QANTAS is restructuring its Asian network as its partnership with Emirates gears up for take off soon (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 17, 2013).

Qantas International CEO, Simon Hickey, said: “Our first step has been to restructure existing services to Asia now that they are no longer tied to onward links to Europe. The number of dedicated seats on Qantas services to Hong Kong and Singapore is increasing significantly, because capacity previously set aside for customers going to Europe via these hubs can be freed up.”

Among the key changes, which will be implemented from March 31 onwards, include better access to the key Asian hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore, with a dedicated capacity increase of around 10 per cent and 40 per cent respectively on the Qantas network; earlier arrival times into Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, with flights brought forward by up to three hours to increase the number of onward connections; as well as featuring Kuala Lumpur as a new destination via the combined Qantas-Emirates network.

Twice-daily Perth-Singapore services will be reduced to once per day from April 15, while Adelaide-Singapore services and Perth-Hong Kong services will cease from April 14 and March 31 respectively.

By June 24, Qantas will increase its Brisbane-Hong Kong flights from four to seven a week and ramp up frequency on the Sydney-Singapore route from thrice-weekly to daily.

Qantas will also look at expanding its Asian network using the Qantas Group’s B787-9 options from 2016. Direct destinations under consideration include Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda.

Following a A$9 million (US$9.4 million) investment, the new Qantas lounge in Singapore will open on March 31 and the new Hong Kong First lounge is scheduled to launch this September. The carrier is also examining a refresh of its international A330 fleet to include a lie-flat bed in Business Class.

Meanwhile, Qantas has also brought forward the end date for its loss-making Frankfurt services by six months to April 15.

ASIA to Africa (A to A) Safaris has opened an office in Singapore to tap the growing demand for African safari vacations in the country as well as the region.

A to A Safaris organises safaris to 70 exclusive camping destinations in 13 Southern and East African nations, including Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Customised packages are priced from around US$1,000 per person per day, inclusive of all accommodation, meals, outings, land transport and domestic flights within Africa, but excluding airfare from Asia.

Founded by Victor Dizon and Jose Cortes in 2002 and joined by Shy Perez-Sala in 2004, A to A Safaris boasts offices in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Dizon, who is heading the Singapore office, said: “Singapore is an obvious choice for us to set up a third office. We have been servicing Singapore clients from Hong Kong, and the time has come to establish our presence in what has become a significant market for us. We are seeing interest from locals and expats from here and the surrounding region.”

Statistics from the South African tourist authorities showed that Asian visitors to Africa grew by about 30 per cent annually over the past three years.

A to A Safaris’ strong strategic partnerships with top travel operators in Southern and East Africa allow preferred access to leading safari camps, lodges and game reserves, Dizon said. “Since we don’t own these facilities, we have no vested interest and have the liberty to focus entirely on what a client wishes to experience and to plan an individually customised safari. We don’t subscribe to a ‘one size fits all’ philosophy.”

GARUDA Indonesia will commence six weekly services from Jakarta to London’s Gatwick Airport in the fourth quarter of 2013, as part of its international network development strategy.

Using the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft – which Garuda is taking first delivery for this year – the Jakarta-London route will mark the airline’s second Europe service after Jakarta-Abu Dhabi-Amsterdam (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 7, 2012).

Garuda president and CEO, Emirsyah Satar, said the launch of the new route would foster economic activities between Indonesia and the UK, in addition to opening up direct access between South-east Asia and Europe.

Gatwick was selected as the operational airport for “its vast network and choice of accessibilities with other European countries”, said Emirsyah.

Added Gatwick Airport’s chief executive Stewart Wingate: “It is not only because of the significant potential Indonesian business development for the UK, but also because of the absence of direct air links connecting both countries (so far).”

British prime minister David Cameron was also quoted by the airline’s media release as saying that the direct route between the two countries would enable the UK’s business sector to tap the fast-growing Indonesian economy while stimulating Indonesia to be more competitive on the global arena.

Garuda’s B777-300ER aircraft will have 314 seats, comprising eight First Class, 38 Business Class and 268 Economy Class, and will be equipped with Wi-Fi facilities and a Chef on Board service in its First Class cabin.

TRAFFIC from China into the Philippines is showing signs of a comeback, as evidenced from the increased group tour bookings and resumption of charter flights in the run-up to the Lunar New Year period.

Philippine Airlines will start charter flights from Chengdu to Kalibo today and will offer daily charter flights between Hong Kong and Cebu from February 10 to 16.

Zest Air launched charter flights from Shanghai to Kalibo on January 11, while it increased the frequency of its regular Shanghai-Manila flights to four times weekly since last December.

Airphil Express is also expected to start charter flights from Hangzhou and Guangzhou to Kalibo in May 2013, in addition to its charter services from Guangzhou and Shanghai to Cebu since January 24 and from Shanghai to Kalibo since November 30.

“Whereas before there were Chinese airlines (launching flights), now there are more local airlines,” according to a spokesperson from the Philippine Department of Tourism.

However, Performance Travel & Tours’ assistant operations manager, Aileen Cada, estimated that the inbound traffic from China “has recovered only up to 75 per cent of the levels prior to the May-October 2012 travel ban (imposed by China)”.

During the Lunar New Year period in January 2012, the Philippines welcomed 42,868 Chinese visitors, and arrivals from China surpassed the 25,000 mark each month up until the travel ban. Following that, numbers dipped sharply to less than 20,000 monthly and only improved slightly when the ban was lifted.

FOLLOWING a robust start to 2013 that saw the hospitality firm stepping up its presence overseas (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 15, 2013), Dusit International is now turning its sights closer to home with a new DusitD2 hotel in Khao Yai, Thailand.

Scheduled to open in 4Q2014, DusitD2 Khao Yai will be part of Phuphatara Khao Yai, a residential development by Vilailux Development, which plans to build villas and condominiums in addition to the hotel in the Khao Yai area.

Featuring a winery/vineyard concept, the 79-room hotel boasts a grill restaurant, a banquet-style meeting room, a lawn for outdoor events, a hot spring spa and a multi-purpose library.

“Offering classic Thai hospitality with a modern and chic touch, DusitD2 is one of the most promising brands of the Dusit family,” said Dusit International managing director and CEO, Chanin Donavanik.

SICHUAN Airlines will begin thrice-weekly flights between Melbourne and Chengdu on February 28, marking the first direct flights between Australia and western China.

Using Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, it will provide an additional 76,440 seats every year.

Melbourne Airport CEO, Chris Woodruff, said: “The commencement of Sichuan Airlines’ flights follows the signing of a sister-airport agreement between Melbourne Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport last year, in which we committed to strengthening the relationship between our airports as well as securing more direct flights between our respective regions.

“Visitors from China will no longer have to transit through other cities en route to Australia, providing Melbourne and Victoria with a unique advantage for visitors from Sichuan and western China.”

Sichuan Airlines had started selling tickets for the new Chengdu-Melbourne service using the imagery of fairy penguins on Phillip Island, Woodruff added.

ETIHAD Airways has launched new daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane via Singapore, a booster shot for its thrice-weekly Brisbane-Singapore connections which have been in operation since 2007.

James Hogan, president and CEO, Etihad Airways, said the new daily service would add 1,048 seats per week on the Abu Dhabi-Singapore-Brisbane route.

“The additional capacity puts Etihad Airways in a stronger than ever position in the Singapore and Australian markets. It enables us to compete on a more level playing field than in the past,” he said.

The airline has deployed an Airbus A330-200 aircraft for the route, configured in two classes with 22 seats is business class and 240 in economy.

The flight departs Abu Dhabi at 10.25 daily, arriving in Singapore at 22.10. It departs Singapore at 23.40 and touches down in Brisbane at 09.40 the next day.

Meanwhile, flights take off from Brisbane at 11.55 daily to reach Singapore at 18.10 the day before. Abu Dhabi-bound flights depart Singapore at 19.45 and will land in Abu Dhabi at 23.30 the same day.

MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) officially joined the ranks of the oneworld alliance last week, and has started getting cosy with fellow alliance member American Airlines through a new codeshare agreement.

MAS, which operates flights to more than 60 destinations in almost 30 countries, will expand the alliance’s network in South-east Asia.

The airline’s group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said: “Oneworld enables its member airlines to deliver more services and benefits to their customers – particularly frequent flyers – than any airline can on its own. For MAS, joining the alliance will strengthen its competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers an unrivalled alliance global network served by the highest quality partners from each of the world’s key regions.”

Members of MAS’s Enrich frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem reward points when travelling with any member airline. Enrich Platinum and Gold members can also make use of the 550 airport lounges worldwide offered by member airlines.

At the same time, through a codeshare agreement with fellow oneworld alliance member, American Airlines, MAS will extend its reach into the US. American Airlines also stands to benefit from new growth opportunities in South-east Asia.

Following government approvals, MAS will place American Airlines’ code on non-stop flights between Kuala Lumpur and its South-east Asian destinations, as well as flights to European cities such as Paris and London.

Bookings for codeshare flights will begin as early as February 24 for travel beginning March 1, according to a press statement from American Airlines.

Meanwhile, in a bid to celebrate MAS’ entry to the alliance, American Airlines is offering members of its AAdvantage programme double miles whenever they fly an eligible fare on the Asian carrier between February 15 and April 15 this year.