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Volume 3, Issue 27, July 9, 2010 |
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Xiamen Airlines has cut prices on direct flights across the Taiwan Strait. The Fujian-based carrier has cut fares by one-third to around RMB 1,000. More airlines are expected to follow suit.
Regular direct flights across Taiwan Strait have been available since July 2008. Hong Kong media reports suggest Cathay Pacific and Dragonair are losing business now that passengers can fly directly across the straits and do not need to travel via Hong Kong. The 7 percent drop in traffic at Hong Kong International Airport last year is attributed to the launch of direct flights between the mainland and Taiwan.
Li Jiaxiang, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said airlines from both Mainland China and Taiwan have decided to slash cross-strait airfares. Three Taiwan-based airlines — China Airlines, Eva Airways and TransAsia Airways —are also expected to cut their cross-strait airfares by 10 to 30 percent this month.
Cross-strait travellers can also look forward to the four new airports on the mainland to accommodate the increase in traffic. In addition to facilitating business travel, the direct flights and competitive fares are boosting tourism in Taiwan. Mainland tourists are keen to explore the island of Taiwan and 1 million mainland visitors are expected this year.
Starting this month, India’s Ministry of Finance is adding a new service tax on all classes of domestic flights within India and economy class international flights departing from India. All domestic fares within India will have a service tax of 10.3 percent on the gross value of the ticket, or INR 103, whichever is lower. For international economy-class tickets the government will levy a service tax of 10.3 percent on the gross value of the ticket or INR 515, which ever is less. The service tax is only applicable on journeys originating in India. The gross value of the ticket for the calculation of the service tax will include the base price and fuel surcharge in addition to the congestion fee. Passenger service fee and airport charges will not be included when determining the gross value of the ticket.
Aegean Airlines has joined the Star Alliance network as the 28th member. The Greek carrier completed its integration and systems upgrade in just 12 months following its acceptance as a member candidate in May 2009. “Aegean brings a wealth of experience and an extensive domestic and international route network to the alliance family,” said Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Star Alliance. “For alliance members, Greece is an important travel market where Athens can be built into a major hub airport with growing connection traffic. It has already become an important player in the Southeast European area and we fully expect entry into Star Alliance will support its further development.”
Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its services in Asia. In January 2011 Hawaiian will introduce nonstop flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Seoul (INC), pending approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Journey time between Honolulu and Seoul is 11 hours. Hawaiian will initially operate its new service four times weekly using 264-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. “Incheon welcomes Hawaiian Airlines,” said C.W. Lee, president and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation. “We have been looking forward to this new service, because in less than two years with the Visa Waiver Program between the United States and South Korea, the number of Korean travelers to Hawaii has exploded, with a record-breaking increase of 91 percent in the first quarter of 2010."
With the opening of its third terminal in October, Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport (HND) airport will offer more international routes. Located in downtown Tokyo, Haneda was Tokyo’s first international airport, but for the last two decades it has handled mostly domestic flights, while Narita International Airport (NRT) handled international routes.
All Nippon Airways plans to launch five international routes from Haneda Airport to Los Angeles (LAX), Honolulu (HNL), Singapore (SIN), Bangkok (BKK), and Taipei (TSA). Meanwhile Japan Airlines has confirmed its schedule of international flights from Haneda too. JAL will operate seven daily flights to six international destinations — Paris (CDG), San Francisco (SFO), Honolulu, Bangkok and Taipei (TPE) and Singapore — from Oct. 31.
Emirates passengers with excess baggage can now enjoy a discount if they plan ahead and pay in advance. The discount represents a 15 percent reduction on standard airport rates and is only available through the Emirates website. Ticketed customers may log in within 24 hours of departure to purchase allowances for selected amounts of additional baggage. For routes that charge for additional baggage by weight, customers may pay for an additional 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 kg. Passengers must purchase one of these five amounts to suit the additional weight they wish to take. For routes that charge by the piece, customers may pay for one, two or three additional bags of up to 32 kg each.
Phuket’s ultra-luxurious Andara Resort & Villas is offering two-night summer packages starting from USD 580 per person. Located on Millionaires Mile in Phuket, overlooking the Andaman Sea, Andara Resort & Villas comprises 37 suites with up to four bedrooms; and 26 luxury pool villas, with three to six bedrooms. Villa service includes a dedicated villa attendant and personal chef. Andara’s Summer Escape Package includes: two nights in a luxurious one- or two-bedroom residential suite, round-trip airport transfers by Fortuner SUV and daily breakfast in the Silk restaurant overlooking the Andaman Sea. Pool villa packages start from USD 1,695 per person and are available through October. Prices include applicable charges and government taxes.
Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental is doing its best to bring a little bit of Mediterranean sunshine to China this summer. Located just 35 minutes drive from Shanghai, the Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental features Mediterranean architecture, lush gardens with some 3,400 square metres of outdoor swimming pools plus a man-made beach. Guests can enjoy a special Mediterranean Sunshine Weekend from RMB 1,488, on Fridays and Saturdays. The package includes one night’s accommodation in luxury room and buffet lunch or dinner for two with free flow of soft drinks and wines at the Vie all-day-dining restaurant.
To celebrate the launch of its new non-stop service three times a week between Hong Kong (HKG) and Moscow (DME), Cathay Pacific is offering special promotional fares. The new service to the Russian capital commences on July 13. Economy-class fares start from HKD 3,590 through July 31, while business-class fares start from HKD 20,300 through Aug. 31. Passengers can also earn double Asia Miles on all business-class fares. The new CX 207 service will depart from Hong Kong at 00:45 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Moscow at 07:05. The return flights will depart Moscow on the same days at 17:45 arriving in Hong Kong at 07:00 the following day.
Two luxury Relais & Châteaux golf and spa lodges in North Island, New Zealand are hosting a series of world-class food and wine events for weekend packages during the winter season from July through October. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay and The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay have an impressive line-up of world-famous chefs, winemakers and wine experts. All weekend packages allow ample free time for guests to enjoy the many leisure options available at these two luxury properties, including world-class golf, spa pampering, scenic walks, fishing and winery visits. Prices are NZD 800 per person (based on double occupancy) and include luxury overnight accommodation, dégustation dinner with matched wines, tutored wine tasting, full breakfast and choice of a round of golf or a massage in the day spa.
One of Vietnam’s best known hotels, the Caravelle Hotel, provides guests free WiFi throughout the property. Recently the Ho Chi Minh City hotel extended the service to its fleet of cars. The hotel’s cars use WiFi routers to create hotspots using technology that enables download speeds of up to 7.2 MB per unit. ”With our hotspot connection in all hotel cars, you are online minutes after touching down. That’s especially handy in a city famed for its chaotic traffic,” said John Gardner, general manager, Caravelle Hotel. Within the hotel, fibre-optic lines fuel hotspots from the hotel’s guestrooms, to the restaurants, bars and pool deck. Guestrooms offer wired and wireless Internet access.
