ACN, MENA Cargo to offer boosted services in GCC

The Asia Cargo Network (ACN) group, a Southeast Asian air cargo charter services provider, has partnered with Bahrain’s MENA Aerospace to facilitate its global expansion. Under the terms of the agreement, ACN will base six of its cargo planes in Bahrain and the GCC to serve the MENA region, as well as destinations served from MENA.

Operations will be conducted under the MENA Cargo brand, the freight cargo subsidiary of MAE. The deployment shall be over the next 18 months, with the first of its six aircraft due to arrive within the next two months, beginning operations immediately thereafter. ACN’s aircraft and MEA’s existing Boeing 737-300 converted freighter will comprise the operational fleet within the region.

The operations will be fully managed by ACN moving forward. It holds an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in Bahrain which allows for the expansion of routes to the MENA region.

ACN has a regional and international presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and with this strategic alliance, the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. The company owns three regional airlines, Asia Cargo Airlines, World Cargo Airlines and RGA Airlines.

MENA Cargo was established in 2020 and was awarded an AOC by Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) department in 2021. Bahrain-based MENA Cargo provides scheduled as well as charter air cargo services across underserved markets in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

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.

Neuron Mobility launches e-scooters in Seoul

Singapore-headquartered Neuron Mobility, an e-scooter operator in Australia and New Zealand, has launched its safety-first e-scooters in Seoul.

 

Source: Neuron Mobility. Neuron Mobility is launching e-scooters in Seoul, Korea.

The decision to enter Korea was made after the government recently introduced tighter rules to what was previously a largely-unregulated market, and also to respond to the authorities’ increasing focus on e-scooter safety. According to Neuron Mobility, micromobility is booming in many Korean cities.

Neuron will be launching their Korean-spec e-scooter which is fitted with the world’s first app-controlled helmet lock. This electronically secures a safety helmet to every e-scooter, releasing it at the start of the trip so they are available to all riders. This will be an important differentiator in Korean market where recently-updated laws require all riders to wear a helmet.

Zachary Wang, CEO of Neuron Mobility said: “We’re delighted to launch in Seoul, we’ve been studying the rise in popularity of e-scooters in Korea for some time. Now that new regulations are being introduced, as well as an increased focus on safety, we think it’s the perfect time to bring our safely-leading e-scooters, and collaborative ways of working to the city.”

He continued: “Wherever we operate in the world we welcome good regulations and we have a major focus on safety. We are already talking to the authorities in Seoul and have demonstrated our helmet lock and other safety features. We look forward to adapting to meet their needs as well as those of Seoul’s safety-conscious riders.”

Neuron’s industry-leading e-scooters are built specifically for renting and rider safety. The company was the first to implement a full suite of geofencing, allowing the authorities to better control where and how fast e-scooters can be ridden. Neuron’s e-scooters were also the first to feature interchangeable batteries for greener operations. They were the first to integrate voice guidance to educate users to ride safely. Neuron also launched the world’s first app-controlled helmet lock, which secures a safety helmet to the e-scooters between trips for the benefit of safety-conscious riders.

Neuron has introduced a range of other innovations including a topple detection feature that can detect if an e-scooter has been left on its side which then alerts an operations team to reposition it safely; an emergency button which can tell if someone has had a fall and helps the rider call the emergency services; and, a Follow my Ride feature allows the rider’s friends and family to track an e-scooter trip in real time for added safety and peace of mind.

Neuron riders are required to be at least 18 years old, with a valid driver’s licence. On 12 January 2021 new, tightened, regulations were also promulgated in Korea to enforce laws that require all e-scooter riders to wear safety helmets.

The company will initially deploy 2,000 Korean-spec e-scooters to test and refine operations before scaling significantly later in the year.

Over the last six months Neuron has won new contracts to operate in Canberra, Townsville and Dunedin in Australia and New Zealand.

Cainiao to work with Ethiopian Airlines for cold chain air freight

Source: Alibaba Group. Cainiao will send temperature-controlled medicines like COVID-19 vaccines around the world excluding Africa via Dubai with the help of Ethiopian Airlines.

Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, the logistics arms of Alibaba Group Holdings, is partnering Ethiopian Airlines to launch a special cold chain air freight for the transportation of temperature-controlled medicines from Shenzhen Airport, China's first medical cross-border cold chain facility.

Temperature-controlled medicines will be distributed twice a week from Shenzhen to Africa, and to the rest of the world via Dubai and Addis Ababa. This is China's first cross-border medical cold chain route to be operated regularly and is certified to transport temperature-controlled medicines including COVID-19 vaccines.

The end-to-end transportation process requires highly-effective cold chain management. The cold chain cabin is equipped with a temperature control system that monitors the cabin’s temperature in real-time. As the fourth airport in Mainland China that obtained International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharmaceutical logistics, Shenzhen Airport is also well-equipped to handle biotechnology products. 

The cargo terminal in Ethiopia is outfitted with compartmentalised cold storage facilities with temperature between -23℃ to 25℃. It occupies an area of 54,000 sq m, with dedicated cool dollies and a pharma team, as well as a real-time temperature monitoring system to ensure a safe and seamless cold chain logistics for handling temperature-sensitive healthcare products.

Cool dollies are containers designed to transport temperature-sensitive items between cargo warehouses and aircraft.

“Cainiao’s global logistics network spans over 200 countries and regions, providing end-to-end integrated logistics services, including digital customs clearance capabilities,” said James Zhao, GM, Cainiao International Supply Chain.

“The launch of the cold chain air freight has further bolstered our global logistics capabilities, and allow us to offer a one-stop solution for the global distribution of medical products such as the COVID-19 vaccines.”

Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Group CEO said, “Ethiopian Airlines will repeat its remarkable and globally-recognised success in leading the fast delivery of PPEs few months ago with similar delivery speed, professional handling and maintaining the cold chain during the forthcoming global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. In anticipation of the COVID-19 vaccine release, we will be at the forefront to further discharge our responsibility in the distribution of the vaccine across the globe.” PPE stands for personal protective equipment.

Cainiao’s launch of the Green Channel initiative this year to fight the pandemic has helped in the distribution of 250 million pieces of PPE, including COVID-19 test kits, to medical suppliers in over 150 countries and regions. In collaboration with its partners, Cainiao has also helped to transport medical relief items for international organisations during the pandemic.

TADA to roll out taxi rides in Singapore

From 19 February 2019, Singapore’s first zero-commission ride-hailing service, TADA, will launch AnyTADA, a service which offers flat fares* for Premier Taxi rides.

AnyTADA matches riders to the physically-closest TADA driver, whether in a registered TADA private-hire vehicle (PHV) or a TADA-registered Premier Taxi. The customer is informed of the fare when requesting the ride. 

Riders can opt for flat fares or metered fares. PHV fare options are flat-fare. A rider who would like a flat-fare taxi ride will be charged the same flat fare as with a PHV ride.

“Taxi drivers can earn more with flat fare and at the same time, customers will have more assurance that their fares will not suddenly increase because of traffic conditions or choice of route to destination. This is indeed a win-win situation which also reduces chance of disputes between passenger and drivers,” said Armstrong Ho, a Premier Taxi driver.

“Despite a more competitive landscape in ride-hailing, we are thankful that we continue to enjoy strong support from our growing TADA community. We believe that our stable and fair fares continue to attract a large segment of riders who prioritise sustainability and service above short-term promotions. AnyTADA is a step towards improving the experience for our riders to help them commute safely and more efficiently,” said Kay Woo, CEO and Founder of MVL Foundation.

As part of MVL’s commitment towards improving the driver experience, TADA recently implemented an auto-despatch function for drivers to receive back-to-back orders automatically.

Details:

Customers can begin to use AnyTADA after updating their TADA app at the App Store or Play Store. 

*The upfront fare excludes prevailing electronic road pricing (ERP) charges and surcharges such as additional stops, baby and booster seats.

Book Mwasalat taxis without the mobile app

Source: Mwasalat. Taxi Butler devices will offer taxi booking
services.

Mwasalat has launched kiosks for booking taxis called Taxi Butlers. This is part of the public transport company's efforts to develop the taxi sector in Oman.

Taxi Butlers will enable taxis to be booked in advance, eliminating the need to contact taxi drivers individually, as is now the case. More than one taxi may be requested, and users can receive status updates of expected arrival times, driver details and alerts when the vehicle has arrived at the requested location.

Mwasalat taxis have handled some 150,000 trips, averaging more than 700 trips per day. The mobile app has nearly 40 thousand registered users to date.

Explore:

Taxi Butlers have been installed in phase one at Al Qurum, and Al Mouj Golf Club, and Muscat Hills. In later phases, the devices will be installed at government and private institutions and business centres in proportion to demand.

Brunei freight and logistics market was worth US$157.25 million in 2017

The Brunei Freight & Logistics Market Study - Market Trends, Analysis & Forecasts to 2023 report by Mordor Intelligence has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Brunei freight and logistics market was worth US$157.25 million in 2017 with its biggest opportunity in the multi-trillion dollar halal industry. Mordor Intelligence says that the country maintains a pristine image and is looked upon by the Islamic world as a centre of Islamic culture.

The strategic location of Brunei for China and its synergies with the Belt and Road project, open up immense opportunities for the halal certification industry in Brunei. The connections of China with Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries which are being established through the Belt and Road initiative, open up immense opportunities for Brunei. Coupled with oil and gas reserves, Chinese government see a lot of opportunities in Brunei and has been ramping up investments in the country. The Guangxi-Brunei Economic Corridor was set up to tap the halal trade in 2014. A bio-innovation zone is being developed and augmented post this partnership.

The Brunei Halal brand was a first-mover concept, the consultancy added. Kerry Logistics and the government of Brunei partnered to build Brunei Halal internationally, and provide a range of products and services under the brand umbrella. 

According to Mordor, investments in land transport infrastructure and services remain crucial for Brunei’s future economic and social development. At the same time, the country faces various  challenges, such as congestion, journey time delay, and pollution. Additionally, concerns over road safety are increasing.

The market could receive a boost from infrastructure expansion. Two sites, in Kampong Long Mayan and Kampong Binturan have been identified as possibilities for a second international airport. Muara Port plans to extend the container wharf to serve as a second container berth to a total quay length of 400 m.

Customs tax reduction for several items will also impact the industry. The machinery and industrial equipment that utilise electricity will see reduction from 20% to 5% and heavy vehicles will see a reduction from 20% to 5%.

Companies mentioned in the report include:

Archipelago
Ceva
DB Schenker
DHL
Kerry Logistics
Yusen Logistics

Explore:

Buy the Brunei Freight & Logistics Market Study - Market Trends, Analysis & Forecasts to 2023 report (March 2018)

New road in Salalah, Oman

The Oman Ministry of Transport and Communications has opened the RO40.5 million 36 km dual carriageway along the Taqah/Mirbat road, the Oman News Agency has reported.

The dual carriageway is connected to Tawi/Ateer and the Wadi Mirbat road, as well as the road leading to the Samahram archaeological site, Ashur and Hasheer roads. The existing service road will remain in operation to connect the residential areas on both sides.

Key features along the Taqah/Mirbat road project are three bridges, three tunnels for vehicles, 11 tunnels for animals, a 150 m bridge over Khur Ruri, and two roundabouts.

The Taqah/Mirbat road project is expected to meet the needs of the growing tourism, economic and social activities in the wilayat of Mirbat, which has 181 villages and residential areas, and the wilayat of Sadah, which has 23 villages.

New toll roads in Java

Source: Sekretariat Kabinet Republik Indonesia.
President Jokowi at the inauguration of the Surabaya -
Mojokerto Toll Road.

Indonesia President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo inaugurated the Surabaya – Mojokerto (Sumo) Toll Road, which is 36.27 km long, on 19 December. This extends toll roads in East Java, Indonesia to 199 km.

The extension is part of a 1,167 km Trans Java Toll Road from Merak to Banyuwangi, expected to to be completed by end-2019. A Merak – Surabaya toll road project is to be completed by end-2018.

Uber Malaysia launches UberTAXI, UberFLASH

Uber Malaysia today launched UberFLASH and UberTAXI, two new services that will provide Klang Valley commuters more choice when it comes to getting around safely, reliably, and affordably.

Source: Uber. From left: Warre​n Tseng, GM of Uber Singapore and Malaysia, Wan Md Hazlin Agyl Wan Hassan, Head Taxi, SPAD, Dato' SM Shalahuddin SM Amin, President, Gabungan Pe​ngusaha Teksi Semanjung.

UberFLASH will connect riders to the driver-partner closest to them – whether that is an uberX or a taxi on the e-hailing network. UberTAXI is a service in which taxi cabs are available upon request via the Uber App. Uber expects this to be a win-win-win for all parties involved. Riders will benefit from an even faster pick-up experience. Taxi drivers will benefit from the power of Uber’s technology to efficiently match them to rides, giving them the potential to earn more money through increased efficiency - less time spent idling, more time spent earning ride fares. Other driver-partners on Uber will also benefit as greater efficiency decreases waiting times, which in turn, increases rider demand for ridesharing services.

Wan Md Hazlin Agyl Wan Hassan, Head of Taxi, Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) said, “The launch of this service today demonstrates how technology can be harnessed by traditional modes of public transport. We are pleased that through these services, Uber Malaysia supports our overall vision of a more accessible, integrated and efficient land public transportation system for the greater good of all Malaysians.” SPAD is the authority overseeing plans, regulations and enforcements for land public transport in Peninsular Malaysia.

Warren Tseng, GM, Uber Malaysia and Singapore, said: “UberFLASH and UberTAXI broadens the concept of ridesharing, making things better for all - driver-partners, riders, and the city. We want to use technology to allocate existing resources on the road as efficiently as possible, so that we can serve more riders with more choice and better arrival times. We also look forward to offer more driver partners the choice of flexible earning opportunities. We support SPAD’s* intention to improve the overall public transportation landscape and will do our part to leverage our technology and ensure a quality experience for all riders and driver-partners all at the touch of a button.”

Tseng clarified that with UberFLASH and UberTAXI, Uber remained committed to ensuring a quality experience for all riders and driver-partners. The e-hailing company will maintain its high standards for driver-partners and vehicles allowed on the app, including requiring drivers to pass a background check. All of the other features that have contributed to great Uber experience - such as the mutual rating system and the customer support infrastructure - remain available and in effect as part of this rollout.

All UberFLASH rides will be priced the same as an uberX and riders will be able to see the fare upfront before requesting a ride. UberFLASH riders are expected to experience a shorter wait time, since they can expect to be picked up by any vehicle on the network that is nearest to them, including taxis. As for UberTAXI, pricing will be based on SPAD’s taxi meter rates. UberBLACK and uberXL remain available as dedicated offerings.  

Tseng said, “We have only touched a sliver over the overall pie - there is still a lot more room to grow, effectively growing the pie for all.”

Interested?

How to use UberFLASH/UberTAXI:

- Launch the Uber app

- Type in your destination and confirm your pickup point

- Select UberFLASH/UberTAXI

- Request your ride and wait for the nearest available vehicle

- Enjoy your ride at the same affordable fare as an uberX for UberFLASH, or pay SAPD’s taxi pricing with the option of UberTAXI. 

Singapore Science Park 1 to trial personal mobility device sharing scheme

Source: Ascendas-Singbridge. Tan Yew Chin, CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge; Karen Lee, Head, Singapore Portfolio Operations, Ascendas Funds Management; Wang, Khiatani, Han Tui Heng, Assistant CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge; William Tay, Deputy CEO, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Ascendas-Singbridge.

Asia’s sustainable urban and business space solutions, provider, Ascendas-Singbridge Group, has partnered intelligent transportation solutions provider Neuron Mobility to launch a six-month personal mobility devices (PMD) sharing trial at Singapore Science Park 1. This is part of the group’s broader efforts to provide tenants, staff and visitors of Singapore Science Park 1 with greater accessibility and convenience within the park.

From 14 June to 13 December 2017, 50 GPS-enabled e-scooters and 20 bicycles will be available for rent from six parking zones situated in Singapore Science Park 1, at Ascent, The Franklin, CINTECH I and IV, 3Cs (The Chadwick, Curie and Cavendish) and opposite Oasis building. For a small fee, tenants, staff, and visitors to Singapore Science Park 1 will be able to able to rent an e-scooter or bicycle, ride it to their destination, then return it to a parking zone.

Manohar Khiatani, Deputy Group CEO of Ascendas-Singbridge said: “Our tenants will now have an efficient, alternative mode of transport to work, meetings, lunch or other social appointments in and around the Park. The trial will allow us to gauge receptivity to the scheme and monitor usage so that we can improve intermodal connectivity and point-to-point travel within Singapore Science Park 1.”

The PMD sharing scheme is expected to supplement the shuttle bus services and public transport serving Singapore Science Park 1 for ad-hoc, short-distance travel. Apart from location tracking to enable proper use of its devices, Neuron’s intelligent transport solution will monitor travel patterns and frequencies. Backed by international patents, this proprietary system leverages different sensors in Internet of things (IoT) technologies to deliver a differentiated user experience through advanced analytics and insights.

Zachary Wang, CEO of Neuron Mobility, noted that Singapore Science Park 1 is an excellent testbed location. He said: “To be a truly viable large-scale firstand-last-mile solution, it is more than just providing reliable personal mobility devices. It is about being equipped to manage and optimise the entire network, which we pride ourselves in."

Once the six-month trial concludes, AscendasSingbridge will undertake a detailed review of the scheme as it considers the next rollout phase.

Interested?

During the trial, users can rent the PMDs on an ad-hoc basis, at a rate of S$0.50 per 15 minutes through Neuron’s mobile application platform. Subscription passes will also be introduced progressively during the trial.

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Neuron Mobility's use of location-based technology from Esri

Dubai taxi passenger figures released for Q117

Source: RTA. A taxi on Dubai roads.

Taxi drivers in Dubai, UAE served 44,883,737 passengers on 25,795,251 trips in Q117. Taxi franchises in Dubai have a total of 10,038 vehicles in operation. Specifically:

• Dubai Taxi served 21,050,701 riders in 12,981,104 trips.
• Arabia Taxi lifted 4,413,867 in 2,536,705 trips. 
• Cars Taxi hosted 9,241,253 riders in 5,311,065 trips.
• Metro Taxi ferried 3,471,457 riders in 1,995,090 trips. 
• National Taxi transported 6,534,339 riders in 3,755,367 trips, and 
• City Taxi offered services to 172,121 riders in 98,920 trips.

The CEO of Public Transport Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Abdullah Yousef Al Ali reported: “Lifting 44,883,737 riders during the first quarter of this year is indicative of the huge demand for the service. It is a result of improvements we regularly introduce to taxis such as the offering of multiple means of fare payment (cash or credit cards), or training cab drivers to improve their attitudes and practices.

“The RTA leadership accords considerable attention to the taxi service run by Public Transport Agency as the service offers privacy sought by a large number of users. Efforts made in this field and other mass transit services aim at realising RTA’s third strategic objective (People Happiness) and vision (Safe & Smooth Transport for All)."

Uber for Business expands with new customer transportation solution

Uber for Business, a platform that gives companies the billing, reporting, and management technology they need to operate more efficiently, has been expanded beyond business travel to include other aspects of customer transportation.

The UberCENTRAL solution integrated into the Uber for Business platform, enables companies to curate the end-to-end customer experience by providing on-demand, door-to-door transportation to their customers.

UberCENTRAL gives organisations the ability to modernise customer transportation by:

Knowing when their customers are on their way to them, or get home safely, so they can provide a premium door-to-door experience for customers. Customers do not need to have an Uber account, or even have a smartphone to take Central rides.

Eliminating overhead costs. Central helps organisations embrace the sharing economy at scale, so they can replace inefficient and expensive transportation solutions that they have today, like shuttles or car services.

Simplifying reporting and management. With the Uber for Business platform, organisations get access to the digital billing, reporting, and management tools they need to efficiently manage their transportation operations.

Interested?

Any organisation can create an Uber for Business account and start transforming their customer experience with UberCENTRAL.

posted from Bloggeroid

Road quality to improve in Laos

The Lao Ministry of Finance and the World Bank have signed a US$25 million agreement to further strengthen road maintenance systems and improve road connectivity throughout the country.  Lao PDR is one of the ASEAN countries most vulnerable to floods, droughts and storms with local transport infrastructure particularly exposed due to the climate-related increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

“Our partnership with the World Bank on road maintenance has resulted in better and safer roads. With this new agreement, people in rural areas will benefit from more reliable roads throughout the year,” said Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong, Minister of Public Works and Transport.

The new Lao PDR Road Sector II Project is part of the country’s national programme to build climate-resilient roads and infrastructure. The project will support road maintenance work in six provinces that are highly vulnerable to flash floods, landslides, and other natural disasters - Phongsaly, Houaphan, Oudomxay, Xiengkhouang, Xayabouly and Bolikhamxay. This will provide year-round access to basic services, schools, and markets for around 1.6 million people, the World Bank said.

Said Ulrich Zachau, World Bank Country Director for Southeast Asia, “Better roads will help prevent disaster-related road closures, ensuring better connectivity and access to income opportunities and basic social services.”

The new financing comes from the International Development Association, the World Bank’s fund for developing nations. The programme is also supported by funds from the Government of Lao PDR and the Nordic Development Fund. The World Bank has been supporting roads in Lao PDR since the 1990s.

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about what the World Bank is doing for roads in Lebanon

Dubai RTA signs agreement with Careem for ride hailing

Source: RTA. HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA and Mudassir Sheikha, Founder and Managing Director of Careem, signed the agreement on behalf of the two respective entities. RTA executives attending the signing included Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, Member of Board of Executive Directors, Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency, and Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems. Bassel Al Nahlaoui, VP of Business Development & Government Relations attended on behalf of Careem.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a cooperation agreement with Careem Networks Company, the provider of online booking of limousine and taxi services, under which Careem will provide passenger transport service on limousines or taxis online or via a smart app. The service, which will be in accordance with the laws applicable to taxi and limousine services in the Emirate, will run using about 9,841 taxicabs and 4,700 limousines.

“Undertaking this initiative stems from RTA’s keenness to implement the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city, bring happiness to people, deliver excellent services to tourists and enhance customers experience. The smartest city envisioned by HH is a city that considers the comfort & luxury of residents a top priority, and delivers technology-driven highly efficient services, as the smart transportation is one of the key pillars of smart cities," said HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.

"This Agreement supports the integrated mobility platform project currently undertaken by RTA in Dubai. The platform provides customers an easy access to all transit means in Dubai through a single window (smart app). In this transit hub, RTA’s multi-modal transit systems (metro, tram, buses, marine transit means, and taxis) will be integrated with transit systems of other entities in Dubai such as limo service providers, Palm Monorail, and Dubai Trolley. RTA intends to enhance the partnership with the private sector and invites all online booking companies to join this drive aimed at realising the objective of delivering smart services to customers."

“Four years ago, we decided to establish Careem to expedite the setup of a technological infrastructure relating to online booking of mobility systems in the Middle East with a view of making life easier, and offering integrated transport solutions," said Mudassir Sheikha, Founder and MD, Careem, who noted that the agreement would enhance Careem’s presence in the Dubai market through offering integrated transport solutions enabling clients safe, reliable mobility options.

“The partnership with RTA is a huge stride for Careem, and we are keen on supporting RTA’s efforts towards developing smooth mobility solutions for customers."

Dubai's nol card to become even smarter

Source: RTA. The nol card.

The unified nol card used for different forms of transport, launched in September 2009, has handled 3.4 billion transactions to date, said HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Transactions include commuter entries and exits from metro & tram stations, buses, taxis, and marine transit; fare payments and card top-ups. Daily use of the nol cards has grown exponentially more recently, recording 2.4 million transactions per day. A total number of 48 million nol cards and tickets have been issued.

“RTA has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Smart Dubai office endorsing the use of nol card as a means of a smart payment for micro payment processes in Dubai. It has also signed a MoU with the Dubai Municipality providing for the use of nol card in collecting the entry fee of four parks in Dubai, and the uses of nol cards are set to expand in future.

"In 2010, RTA, in collaboration with the Emirates NBD Bank, issued a combined credit card considered the first of its kind in the Middle East. The card has the dual features of a bank credit card as well as a nol card. Holders can use the card to perform payments as a credit card, smart contactless technology card, and a nol card for fares of various RTA’s public transit systems,” said Al Tayer.

The e-wallet feature of the nol card, which enables prepaid value for RTA services by electronic means, is also popular. There are 1,100 e-wallet accounts opened with RTA and amounts channelled through the e-purse have amounted to AED170 million, Al Tayer said.

“The e-wallet has a host of features such as the saving time, avoiding carrying cash amounts, secure online payment, easy checking of account details, and easy cancellation of payment. The e-wallet currently enables clients to pay licensing fees (relating to the licensing of vehicles and drivers), and efforts are underway to broaden the use of the e-wallet to cover payment for various RTA’s online individual and corporate services,” Al Tayer said.

The RTA announced in late September that it is gearing up for the launch of the final version of the Smart Fare project to the public in October 2016, having gone through the trial version September 2016. New services will be added to the Public Transport App, and the smart services on the app will be upgraded in line with RTA’s strategic goals on a Smart Dubai, and people's happiness.

The upgraded app uses near field connectivity (NFC) to support current services and to enable the launch of payment services through the app. Thanks to NFC technology, it will be possible to read and update nol cards directly through Android smartphones.

“The Smart Fare project uses NFC technology i.e. tapping nol cards on smartphones (Android devices) in which the Public Transport Smart App is uploaded. The customer would then be able to top-up (the) nol card instantly, and buy a bus & metro permit without visiting ticket counters or renewing such a permit,” said Khaled Al Awadi, Director of Automated Fare Collection, Technology Support Services Sector, RTA.

“Services will be paid for through entering details of customers' credit cards to the app in coordination with the Smart Dubai Government. The new services added to the app include credit transfers from one card to another, and enquiries about journeys made through the nol card.

“The service would contribute to eliminating any inconvenience related to the limited number of recharging machines.”

SUVs drive car sales: Euromonitor

Global market research company Euromonitor International has determined that global sales of light vehicles grew 1.7% in 2014-2015, driven by the increasing popularity of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), sales of which surged 22% since 2015.

SUVs overtook lower medium cars to become the largest automotive segment in 2015, accounting for 22.9% of light vehicle sales globally. Sales of SUVs grew from 5 million units in 2000 to 20 million in 2015 and are forecast to hit 42 million units by 2031.

Mykola Golovko, Project Manager at Euromonitor International, comments: “The popularity of SUVs in the early 2000s has precipitated a rush of companies trying to capitalise, with a growing number of brands and new concept offerings like crossovers to appeal to a wider audience.”

An increasing number of consumers in key emerging markets will be in a position to trade up from smaller cars to SUVs. However, a combination of key social changes such as urbanisation, smaller households and an ageing population, in conjunction with increasing emissions regulations, have also boosted the fortunes of the small car segment.

Euromonitor predicts that small cars will see a global CAGR of 2.9% between 2015 and 2031 but this is firmly secondary to the projected CAGR of 4.8% for SUVs. The fastest growing SUVs markets in 2014-2015 for Asia were:

Thailand: +56.4%
China: +47.9%

Golovko concludes: “We’ve seen dynamic growth across most segments and markets through 2015, as pent-up demand from the 2009 recession was realised. However, replacement demand in developed markets will start to slow and global growth will be increasingly reliant on SUVs and emerging markets.”

posted from Bloggeroid

TomTom GO 520 GPS navigator adds Wi-Fi, live updates

TomTom's new TomTom GO 520 GPS navigator uses Wi-Fi to ensure automatic updates. Other new features users can look forward to include real-time, traffic information and Lifetime TomTom Traffic, Lifetime Maps and Lifetime Speed Camera alerts.

The new TomTom GO 520 also supports voice recognition. It reads out text messages, allow handsfree calling, and is compatible with personal assistants like Apple's Siri, Google Now, or Microsoft's Cortana. Users can search using voice, have the TomTom GO read out messages when they arrive or make and take calls via voice control.

The TomTom GO 520 has artificial intelligence and is able to learn a driver's habits. That means it can predict a destination*. Navigation for a regular commute becomes automatic, including avoiding traffic. If there is a traffic jam or speed camera, the TomTom GO 520 will sound an alert in good time.

Chris Kearney, VP APAC, TomTom Consumer, said: "The new TomTom GO 520 GPS navigator represents our focus on making technology so easy to use that anybody can benefit from it. Wi-
Fi updates, smartphone integration, predicting your destination – even Lifetime services. Each element works towards removing the headaches associated with driving, and allows people everywhere to relax and enjoy the journey ahead."

The TomTom GO 520 features a 5" screen, a sleek finish and quad-core innards. It also supports a smartphone connection for live alerts on traffic and speed cameras.

Interested?

The new TomTom GO GPS will be available from late September at selected retailers in Singapore.

*Destination prediction learns the driver’s preferences, regular routes driven, etc., over time.

posted from Bloggeroid

Oman Air launches free bus service between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Source: Oman Air. Oman Air launches free bus service between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Oman Air has launched a new free non-stop bus service between Al Ain and airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The service will enable customers to easily access the airline’s international network by simply selecting Al Ain as their origin or destination whilst booking their tickets. Tickets can be purchased online, or through the nearest Oman Air office.

The new bus service has been introduced to offer enhanced convenience for passengers from Al Ain, and to ensure that they start and end their journeys in style and comfort. Oman Air’s buses seat 33 passengers and are equipped with climate-control systems and reclining seats.

The services will run double-daily between Al Ain and Dubai, and between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, with a single journey time of approximately two hours. Each bus service to Abu Dhabi and Dubai has a seating capacity of 33 passengers.

Mahfood Ali Saleem Al Harthy, Senior Vice President - Sales (GCC & MENA) at Oman Air commented, “We are delighted to announce the launch from 16th August of a brand new bus service connecting Al Ain with airports at Abu Dhabi and Dubai. From there, customers can easily connect with flights to Muscat and onward destinations throughout Oman Air’s growing international network. The estimated travel time to each airport is approximately two hours and, because each bus route is non-stop and direct, (our) passengers can arrive relaxed for their flights. WY* offers seamless connectivity to our discerning passengers originating from Al Ain and connecting to WY vast network across the globe.

“Oman Air has is proud to have a large number of customers travelling to and from Al Ain. This new service underlines our commitment to enabling passengers to reach their destination in the shortest possible time, in total comfort and with the high degree of reliability for which Oman Air is renowned. This value-added service is also a good illustration of how Oman Air continually strives to exceed its customers’ expectations.

“We look forward to welcoming both regular and new customers aboard!”

This latest move by Oman Air is the latest step in its creative and ambitious programme of fleet and network expansion. This will see the airline operate 70 aircraft by 2020, offer a wide range of new destinations, increase frequencies on many established routes and improve connection times at Muscat International Airport.

*WY is the flight prefix for Oman Air.

Dubai RTA details timings for transport services during Eid al Fitr holiday

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the timings of its services during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, covering customer service centres, car parks, public buses, Dubai Metro & Tram services, marine transit, driving institutes, as well as vehicles testing & registration centres.

Source: RTA. Al Marri.

Moaza Al Marri, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communication, RTA Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector, said: “Customer Service Centers will be off-duty the during Eid al-Fitr holiday from Sunday 3rd July 2016 and will resume duty on Sunday 10 July 2016. All paid parking zones in Dubai will be free of charge except for the parking lots of the Fish Market and the Multi-level Parking terminal starting from Sunday 3rd July, and fees will be activated on Saturday 9 July."

Al Marri added that trains will be running almost 24 hours during the holidays. 

Red Line stations

Tuesday 5 July: 5.30am to 11.59pm.

Wednesday 6 July: 12am to 2am; 5.50am to 11.59pm.

Thursday 7 July: 12am to 2am; 5.30am to 11.59pm.

Friday 8 July: 12am to 2am; 10am to 11.59pm.

Saturday 9 July: 12am to 2am.

Green Line stations

5 July:  5.50am to 11.59pm

6, 7 July: 12am to 2am; 5.50am to 11.59pm

8 July: 12am to 2am; 10am to 11.59pm

9 July: 12am to 2am.

The tram service will operate from 5 to 7 July from 6:30am to 1am the next day. On 8 July, the tram service will start at 9am and continue up to 1am on 9 July.

The Route C01 bus will operate around the clock. Other public buses will have varied timings:

Main bus stations, e.g. the Gold Souk

6, 7 July: 5.20am to 12 midnight (next day)

Al Ghubaiba Station; subsidiary stations, such as Al Qusais and Satwa

6, 7 July: 5am to 12 midnight (next day)

Al Quoz Industrial Area station

6, 7 July: 5.30am to 11.30pm

Jebel Ali station 

6, 7 July: 6am to 10.15pm 

Metro feeder service stations such as Rashidiya, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, Abu Hail, Etisalat, and Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall

6, 7 July: 5.15am to 1.10am (next day)

The service timing of commercial transport and inter-city bus services will be as follows: 

Main stations, such as Ghubaiba to:

Sharjah (Jubail): 24 hours 

Abu Dhabi: 5am to 12:50am the following day

Subsidiary stations, such as Sabkha will start at 6.30am and continue to 12 midnight. 

Union Square Station: 5am to 12:30am the next day. 

Deira City Center: 6:55am to 10pm. 

Karama Station: 6:10am to 10:15pm. 

Al Ahli Club Station: 7am to 11pm. 

External stations: 

Sharjah (Al Taawon): 7am to 11:30pm.

Al Fujairah Station: 6:45am to 10:30pm.

Ajman Station: 6am to 11:30pm.

Hatta Station: 6:30am to 10:40pm.

From 5 to 7 July, water buses at Marina Stations (Marina Mall, Marina Walk, Marina Terrace, and Marina Promenade) will run from 12 noon to 12 midnight. 

Water taxis will operate daily from 9am to 10pm. 

At Al Ghubaiba Station, the water taxi will operate from 4pm to 10pm

At Dubai Marina station it will operate from 2pm to 10pm. 

From Jumeirah Palm Atlantis, the service timings will be from 4pm to 10pm. 

From Jumeirah Palm Station (Rexos) it will run from 11am to 5pm.

Dubai Ferry will operate at Al Ghubaiba and Marina stations during the Eid holidays at 11am, 1pm, and then at 3pm, 5pm and 6:30pm.

The working hours of traditional abra (boats) at Dubai Creek Stations (Al Ghubaiba, Al Sabkha, Baniyas, and Dubai Old Souk) will be from 10am to 12 midnight. The Blue (electrical) abra will operate at Burj Khalifa from 6pm up to 11pm, at Al Mamzar from 2pm to 12 midnight, and at Atlantis from 1pm to 9pm. The air-conditioned abra at Al Jaddaf will operate from 7am to 12 midnight.

All service providers and partner centres will be closed from 5 to 7 July 2016.
Interested?

View detailed Eid al Fitr timings for all RTA services