottmacau.com and www.ritzcarlton.com/macau.

AUSTRALIA’S Mantra Group will add four resort properties to its portfolio in an agreement to acquire Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Australia.

Announced yesterday, the A$29.5 million (US$22.6 million) deal is expected to close by June and Mantra, via a subsidiary, will acquire all issued shares in Outrigger Australia.

This will see the group take over four resorts – Outrigger Surfers Paradise; Outrigger Twin Towns Resorts, Coolangatta; Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa, Noosa; and Boathouse Apartments by Outrigger Airlie Beach – to bring 984 keys under its management.

Said Mantra Group CEO, Bob East, in a statement: “The Outrigger acquisition is a natural fit for Mantra Group, extending the group’s footprint in key leisure destinations.

“This acquisition is complementary to our existing portfolio and, together with future pipeline growth initiatives, is expected to supplement Mantra Group’s strong organic growth with incremental earnings. We look forward to working with the owners, guests and team members to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

The group announced yesterday that it is launching a fundraiser to secure A$50 million for the acquisition and future development opportunities.