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Volume 3, Issue 2, January 14, 2010 |
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Dubai was in celebratory mood when the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, was officially opened on Jan. 4. As lasers and fireworks lit up the night sky, the official height of the tower, a closely guarded secret throughout construction, was flashed onto a giant screen on the tower. At 828 metres (2,716.5 feet), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101, which at 508 metres (1,667 feet) had held the record for the world’s tallest building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was announced.
China Airlines will launch scheduled passenger services between Taipei (TPE) and London Heathrow (LHR) on March 28. The new flights, CI-069 from Taipei to London, and CI-070 from London to Taipei, will operate three times per week, using an advanced Airbus A340-300 aircraft, configured with 30 business-class seats and 246 economy-class seats.
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Emirates will offer two flights a day from Dubai (DXB) to Jakarta (JKT) from March 1. Three additional flights will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, using the Boeing 777 family of technologically advanced aircraft in two-class configurations.
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Reports in Japanese media indicate that Japan Airlines could file for bankruptcy protection within the next 10 days. Under the proposed plan being compiled by a government-backed body, JAL is expected to cut more than 15,000 jobs in the next three years.
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Jetstar and AirAsia have signed an agreement, subject to regulatory approval, to form a new alliance they say will help to reduce costs, pool expertise and ultimately result in cheaper fares for both carriers. Alan Joyce, CEO Qantas Airways, Bruce Buchanan, CEO Jetstar and Tony Fernandes, CEO AirAsia finalised the agreement in Sydney on Jan. 6.
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Singapore’s first integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, will start a phased opening from Jan. 20 with its four hotels opening on the same day. In the two weeks before the public opening, employees and their families are putting the resort through its paces as guests.
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Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong offers some of the city’s best viewpoints for the spectacular Lunar New Year fireworks display on Feb. 15. Both the acclaimed Cantonese restaurant Man Wah and one-Michelin-starred Pierre on the 25th floor offer diners celebratory menus and bird’s-eye views of the harbour.
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United Airlines is offering online travel bargains this month. Both long-haul and short-haul travellers booking their tickets from Hong Kong (HKG) through the United Hong Kong website to Los Angeles (LAX), Singapore (SIN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) can enjoy special fares.
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Hilton Worldwide announced today a global multi-brand January sale. Guests who book hotel rooms in January can save 50 percent off weekend getaways throughout the year at participating hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
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Sunsail Sailing Holidays is giving away bonus nights for trips around the beautiful Whitsunday Islands for departures between Jan. 9 and March 31. Pay for three or four nights to receive one bonus night free; pay for five nights, you receive two free nights.
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Regal Hotels International has joined with Asia Miles to offer a special bonus programme in 2010. From Jan. 1 to June 30, travellers who are members of the Asia Miles travel rewards programme, staying two consecutive nights or more at a qualifying rate at participating hotels, can earn 500 bonus miles on the first qualifying stay, and 1,000 bonus miles on the second qualifying stay.
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