Aviation roundup: Singapore Airlines, Neos Air and more

November 8, 2018

SIA adds Seattle to network
Seattle will become the fifth US city that Singapore Airlines (SIA) flies to once the non-stop route is launched on September 3, 2019. Flight SQ28 departs Singapore at 09.25 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrives in Seattle at 09.05 on the same day. The return sector, operated as SQ27, departs Seattle at 10.40 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrives in Singapore the following day at 17.30. From October 2019, flight SQ28 and flight SQ27 will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

An Airbus A350-900 aircraft will be used on the route, which is fitted with 42 business class, 24 premium economy class and 187 economy class seats.

In addition, existing non-stop services to San Francisco will also be increased from seven to 10 flights per week with effect from November 28, 2018.

Neos Air connects Myanmar to Europe
On October 31, Italy’s Neos Air became the first airline to connect Europe directly to Myanmar, with the commencement of Vietnam-Yangon-Milan flights. The airline deploys the wide-body Boeing 767-300ER, with capacity of 284 passengers, on the route. Flights arrive in Yangon every Wednesday at 15.00 and departs at 16.00.

AirAsia expands China network from Chiang Mai
AirAsia has announced a trio of new routes from Chiang Mai to China, namely Beijing, Hanghzhou and Nanchang.

Starting October 28, the airline launched its Chiang Mai-Hangzhou service. FD496 leaves Chiang Mai at 14.25 for arrival in Hangzhou at 19.00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. On the return, FD497 leaves Hangzhou at 20.05 on the same day, arriving in Chiang Mai at 23.10. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, FD496 leaves Chiang Mai at 07.00 to arrive in Hangzhou at 11.35. FD497 then leaves Hangzhou at 12.40 for arrival back in Chiang Mai at 15.50 the same day.

AirAsia has opened sales lines for its Chiang Mai-Beijing flights ahead of the route’s launch on November 30, marking the first time Thai AirAsia will be flying into the Chinese capital. The daily flight (FD484) leaves Chiang Mai at 22.40 for a scheduled arrival in Beijing at 04.40. FD485 then leaves Beijing at 05.50, arriving in Chiang Mai at 09.40.

Beginning December 1, the LCC will launch it Chiang Mai-Nanchang route. After departing Chiang Mai at 10.20 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flight FD305 will arrive in Nanchang at 14.25. FD306 is scheduled to leave Nanchang at 15.10 to arrive in Chiang Mai at 17.55.

Finnair invests in premium economy for longhaul flights
Finnair will introduce the premium economy class for its entire longhaul fleet from 2021. The rollout of this cabin class will start in 4Q2020 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.  Detailed planning of the cabin design, service concept as well as the commercial aspects are currently ongoing, and Finnair will be communicating more details at a later stage.

Meanwhile, the airline will also renew the whole cabin of its ATR aircraft, adding new seats and carpets, as well as a fresh interior design.

The first ATR aircraft with the renewed cabin is expected to be in operation in summer 2019, and the refurbishment of the 12 aircraft will be completed by the end of 1Q 2020.

Finnair’s ATR aircraft are currently used for domestic flights in Finland, on flights to the Baltics, Gdansk in Poland and Stockholm’s Bromma airport. The flights are operated by Finnair’s partner Norra.

HK Express to take off for Nagasaki
HK Express is set to launch thrice-weekly flights between Hong Kong to and Nagasaki on January 19, 2019. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, UO830 departs Hong Kong at 13.05 for arrival in Nagasaki at 17.05. UO831 leaves Nagasaki at 19.50 to arrive back in Hong Kong at 22.05.

Egg-cooking robots take up service at Millennium hotels in Singapore

By TTG Asia

November 8, 2018

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AUSCA_in_M_Social_SIngapore — The egg-cooking robot is being rolled out to Millennium hotels in Singapore, with plans for further deployment outside the city

Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) is deploying AUSCA (Autonomous Service Chef Associate) to five more of its Singapore properties after first launching the robot at M Social Singapore in 2017.

The latest version of AUSCA is currently deployed at M Social Singapore, Studio M Hotel Singapore, Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore and M Hotel Singapore.

He will be launched at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore on November 12, 2018, and Orchard Hotel Singapore by end November 2018.

AUSCA, an egg-cooking robot, was first introduced to the hospitality industry in November 2017 as the world’s first robot chef prototype.

It was launched with the support from Singapore Productivity Centre’s Hotel Productivity Centre Applied Research initiative, and was developed by Kurve Automation with industry guidance from Republic Polytechnic, School of Hospitality.

This follows the rollout of AURA, the group’s front-of-house Autonomous Service Delivery Robot, to the group’s properties in Singapore, including M Social Singapore, Orchard Hotel Singapore, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, M Hotel Singapore and Studio M Hotel Singapore.

Tan Kian Seng, interim group CEO at Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said: “Given M Social Singapore’s size and millennial demographic, it was well-suited for such a new technology to exist first. The intention is now to incorporate these innovative robotic solutions into the rest of our Singapore properties before a global roll out.”

Travelport announces senior appointments to commercial team

By TTG Asia

November 8, 2018

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travelport-commercial — From left: Clarke, Dagg and Hickey

Travelport has named senior appointments within its commercial team led by chief commercial officer Stephen Shurrock.

Effective October 29, Nick Dagg is the new head of agency sales. He joins from DXC Technology, where he led the UKIMEA go-to-market teams.

Dagg previously worked at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services and IBM Global Business Services.

Jason Clarke, from his role of head of agency sales, is now the head of travel partners, a newly created function incorporating all content relationships across air, hospitality and car partners.

He will also assume responsibility for Travelport’s airline IT services business as well as its digital sales organisation.

Clarke first joined Travelport in 2004 and has previously led sales and commercial operations in a number of regional and global functions.

Reporting to Clarke is Damian Hickey, who has been appointed global head of air partners within the travel partners team.

Hickey has global responsibility for Travelport’s air content strategy and the commercial relationship with airline partners, having held leadership positions in the company’s Asia-Pacific region since 2012.

So Sofitel Hua Hin unveils new wing

By TTG Asia

November 8, 2018

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02_SO_Sofitel_Hua_Hin_-__SO_Lofty_Pool_Access — So Lofty Pool Access

So Sofitel Hua Hin has unveiled an expansion with the launch of its new wing, adding new facilities and room types for business and leisure travellers.

The 8,094m² expansion brings the total number of guest rooms, suites and villas from 78 to 109.

The new wing also brings the addition of One-bedroom So Pool Villas and So Family Suites complete with bunk beds.

So Sofitel Hua Hin upgrades

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The new So Studio and So Lofty Pool Access rooms feature an open concept design complete with a TV/wardrobe console which can swivel for viewing from both bathtub and bed.

As well, refurbished So Comfy Pool Access and new So Lofty Pool Access rooms boast private outdoor terraces providing direct access to the Signature Pool.

A facility highlight is the 16m-by-60m Signature Pool, consisting of a water playground anchored by a Wibit adventure course running down the middle of the pool. Among other new facilities in the new wing are a dedicated kid’s pool area, a So Sundae poolside ice cream bar and a kids club.

A multi-purpose centre comprising a mini 18-hole golf course and tennis and basketball courts will open in December.

Situated on the beachfront in Cha Am, 200km on the west coast from Bangkok, the hotel is 30 minutes from Hua Hin.

MATTA, CLIA join forces to grow cruise tourism in Malaysia

By TTG Asia

November 7, 2018

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MATTA_-_CLIA_MoU_Signing_Ceremony_2 — MATTA's Tan Kok Liang (left) and CLIA's Andy Harmer sealing the deal at WTM London

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have inked an MoU to collaboratively drive emerging cruise tourism in Malaysia.

The MoU signing ceremony was completed by MATTA president, Tan Kok Liang, and CLIA senior vice president, membership and director UK & Ireland, Andy Harmer, and witnessed by Malaysia’s minister of tourism, arts and culture Mohamaddin Ketapi at WTM London.

CLIA’s Andy Harmer (left) and MATTA’s Tan Kok Liang sealing the deal at WTM London

Tan said: “Cruise is one of the fastest-growing leisure travel segments globally and has been picking up steam in Malaysia. According to CLIA’s Asia Cruise Trends Report 2018, Malaysian cruise source passenger count nearly doubled in 2017, an increase of 87,000 passengers, or about 88 per cent up year over year.

“Meanwhile, the number of international cruise call to local ports has grown to 599 at 2017 compared to 435 at 2016. The number of intermediate stops by international cruise holiday ships is expected to grow to 628 by year 2020.”

The cooperation will focus on the development and sustainable growth of the cruise tourism in Malaysia through education and awareness to members, Tan added.

He further expects that members of both associations will be able to leverage each other’s technical knowledge, expertise and experience for expansion and growth.

“We are optimistic that this strategic cooperation will create favourable conditions for the continuous growth of cruise tourism in Malaysia and enhance members business offerings and services to consumers.”

Kazakhstan’s next steppe for PATA Travel Mart 2019

By TTG Asia

November 7, 2018

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PATA Travel Mart will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan come September 2019, marking the first-ever PATA event in Central Asia.

The event will be hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh Tourism National Company JSC, the key tourism organisation promoting Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s vice minister of culture and sport, Yerlan Kozhagapanov, said: “We are positioning Astana as a MICE hub for Central Asia and looking forward to welcoming PATA members, hosted buyers and visitors at PATA Travel Mart 2019.”

Bordering China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan received a total of over 7.7 million total visitors in 2017, according to UNWTO.

The country’s fast-growing capital, Astana, is also known as the ‘Singapore of the steppe’, and has played host to the Expo 2017 world fair.

Special discounts are available for sellers located within Central Asia, while early bird discounts are available for those registering before December 31, 2018.

For more information or to register for PATA Travel Mart, visit www.PATA.org/PTM or email PTM@PATA.org.

Royal Brunei Airlines plots Borneo onto destination marketing strategy

By S Puvaneswary

November 7, 2018

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Karam-Chand — Chand: taking the lead in destination marketing with digital strategy as well as a multi-destination drive that packages Brunei with East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah

Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has rolled out a B$5 million (US$3.6 million) destination marketing campaign as part of a fresh strategy to boost inbound arrivals into the sultanate and drive yield and load for the airline.

Since the campaign’s launch in late September, the airline had taken a lead in international destination marketing with the multi-destination approach of promoting Brunei with the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, RBA’s CEO Karam Chand told TTG Asia on the sidelines of the 10th APG World Connect in Monaco.

Chand: taking the lead in destination marketing with digital strategy as well as a multi-destination drive that packages Brunei with East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah

This marks a change from previous campaigns by Brunei Tourism where the sultanate was promoted as a mono destination.

Furthermore, RBA’s Borneo strategy is expected to get a boost from the upcoming Kuching service – which will resume from December 28 following its suspension in 2011 – to target longhaul leisure travellers transiting in Bandar Seri Begawan on its London-Melbourne route.

RBA has introduced its non-stop flight to London from Bandar Seri Begawan since end October, reducing the journey time by 3.5 hours each direction as the airline no longer flies via Dubai. It has also recently expanded its flight network to Taipei, Narita, Changsha, Nanning and Kuching.

Karam said: “We are running a 100 per cent digital campaign for at least two years. We have engaged M&C Saatchi Singapore to be the advertising agency and drive the initiatives forward… We are also targeting millennials through digital marketing campaigns.”

The campaign is led by James Millett, who joined the airline as head of digital and marketing in August. He was previously the director of marketing, digital and brand at EasyJet.

As the airline secures the “right people” to make a push for the destination, Chand remarked that the airline is looking forward to the NTO “to get their funding and skill sets sorted out”.

For now, the airline and Brunei Tourism are working collaboratively, with the latter overseeing the training of tourist guides, licensing matters and the setting of standards for the industry.

Karam said the airline will also organise travel trade missions in targeted markets with the relevant private sector stakeholders.

Thailand waives VOA fees for two months

By TTG Asia

November 7, 2018

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chinese-tourists-thailand-grand-palace-bangkok — Chinese tourists outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok

Thailand will waive visa-on-arrival fee for visitors from 21 countries for two months in hopes of stimulating tourism, following consecutive months of year-on-year declines in Chinese arrivals.

Chinese tourists outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok

The Bangkok Post reported that the cabinet agreed with a draft ministerial regulation to waive the 2,000-baht (US$61) fee from December 1 to January 31 for visitors staying for up to 15 days.

China, India and Taiwan are on the list of countries, which also includes Andora, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The move is expected to boost tourist numbers by at least 30 per cent, The Bangkok Post article shared.

Carnival’s China JV sails off; two Costa ships to be transferred

By TTG Asia

November 7, 2018

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Carnival_Corp_China_Contract_Signing — These agreements were signed on behalf of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping by Costa Group's Michael Thamm; Yang Jincheng, president of CSSC; and Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, during the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai

Carnival Corporation has formally launched its cruise joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), under the name CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, which will begin serving Chinese cruise passengers with its own fleet by end-2019.

CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping will purchase two existing ships from Carnival Corporation’s Costa Group. The 85,861-ton, 2,210-passenger Costa Atlantica, is scheduled to be transferred to the new Chinese cruise line by the end of 2019, while sister ship, the 2,114-passenger Costa Mediterranea, will be transferred at a later date.

These agreements were signed on behalf of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping by Costa Group’s Michael Thamm; Yang Jincheng, president of CSSC; and Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai

The new China-based cruise company has also signed a contract to finalise its previously announced agreement to order two new cruise ships that will be built in China and serve the Chinese cruise market.

The two new cruise ships will be constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), with the first ship expected to be delivered in 2023. The agreement also gives CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping the option to order four additional China-built cruise ships to serve growing demand from Chinese consumers.

CSSC, China’s largest shipbuilder, and global shipbuilder Fincantieri have established a separate joint venture to grant a technology license of the ship model platform and to provide technical and project service support to SWS throughout the shipbuilding process. The two new ships will be built with a design tailored for the new joint venture and the specific tastes of Chinese travellers.

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, commented: “The official launch of our cruise joint venture in China is a significant milestone in the strategic development of a strong and sustainable cruise industry in China.”

Lei Fanpei, chairman of CSSC, said the partnership with leading international cruise enterprises will foster the development of a whole industrial chain and an ecosystem that will “nurture the sustainable growth of the cruise industry”.

“Our cooperation continues to receive great support from the Chinese government at both the central and local levels,” Lei added.

GHM names new CEO to drive expansion

By TTG Asia

November 7, 2018

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Luxury hotel group GHM has appointed Tommy Lai as its CEO to drive its next phase of expansion, the 26-year-old luxury hotel group .

The Singapore native will assume some responsibilities currently managed by GHM co-founder and president Hans R Jenni, but Lai’s primary role is to spearhead the development opportunities and to drive GHM’s overall growth ambitions.

“We’re on the verge of some significant new developments, which we’ll be announcing in the coming months,” said Jenni. “Tommy’s appointment is both timely and strategic. His experience and knowledge, especially with regard to the North Asia markets and our widening ambitions across the region, align nicely with our plans.

Lai joins GHM after six years with the Thailand-based Onyx Hospitality Group, where he led their North Asia operation from Hong Kong. His well-rounded understanding of the hospitality industry, complemented by his purposeful professional pursuits throughout his career, has led him to this choice candidacy, the company said in a statement.

Aviation roundup: Singapore Airlines, Neos Air and more

Egg-cooking robots take up service at Millennium hotels in Singapore

Travelport announces senior appointments to commercial team

So Sofitel Hua Hin unveils new wing

MATTA, CLIA join forces to grow cruise tourism in Malaysia

Kazakhstan’s next steppe for PATA Travel Mart 2019

Royal Brunei Airlines plots Borneo onto destination marketing strategy

Thailand waives VOA fees for two months

Carnival’s China JV sails off; two Costa ships to be transferred

GHM names new CEO to drive expansion

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