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China eyes high-speed rail links with Europe, India, Russia 10-Mar-2010
China is reportedly in negotiations which could see the economic behemoth build a high-speed railway connecting its capital with the United Kingdom, Russia and Southeast Asia.
The new connections could potentially see passengers reach London from Beijing within two days, reports The Telegraph in London, who cites a source who is a senior consultant on China’s domestic high-speed rail project.
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Garuda adds capacity to BKK 10-Mar-2010
From the beginning of summer schedule, 28 March, Garuda Indonesia will deploy a new B737-800NG on its Bangkok-Jakarta route. The change boosts seat capacity by 70%.
Garuda phases out a 96-seat B737-500 for the new 162-seat B737-800 that has 12 seats in business class and 150 in economy.
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Indonesia offers grace period on visa-on-arrival switch 10-Mar-2010
Indonesian resort destinations Batam, Bintan and Karimun have been given a transition period of three months to apply the single Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility. The government had announced regulations in January to remove the US$10 one-week VoA and leaving only the 30-day VoA costing US$25, a move that raised concerns in the three destinations as regional travellers tend to stay less than a week.
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Only in Oz’ launch targets MATTA Fair visitors 10-Mar-2010
Tourism Australia has teamed up with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to sharpen the destination’s appeal, particularly to attract first-time visitors. The ‘Only in Oz Holidays’ campaign launched yesterday to boost Australia’s appeal over rival destinations will feature the launch of air and ground packages at this weekend’s MATTA Fair for consumers in Kuala Lumpur. Australian deals at the fair will kick off with MAS’ all-inclusive fares from as low as RM649 (US$195) to Australia, while Aussie Specialist
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Cathay back to profit after 2008’s record loss 10-Mar-2010
Fuel hedging, cost-cutting and the sale of shares in an aircraft maintenance company helped Cathay Pacific Group return from its biggest-ever loss the previous year to profit in 2009. The group, which comprises Asia’s third-largest airline and Dragonair, booked a full-year profit HK$4.7 billion (US$605 million) compared with 2008’s record HK$8.6 billion loss, largely the result of fuel hedging bets going the wrong way. While the group had earlier reported a steady pick-up in passenger numbers, both
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Malaysia Airlines adds flights 9-Mar-2010
Malaysia Airlines adds frequencies on its Paris route from five times weekly to daily, effective 28 March.
From Kuala Lumpur, the flight departs at 2335 and arrives in Paris at 0640. Thai passengers who are connecting with this service fly MH783 from Suvarnabhumi Airport departing at 1705 and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 2015. The flight from Paris returns to Kuala Lumpur at 0635 allowing Thai travellers
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Singapore guns for double-digit growth in 2010 8-Mar-2010
Backed a new brand and its two integrated resorts, Singapore has set high arrivals and revenue targets for this year.
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Aw Kah Peng is aiming for a 19 to 29 per cent hike in visitor arrivals, translating to 11.5 million to 12.5 million, and a staggering 41 to 49 per cent boost in tourism receipts to S$17.5 to S$18.5 billion (US$13.2 billion).
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Chinese Exchange Rate Unlikely To Change 8-Mar-2010
China’s central bank governor indicated Saturday that the government was unlikely to detach the value of China’s currency from that of the US dollar anytime soon, echoing Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s statement on Friday that exchange rates would remain “basically stable” for now.
Many Western economists and leaders, including US President Barack Obama, have called for China to let its currency, the renminbi, appreciate against the dollar, arguing that an artificially cheap renminbi
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Bank of Japan Faces Choice on Deflation in Coming Months 8-Mar-2010
Japan’s central bank looks more likely to ease monetary policy further in coming months, analysts say, though the finance minister has offered few hints on the possibility of additional monetary easing steps at the Bank of Japan's next policy board meeting.
“I haven’t heard such a message directly from the BOJ. But both the government and the bank share the view that each has to make its own effort to beat deflation,” Naoto Kan said at a regular news
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PG and VISA giveaway tickets 8-Mar-2010
Bangkok Airways partners with VISA to give Thai cardholders discounts on fares when buying two economy class tickets.
VISA Premium Privilege is valid for VISA Platinum, VISA Signature and VISA Infinite cardholders and for bookings made via www.bangkokair.com only.
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THAI upgrades channel business 8-Mar-2010
Thai Airways International says it will use its 50th anniversary celebrations to extend its reach through website and mobile phone communications.
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Malaysia Airlines boosted after sweeping reforms 8-Mar-2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Not long ago, Malaysia Airlines was on life support, forced to sell off its headquarters and firing thousands of staff to avoid bankruptcy, but analysts are now bullish about its prospects.
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Chinese airline says president under police probe 8-Mar-2010
SHANGHAI : The president of Shenzhen Airlines, China's fifth-biggest carrier, has been removed from his position and is under police investigation for alleged "economic crimes", the carrier said Monday.
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Singapore Hopes Casinos Will Boost Tourism Revenue 8-Mar-2010
Visitor arrivals to Singapore may rise by as much as 30 percent this year, helped by an economic recovery in Asia and the lure of two new multi-billion dollar casinos, the government said on Friday. Genting Group’s $4.7 billion Resorts World opened in February, and Las Vegas Sands will partially open its $5.5 billion casino in April as part of Singapore’s attempt to expand its tourism industry to diversify its economy. Singapore Tourism Board Chief Executive Aw Kah Peng told a conference the
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Asia airfares rise, bucking economic slump 4-Mar-2010
Published airfares rose one per cent across Asia-Pacific year-on-year, according to fourth quarter 2009 results of American Express Business Travel Monitor.
The survey also revealed price increases across business and economy classes between the third and fourth quarters of 2009, which belied expectations for significant savings as a result of the global financial slump.
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AirAsia says it will upgrade call centres 4-Mar-2010
AirAsia has just announced that it has launched call centre upgrades throughout Malaysia, and will be offering a new 24-hour self-service option, as well as a new “premium” service line.
A brand new “Premium Customer Service Line” will be introduced by AirAsia, which will be targeting to engage customers within 29 seconds of connection. The catch is that it will come with a price tag of MYR1.95 per minute.
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Apple Sues Maker of Google Smartphone in Battle Over Sector 4-Mar-2010
Apple has relied on slick applications, and even slicker advertisements, to promote the iPhone and maintain its advantage over rivals like Google in the battle to rule the next generation of smartphones.
But the fight may come down to something more provincial: who has the best lawyers.
On Tuesday, Apple sued HTC, the Taiwanese company that is the largest maker of smartphones running Google’s Android operating system, including the Nexus One, designed and sold by Google.
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TG drops surcharges 4-Mar-2010
Thai Airways International will cancel fuel surcharge on domestic routes, 1 April, but the unpopular surcharge will remain on international routes throughout this year.
Thai executive vice president, commercial, Pruet Boobphakam, told TTR Weekly that effective, 1 April, the fuel surcharge would end, but it was likely that some fares would be revised to absorb part or all of the surcharge.
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Air China to Open New Premium Lounge in Guangzhou 3-Mar-2010
On the March 3rd, Air China opened a new premium lounge meeting Star Alliance standards at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. This is another important initiative jointly taken by Air China and Baiyun Airport to improve premium services and offer more convenience to the customers at the airport. Mr. Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO, Mr. Jeffrey Goh and Mr. Hock Lye Lee, Star Alliance Vice Presidents, Mr. Zhu Xiaodan, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Governor of
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Myanmar arrivals increase 3-Mar-2010
Visitor arrivals to Myanmar improved by 17.64% during 2009 topping 227,421 arrivals, according to the Myanmar Marketing Committee latest report.
Tourists from Asia peaked at 147,708, an increase from 128,279 in 2008, which represented 64.95% of the inbound market share. West Europe was the second largest supplier with 47,161 arrivals, while there were 16,608 tourists from North America.
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New Indonesian airports face delays, Lombok airport launch behind schedule 2-Mar-2010
Lombok International Airport, originally scheduled for a three-month trial from end-March, has run into delays.
Speaking to Anantara News Agency, West Nusa Tenggara’s Transportation, Communication and Information Office manager Baharudin attributed the delay to land issues concerning the bypass connecting the airport to the rest of Lombok.
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Chile troops sent to quell post-quake unrest 1-Mar-2010
Angry and hungry Chileans set fire to shops in the quake-hit city of Concecpion Monday as President Michelle Bachelet rushed 5,000 extra troops to the disaster zone to maintain order.
Huge flames and clouds of black smoke billowed out over Chile's second city even as rescue teams picked through the debris to try to reach survivors whose anguished cries could be heard through the rubble.
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Viva Macau Airlines waives bag-check fee for all flights 1-Mar-2010
Viva Macau Airlines, Macau’s international award-winning airline, has announced that it will waive bag-check fees for all flights across its entire network effective 1st March. Passengers travelling on Viva Macau Airlines will enjoy 15kg of checked-in luggage, plus 7kg of cabin baggage allowance, at zero cost!
Dr Reg Macdonald, Viva Macau Airlines CEO said, “We have received a lot of positive feedback
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