Cebu Pacific expands route network
Cebu Pacific (CEB) will expand its domestic destination network with thrice-weekly flights between Manila and Marinduque, commencing on April 1.
The route will be operated by subsidiary Cebgo using its fleet of brand-new ATR aircraft on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The hour-long flight will shorten the travelling time from Manila to Marinduque by seven hours; the original trip takes eight hours by ferry and land transport.
In addition, CEB will launch three new domestic routes from Clark International Airport. CEB will mount daily flights between its hubs in Clark and Iloilo; as well as between Clark and Bacolod, starting August 9, 2019. Beginning October 9, 2019, CEB will mount daily flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
Garuda spreads wings to Nagoya
Garuda Indonesia will soon launch a four-times weekly service between Jakarta and Nagoya on March 23.
Available on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the route will be operated with an Airbus A330 aircraft that offers 36 business class and 186 economy class seats.
GA884 will take off at 23.35 from from Soekarno Hatta International Airport and arrive in Chubu Centrair International Airport at 07.25 the next day. Return flight GA885 will leave Nagoya at 10.00 and arrive in Jakarta at 15.00.
Hainan Airlines launches two new routes
China’s Hainan Airlines has launched two new routes to Japan and France.
The first is between Haikou, capital of Hainan Province, and Osaka. The route will utilise a Boeing 737-800 aircraft and operate thrice-weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The outbound flight takes off from Haikou at 08.40, and will arrive in Osaka at 13.40. The return flight will depart Osaka at 14.40, and land in Haikou at 19.15.
On March 24, Hainan Airlines will also launch a weekly flight between Guiyang and Paris.
The airline will be serviced by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and takes off every Sunday. HU731 will depart Guiyang at 01.30 and arrive in Paris at 06.20. The return flight, HU732, will leave Paris at 12.30, and arrive back in Guiyang at 08.30 the following day.
This is the airline’s fourth non-stop route from mainland China to Paris following Xi’an-Paris, Chongqing-Paris and Shenzhen-Paris.
SIA embarks on wellness journey with Como
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Singapore-based wellness brand Como Shambhala, part of the Como Group, have signed an MoU to bring wellness-related in-flight offerings to travellers.
Under the initial phase of this partnership, Como Shambhala will introduce its wellness cuisine on selected SIA flights in 2H2019.
These dishes will feature seasonal ingredients sourced sustainably. A new wellness menu featuring specially curated dishes will then be introduced across all classes, and co-developed dishes will progressively be made available in SIA’s Book the Cook service.
Lufthansa and Amadeus renews technology partnership
The Lufthansa Group and Amadeus have renewed their longstanding technology partnership.
Through the deal, Amadeus’ Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) will continue to provide Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines with their IT systems for reservation, inventory and departure control. In addition, the Lufthansa Group and Amadeus are also expanding their partnership to add further areas of collaboration. Areas in which Amadeus technology is supporting the Lufthansa Group range from operations, and merchandising & shopping to disruptions management.
Adventure in travel is not just the domain of the young, according to a recent study.
Travel publisher Rough Guides released its findings from a poll of 2,000 adults age 40 and above shortly after its foray into creating bespoke trips “packed with personality and adventure”.
The study showed that over 40s reckon they have only visited a quarter of the countries they dream of going to around the world with popular backpacking destinations New Zealand, Canada, and Australia top of the list. It also emerged that more than six in 10 are already looking forward to at least one trip abroad in 2019.
Notably, three in 10 in the over 40s age group reckon they are more adventurous with their holiday choices now than they ever used to be, with 38 per cent preferring to go off the beaten track when they travel abroad.
Rather than sitting by the pool, a fifth of over 40s have tried snorkelling on a trip abroad and more than one in 10 have been on a safari.
On top of the propensity to see the world, age also affords greater freedoms to travel. Nearly half of over 40s polled say they go on more holidays now than at any other point of their lives, with six in 10 putting this down to having more money now than they did in the past.
A quarter think it’s easier to get away and go jet-setting around the globe because their kids are older, while 46 per cent have more time, according to the research. Another 40 per cent think their lives have simplified enough so they now have more freedom – in their 50s or beyond – to see the globe.
Aimee White, editor at Rough Guides, said: “Travel is no longer the sole preserve of the young. It is important that the travel industry gives older travellers the same opportunities to have adventurous travel experiences as younger people if they want to and not dismiss them as being too ‘old’ or ‘boring’.”