MORE than a quarter of Asian travellers have their hearts set on summering in Europe this year, an option made even more attractive of late thanks to the cheaper euro.

Sojern’s Global Travel Insights Report for 1Q2015 captured travel data from over 800 million data points internationally and offers a glimpse into global travel trends for the summer season of 2015.

Europe is predicted to trump as the most desirable destination this summer, registering double-digit percentages of travellers in each region – North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific – searching Europe online.

According to Sojern’s number crunching, 33 per cent of APAC travellers were mulling spending the summer holidays in Europe, with London being the most popular pick for a holiday. Paris was the next most preferred European holiday spot, coming fifth in a list still largely dominated by regional destinations.

Bali came in second, followed by Los Angeles, Singapore, Paris, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Sydney, Incheon and Tokyo, to round up APAC’s top 10 summer picks.

Among Middle East and Africa travellers, this was 45 per cent. One-fifth of North America travellers (22 per cent) and slightly more Latam travellers (30 per cent) wanted to go to Europe, while most Europeans intended to stay home to enjoy their vacation (71 per cent).

The report also found that APAC travellers preferred to travel in the months of June and July, and are also likely to take the shortest breaks this summer with trips planned for two days or less.

AIRASIA Group has been forced to delay its return to Japan’s skies as the transport ministry in Tokyo is being “meticulous” on the airline’s operations before granting approval.

The Malaysia-based group initially set up a budget airline with All Nippon Airways in 2011, but that deal was terminated two years later.

AirAsia has since signed an agreement with online retailer Rakuten and a number of other Japanese companies and planned to relaunch its services from Chubu International Airport, near Nagoya, this summer.

“I understand that the bureaucracy side of the procedure is slowing things down,” Geoffrey Tudor, an analyst for Japan Aviation Management Research, told TTG Asia e-Daily. “It is taking more time than they expected to receive approval to operate because of the meticulousness of the transport ministry.”

TTG Asia e-Daily understands that this likely pushes AirAsia Japan’s launch into next year.

It has been suggested that the Japanese authorities are being even more careful than usual after AirAsia’s flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea while en route from Surabaya to Singapore in December.

Given the rapid expansion of the sector, LCCs operating out of Japan are having problems recruiting sufficient qualified pilots and also struggling with Japan’s high operating costs. Peach, which flies primarily from Osaka’s Kansai airport, is the only budget airline close to being in the black.

BECOMING the first airline to operate the world’s newest aircraft to the Asia-Pacific region, Qatar Airways’ inaugural Airbus A350 XWB service from Doha landed in Singapore Changi Airport yesterday.

The airline is the global launch customer for the aircraft and remains the only airline to currently fly the wide-body A350 XWB so far. Following Frankfurt, Singapore marks the second route for the aircraft.

The A350 WXB features the Oryx entertainment system with up to 2,000 entertainment options, advanced air-conditioning technology and LED mood lighting, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity.

Qatar Airways currently operates a twice-daily service to Singapore with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Starting June 1, Qatar Airways will add one more daily flight to Singapore, with all three daily flights operating on the A350 XWB by mid-August.

Flights from Singapore will leave for Doha at 02.30, 10.30 and 21.20 every day, while flights will depart Doha for Singapore at 02.25, 07.00 and 20.25 daily.

TTG Asia Media was crowned Trade Media of the Year and Mobile App of the Year (Merit) at the MPAS Awards 2015 last evening at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore.

“This is a huge honour for the team. Both wins are an affirmation to our dedication of being Asia-Pacific’s leading travel trade business resource, as well as a nod to our achievements in the digital space,” said Michael Chow, publisher of TTG Travel Trade Publishing that carries eight titles including TTG Asia, that span leisure trade, corporate travel, MICE and luxury travel domains.

This annual publishing industry awards event was attended by representatives from The Worldwide Magazine Media Association, The World Association of Newspapers and New Publishers, Media Development Authority of Singapore and members of Singapore’s magazine media publishing industry.

ANOTHER Quantum-class ship is on the way for Royal Caribbean Cruises following “remarkable response” from industry partners and consumers alike to its earlier Quantum-class ships.

The cruise company last week said it has inked an agreement with Germany’s Meyer Werft for the fourth Quantum-class vessel to be delivered in 2019.

Richard D Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said in a press statement: “We have received a remarkable response from travel consultant partners and travellers, and we are thrilled that we’ll be able to deliver another revolutionary ship with our partners at Meyer Werft.”

The order is still pending the completion of customary conditions including financing.

While Royal Caribbean did not share specific details on what amenities the fourth Quantum-class ship will have, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley, said it would be a “trailblazer in smart-ship design and vacation innovation”.

Royal Caribbean cruises owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, CDF Croisières de France, and TUI Cruises through a 50 per cent joint venture.

ALL Nippon Airways (ANA) and Hilton Worldwide have teamed up in a first-of-its-kind partnership for new airline lounges and in-flight services.

Initially to be introduced on ANA’s flights between Narita and Haneda airports, and Honolulu, the Experience More partnership will be introduced on June 1 and run through the end of the summer holiday season on August 31.

Under the programme, travellers leaving Japan for Hawaii can begin their holiday before they even board the aircraft – a new menu in the airline lounge created by chefs at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort will offer “an authentic taste of Hawaii”.

Once aboard the aircraft, travellers in both economy and business class on all ANA flights between Tokyo and Honolulu will be served more Hawaiian-inspired meals and will be issued with a guidebook that has been commissioned for the partnership and provides details and recommendations on places to eat and sightseeing spots.

The companies say this is the first part of a three-phase collaboration which is scheduled to run until 2017. Should it prove successful, however, it is likely to be continued and extended to additional routes.

AFTER an eight-month-long renovation to its Main Tower and Executive Wing, Carlton Hotel Singapore has opened its doors once more.

The hotel, which restarted operations in February 2015, now boasts 940 guestrooms, two Club Lounges, fully equipped meeting and event spaces, four F&B outlets, a swimming pool, gym, spa, salon and retail outlets.

Carlton Hotel Singapore is also commemorating Singapore’s 50^th year of independence with a special SG50 promotion.

Guests who stay at the hotel between August 7 and 10 will receive half-price discounts on Best Flexi Rates and buffet breakfast rates.

The SG50 Package includes free high-speed Wi-Fi, half-price off walk-in buffet breakfast, free gym and sauna use, free yoga class (on Saturdays from 08.00 to 09.00), 10 per cent off LifeSpa treatments, free parking for in-house guests, and late check-out at 15.00 if available.

The promotion is only valid for bookings via the hotel website and subject to service charge and GST.

SHOPPING is becoming less of a focus for Chinese tourists as they increasingly gravitate towards cultural experiences, according to latest data.

According to insights by GfK and ForwardKeys, South Korea, Thailand and Japan remain the top three travel destinations for Chinese holidaymakers with huge spikes in advanced bookings found for the April to September period.

Air ticket purchases to South Korea have increased by 85 per cent over the same period last year, and Thailand and Japan have registered increased bookings by 60 and 50 per cent respectively.

For the Chinese, countries like Japan and Thailand are cultural destinations and the continued increase in interest likely signals a shift in Chinese travel preferences.

Furthermore, both countries have eased requirements for Chinese travellers and this has “positively impacted tourism”, said Olivier Jager, CEO of ForwardKeys.

On the other hand, the number of visitors to Hong Kong for the April-September period has plunged by 48 per cent.

Laurens Van Den Oever, global lead for travel and hospitality, GfK, said in a press statement: “Trips to Hong Kong from China are down, affected to some degree by the yellow umbrella protest that took place over an extended period of time in the fourth quarter of last year.

“A GfK study on the destination image of the top five Asian countries among Chinese reported that the key draw of Hong Kong is shopping; and the decline in tourist numbers could mean that shopping is no longer a priority for mainlanders.”

THE airline formerly known as Tigerair Philippines is signalling a change in fortunes and direction through its rebrand to Cebgo, the budget carrier announced yesterday.

Acquired in its entirety by Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) in March 2014, Tigerair Philippines will now operate as Cebgo and continue to fly from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 and Clark International Airport to its 16 destinations.

Cebgo’s new identity includes a new logo in CEB colours to reflect its ties to parent company CEB, and flight and ground crew will don Cebgo uniforms in the near future.

“The new Cebgo brand clearly identifies us as part of the CEB group, and streamlines our operations further. Cebgo will continue to leverage on CEB’s distribution channels and network, and work together to serve more guests,” said Michael Ivan Shau, Cebgo president and CEO, in a press release.

Following CEB’s acquisition of the LCC in March last year, Cebgo has trimmed its financial losses and introduced 10 new services.

The airline has 55 aircraft in its fleet and is scheduled to take delivery of seven more Airbus A320s and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft by 2021.