AIR China and US-based low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways have entered into an initial interline agreement that is expected to develop into a codeshare partnership this autumn.

The two airlines will initially offer interline connections between their networks at New York (JFK) and Los Angeles international airports. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer.

Subject to government approval, the partnership will be expanded into a codeshare this autumn, with Air China placing its CA designator on flights operated by JetBlue.

Unveiling the deal on the sidelines of the IATA 68th AGM & World Air Transport Summit in Beijing, Dave Barger, JetBlue president & CEO said: “The Chinese market continues to be a key portion of the global economy, and so we look forward to connecting business and leisure travellers between both of these networks.”

Cai Jianjiang, Air China president, said: “The partnership with JetBlue creates many connecting opportunities at Air China’s two US gateways, New York and Los Angeles. It strengthens both our networks and benefits travellers of both countries.”

Air China offers one daily flight from New York and two daily flights from Los Angeles to Beijing Capital Airport. Separate from the JetBlue interline, Air China also operates once a day from San Francisco and Vancouver to Beijing.

Meanwhile, starting October 1, Air China will deploy brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its New York route. The plane, which offer eight first-class, 41 business-class and 259 economy seats, is already operated on its Los Angeles flights.

DUBAI-BASED luxury hotel chain, Jumeirah Group, is set to augment its presence in Greater China with new hotels over the next three to five years and a new business development personnel.

The 205-room Jumeirah Guangzhou will open next year, followed by the 139-room Jumeirah Thousand Islands Lake Resort, Qiandaohu; the 250-room Jumeirah Hangzhou; the 250-room Jumeirah Clearwater Bay Resort, Sanya; and the 250-room Jumeirah Macau.

Akram Touma, general manager of Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai, which opened in March 2011 and is achieving 75 per cent occupancy rate, said: “The Jumeirah brand is very strong among the Chinese, especially among affluent travellers.”

Half of the hotel’s business is contributed by domestic travellers.

When asked whether the group intends to restart plans to launch its trendier label, VENU, a brand that Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai was supposed to adopt, Touma said: “We want to have a strong foothold in the key cities before we consider our second brand. There are no plans to bring VENU to China at this stage.”

Jumeirah Group has also increased its sales presence in Asia with the appointment of Selena Xu as business development manager in Beijing to develop the northern Chinese market.

Meanwhile, the group will unveil four new hotels beyond China this year – the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa in Mallorca, Spain; Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan; Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, Kuwait; and Jumeirah Creekside in Dubai, the UAE.

Reporting by Patricia Wee

THE KOREA Tourism Organisation (KTO) has established a Manila office, which will seek to grow Filipino arrivals through unique tour packages and the promotion of medical, MICE and winter tourism.

Sangyong Zhu, director of KTO Manila, told TTG Asia e-Daily that the Korean Wave – commonly known as Hallyu – had gained popularity in the Philippines, driving up travel demand for South Korea.

Arrivals from the Philippines have been growing annually at an average of 6.4 per cent. More than 337,000 Filipinos visited South Korea last year, making the Philippines the fifth largest inbound market for South Korea, after Japan, China, the US and Taiwan.

The office has started discussions with local outbound tour operators to develop itineraries that will include “essentials” such as royal palaces, amusement parks, film locations for TV shows, folk villages, UNESCO heritage sites and shopping opportunities.

The destination, which has been successful in reaching out to medical tourism markets such as Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Middle East, will also promote skin care and plastic surgery to middle- and high-income females in the Philippines.

Leveraging on South Korea’s snowy winter season which does not exist in the Philippines, KTO Manila will also feature ski resorts and skiing opportunities in its destination promotions.

“Ski resorts in South Korea are very competitive, with quality facilities and reasonable rates compared to other countries,” Zhu said.

As well, KTO Manila will capitalise on South Korea’s strength as a global MICE destination – it ranked sixth in the Union of International Associations’ top 10 international meeting destinations of 2011 – to entice corporate groups and events.

Manila KTO’s efforts will get a booster shot from the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board’s move to add 9,500 seats to South Korea per week, all to be operated by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Zest Air. Korean Air will further enhance air options with the reintroduction of a third daily Incheon-Manila service from October 28.

NATIONAL carrier Myanmar Airways International (MAI) plans to introduce direct flights from Yangon to Vientiane in Laos, Hong Kong and Seoul.

“As part of our expansion plan, we will add a few more Airbus aircraft soon and expect to utilise them on these routes. We are also in talks with Laos authorities and we hope to (commence the Yangon-Vientiane route) in October,” said Are Mra Tha, MAI marketing and commercial executive.

She added that flights from Yangon to Hong Kong and Seoul are expected to start before the year-end.

For the coming winter season, MAI intends to increase the frequency of its services to Singapore, from twice-weekly to thrice-weekly, through a code-share arrangement with Jetstar. Yangon-Guangzhou services will also get a boost in winter.

Flights to Siem Reap in Cambodia and Gaya in India, which are now suspended, will resume in October, with services to Gaya expected to increase from twice a week to thrice-weekly.

THAI-BASED Centara Hotels and Resorts will open two four-star properties in Sri Lanka this winter.

The 126-room Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa will be located in Passekudah, east of Sri Lanka, while the 166-room Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa will open in Bentota, the oldest resort hub in the country, said Centara officials based in Bangkok.

The Thai chain joins a plethora of hotel brands that are emerging in Sri Lanka during the post-war period, including Raffles, Sheraton, Marriott, Shangri-La, Six Senses and Movenpick. India’s ITC Hotels is also establishing a Luxury Collection property under Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

SRILANKAN Airlines has decided to proceed with plans to terminate services to Milan from September 16, but will retain its thrice-weekly service to Rome.

The company had announced in April the suspension of flights to the two Italian cities, but the decision was reversed following a request from the president of Sri Lanka to maintain both services for economic and tourism growth.

The destination welcomed 113,527 visitors from Italy in 2011, up by 18.4 per cent from the previous year.

INDONESIAN budget carrier Mandala Airlines will commence daily Jakarta-Bangkok services on August 10, as part of its international network expansion.

Bangkok will be the third overseas destination for the airline, after Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It recently took to the skies in April after more than a year’s hiatus due to financial difficulties.

Michael Coltman, CEO of Mandala Airlines, said the company is “excited to offer customers more flight choices to the city”.

“To meet Indonesians’ desire for travel, we will continue to seek opportunities to expand our network in Indonesia and the region,” he said.

To celebrate the new service, the airline is offering a promotional fare of 699,000 rupiah (US$77) – one-way and all-inclusive – which will be available till October 26 for travel between August 10 and October 27.