SINGAPORE Changi Airport is renewing passenger facilities in Terminal 2 to handle some 790 extra weekly flights when its Budget Terminal closes in September.

The Budget Terminal, which caters solely to low-cost carriers, is scheduled to cease operations at 02.00 on September 25, Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced in a statement. The closure would make way for the construction of a fourth terminal.

The six airlines currently operating at the terminal – Berjaya Air, Cebu Pacific, Firefly, Mandala Airlines, South East Asian Airlines and Tiger Airways – will begin operations at Terminal 2 the same day.

CAG is already beefing up infrastructure and manpower in Terminal 2 to accommodate the surge in passengers.

More automated immigration gantries are being added, the taxi waiting area in the arrival hall is slated for expansion, while ground handlers and service staff will undergo training to upkeep standards. Ancillary services will also receive a boost with an increase in the number of trolley retrievers, taxi coordinators and cleaners.

The group is also coordinating efforts with key partners such as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore, Singapore Customs and Certis CISCO to ensure that there is no shortage in manpower, especially during peak hours.

Senior vice-president for airport operations, CAG, Yeo Kia Thye, said: “As with all transitions, there may be initial teething issues and we do ask passengers to be patient with us.”

“We highly recommend that in the initial days following the move to Terminal 2, passengers arrive at the airport early for their flight.”

The Budget Terminal handled about five million passengers last year, while Terminal 2 saw 13 million passing through. Terminal 2 has a maximum capacity of 23 million passengers a year, and managed 21.6 million in 2007, before Terminal 3 opened in January 2008.

TOURISM Malaysia has just released the latest statistics on inbound tourist arrivals. Malaysia welcomed 11.6 million tourists from January to June, registering a growth of 2.4 per cent compared to 11.4 million arrivals for the same period last year.

Correspondingly, total tourist receipts rose by four per cent, generating RM26.8 billion (US$8.6 million) in revenue compared to RM25.7 billion in 2011.

The ASEAN region continued to be the largest contributor of tourist arrivals with a 73.8 per cent share of total arrivals. It also saw a one per cent decrease in arrivals due to the change in the system for recording arrivals, which is now based on nationality, rather than country of residence.

Thus, expatriates working or living in ASEAN countries were not regarded as ASEAN travellers. This was reflected in the decreased arrivals from Singapore (-4.8 per cent), Thailand (-11.5 per cent), Brunei (-1.2 per cent) and Cambodia (-4.2 per cent).

The top 10 generating markets were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, Australia, the Philippines, Japan and the UK. These markets accounted for 87.5 per cent of total tourist arrivals.

The Philippines recorded the highest growth of 45.3 per cent year-on-year, followed by China (34.2 per cent), Japan (32.5 per cent), Indonesia (20 per cent), India (6.9 per cent) and the UK (5.9 per cent).

Longhaul markets that had posted significant growth were Oman (33.2 per cent), Russia (28.2 per cent), France (20.6 per cent), the US (18.9 per cent), South Korea (18 per cent), Kuwait (17.4 per cent) and Denmark (15.7 per cent).

Saudi Arabia saw a 71.7 per cent increase in arrivals because of a new rule that requires all outgoing travellers to own individual passports. Prior to this ruling, children travelled on their parent’s passports. Two periods of long holidays – January to March and June to July – also contributed to the increase in arrivals.

THOMAS Cook has completed the sale of a 76.69 per cent stake in its India operations to Fairbridge Capital Mauritius, a subsidiary of Toronto-based financial services holding company, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

At a general meeting held on August 9, Thomas Cook shareholders sealed the deal with an overwhelming 99.99 per cent vote in favour of the transaction.

Managing director of Thomas Cook India, Madhavan Menon, said: “Thomas Cook India and Fairbridge Capital share similar values and beliefs and we are confident that the new ownership will build on the powerful growth momentum we have exhibited over the years.”

On the company’s future direction after the stake sale, he said: “Our focus would be to continually develop our core businesses and add further breadth and depth to our product-service portfolio.”

ONLINE travel agency Viator has partnered with Ezeego1.com to sell international tours and other travel products through the B2B and B2C channels of Ezeego1.com.

Initially, the two OTAs will offer products through Ezeego1.com’s websites in India and Australia, and subsequently in the US, Gulf countries and Taiwan.

Apart from the regular integrated packaged tours, Ezeego1.com will introduce the option to book only-sightseeing tours and activities on its website, aimed at clients who prefer to book their airfare and hotels separately.

Neelu Singh, CEO, Ezeego1.com, said: “Viator’s global selection of destination activities, delivered through Ezeego1.com’s technology platform, will help our clients and travel trade partners to create destination experiences.”

Viator’s research findings have revealed that travel bookers in India – both offline and online – are keen to explore new destinations and experiences, and tend to depend on India’s OTAs for quicker decision making, purchase and delivery.

Ken Frohling, vice-president, business development, Viator, said: “India represents a key market for Viator as a result of both the rapidly increasing number of travellers and enhanced adoption of online buying platforms. Working with Ezeego1.com will provide us with a meaningful entry into this growing market.”

BT Ramnani, director, Kolkata-based Vensimal World Travel, welcomed the collaboration, saying: “The more the merrier, as we can have greater access to a wider range of products globally and offer them to our clients.”

THE Philippines’ Cebu Pacific (CEB) will inaugurate flight services to the South-east Asian cities of Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur from Cebu this December.

Twice-weekly flights from Cebu to the Thai capital will commence December 8, shortly followed by a twice-weekly Cebu-Kuala Lumpur connection on the very next day.

“We are proud to launch two new international services from our Cebu hub. We look forward to providing our services to foreign tourists and overseas Filipino workers and ultimately boosting trade and tourism between Cebu, Thailand and Malaysia,” said CEB vice-president for marketing and distribution, Candice Iyog.

To introduce travellers to the new routes, CEB is holding a seat sale until September 2. The promotion is valid for travel between December 8 this year and February 28, 2013, and applies to CEB flights on other routes.

The airline currently operates four services from its base in Cebu to Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea’s Incheon and Busan.

CEB had also announced earlier on August 29, that it has welcomed the delivery of its latest aircraft, an Airbus A320, which will be used to expand the airline’s operations in Greater China. CEB will launch twice-weekly direct services between Hong Kong and Iloilo on November 8.

* In its press release, Cebu Pacific said it was the Philippines’ largest national flag carrier. Originally included in our copy, we have now removed the phrase.