Tuesday, November 30 2021 | ASIA TODAY INTERNATIONAL - Reporting the Business that Matters in Asia
SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines has increased its frequency into Melbourne to four daily, with services into Adelaide lifted from 10 to 12 weekly. SIA now offers a total of 121flights weekly into Australia – to Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney – and remains Australia’s largest foreign carrier. Since linking with Virgin Australia in June 2011, SIA has increased its capacity into Australia by 20 per cent.
SYDNEY – To mark the introduction of A380 services between Guangzhou and Sydney from October 28, China Southern Airlines is offering return economy fares between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth and Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing fromAUD720 (AUD380 plus taxes). Business Class fares start from AUD2,380 and First Class from AUD3,800. There are minor variations in the fares because of varying taxes applying in different cities. Business and First Class fares are available until June 1 for travel from October 28 to January 31, 2014.
GENEVA - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says global passenger traffic results for March show strong demand growth led by emerging markets, with all regions showing gains. Total traffic rose 5.9% compared to March 2012. Part of the rise may be attributed to traffic related to the Easter holiday, but the seasonally-adjusted trend continues to show strong growth, with demand expanding at an 8% annualised rate in the six months since October 2012. Capacity rose 3.5% compared to the year-ago period, pushing up load factor 1.8 percentage points to 80.3%.
SYDNEY - Australia’s cruise industry growth continues to lead the world, with passenger numbers surgeing 11% last year to a record high of 694,062. For a second consecutive year, growth in the Australian cruise passenger market surpassed other major cruise markets, with 11% in 2012 equalled only by Germany. North American passenger numbers grew just 2% in 2012, and the UK remained steady.
HONG KONG – The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has opened its second city hotel in China, Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, and is offering guests two packages, both priced from CN 3,600 (plus 15% service charge), until September 30.
TOKYO – Japan Airlines is planning to introduce its new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to more international routes from June 1, including Boston, San Diego, Singapore and Beijing (from June), Delhi (from July), Moscow and San Francisco (from September) and Sydney and Bangkok (from December). JAL will launch a new (daily) service from Narita to Helsinki on July 1.