SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) today announced it would invest US$325 million to upgrade the cabins of 19 of its B777-300ERs by September 2016, even as it noted in its financial report yesterday that the aviation market will remain challenging, with intense competition in many areas and economic uncertainty in key markets.

First class passengers can expect seats with a fixed-back shell design and curved side panels for added privacy, an ergonomically sculpted cushion and adjustable headrest, customised in-seat lighting, and seats 35 inches in width with an increased bed length of 82 inches.

In business class, seats will feature a greater recline at 132 degrees, an improved ergonomic seat cushion, two new seating positions and more stowage space.

Economy class seats will come with more personal space, leg room, new backrest cushions with side bolsters for better support and an ergonomically sculpted headrest cushion.

SIA’s latest KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system will also be upgraded with the latest hardware offerings and an intuitive graphical user interface.

SIA reported an operating profit of S$259.3 million (US$207.8 million) for the financial year ending March 31, 2014, up 13.1 per cent over the year before.

The group’s parent airline, SIA, recorded an improved operating performance of S$69 million, a 36.9 per cent rise to S$256 million. However, SilkAir reported an operating profit that was S$62 million lower as passenger carriage growth fell behind capacity increases.

SIA carried 18.6 million passengers, 2.3 per cent more than the last year, although passenger load factor fell by 0.4 percentage points to 78.9 per cent due to higher passenger capacity. SilkAir saw a four percentage point drop in passenger load factor to 69.6 per cent.

According to the release by SIA: “Passenger bookings in the current quarter are expected to match the planned increase in capacity. However, yields are expected to remain under pressure due to promotional activities undertaken to support loads and other airlines offering aggressive fares while increasing capacity.”

Fuel prices are expected to remain high.

THE PATA Singapore Chapter launched the Travel Industry Pioneers (TIPSTER) initiative last night night to harness the collective knowledge and experience of active and retired industry veterans to attract and groom a new generation.

Robin Yap, PATA Singapore Chapter deputy chairman and chairman of activities, told TTG Asia e-Daily about 60 members and supporters signed up for the PATA Singapore Chapter’s Walk with Travel Industry Pioneers, supported by The Travel Corporation (TCC).

The Singapore chapter plans to launch the Young Industry Professionals (YIPPIES) group next month, using TCC’s database to target those who have travelled on Contiki and are working in the industry.

Yap said: “The aim is to bring the two groups together in a forum to discuss how the industry can attract and groom a new generation, and we hope to reach out to at least 100 YIPPIES.”

“While the young have new ideas and the entrepreneurial spirit, it’s important for them to have a good foundation to produce products that the market wants and they can sell.

“Learning from the TIPSTERs about operations, challenges and opportunities, we hope will give YIPPIES a better insight,” he added.

VIETJET Air has embarked on an ambitious phase of growth as it increases the number of domestic and international flights, starts up new airlines and mulls various business models.

Speaking with TTG Asia e-Daily on the sidelines of a media event for the LCC’s new Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)-Singapore service, managing director Luu Duc Khanh said: “Geography favours air travel in Vietnam as it allows a 13-hour train ride to be reduced to a flight time of just 1.5 hours. Vietnam’s population is youthful and living standard is growing strongly.”

The airline’s HCMC-Singapore flights commence May 23, while direct services from Hanoi, Danang, Hue and Phu Quoc are also being studied. On May 28, it will boost frequencies on Hanoi-Danang (three to four times daily) and Hanoi-Nha Trang (one to thrice daily).

Regionally, VietJet expects to launch Thailand-based start-up, Thai VietJet, in September and is in talks with an existing Myanmar carrier to establish an LCC in Myanmar.

Disclosing that Japan is looking to waive visa requirement for Vietnamese citizens later this year, Luu said flights to Japan could materialise by end-2014 or early 2015 if so.

He added that the airline has set its sights firmly on adding more charter destinations in North Asia with Hong Kong, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Osaka and Tokyo under consideration, while converting charter flights to Kunming into scheduled flights.

VietJet is also eyeing the possibility of running longhaul flights to the US, Europe and Australia to tap the large pool of overseas Vietnamese, and studying if its current LCC model, a hybrid model or full-service carrier would best serve this segment.

Meanwhile, it is working on a new “de facto business class service” product for flights and agreements with various GDSs.

At the Singapore Airshow in February, VietJet placed an order for 63 Airbus aircraft (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 12, 2014).

The Travel Corporation (TTC) Asia, has entered the China market with a Chinese-branded Trafalgar guided holiday programme to Europe and the US, and is working with Shanghai CITS as its general sales agent.

TTC first penetrated the China market with its English-language, global programme three years ago but the Trafalgar programme for China, launched two months ago, is a dedicated product with a brochure in Chinese and a Chinese-speaking tour director.

TTC Asia’s president Robin Yap noted: “The scheduled guided holiday product is filling a gap in China, and Trafalgar is targeting the mid-segment comprising professionals in their 30s and 40s looking to travel with an international travel company offering and meeting international standards and quality.”

“The Trafalgar Be My Guest concept, which offers an ‘authentic’ travel experience – such as dining with the locals and having a home-cooked meal, learning how to make a pizza or gelato, etc – is a key selling point, and it’s what the increasingly affluent mid-segment is after.”

TTC is now training and working with Shanghai CITS, which operates 700 outlets, and Yap said response to TTC’s Europe and US programmes has been very positive.

“With the introduction of Trafalgar’s eight Europe and eight US itineraries and TTC’s guarantee of the right hotel and the right place, there is no need for travel agencies to contact and contract; and we pay a good commission,” he added.

Further expansion to the key cities of Beijing and Guangzhou in 2015 are in the pipeline.

AGENCIES can now book more than 300 luxury villas on the Asian Trails website, thanks to a new tie-up with Thailand Holiday Homes.

Thailand Holiday Home’s newly designed website ­– featuring high-quality pictures, descriptions, videos and instant confirmation for most properties – has been incorporated by Asian Trails Thailand on www.asiantrails.travel.

Bookings and payments will be handled directly by Thailand Holiday Home’s reservation staff.

Thailand Holiday Homes was founded more than 11 years ago, and has a portfolio comprising serviced luxury villas in Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Pattaya, ranging from one-bedroom cottages to impressive seven-bedroom mansions with swimming pools and tennis courts.

Villas must be rented for a minimum stay of three days, and come fully furnished and staffed.

BEST Western International’s second hotel in Tokyo has thrown open its doors to welcome guests, offering convenient access to popular attractions Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo SkyTree.

The 184-room Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai is located in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward, minutes away from the Nishi-kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.

Glenn de Souza, vice president of international operations for Asia & the Middle East, Best Western International, said: “With convenient links to Tokyo’s main business district and excellent facilities for the corporate market, we expect this superb hotel to be extremely popular with Japanese business travellers.

“(In addition), connections to the lively retail and entertainment districts of Marunouchi and Ginza, as well as nearby attractions like Tokyo Disneyland, make Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai an excellent option for Tokyo’s rising number of leisure visitors,” he continued.

Amenities available at the midscale Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai include flatscreen LED TVs, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant serving Japanese and international fare, and meeting space for up to 80 pax.

The hotel is Best Western’s second property in Tokyo after the 206-key Best Western Shinjuku Astina Hotel. The hotel chain operates 16 hotels across 12 Japanese cities.

BUSINESS is back to normal in Thailand’s northernmost province following a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Chiang Rai’s Phan district on Monday evening that rocked the region with a series of aftershocks.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that cracks have appeared on roads in the area, namely the Highway Mae Lao-Mae Suai and Highway 118 linking Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.

However, major tourist attractions in Chiang Rai remain open, with the exception of the famous Wat Rong Khun (also known as the White Temple), which suffered substantial damage and is currently closed for repairs.

Inbound operators also observed minimal impact from the earthquake. Exotissimo Travel is “continuing with tours as normal” in the northern region, said Thailand general manager Michael Lynden-Bell; clients can still visit the grounds of Wat Rong Khun but can no longer enter the temple.

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, located about 100km from the epicentre in Phan district, did not experience any disruption to business and access to the resort remains unaffected, said general manager Christian Oliver Zunk.