Etihad’s A380 debuts in Thailand

- Etihad celebrates the inaugural A380 service between Abu Dhabi and Bangkok 

- The Residence, the world’s only three-room suite in the sky, is launched to Thailand  

- Daily A380 service brings greater capacity and an enhanced premium experience 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has flown its Airbus A380 into Thailand for the first time. The service introduces The Residence, the world’s only three-room suite in the sky, to Thailand, alongside Etihad’s First Apartments, Business lie-flat seats and Economy cabin.

Daily A380 operations between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Bangkok are now available as the peak winter travel season begins, supporting strong demand for travel between Thailand, the Middle East and Europe. The launch further enhances Etihad’s premium offering across Asia, following the introduction of the A380 on its daily Abu Dhabi–Tokyo service in June 2026.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways, said: “The arrival of our A380 in Bangkok is a significant milestone and another example of how we are investing behind strong customer demand. Thailand is an important premium market for Etihad, and deploying our flagship aircraft allows us to increase capacity while bringing our most distinctive guest experience to the route.

“We see tremendous opportunity across Thailand and the wider Asian market, and our investment in the region reflects our confidence in its continued growth. Bangkok joining our A380 network is an important part of that journey as we expand our capacity, strengthen connectivity through Abu Dhabi and offer guests even more reasons to choose Etihad.” 

The Residence 

At the pinnacle of Etihad’s A380 is The Residence, the world’s only three-room suite in the sky. Accommodating up to two guests, the 125 sq ft private suite features a separate living room with a reclining two-seater sofa, a bedroom with a double bed, and an ensuite bathroom with a full-height shower. Guests can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, luxury bedding and loungewear, premium amenities, and a tailored fine-dining experience supported by dedicated cabin crew. The experience also includes Etihad Chauffeur and access to a private lounge suite in Abu Dhabi.

First

First features nine private apartments arranged across a single aisle, each with sliding doors for greater privacy. The 39 sq ft suite includes a Poltrona Frau leather reclining lounge chair and a separate ottoman that converts into an 80.5" long bed, complemented by full turndown service, luxury bedding, designer loungewear and premium amenities. Guests can also enjoy a 24" touchscreen, a chilled refreshments cabinet, access to an onboard shower room, and an à la carte fine-dining experience accompanied by a premium selection of beverages and boutique wines.

Business 

The upper deck is home to 70 Business seats, each offering direct aisle access and converting into an 80" lie-flat bed. Guests can adjust the seat firmness, enjoy an in-seat massage function and stay entertained through an 18.5" touchscreen, with Wi-Fi connectivity and charging facilities available throughout the journey. The experience is complemented by destination-inspired à la carte dining, a curated selection of premium beverages, and LANEIGE amenities in Etihad’s new Business amenity kit line: the Destination Collection. Business guests can also relax and socialise in The Lobby, Etihad’s serviced lounge and bar area located between the First and Business cabins.

Economy 

The A380 accommodates 415 guests in Economy, with seats offering an 18.95" width, 6" recline and 32" legroom. Every seat features Etihad’s fixed-wing adjustable headrest, an 11.1" touchscreen, USB charging and access to Wi-Fi connectivity. Guests can enjoy complimentary destination-inspired meals or snacks and drinks, with pillows and blankets available on longer flights. Neighbour-Free seating also gives guests the option to enjoy additional personal space during their journey.  

Travellers can also take advantage of Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, extending their journey with a complimentary hotel stay of up to two nights and the opportunity to experience the UAE capital as part of a single itinerary.

Flight schedule – all times local

Flight	From	Departure	To	Arrival	Days	Aircraft
EY402	Abu Dhabi	9.20 pm	Bangkok	6.35 am+1 (next day)	Daily	A380
EY403	Bangkok	8.35 am	Abu Dhabi	12.20 pm	Daily	A380

Malaysia Aviation Group accelerates growth with more choice for guests

Source: MAG. Malaysia Aviation Group announced new routes, more flights on routes and a new in-flight dining option.

With new routes, added frequencies, and in-flight dining innovations, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is building momentum towards becoming one of the world's top 10 global airlines by 2030. 

Malaysia Airlines will start flying daily between Kuala Lumpur and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) from 9 January 2026, bringing the airline's network in Greater China to seven destinations. This expansion reinforces its presence in one of the region's fastest-growing markets for both business and leisure travel.

The airline currently operates flights to Beijing (PKX), Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Xiamen (XMN), Hong Kong (HKG), and Taipei (TPE).

Meanwhile, Firefly will launch new services to Krabi (KBV), Siem Reap (SAI) and Cebu (CEB) from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) Terminal 1 from November 2025. These additions strengthen Firefly's role in enhancing regional connectivity. 

Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group MD of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) said: "With these new routes and expanded frequencies, MAG is strengthening its role as the gateway to Asia and beyond, making it easier for travellers to discover top destinations across the region and further afield. At the same time, we remain focused on delivering a premium in-flight experience that reflects our commitment to Malaysian hospitality. 

"Innovations such as our new vegetarian satay is just one example of how we continue to innovate while staying true to our heritage, offering more variety to meet evolving customer expectations. With the networks we are expanding, the products we are enhancing, and the people driving these efforts, Malaysia Aviation Group is ready to meet the future with confidence and deliver value for our customers and our nation." 

The vegetarian satay will be available on Malaysia Airlines. Made from lion's mane mushroom, the satay will be available for Business Suite and Business Class passengers on selected sectors. This plant-based alternative is infused with the airline's signature marinade and served with cucumber and raw onion, delivering the same rich flavour as traditional satay. 

In addition to new routes, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly will also increase frequencies across their network beginning October 2025. Malaysia Airlines is adding more services to Australia, New Zealand, mainland China, India, the Maldives, and Bangladesh, while Firefly is boosting domestic and regional connectivity to Singapore, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, and Johor Bahru. 

These network expansions are underpinned by MAG's ongoing fleet modernisation strategy. The introduction of the A330neo on select Australia and New Zealand routes offers state-of-the-art comfort, improved fuel efficiency, and an elevated in-flight experience. 

By Q126, Malaysia Airlines will operate the youngest widebody fleet into Australasia, a milestone that underscores both the group's sustainability agenda and its commitment to delivering service excellence with the signature warmth of Malaysian hospitality.

Details

New routes and frequencies (currently available for sale)

 

Malaysia Airlines 

- KUL/Chengdu (TFU) and vice versa   | 7x weekly, (Monday to Sunday), from 9 January 2026

Firefly 

- KUL/Krabi (KBV) and vice versa         | 7x weekly (Monday to Sunday), from 17 November 2025

- KUL/Siem Reap (SAI) and vice versa | 3x weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays), from 27 November 2025 

- KUL/Cebu (CEB) and vice versa         | 5x weekly (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays), from 2 December 2025 

 

Additional flights on Malaysia Airlines

- KUL/Adelaide (ADL) and vice versa          | 2x more, to 7x weekly   | from 1 February 2026

- KUL/Perth (PER) and vice versa                | 2x more, to 14x weekly | from 1 December 2025

- KUL/Melbourne (MEL) and vice versa     | 3x more, to 21x weekly | from 30 October 2025

- KUL/Sydney (SYD) and vice versa             | 3x more, to 21x weekly | from 31 October 2025 

- KUL/Auckland (AKL) and vice versa         | 2x more, to 10x weekly | from 26 October 2025 

- KUL/Xiamen (XMN) and vice versa          | 1x more, to 4x weekly   | from 1 November 2025

- KUL/Trivandrum (TRV) and vice versa     | 2x more, to 7x weekly  | from 1 December 2025

- KUL/Ahmedabad (AMD) and vice versa  | 1x more, to 5x weekly  | from 26 October 2025 

- KUL/Maldives (MLE) and vice versa        | 4x more, to 11x weekly | from 26 October 2025 

- KUL/Dhaka (DAC) and vice versa             | 7x more, to 21x weekly  | from 5 November 2025 

 

 Additional flights on Firefly

 - KUL/Singapore (SIN) and vice versa    | 4x more, to 7x weekly   | since August 2025

- KUL/Johor Bahru (JHB) and vice versa | 3x more, to 7x weekly   | since August 2025

- KUL/Kelantan (KBR) and vice versa      | 3x more, to 7x weekly   | since August 2025

- KUL/Penang (PEN) and vice versa        | 3x more, to 10x weekly  | since August 2025

- KUL/Kuching (KCH) and vice versa       | 3x more, to 11x weekly  | since August 2025  

- KUL/Penang (PEN) and vice versa        | 3x more, to 10x weekly  | since August 2025

- KUL/Sibu (SBW) via and vice versa      | 1x more, to 3x weekly    | since September 2025

- PEN/Langkawi (LGK) and vice versa    | 2x more, to 10x weekly  | 1 January 2026

- Subang (SZB)/JHB and vice versa         | 5x more, to 26x weekly  | 1 December 2025

- SZB/PEN and vice versa                         | 7x more, to 42x weekly  | 1 December 2025

- KUL/Kota Kinabalu (BKI)                        | 7x more, to 14x weekly  | since August 2025
and vice versa 

- KUL/Terengganu (TGG)                          | 4x more, to 7x weekly    | since August 2025
and vice versa 

Get to Banwa Private Island via Ascent Flights Global

Banwa Private Island, a white-sand island in Northeast Palawan, has partnered with Ascent Flights Global to offer safe, private travel. The partnership will offer guests a curated and seamless travel bubble for on-demand private flights using seaplanes, helicopters and private jets as needed.

Source: Banwa Private Island. Banwa Private Island has partnered Ascent Flights Global to offer guests safe, private transport to their accommodation.

Ascent will offer guests the options of taking a 1 hour and 45-minute seaplane flight from Manila, seating up to eight and landing directly in front of Banwa Private Island's house reef.

Alternatively, guests can take a 10-seater helicopter from Manila Ninoy Airport or one of Palawan's three commercial airports: San Vicente, Puerto Princesa or El Nido across the Sulu Sea - to land on Banwa Private Island's heli-lawn.

Ascent also offers both domestic and international arrivals by private jets, be it in Manila or Clark for onward journey with any of their aircraft, or directly to either San Vicente or Puerto Princesa airports. Ascent’s bespoke services include ground handling with meet and greet arrangements, inter-airport transfers, exclusive lounge services and immigration fast-tracking.

Peter Nilsson, CEO of Banwa Private Island said: “We found a great partner in Ascent with our shared goal to deliver exceptional, personalised and intimate guest experiences to our affluent clientele. Our utmost priority is the genuine care and well-being of our guests from their chartered flight to their holiday experience in our informal and intimate island sanctuary. Personal safety and handcrafted travel experiences have become even more important in the luxury travel landscape as we gear up towards the Philippines' borders reopening to international travel."

Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, founder and CEO of Ascent added: “Banwa Private Island’s vision of an enhanced experience by air between Banwa Private Island’s guests’ home, and its remote delicate environment, is dear to us. With this partnership, guests’ experience now starts with a seamless and private bubble. Ascent's dedicated solution for Banwa Private Island, brings a holistic journey by air, like no other, beyond motion. With best-in-class air operations on fuel-efficient aircraft, Banwa Private Island’s guests elevate their journey with peace of mind”.

Located in Northeast Palawan, Banwa Private Island features high-privacy accommodation in lush landscaping and white sands.

Explore:

Contact reservations@banwaprivateisland.com to book a villa.

Air and land transfer bookings are available through emailing banwa@ascent.flights.

Nearly 10,000 flights were suspended in late January to Chinese destinations

Global travel and data analytics specialist Cirium says that nearly 10,000 flights have been suspended since the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus in China in January 2020.

Cirium statistics show that 9,807 scheduled flights within, to and from mainland China did not fly from January 23, 2020. The data spans the period from the day before the first reported flight cancellation to 28 January – the latest day for which figures are available.

The analysis reveals that 92% of all scheduled flights to and from Wuhan – ground zero for the current outbreak – did not fly between January 23 and 28. Of the 2,606 flights that were set to fly in and out of the city during this period, a total of 2,406 services did not take place.

Peter Morris, Chief Economist at Ascend by Cirium, said: “Cirium data clearly shows the dramatic impact that coronavirus is having, with nearly 10,000 scheduled flights to, from and within China being suspended between January 23 and 28.”

Rahul Oberai, MD, APAC at Cirium said: “While the industry is playing its part to help prevent the spread of the virus, the outbreak will inevitably cause significant disruption of schedules and travel patterns in the short and medium term.

“The precedent of the SARS outbreak indicates to us that the underlying demand for travel driven by GDP growth will in time produce a robust recovery. Cirium is closely monitoring the flights and traffic data to keep the market fully informed on developments.”

According to Cirium, a total of 90,607 domestic and international flights were scheduled to operate across mainland China over the six-day period between January 23 and January 28. The 9,807 flights which were cancelled represent 10.8% of the country’s overall scheduled flights.

Cirium’s data also shows that during this period Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines was the most heavily affected carrier by total number flights that did not operate. A total of 1,591 of its services were affected, 1,529 domestic and 62 international.

This was followed by China Southern Airlines with 1,510 flights which did not take off, 1,425 domestic and 85 international. Xiamen Airlines suffered 837 unoperated flights, including 828 domestic and nine international services.

In terms of percentages, 9 Air – a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines – was hit hard. Approximately 77% (46 in total) of all the carrier’s planned international flights did not fly, in addition to 27% (140 in total) of its domestic services between January 23 and January 28.

The airports that experienced the highest number of scheduled flights that did not operate were, as expected, Wuhan (2,406 out of 2,606), as well as Beijing Capital (920 out of 9,113) and Guangzhou (829 out of 8,236), followed by Shanghai Hongqiao and Xi’an to a lesser extent, Cirium said.

The routes with the largest number of unoperated flights were all domestic, with the Beijing-to-Shanghai service topping the list. This was closely followed by routes to and from Wuhan, particularly the highly-popular Wuhan-to-Beijing route.

Cirium’s insights are based on data from the Cirium Core – its aviation and air travel data analytics source. Its dedicated team of expert data analysts continue to assess the impact of the coronavirus on the domestic and international air travel industry in and out of China.

Etiqa launches first-ever free inflight insurance for Singapore travellers

- The first free inflight insurance that includes up to S$50,000 in personal accident coverage

- Provides coverage upon three hours flight delay with an add-on of S$4, across all flights

- Allows instant travel claims encashment via PayNow

Etiqa, Singapore's online insurer, has launched Singapore's first free inflight insurance service for travellers. It also introduced a flight delay add-on for S$4, allowing travellers to receive benefits upon a flight delay of three consecutive hours. The industry average is a delay of six to 12 hours.

All Singapore outbound travellers* are eligible for the free inflight insurance solution, which includes up to S$50,000 in personal accident (inflight accidental death) coverage. In addition, the flight-delay topup allows travellers to claim up to S$300 for flight delays**. This complements Etiqa's existing ePROTECT travel policy coverage, which currently also include coverage for both in-flight and flight delays.

"According to a survey conducted by the Singapore Tourism Board, about 10% of consumers have never purchased travel insurance despite being aware of the importance of a policy," said Sue Chi Kong, CEO, Etiqa Insurance Singapore. "With our extended service offering of a free inflight insurance service, we hope to educate travellers on the value and importance of travel insurance coverage, encouraging them to consider protecting themselves - even when the cost is kept to a minimum, or absolutely free."

According to FlightStats, 20,671 flights were cancelled and 177,352 delayed in Asia-Pacific alone during a 30 day period from 10 February to 12 March 2018. Globally, this number rises to over 60,000 flights cancelled, and over 630,000 flights delayed during the same period. Last year, Etiqa processed more than 1,500 travel claims within one day following the launch of its straight-through claims processes in July 2017. Of these, 17% were claims processed due to travel delays. A real-time flight monitoring system was also implemented at the same time to enable auto-flight delay claims for its customers.

Claims are seamlessly processed through eWallet on TiqConnect, Etiqa's online portal that allows customers to manage their claims and policies. The eWallet balance can be used to purchase new policies, renewals, or encash claims. From 19 March, existing customers can also enjoy instant encashment via PayNow, along with the current encashment via IDEALRAPID (bank transfer)***.

*All Singapore citizens, permanent residents of Singapore or foreigners with a valid work pass, student pass, dependant's pass or long-term visit pass.

**Customers can claim S$50 for every full three consecutive hours of flight delay, with a limit of up to S$300, across all countries except Singapore. For flight delays that occur in Singapore, customers can claim a maximum of S$50 for every full three consecutive hours of flight delay.

***IDEALRAPID, from Etiqa partner DBS, provides fast access to banking services, including to services from the FAST alliance. Instant encashment is a FAST service.

Blanket flight ban for the Samsung Note7, owners currently overseas not addressed

Banners for the Galaxy Note7, taken in Jurong Point on 16 October.

Airlines in Asia Pacific and the Middle East are following the lead of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which issued an emergency order to ban all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices from air transportation in the US on October 14 (October 15 Singapore time), with the ban taking effect on October 15 at noon eastern time (midnight October 16 Singapore time).

“We recognise that banning these phones from airlines will inconvenience some passengers, but the safety of all those aboard an aircraft must take priority,” said US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We are taking this additional step because even one fire incident inflight poses a high risk of severe personal injury and puts many lives at risk.”

“The fire hazard with the original Note7 and with the replacement Note7 is simply too great for anyone to risk it and not respond to this official recall,” said US Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye. “I would like to remind consumers once again to take advantage of the remedies offered, including a full refund.  It’s the right thing to do and the safest thing to do.”

The DOT has also considered the possibility of travellers evading the ban by packing their phone in checked luggage, stating that "anyone violating the ban may be subject to criminal prosecution in addition to fines", paving the way for civil aviation authorities and airlines in other countries to do the same.

Airlines in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East have begun announcing their own bans on the Samsung Note7 on flights, with many of the bans taking effect almost immediately. Etihad has just announced its ban on Facebook, saying:

"Following the global recall by Samsung of its Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones, Etihad Airways is enforcing a total ban on these devices on board its aircraft, as some phones have been installed with faulty lithium batteries, which present a risk of combustion and fire.

"Guest(s) must not carry these smartphones in their checked-in baggage, in cabin baggage, or on their person.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused. However, the safety and security of our passengers and staff is of the utmost importance."

Singapore Airlines has banned the Samsung Note7 on all its flights as of 16 October. A statement on its Facebook page reads:

"In view of the ban of the Galaxy Note 7 device by the US Department of Transportation, Singapore Airlines wishes to inform customers that the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone will be prohibited from being brought on board all our flights on person, in carry-on baggage or checked-in baggage with effect from 16 October, 0000hrs (Singapore Time).

"The smartphone also cannot be shipped as air cargo. Anyone found in possession of the device will be denied boarding."

According to comments on the Facebook post, some passengers had previously been assured that they would be allowed to board a return flight with the device.

Qantas had similarly allowed passengers to board with the device turned off, but also announced a total ban on the Note7 for both Qantas and Jetstar customers on the 15th. A statement on its Facebook page reads:

"Qantas and Jetstar customers are advised that the carriage of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices on-board is prohibited on ALL FLIGHTS effective 12:01am (AEDT) Sunday 16 October 2016. This is due to concerns regarding potential fire risk from the device's battery after a number of incidents worldwide, and follows a ban put in place by regulators overseas. The ban applies to devices being carried onto the aircraft, in carry on baggage as well as check-in luggage. Other Samsung devices are not affected.

"Note: this is updated advice from the previous Qantas Group policy, which allowed carriage of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 provided it was turned off. This restriction has now been broadened to a total ban."

The unprecedented move follows reports that both the originally recalled and the replacement Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices can generate heat and catch fire even when they are powered off. A statement on Samsung's Singapore site says that Samsung and carriers are working to communicate the US Department of Transportation' new order to ban all Galaxy Note7 devices in carry-on and checked baggage on flights.

"We have encouraged airlines to issue similar communications directly to their passengers. Any Galaxy Note7 owner who will be travelling by flight and require a courtesy device can obtain one from the Samsung Customer Service Centre at Westgate or the Samsung Experience Store at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 (departure/transit lounge). Consumers can contact us at 1800-SAMSUNG (7267864) for further assistance. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused and are working hard to expedite the exchange/refund programme in Singapore," Samsung Singapore said in the statement, which does not address the case of owners who were allowed to fly with the Note7, but who might not be able to return with it.

On October 14 Samsung Electronics Singapore announced details of the exchange and refund options for Galaxy Note7 customers and further said that Samsung has stopped sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7, and has consequently decided to stop production.

"Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 should power down and stop using the device immediately, and take advantage of the exchange and refund options, regardless if they purchased their original device from telecommunication operators, consumer electronics stores, authorised retailers, Samsung Official Store at Lazada.sg or Samsung Experience Stores," the company advised in a statement online.

"We are deeply sorry for the disappointment and frustration the Galaxy Note7 issue may have caused our customers and partners. Our focus now is to reduce further inconvenience to our customers who have trusted and waited for the Galaxy Note7," said Eugene Goh, Vice President, IT & Mobile, Samsung Electronics Singapore.

Galaxy Note7 customers can choose to either exchange their device for a Galaxy S7 edge 4G+, and receive cash and other benefits which will be confirmed shortly, or to receive a refund.

Beginning 26 October 2016, Samsung has asked Galaxy Note7 customers to visit www.samsung.com/sg/note7exchange to select their preference for exchange or refund, and provide their details for a free home delivery, offered regardless whether the Galaxy Note7 customer chooses an exchange or a refund.

Exchange customers can select their preferred colour for the Galaxy S7 edge 4G+, subject to availability. Samsung Concierge customers who opt for exchange will have their Samsung Concierge transferred to the Galaxy S7 edge 4G+ and those who opt for a refund on their Galaxy Note7 will have their Samsung Concierge cost of S$38 refunded.

Customers will need to provide the following details when logging in to arrange for an exchange or a refund.
1) Full name as per bank account
2) NRIC or FIN number
3) Mobile contact
4) Email address
5) Home delivery address

All Galaxy Note7 customers are required to back up their data using Samsung Smart Switch, delete any data or other personal material stored in the device, and reset their device ahead of the home delivery. Customers will receive a cheque for the amount due to them, depending on their selection of the exchange or refund option, in exchange for the Galaxy Note7 device to be returned.

The company is working out the resolution for Galaxy Note7 customers with Samsung original Galaxy Note7 accessories and details will be announced soon.

Samsung channel partners can email note7partner@samsung.com to discuss the remedy for their Galaxy Note7 stocks

Interested?

Read the Note7 FAQs for Singapore (PDF)

Steps on how to back up and restore data using Samsung Smart Switch. It is painless and works exactly as advertised, but data you might expect to be transferred might not be transferred, so back everything up. Read about my own experience with an older version of Smart Switch

Capital Express Service from Singapore Airlines connects Singapore, Canberra and Wellington

• New service to bring international flights to Canberra

• First to link Canberra with Wellington

Singapore Airlines is to introduce services to both Canberra and Wellington with the launch of a new ‘Capital Express’ route. The new flights from Singapore will connect the capitals of both Australia and New Zealand. Subject to regulatory approvals, flights will be operated four times per week from 20 September 2016 on a Singapore-Canberra-Wellington routing. Return flights will be on a Wellington-Canberra-Singapore routing.

Flights will be operated with 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200s fitted with 38 Business Class seats and 228 Economy Class seats. Singapore Airlines will be the first airline with flights between Canberra and Wellington. It will also be the first airline to operate regularly scheduled international services to and from Canberra.

“This new service linking Singapore, Canberra and Wellington reflects the close ties between the three countries,” said Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong. “We are excited about the prospects for our new ‘Capital Express’ route, which we are confident will appeal to leisure, government and corporate travellers. We are especially pleased to be bringing more convenient travel options to customers with Canberra’s first regularly scheduled international flights and the first non-stop links between the capitals of Australia and New Zealand.”

The new Canberra services will add to Singapore Airlines’ already extensive Australia network, which currently includes flights between Singapore and Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Subsidiary SilkAir also serves Cairns and Darwin, while a wide-ranging partnership with Virgin Australia extends Singapore Airlines’ Australia network to another 40 codeshare destinations.

Singapore Airlines’ new Wellington services will complement existing services between Singapore and both Auckland and Christchurch. Singapore Airlines also has an extensive partnership with Air New Zealand.

Flight Schedules*

Flight Number	SQ291	SQ291
Routing	Singapore-Canberra	Canberra-Wellington
Days of Operation	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Time of Departure	23:00	09:50
Time of Arrival	08:35+1	15:05

Flight Number	SQ292	SQ292
Routing	Wellington-Canberra	Canberra-Singapore
Days of Operation	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Time of Departure	20:15	23:30
Time of Arrival	22:05	05:50+1

*All times stated are local based on a launch date of 20 September 2016. Timings will change soon after due to daylight savings in Australia and New Zealand.

Interested?

Flights will be available for booking on a progressive basis through the Singapore Airlines website, call centres and travel agents in the coming weeks.

posted from Bloggeroid

Leadership workshops with a difference from Flight Experience Singapore and McGallen & Bolden

Source: McGallen & Bolden.

Flight Experience Singapore, Singapore’s first real flight simulator for the public in Asia, invites companies to organise leadership workshops at its premises in conjunction with consultancy McGallen & Bolden.

The Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet programme, targeting business leaders and executives, shares leadership concepts in an authentic cockpit environment. The four-hour customised training workshop features content derived from decades of aviation experience earned by Captain Michael Caston, who has piloted Boeing 747 and 737 jets for British Airways and Singapore Airlines and is a current air transport pilot license (ATPL) instructor at Cannes Aviation. The workshop is facilitated by Dr Seamus Phan, Head of Training, McGallen & Bolden.

“It all started when I became attracted to Flight Experience’s B737NG flight simulator, providing a realistic pilot experience for non-pilots, and subsequently took up the entire learning programme of License 1, Preflight Endorsement, and License 2 under Captain Caston’s team of pilot instructors,” says Phan. 

"A conversation with Captain Caston somehow started the idea that business executives and human resource development professionals are always looking for cutting-edge and powerful training and leadership development methods to up the ante for leaders and line managers managing and sustaining businesses in a tough economic climate. This unique flight simulator coupled with a facilitated programme seems like a perfect fit, especially with Captain Caston who is a 40-year aviation veteran with many real-world scenarios to share.”

The workshop extracts key learning points from aviation procedures and wisdom, and converges them with relevant business scenarios in communication, crisis management, standard operating procedures, partnerships, collaboration, competitive analysis, market conditions, and timing. Unlike traditional classroom training, or simple role-plays, Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet provides the participants the opportunity to experience an authentic commercial jet simulator, to equate takeoff, autopilot, crisis recovery, and landing procedures with parallel business processes and methods.

“Effective leadership skills are vital in commercial aviation and only come with dedicated training and experience. Other industries are looking at the discipline and education used by airlines. For example, the medical profession has already adopted crew resource management (CRM) skills into their training programmes and the results are showing a marked reduction in miscommunication and errors,” says Captain Caston. 

“It’s a great pleasure to partner with Seamus Phan and merging our experience and knowledge together to launch this exciting initiative here in Singapore. Our shared background means that we can offer a unique learning experience that is relevant and interactive, providing applicable and important leadership and communication tools for business executives in a challenging and ever changing environment. The use of aviation standards and the flight simulator offers an amazing opportunity for our learning partners to build real skills that can translate and enhance every day business situations and opportunities.”

Interested?

Each workshop is conducted at Flight Experience Singapore, located at Singapore Flyer, 30 Raffles Avenue, #02-06, Singapore 039803.

The program combines briefings, flight simulation sessions for the participants with common aviation and problem-solving scenarios, an integrative discussion to acquaint the participants with how aviation best practices can parallel situations and conditions business leaders face every day, and a question and answer session.

View the associated video

Idealo creates India flight price comparison portal

Source: idealo India website.

Idealo, a price comparison specialist, has landed in India. Fourteen successful idealo comparison portals already assist thousands of passengers around the world in finding the best prices on flights. In 2015, idealo is proud to announce its 15th site, flights.idealo.in.

Customers in India are able to compare thousands of flights from hundreds of online-travel agencies and airlines - free of charge. Idealo's service covers offers from low-cost to luxury airlines for both one-way and return tickets. Account stopovers and travel time can be stipulated. 

Emirates bans hoverboards, reiterates list of permitted carry-ons

Source: Emirates. Emirates reminds passengers to check before packing, for hassle-free travel this holiday season.

Emirates is reminding all passengers to check the permitted list of carry-on and checked-in items for safe and undisrupted travel this holiday season.

To ensure the safety of passengers and crew, spare lithium batteries used for electronic devices such as cameras, mobiles phones and laptops are restricted from checked-in baggage. A popular item containing lithium batteries is the smart balance wheels also known as ‘hoverboards’. Emirates restricts all smart balance wheels – with or without lithium batteries removed - from checked-in or carry-on luggage, the airline said.

“With the upcoming holiday season, we expect many passengers to be carrying gifts for their loved ones including the popular smart balance wheels. We prioritise the safety of our passengers and crew, and regret we will not accept these as part of checked-in baggage or as hand luggage. We urge all our customers to check the full list of restricted items before travelling for safe and undisrupted travels,” said Mohammed Mattar, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President – Airport Services.

All liquids, gels and aerosols, pastes, lotions, creams, drinks and other items of similar consistency must be in containers with a capacity no greater than 100ml. Those carried in containers larger than 100ml will not be accepted, even if the container is only partially filled.

As with any busy travel period, Emirates is also advising customers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before flight departure, and to plan extra time to get to the airport. Early check-in is available at the normal counters from six hours before departure and from car park check-in counters from six to 24 hours before departure.

Customers are also encouraged to check-in online or use the Self Service Kiosks and then the baggage drop facilities to expedite their airport experience. Those checking in online are required to check in their luggage no later than 90 minutes prior to departure. Customers holding an e-boarding pass and travelling with carry-on bags only, can proceed directly to passport control and security clearance.

Customers who check in less than 60 minutes to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted. Boarding on all flights begins 45 minutes prior to departure, and gates close 20 minutes before take-off. These time checks will ensure the minimisation of delays and missed connections. 

Interested?

For more information and full list of restricted items, please visit emirates.com

Scoot to take over SilkAir's Hangzhou flights

From 25 October 2015, Scoot, the long-haul low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, will commence flights to Hangzhou, taking over from SilkAir. The full-service regional wing of Singapore Airlines currently has four-times-weekly flights to Hangzhou, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Scoot operating the Singapore-Hangzhou route will better optimise the utilisation of the SIA Group’s resources and present a better match of capacity to demand, the group said.

“Hangzhou will be our fifth destination in China, in addition to services to Tianjin, Shenyang, Qingdao and Nanjing. It is also the fourth new route added to Scoot’s network in the last eight months after Kaohsiung, Osaka and Melbourne. We look forward to offering guests great value travel to Hangzhou aboard our new 787 Dreamliners featuring modern conveniences such as inflight Wi-fi and in-seat power and of course, our unique attitude- our Scootitude on board,” said Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, is well-known for its breath-taking scenery and cultural sites. The city is centred largely around the West Lake, where attractions such as Solitary Hill and Six Harmonies Pagoda can be found. The city is also famous for its longjing or dragon well green tea.

Customers who have made advance bookings to fly the Singapore-Hangzhou route on SilkAir can opt for a refund or be re-accommodated either on Scoot’s new services or on Singapore Airlines’ flights to Shanghai.

Details of flight numbers and flight schedules for services between Singapore and Hangzhou on the new Scoot service are as follows:

TZ 108 departs Singapore 5.10pm, arrives Hangzhou 9.45pm, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

TZ 107 departs Hangzhou 11.00pm, arrives Singapore 3.55am the next day, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

* Schedules are correct at time of print and subject to change. All times listed in local. +1 refers to arrival on the next day. Services on Saturday will commence December 2015.

posted from Bloggeroid

Qatar Airways' RAK flights will boost Doha to UAE flights to 196 a week

Qatar Airways has announced that direct flights to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), in the UAE will begin 1 October 2015. RAK, the northern-most Emirate of the UAE, is approximately 45 minutes by road from Dubai International Airport and offers a wide range of activities including water sports, sailing cruises, desert camps, golf courses and mountain adventures.

Operating daily, An Airbus 320 - QR1120 - will depart Doha’s Hamad International Airport at 20:15 hours and arrive at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport at 22.30 hours. The return flight QR1121 will depart at 23:30 hours and arrive in Doha at 23:45 hours.

Source: Qatar Airways. From left: Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His
Excellency Akbar Al Baker, His Excellency Engr Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin
Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

“The UAE is a market that is strong and full of confidence,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker at the launch last week. “Today, Qatar Airways enjoys a robust operation in the UAE with 98 flights a week to Dubai, 28 flights a week to Dubai World Central, 42 flights a week to Abu Dhabi and 21 flights a week to Sharjah. Now with the addition of seven weekly flights to Ras Al Khaimah, Qatar Airways will have a total of 196 weekly flights from Doha to the UAE.”

Having launched Sharjah and Dubai World Central (Jebel Ali) in March 2014 and with the announcement to launch RAK in October this year, Qatar Airways is significantly increasing its operations to the UAE as a result of growing demand for more capacity in and out of the country.

His Excellency Engr Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport said: “Ras Al Khaimah is a global destination for both tourism and commerce and the new daily Qatar Airways QR1120 flight will service up to 400,000 passengers travelling in and out of the Emirate on an annual basis from October.”

Qatar Airways flies 152 aircraft to 146 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Emirates gives passengers free or near-free in-flight Wi-Fi

Source: Emirates.

Emirates has free* Wi-Fi on 106 of its aircraft, with more aircraft offering Wi-Fi connectivity every month. On Emirates’ ultra long-haul flights, which it defines as flights of over 14 hours, over 30% of passengers typically use Wi-Fi services.

Wi-Fi service is already available on all of Emirates’ 59 Airbus A380 aircraft and 47 of its Boeing 777 aircraft. On over 60% of the installed fleet, the first 10MB data is free – sufficient for an update on social media accounts or texting via instant messaging apps. Thereafter, and for the rest of the fleet, users can enjoy 500MB of data for a token US$1 charge.

Besides offering Wi-Fi connectivity on all A380 flights, Emirates is in the process of adding Wi-Fi to all of its Boeing 777-300ERs and 777-200LRs at the rate of two to three aircraft per month.

“As a global connector of people and places, Emirates is committed to making our entire fleet Wi-Fi enabled. Customers seek free Wi-Fi on-the-go, especially while travelling, and it is becoming the norm for most people who want to stay connected through online social networks and instant messaging. Emirates is subsidising or waiving the high cost of buying data to serve our passengers on routes across six continents. We foresee that free Wi-Fi on board is the future standard for all our customers, something that will require no charge or limitations,” says Patrick Brannelly, Emirates' Divisional Vice President for Customer Experience (Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity).

In 2014, about 650,000 customers used Emirates’ Wi-Fi service on board and as of early March this year, more than 350,000 customers have already used the service.

According to the airline’s data, the websites its passengers most frequently access on board include Facebook and Google, and chat services such as Skype and WhatsApp, reflecting travellers’ strong desire to stay connected on the move and their use of social media channels to do so.

Passengers on board Emirates also have other ways to stay connected with personal mobile phones services offered on over 75% of the fleet, and in-seat email, telephone and SMS services on every aircraft. All of Emirates’ 37 dedicated airport lounges around its global network offer complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity.

*The first 10MB data is free. Users can enjoy an additional 500MB of data for a token US$1 charge. Due to current industrial technical limitations such as speed and bandwidth availability and the lack of advanced hardware and software support, the small token charge for additional data usage is required to keep the Wi-Fi service operational.

ANA app to help passengers relax, take minds off takeoff

Source: App Store.

Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has created an app for the most stressful part of the flight journey. Its survey of US airline passengers found that the most uptight of flyers particularly hate takeoff  (68%), leading to the development of ANA Takeoff Mode, a mobile app designed to help passengers relax and take their minds off the takeoff portion of the flight. 

The app takes the form of a simple puzzle with relaxing music playing in the background. What really makes the app truly unique is that it measures** the amplitude and frequency response of the ambient noise inside the aircraft cabin. When the aircraft’s engines are at full throttle during takeoff, the audio profile triggers an animation and message for the user. 

In the ANA survey, puzzle games ranked second only to listening to music when it came to ways that passengers relaxed while flying (61% of people relax by listening to music; 56% by playing puzzle games). Reading, watching TV and falling asleep came in not far behind (54%, 48% and 46% respectively).

ANA Takeoff Mode is one of the first smartphones apps to take advantage of the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s announcement on October 31, 2013 that airlines can safely expand passenger use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight.

“It is important to ANA that we pay attention to every single detail to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable flight for all our passengers. We’ve put in much thought and consideration into each stage of the passenger journey, from our flagship lounges in Tokyo to our award-winning in-flight dining programmes, The Connoisseurs," said Mitsuo Tomita, General Manager of ANA’s Singapore office and Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Asia at ANA. 

“Our latest offering, the ANA Takeoff Mode is another example of how we are always trying to improve the customer’s flying experience. We hope that it will help to ease and relax flyers, allowing them to enjoy their flight with ANA from the very beginning.”

Additional findings from the ANA survey:

· Women are about twice as likely to be concerned about flying with 63% of women and 37% of men reporting that they worry about flying.

· Older people (45 years old or more) are much calmer about flying than younger people (18 to 44 years). Of the always-apprehensive group 66% are under 45. On the other hand, 47% of the calm group are under 45.

· Nervous flyers are most concerned about takeoff (68%), whereas people who get stressed about flying less frequently find the thought of turbulence more anxiety-inducing (60%).

· Eight in 10 respondents surveyed play puzzle games. Nearly all (97%) find such games to be relaxing.

· Nearly half (46%) of respondents say they find flying during peak festive periods more stressful than other times of the year. Top reasons for this extra stress are crowded airports (69%) and delayed flights (63%).

The free app can be downloaded at the App store here. Watch the associated video here.

*ANA commissioned an online survey of 1,000 air travellers from across the US that was conducted from October 29 to November 2, 2014.

**The surrounding environment may affect how the app detects takeoff.

SilkAir adds a daily Singapore-Bali flight

From 12 December 2014, SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, will begin a daily service to Denpasar, Indonesia, subject to regulatory approval.

Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President, Marketing Planning Lee Wen Fen said: “The increase in the number of flights reflects Singapore Airlines Group commitment in expanding our service offerings and providing our customers with more choices and convenience. Through synergising the networks of both airlines, we are able to enhance the connectivity options available to our customers through our combined network of 99 cities in 35 countries.”

Details of flight numbers and flight schedules for services between Singapore and Denpasar are as follows, with all timings listed being local:

Flight no., frequency	Departing Singapore	Arriving Denpasar
MI176, daily	0650	0935
SQ938, daily	0820	1105
SQ942, daily	0920	1205
SQ946, daily	1625	1910
SQ948, daily	1805	2050

Flight no., frequency	Departing Denpasar	Arriving Singapore
MI175, daily	1030	1305
SQ939, daily	1155	1430
SQ943, daily	1300	1535
SQ947, daily	2005	2240
SQ949, daily	2145	0020  (next day)