ANGOLA: Luanda Is World’s Most Expensive City

The Angolan capital Luanda has knocked Hong Kong off the top spot in an annual survey by Mercer Consulting that ranks the cost of living for expatriate workers in world cities.

The survey found the cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment suitable for expatriates in Luanda was £4,800 ($6,055) per month, while a fast food hamburger meal priced at £11.50.

It was the second time in three years that Luanda topped the survey, which compares the costs of housing, transport and clothing in 209 cities.

While Luanda rose, all UK cities fell significantly in this year’s rankings which were released on Wednesday, with 30th-ranked London dropping 13 places from 2016.

The survey suggested that the country’s vote to leave the European Union had played a role in the drop by causing the value of sterling to fall.

Mercer found that a number of African cities continue to rank high in this year’s survey, reflecting high living costs and prices of goods for experts.

Luanda is followed by Victoria in the Seychelles (14th), N’Djamena in Chad (16th), and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (18th).

Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, is ranked 29th and not among the top five African cities that are very expensive.

The Angolan capital Luanda has knocked Hong Kong off the top spot in an annual survey by Mercer Consulting that ranks the cost of living for expatriate workers in world cities.

The survey found the cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment suitable for expatriates in Luanda was £4,800 ($6,055) per month, while a fast food hamburger meal priced at £11.50.

It was the second time in three years that Luanda topped the survey, which compares the costs of housing, transport and clothing in 209 cities.

While Luanda rose, all UK cities fell significantly in this year’s rankings which were released on Wednesday, with 30th-ranked London dropping 13 places from 2016.

The survey suggested that the country’s vote to leave the European Union had played a role in the drop by causing the value of sterling to fall.

Mercer found that a number of African cities continue to rank high in this year’s survey, reflecting high living costs and prices of goods for experts.

Luanda is followed by Victoria in the Seychelles (14th), N’Djamena in Chad (16th), and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (18th).

Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, is ranked 29th and not among the top five African cities that are very expensive.

World’s 10 most expensive cities

1. Luanda, Angola

2. Hong Kong, Hong Kong

3. Tokyo, Japan

4. Zurich, Switzerland

5. Singapore, Singapore

6. Seoul, South Korea

7. Geneva, Switzerland

8. Shanghai, China

9. New York City, US

10. Bern, Switzerland

World’s 10 least expensive cities

200. Minsk, Belarus

201. Karachi, Pakistan

202. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

203. Monterrey, Mexico

204. Tbilisi, Georgia

205. Blantyre, Malawi

206. Windhoek, Namibia

206. Skopje, Macedonia

208. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

209. Tunis, Tunisia



Tourism Observer

IRAQ: Iraqi Airways Starts Flights To Moscow

Iraq’s national carrier Iraqi Airways performed its first flight to Russia after a protracted break on September 17.

A Boeing 737-800, registration code YI-ASV, arrived at Vnukovo airport from Baghdad to airport.

Iraqi Airways received the factory-new airliner earlier this year.

The carrier stopped operating to Moscow 13 years ago, after Russia had imposed a ban on air services between the two countries in 2004 citing security reasons.

The parties began negotiating possible resumption of services back in 2015.

Prior to resuming flights to Moscow, Iraqi Airways launched services to former Soviet republics: first to Baku, Azerbaijan in 2016, and then to Minsk, Belarus this year.

The airline will fly its 737-800s of which it has 14 to Vnukovo from Baghdad and Basra.

The operator’s total fleet comprises 32 aircraft, with an average age of seven years.

Apart from the 737-800s, it also has 737-700s, Boeing 747/767/777s, Airbus A320/321/330s, and Bombardier CRJ900s.




Tourism Observer

ANGOLA: Luanda Overtakes Hong Kong As Most Expensive City For Expatriates To Live In

Mercer’s annual Cost of Living Survey finds African, Asian, and European cities dominate the list of most expensive locations for working abroad

- Luanda overtakes Hong Kong as the most expensive city for expatriates to live in according to Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey.

- Victoria in the Seychelles ranks 14th most expensive city sharing the same ranking with Moscow.

Cape Town, Blantyre and Windhoek ranks amongst the 15 cheapest cities globally.

In a rapidly changing world, mobility has become a core component of multinational organizations’ global talent strategy. To support the growing number of international assignees working in an increased number of locations, organizations are focusing on evaluating assignments from a cultural perspective, preparing for regional and lateral moves, and modifying compensation approaches to stay competitive.

As organizations grapple with these challenges, they are working hard to accommodate the needs of their workforce and to support employees’ careers. According to Mercer’s (www.Mercer.com) 2017 Global Talent Trends Study, fair and competitive pay as well as opportunities for promotion are top priorities for employees this year – not surprising given the current climate of uncertainty and change.

As a result, multinational organizations are carefully assessing the cost of expatriate packages for their international assignees. Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey finds that factors like instability of housing markets and inflation for goods and services contribute to the overall cost of doing business in today’s global environment.

“Globalization of the marketplace is well documented with many companies operating in multiple locations around the world and promoting international assignments to enhance the experience of future managers,” said Ilya Bonic, Senior Partner and President of Mercer’s Career business. “There are numerous personal and organizational advantages for sending employees overseas, whether for long- or short-term assignments, including career development by obtaining global experience, the creation and transfer of skills, and the re-allocation of resources.”

Mercer’s 2017 Cost of Living Survey finds Asian and European cities – particularly Hong Kong (2), Tokyo (3), Zurich (4), and Singapore (5) – top the list of most expensive cities for expatriates. The costliest city, driven by cost of goods and security, is Luanda (1), the capital of Angola view the Top 15 Cities Ranking here: http://APO.af/hrS2vG). Other cities appearing in the top 10 of Mercer’s costliest cities for expatriates are Seoul (6), Geneva (7), Shanghai (8), New York City (9), and Bern (10). The world’s least expensive cities for expatriates, according to Mercer’s survey, are Tunis (209), Bishkek (208), and Skopje (206).

Mercer's authoritative survey is one of the world’s most comprehensive, and is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees. New York is used as the base city and all cities are compared against it.

Currency movements are measured against the US dollar. The survey includes over 400 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.

“While historically mobility, talent management, and rewards have been managed independently of one another, organizations are now using a more holistic approach to enhance their mobility strategies. Compensation is important to be competitive and must be determined appropriately based on the cost of living, currency, and location,” said Mr. Bonic.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Only three European cities remain in the top 10 list of most expensive cities for expatriates.

Zurich (4) is still the most costly European city on the list, followed by Geneva (7) and Bern (10). Moscow (14) and St. Petersburg (36) surged fifty-three and one hundred and sixteen places from last year respectively, due to the strong appreciation of the ruble against the US dollar and the cost of goods and services. Meanwhile, London (30), Aberdeen (146) and Birmingham (147) dropped thirteen, sixty-one and fifty-one spots respectively as a result of the pound weakening against the US dollar following the Brexit vote. Copenhagen (28) fell four places from 24 to 28. Oslo (46) is up thirteen spots from last year, while Paris fell eighteen places to rank 62.

Other Western European cities dropped in the rankings as well, mainly due to the weakening of local currencies against the US dollar. Vienna (78) and Rome (80) fell in the ranking by 24 and 22 spots, respectively. The German cities of Munich (98), Frankfurt (117), and Berlin (120) dropped significantly as did Dusseldorf (122) and Hamburg (125).

Despite moderate price increases in most of the European cities, European currencies have weakened against the US dollar, which pushed most Western European cities down in the ranking,” explained Ms. Constantin-Métral. “Additionally, other factors like the Eurozone’s economy have impacted these cities.

As a result of local currencies depreciating against the US dollar, some cities in Eastern and Central Europe, including Prague (132) and Budapest (176) fell in the ranking, while Minsk (200) and Kiev (163) jumped four and thirteen spots, respectively, despite stable accommodations in these locations.

Ranking 17, Tel Aviv jumped two spots from last year and continues to be the most expensive city in the Middle East for expatriates followed by Dubai (20), Abu Dhabi (23), and Riyadh (52), which have all climbed in this year’s ranking. Jeddah (117), Muscat (92), and Doha (81) are among the least expensive cities in the region. Cairo (183) is the least expensive city in the region plummeting ninety-two spots from last year following a major devaluation of its local currency (view the Bottom 15 Cities Ranking here: http://APO.af/4AAhwv).

Egypt’s decision to allow its currency to float freely in return for a 12 billion dollar loan over three years to help strengthen its economy resulted in the massive devaluation of the Egyptian Pound by more than 100% against the US dollar, pushing Cairo down the ranking” said Ms. Constantin-Métral.”

Quite a few African cities continue to rank high in this year’s survey, reflecting high living costs and prices of goods for expatriate employees (view the African Cities Ranking here: http://APO.af/pCXLBW). Luanda (1) takes the top spot as the most expensive city for expatriates across Africa and globally despite its currency weakening against the US dollar.

Luanda is followed by Victoria (14), Ndjamena (16), and Kinshasa (18). Tunis falls six spots to rank 209 as the least expensive city in the region and overall.

Asia Pacific

Five of the top 10 cities in this year’s ranking are in Asia. Hong Kong (2) is the most expensive city as a result of its currency pegged to the US dollar, which drove up the cost of accommodations locally. This global financial center is followed by Tokyo (3), Singapore (5), Seoul (6), and Shanghai (8).

“The strengthening of the Japanese yen along with the high costs of expatriate consumer goods and a dynamic housing market pushed Japanese cities up in the ranking,” said Ms. Constantin-Métral. “However, the majority of Chinese cities fell in the ranking due to the weakening of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar.”

Australian cities have all experienced further jumps up the global ranking since last year due to the strengthening of the Australian dollar. Sydney (25), Australia’s most expensive city for expatriates, gained seventeen places in the ranking along with Melbourne (46) and Perth (50) which went up twenty-five and nineteen spots, respectively.

India’s most expensive city, Mumbai (57), climbed twenty-five places in the ranking due to its rapid economic growth, inflation on the goods and services basket and a stable currency against the US Dollar. This most populous city in India is followed by New Delhi (99) and Chennai (135) which rose in the ranking by thirty-one and twenty-three spots, respectively. Bengaluru (166) and Kolkata (184), the least expensive Indian cities, climbed in the ranking as well.

Elsewhere in Asia, Bangkok (67) jumped seven places from last year. Jakarta (88) and Hanoi (100) also rose in the ranking, up five and six places, respectively. Karachi (201) and Bishkek (208) remain the region’s least expensive cities for expatriates.

The Americas

Cities in the United States are the most expensive locations in the Americas, with New York City (9) ranked as the costliest city, climbing two spots from last year. San Francisco (22) and Los Angeles (24) follow, having climbed four and three spots respectively. Among other major US cities, Chicago (32) is up two places, Boston (51) is down four places, and Seattle is up seven places. Portland (115) and Winston Salem (140) remain the least expensive surveyed cities for expatriates in the US.

Nathalie Constantin-Métral, Principal at Mercer with responsibility for compiling the survey ranking, said, “Overall, US cities either remained stable in the ranking or have slightly increased due to the movement of the US dollar against the majority of currencies worldwide.”

In South America, Brazilian cities Sao Paulo (27) and Rio de Janeiro (56) surged 101 and 100 spots, respectively, due to the strengthening of the Brazilian real against the US dollar. Buenos Aires, the Argentina capital and financial hub ranked 40 followed by Santiago (67) and Montevideo, Uruguay (65), which jumped forty-one and fifty-four places, respectively. Other cities in South America that rose on the list of costliest cities for expatriates include Lima (104) and Havana (151).

Dropping from 94th position, San Jose, Costa Rica (110) experienced the largest drop in the region as the US dollar strengthened against the Costa Rican colon. Caracas in Venezuela has been excluded from the ranking due to the complex currency situation. Depending on which exchange rate is being used, the city would arrive at the top or at the bottom of the ranking.

“Inflationary concerns continued to cause some South American cities to rise in the ranking, whereas the weakening of the local currencies in some of the region’s cities caused them to drop in the ranking,” said Ms. Constantin-Métral.

Up thirty-five places from last year, Vancouver (107) has overtaken Toronto (119) to become the most expensive Canadian city in the ranking, followed by Montreal (129) and Calgary (143). Ranking 152, Ottawa is the least expensive city in Canada. “The Canadian dollar has appreciated in value triggering the major jumps in this year’s ranking,” explained Ms. Constantin-Métral.

HUNGARY: Activities At Budapest Airport

Having already confirmed 22 new routes during 2017, Budapest Airport’s largest airline will be significantly expanding its own operations from the Hungarian gateway this year. Adding 12 new links, the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) will offer 62 destinations from Hungary’s capital city airport, offering close to 4.5 million seats from Budapest throughout the year.

Launching the start of Budapest’s summer schedule, Wizz Air commenced its twice-weekly service to Faro on 1 April. Now offering 122,000 seats during S17 to Portugal, Budapest has witnessed a 140% increase in Portuguese services during the last twelve months. The ULCC faces no direct competition on its new service to the Algarve region as the link joins its existing operations to Lisbon and Porto.

Continuing to support the development of its home-base, Wizz Air has launched another two new services today. Reinstating Budapest’s direct link to Hannover with a four times weekly service, the new operation will satisfy the high volume of indirect traffic recorded from the region. The ULCC has also commenced its first direct flight to Norway from Hungary, starting its twice-weekly service to Bergen after increasing numbers of Hungarian travellers chose a Norwegian city break last year.

Later this week Budapest will welcome Wizz Air’s connection to Lamezia Terme. Seeing a rapid increase in the popularity of Italy as a leisure destination, the ULCC’s operation commencing 12 April, will be Budapest’s first direct link to the Italian city in the Calabria region.

Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport said: “The launch of Wizz Air’s latest links is a significant step in re-establishing good connections between Hungary and important economic destinations in the Balkan Peninsula. Working closely with Wizz Air we have ensured Budapest’s accessibility in the region, as well as further improving business relations between the countries.”

He added: “Wizz Air carried 3.3 million passengers on its Budapest routes last year and now, along with its latest additions to our network map, we look forward to ensuring the continued growth of
one of our largest airline partner’s services.”

Facing no direct competition on any of the routes, Budapest’s home-based carrier has launched twice-weekly services to each of the five Balkan Peninsula destinations seeing the Hungarian capital city grow its scheduled route network to 41 countries non-stop this summer.

Just days into S17, Budapest Airport has announced further expansion of its destination map, filling the white spot that was Kazakhstan. Confirming a twice-weekly service to Astana, Wizz Air will be linking the two capital cities from 8 June, utilizing the carrier’s fleet of 180-seat A320s on the 3,742 kilometer sector.

As Kazakhstan becomes Budapest’s 45th country market, the Central Asian operation means Wizz Air will now offer flights to 29 countries from its home-base. As the world’s youngest capital city, Astana can now be reached from Budapest in less than five hours as the ultra-low-cost-carrier’s (ULCC) direct link omits the previous need for connections via Istanbul, Prague or Minsk. Facing no direct competition on the airport pair, the ULCC’s new Kazakhstan connection joins the Hungarian gateway’s existing links in the region to Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

“Filling another gap on our route map is proof of our continued commitment to be able to offer our passengers an ever-expanding selection of great destinations,” comments Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “Wizz Air’s confirmation of Thursday and Sunday flights is perfect for a long weekend break for Hungarian and Kazakh travelers alike,” adds Bogáts.

Budapest Airport has announced further development in its expanding summer schedule with another welcome frequency increase on Air Canada rouge’s link to Toronto Pearson. Announcing just last November that the Canadian leisure carrier would be expanding its existing three times weekly operation from 19 May, three weeks earlier than 2016, the airline has confirmed the frequency will now be doubled during the peak season, commencing a six times weekly service from 21 June.

Experiencing a highly successful first year of operation, Air Canada rouge’s additional seasonal connections will mean Budapest’s weekly Canadian capacity will increase by another 20%, seeing an extra 7,300 seats to Canada during high summer. The airline’s additional services throughout S17 will give Air Canada rouge a 50% year-on-year capacity increase.

Commenting on the frequency increase, Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport, says: “Being able to announce yet more capacity on our Canadian link, and still less than a year after welcoming the Air Canada brand into our portfolio, is a great sign of the significant success the airline has experienced with us.” He added: “We continue to commit ourselves to offering a series of North American connections, in both business and leisure sectors, and these extra services will satisfy real demand.”

SWITZERLAND: Air China To Commence Zurich, Astana Flights From Beijing

On April 27, Air China held a press conference in Beijing to announce the launch of two new routes between Beijing and Astana and Beijing and Zurich. Due to be launched in June, these new routes will provide direct connections between China, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland.

The Beijing-Astana route will be launched on 1 June. Located in Kazakhstan, Astana is one of the world’s youngest capitals. It enjoys a reputation as one of the happiest and most modern cities in Central Asia. The launch of Air China’s Beijing-Astana route coincides with the 2017 World Expo, which will be held in Astana in June. The event is expected to attract visitors from all over the world.

China has a long history of friendly relations with Kazakhstan. Contact between the two nations dates back to the Western Han dynasty when the Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian visited the region.

In addition to being China’s second largest trading partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Kazakhstan is also one of the most important countries in the Silk Road Economic Belt region.

The Beijing-Astana route will provide a new direct connection between China and Kazakhstan and facilitate energy, transportation, tourism, culture, and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The Beijing-Zurich route will be launched on 7 June. Home to the global and European headquarters of over 100 banks, Zurich is surrounded by the famous Lake Zurich and the Alps, making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

The city’s chic, laid-back character and the beautiful surroundings make it one of the world’s most livable cities. In recent years, China and Switzerland have held numerous high-level exchanges, and bilateral trade relations have gone from strength to strength.

During a state visit to Switzerland by President Xi Jinping in January this year, both countries agreed to cooperate on a number of issues to promote the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, including infrastructure construction, finance, insurance, and industry.

The two countries also agreed to launch the 2017 “Sino-Swiss Year of Tourism” to boost tourist numbers. In addition to the new Beijing-Zurich route, Air China also flies from Beijing to Geneva, providing passengers with a choice of convenient, direct connections between China and Switzerland.

At the recent press conference, Air China’s Vice President Ma Chongxian explained the company’s growth strategy: In recent years, Air China has been expanding its route network to meet passengers’ needs. Operating from our three hubs in Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai, we plan to improve connections to a number of destinations in Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

China’s OBOR initiative has also created new opportunities for us to expand our international route network. In 2015, Air China launched several routes between Beijing and key cities in the OBOR region, including Minsk, Budapest, Warsaw, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Colombo, and Islamabad.

As China’s only national flag carrier, Air China is committed to corporate social responsibility and plays an important role in facilitating the implementation of key national strategies, such as the OBOR initiative and the “Going Global Strategy”, which encourages Chinese enterprises to invest overseas.

Beijing-Astana: Flight no. CA791/2, three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday), Airbus A320. The outbound flight departs Beijing at 17:20 and arrives at 21:00; the inbound flight departs Astana at 22:30 and arrives at 05:30 (all times are local).

Beijing-Zurich: Flight no. CA781/2, four times weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday). The outbound flight departs Beijing at 02:35 and arrives at 07:25; the inbound flight departs Zurich at 12:55 and arrives at 05:05 (all times are local).

The flights will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 featuring business class seats that can be fully reclined up to 180 degrees. Premium economy seats offer 120% more leg room than regular economy class, and economy class seats are ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue.

All seats feature a personal entertainment system.

KAZAKHSTAN: Visa Requirements Lifted For European Union, OECD Countries,Malaysia, Monaco, UAE,Singapore

Kazakhstan has lifted visa requirements for citizens of the European Union, OECD countries and a number of other states as part of efforts to boost investment and tourism.

The measure adopted earlier by neighboring Uzbekistan comes as Kazakhstan as Central Asia’s largest economy has been battered by low oil prices and financial distress in neighboring Russia.

According to Kazakhstan’s foreign ministry, since the beginning of 2017, citizens of EU and OECD countries, as well as Malaysia, Monaco, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, could travel to Kazakhstan for up to 30 days without a visa.

In a statement, the ministry said the initiative was meant to promote an even more favorable investment climate and develop the country’s tourism potential.

The move will open up additional opportunities to the business community for cooperation with the outside world and facilitate international contacts in different spheres, the statement said.

Kazakhstan’s landscape is dotted with mountains, lakes and desert, and the glitzy capital Astana is home to futuristic architecture.

Back in December, neighboring Uzbekistan announced plans to roll back its highly restrictive tourism regime by canceling visa requirements for 15 countries.

In addition, Budapest Airport has announced further expansion of its destination map, filling the white spot that was Kazakhstan.

Confirming a twice-weekly service to Astana, Wizz Air will be linking the two capital cities from 8 June, utilizing the carrier’s fleet of 180-seat A320s on the 3,742 kilometer sector.

As Kazakhstan becomes Budapest’s 45th country market, the Central Asian operation means Wizz Air will now offer flights to 29 countries from its home-base.

As the world’s youngest capital city, Astana can now be reached from Budapest in less than five hours as the ultra-low-cost-carrier’s (ULCC) direct link omits the previous need for connections via Istanbul, Prague or Minsk.

Facing no direct competition on the airport pair, the ULCC’s new Kazakhstan connection joins the Hungarian gateway’s existing links in the region to Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

Filling another gap on our route map is proof of our continued commitment to be able to offer our passengers an ever-expanding selection of great destinations, comments Balazs Bogats, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport.

Wizz Air’s confirmation of Thursday and Sunday flights is perfect for a long weekend break for Hungarian and Kazakh travelers alike,adds Bogats.

CHINA: Minsk-Guangzhou Flights To Begin, Guangzhou is building 1,000 Kilometer-long Mountain Climbing Trails

There are plans to launch a direct flight between Minsk and Guangzhou (China), Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on 4 May during the meeting with representatives of Chinese central and regional mass media partaking in the press tour to Belarus, BelTA has learned.

The head of state pointed out that Belarus is interested in bolstering ties with China's Guangdong Province. The sides have advanced trade and achieved considerable results in tourism and science.

Guangdong Province is also ready to set up light emitting diode companies in the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone.

Currently we are discussing the launch of direct air service between Minsk and Guangzhou. The prospects are quite promising, Alexander Lukashenko remarked.

Belarus is ready to bolster ties with other Chinese regions. There are no forbidden topics or problems in our relations. You may rest assured that all your initiatives in Belarus will be supported. I invite you to come over and offer ideas.

We will receive and support you with pleasure, the president underlined. Guangzhou is the capital of China's most developed province Guangdong. The city is the political, economic, scientific and technical, educational, cultural and transport center of South China.

Guangzhou's Airport Economic Demonstration Zone is off to a robust start by attracting big investments and more than 100 new projects.

The zone already is becoming a hot spot for investment and development..

Benefiting from the city's status as a major aviation hub, the zone was established to boost and guide the development of high-end manufacturing and modern service industries.

Based on the air transportation business, the zone is intended to become a modern industrial base, a regional logistics center, and a technological innovation venue and cooperation platform.

The Baiyun airport's location, efficiency and multi-level services supported the Philippines' AirAsia's opening of direct flights between Guangzhou and Manila on April 28, the 12th new airline flying into and from the airport this year.

The opening of more international routes showcases the increasingly enhanced functionality of the Baiyun airport.

According to data released by airport officials, Baiyun's passenger throughput in 2016 reached 59.78 million, up 8.2 percent over the previous year, making it one of the world’s top 15 international airports and establishing its position as a gateway to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Meanwhile, many airline companies are flocking to the airport, further accelerating the development of the economic zone. In late March, Baiyun welcomed a new airline company - Guangdong Longhao Aviation Group. It took only nine months from preparation to construction for its first flight.

Longhao is not the only company that thinks highly of the airport's economic zone. Other international and national airline enterprises also are arriving in a steady stream.

Also, China Southern Airlines signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Guangzhou with American Airlines, the largest airline in the world, opening up a new epoch for international cooperation of large airline companies.

In terms of transportation development in the economic zone, progress has been made, according to Sun Xiuqing, director of the zone’s administrative committee.

The northern extension of the airport's second highway is already under construction; the expansion of intercity rail lines like Guangzhou to Qingyuan, Guangzhou to Foshan, and Guangzhou to Dongguan to Shenzhen is accelerating; Metro Line 9 and Huadu-Dongguan highway are under intense construction.

Apart from the construction of infrastructure and facilities, the economic zone has made breakthroughs in attracting investments and projects.

The zone's authorities have signed strategic cooperation and investment agreements with many companies, including YTO, Minsheng E-Commerce, DHL, China Air Cargo Corporation, and Baoneng, with the total investment reaching 26.96 billion yuan. Also, 500 enterprises have registered in the zone, and a batch of giant projects have started construction.

Among the businesses operating in the zone thus far, e-commerce is the most prevalent.

Guangzhou is building 1,000-kilometer-long mountain climbing trails as part of the National Trails System (NTS) in line with international standards.

The trails will make optimal use of the city's natural resources, history and culture to foster an upscale tourist business, and help enhance public awareness of ecological and cultural protection, while also providing sightseeing and recreational activities in beautiful natural environments, an official of Conghua Bureau of Culture, Broadcasting, Press and Publication said.

The first trail open to the public in Guangzhou is located in Liangkou village, Conghua district, with a length of 60 kilometers. Far away from the bustling metropolis, the Conghua trail is divided into four levels of difficulty to meet the needs of various people.

Summit Challenge Route, the most difficult section on the Conghua trail, offers good opportunities to climb the 1,210-meter Tiantang Peak, the highest mountain in Guangzhou, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Huangchayuan Mountain.

Hiking Route, a less difficult trek, is the longest route of the trail.

Leisure Travel Route is a more leisurely hike for people to enjoy the natural beauty and countryside scenery, such as a star observation platform, Qianlonggou Waterfall, Xitou village and Apoliu village.

Lake Loop Route, the easiest of the four, allows visitors to walk by the riverside, linking up four reservoirs – Dashuikou, Baishuidai, Xiabazi and Lianxi, as well as streams and waterfalls.

The NTS refers to the network of scenic, historic and recreation trails created by the U.S. National Trails System Act of 1968. The NTS will help Conghua become a leader in the development of Guangzhou’s trails and rural tourism. It will serve as a model on sustainable use of ecological and cultural resources.

Guangzhou’s foreign trade got off to a strong start in the first quarter, with import and export volume growing 31.9 percent over the same period in 2016 to 242.8 billion yuan.

At the same time, the import and export volume of Guangdong province increased by 15.4 percent year-on-year to 1.45 trillion yuan, according to data released by Guangzhou customs office.

On March 6, Guangzhou officially launched a national pilot mode of market procurement trade, which is a convenient, efficient, sharing and online regulatory platform for market procurement trade.

The platform has 172 businesses with over 10,000 products, of which 155 are foreign trade runners. The market procurement export value in Guangzhou through this platform reached 3.25 billion yuan through March 31.

In the first two months, Guangzhou’s cross-border e-commerce business grew by 16.2 percent over a year ago, ranking first among 60 cities engaged in e-commerce business.

Moreover, Guangzhou’s import of automobiles and diamonds showed good development momentum. Over 4,000 cars reached the Nansha port in Q1, 1.5 times as many as in the same period last year, while total diamond imports increased 26.2 percent.

According to an official of the Guangzhou Municipal Commission of Commerce, in order to enhance the development of foreign trade, Guangzhou continues to attract investments through multiple channels.

In the first three months, over 38,000 enterprises worth 300 billion yuan in registered capital were established in Guangzhou, a growth of 54.1 percent over the same period in 2016. Also, about 300 Fortune Global 500 corporations have launched nearly 800 projects in Guangzhou, according to officials.

Sakai Display Products Corp., a subsidiary of the world's largest electronics contractor, Foxconn Technology Group, plans to invest 61 billion yuan to produce 10.5 generation panel, substrate glass and related product lines in Guangzhou. It is by far the biggest foreign investment project in four decades in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou will accelerate the development of new types of business, including financial leasing, automobile imports and the diamond trade, and will further promote the import and export of high-tech and high-value-added products, such as automobiles, ships, aircraft, electronic products and medical equipment to enhance the transformation and upgrading of trade.

BELARUS: Belavia Acquires New Boeing 737-800

Belarusian flag carrier Belavia has finalized the acceptance of new narrow-body Boeing 737-800s under a contract inked in 2014. The airplane with the tail number EW-457PA turned out to be the last one in the batch of three aircraft, the airline reported on its Facebook page.

The newly arrived airliner received a revamped livery just like the two previous aircraft delivered in August and September.

The new look of the airplanes is the part of the airline’s branding project.

Belavia’s acquisition of all three aircraft is brokered by the Bank of Development of the Republic of Belarus.

The carrier underlines that the new airliners will allow it to reduce operational costs and, thus, bring down ticket prices.

The Boeings will replace company’s Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-154Ms.

Therefore, Belavia sticks to its previously announced plans of switching to Western-made aircraft operations only.

Belavia arrives in Zhukovsky.

Belavia launched daily flights between Minsk and Moscow's Zhukovsky in September 2016.

Belarusian flag carrier Belavia has launched a daily Moscow service from Minsk to Zhukovsky (IATA code ZIA) in September, with evening flights departing both capitals on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and morning flights on the other days.

"This odd-even timetable is deliberate," reveals Ihar Charhinets, the airline’s deputy general director for marketing. "As we develop the route we are planning to add three more morning flights and four evening flights per week to eventually operate twice-daily services each way; this winter's timetable will include an additional Friday evening flight.

“We are gauging the route's popularity with 76-seat Embraer E175s, with a view to increasing capacity as required. Several flights have already been performed with 148-seat Boeing 737-300s.

On certain days of the week we will be flying bigger Boeings instead of the Embraers," he adds.

The inauguration of the Minsk-Zhukovsky service may have strategic significance for Belavia.

Belarus and Russia enjoy a fairly liberal intergovernmental agreement on bilateral air services: there are no restrictions on the number of designated carriers, destinations served, capacities, or frequencies.

The only exception is the Minsk-Moscow route, on which either side has the right to operate seven flights per week, a concession currently being used to the full by both sides.

Belavia, which already operates to Moscow’s Domodedovo (DME), is the designated Belarusian carrier for the city pair, with Aeroflot and Utair the Russian operators, and even though it is located just outside of Moscow (some 43 km from the city centre), Zhukovsky is not formally regarded as a Moscow airport.

This affords Belavia access without any restrictions.

Although the new Moscow airport remains underserved by public transport, the regional administration promises this situation will improve as passenger numbers grow over time the Zhukovsky management plans to serve 350,000 to 400,000 passengers this year and up to two million in 2017.

For Belavia, adding the Zhukovsky service to its existing Domodedovo portfolio is of strategic importance especially with regard to developing its transit traffic through Minsk.

"The Zhukovsky flight connects passengers to virtually all our European services," Charhinets notes. "We make a point of developing transfer services. The population of Belarus stands at just 9.5 million, which is less than the population of Moscow, not to mention the entire Moscow region.

The demand for point-to-point out of Minsk is there, but it is limited. Our strategy, therefore, is to go with the transfer business model; at present, more than 30 per cent of our passengers take connecting flights."

The current economic situation in Belarus has been stifling demand for direct flights. More than 50 per cent of the Belarusian economy is linked to Russia, so we are affected by the same economic processes," Charhinets explains.

The population's purchasing power in dollar equivalent has shrunk and our costs, just like those incurred by all the other carriers, are denominated in dollars.

But we cannot adjust our fares directly by tying them to the euro exchange of the day, because this way we will not be able to sell any tickets. We have to look for alternative solutions."

Belavia has been lucky in a way: because of the soured relations between Russia and Ukraine, bilateral air services between the two stopped on October 25, 2015, thereby prompting a significant number of passengers to fly via Minsk instead.

As a result, from spring 2016, Kyiv-Minsk has been the busiest route linking Ukraine and Belarus. Furthermore, an intergovernmental agreement liberalising air services between Belarus and Ukraine has enabled Belavia to increase its frequencies between Minsk and Kyiv from two to five a day, and inaugurate services from Minsk to Odesa, Kharkiv and Lviv.

Charhinets dismisses the luck factor though. We first introduced our transfer business model five years ago and we have been working actively to evolve it.

It was because of this that we managed to get a portion of the Kyiv -Moscow passengers.

We have plenty of rivals, so it is not about us having been lucky, rather about us being best positioned to operate in this manner.

Charhinets reveals that Belavia, which does not enjoy a monopoly position on any single market, has done a lot to promote and modernise its products in a variety of countries.

Amongst other developments, the Belarus airline has introduced new information technologies, joined IATA's Billing and Settlement Plan system, made sure its layover times are minimal, and introduced through fares for transit passengers.

For example, there are a multitude of possible connection flights from Paris to Moscow, not to mention direct services,he says.

However, we carry some passengers traveling from Paris on virtually every flight to Moscow. We certainly need to keep working, but we are moving in the right direction.

An additional boost to the airline's transfer business model may come in the form of a simplification of transfer rules for foreign passengers transitting Belarus, but no relevant government decision has yet been made.

There is also potential for further growth in connecting Russian regional centres to European destinations via Minsk.

Belavia's convenient geographic location makes it possible for the airline to do what Kaliningrad-based KD Avia attempted in 2007: offer Russian regional passengers transfer flights to Europe bypassing Moscow.

A combination of factors forced KD Avia to cease operations in 2009, and this business model has not been tried by anyone since.

Apart from Moscow, Belavia currently serves Russia's St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Sochi, and Krasnodar, and formerly served Samara, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk.

Restraining further development of regional Russian operations though are the high service charges Belavia is forced to pay in Russia. Charhinets reveals that the Belarus carrier is charged five times more than Russian airlines for air navigation services.

Airport handling fees are also higher, although not drastically as steep.

This price difference persists despite both countries being part of the common union state and the Eurasian Economic Union – and renders Belavia's fares so uncompetitive that it is currently cheaper to fly with a Russian carrier from a regional airport to Minsk via Moscow.

There is a possibility that this price disparity will be eliminated by late 2016: a preliminary agreement to that effect was signed more than two years ago between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but there has been no further progress, says Charhinets.

Meanwhile, a further increase in Belavia's passenger numbers may result from the company's substantial rebranding effort from mid-August of this year.

Apart from introducing an all-new livery for its airliners, the carrier overhauled the corporate style of its offices, launched new crew uniforms, refurbished its website and re-conceptualised its advertising campaign.

The management insists that with the new image Belavia will not only distance itself from its Soviet legacy but will also mark the airline's transition from a full-service business model to a hybrid concept incorporating low-cost elements. "We are not planning to turn into an low-cost carrier completely, but we are studying and introducing certain approaches along these lines," Charhinets reveals. "Last year we managed to bring our fares down by 20 per cent; this year, we aim to achieve a further 10 per cent reduction."

BELARUS: Minsk Targets Riga And Tbilisi With Latest Tourism Campaign

Billboards promoting Minsk as a tourism destination will be installed in Riga and Tbilisi, BelTA learned from the Minsk information and tourism center. According to the center, the billboards in Latvia and Georgia will feature Minsk Arena, The Trinity Suburb, the so-called Minsk Gate and other iconic places of the Belarusian capital.

This will help advertise Minsk as a destination of choice for Latvians and Georgians. Posters advertising Riga and Tbilisi will be installed in Minsk streets.

Minsk has exchanged billboards with St. Petersburg. With the support of the St. Petersburg Tourism Committee and the Committee on Print Media and Liaison with the Media, ten billboards with Minsk landmarks have been installed in St. Petersburg to increase awareness of the Belarusian capital as a tourist destination. Minsk is Waiting for You billboards have been designed by the Minskreklama company.

BELARUS: Belarus Targets Riga And Tbilisi New Tourism Campaign

Billboards promoting Minsk as a tourism destination will be installed in Riga and Tbilisi, BelTA learned from the Minsk information and tourism center.

According to the center, the billboards in Latvia and Georgia will feature Minsk Arena, The Trinity Suburb, the so-called Minsk Gate and other iconic places of the Belarusian capital.

This will help advertise Minsk as a destination of choice for Latvians and Georgians. Posters advertising Riga and Tbilisi will be installed in Minsk streets. Minsk has exchanged billboards with St. Petersburg. With the support of the St.

Petersburg Tourism Committee and the Committee on Print Media and Liaison with the Media, ten billboards with Minsk landmarks have been installed in St. Petersburg to increase awareness of the Belarusian capital as a tourist destination.

Minsk is Waiting for You billboards have been designed by the Minskreklama company.

UZBEKISTAN: Uzbekistan Airways Increases Number Of International Flights

National Air company “Uzbekistan Airways” introduced additional flights in directions Tashkent – New-York-Tashkent and Tashkent-Kaliningrad-Tashkent.

Uzbekistan Airways airplanes fly to Kaliningrad not only on Sundays, but also on Wednesdays. Departure time from Uzbek capital is at 09:45, arrival in Kaliningrad at 12:20.

Return flight is at 14.10 with arrival in Tashkent at 22:45.

Additional regular flight have been launched in direction of Tashkent-New-York-Tashkent, which operate on Thursdays.

Thus, round way flights from Tashkent to New-York is twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. Departure time from Tashkent is 04.40 with arrival in New-York at 12:30.

Return flight is at 15:00 and arrives in Tashkent at 15:05-16:05.

Besides, a new regular flight Tashkent-Minsk-Tashkent was launched by the air company.

Flights to the Republic of Belarus will be operated on a new air-bus A320 twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

UZBEKISTAN: Tashkent And Minsk Connect With Uzbekistan Airways

On 2 July 2015 the National Air company “Uzbekistan Airways” started operating regular flights to the capital of Belarus – Minsk.

Flights HY709/710 in route Tashkent – Minsk-Tashkent will be operated twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On Tuesdays the flight from Tashkent will be at 18.50, arrival in Minsk at 22.05. Departure from Minsk is at 23.35, with arrival in Tashkent at 06.25 on Wednesday.

On Thursdays departure from Tashkent is at 07.00, with arrival in Minsk at 10.15. Departure from Minsk is at 11.45, arrival in Tashkent- at 18.30.

BELARUS: Belavia has opened a flight to international airport “Kiev”

From October 12, 2005 airline “Belavia – Belarusian Airlines” increased the number of flights on the route Minsk – Kiev – Minsk. Prior to that, planes of airline “Belavia – Belarusian Airlines” on the route Minsk – Kiev – Minsk had been flying twice a day at “Borispol” airport.

belaviaThe new route will be carried to International airport “Kiev” (Zhulyany). In such a way, passengers will have the opportunity to choose the more convenient time and airport to travel Kiev. The flights will be performed on a daily basis with departure from Minsk at 23.05, from Kiev (Zhulyany) – at 05.15 of local time. Travel time is about 1 hour.

As explained Anatoliy Gusarov, general director of OJSC “Belavia – Belarusian Airlines” the early flight from Kiev and arrival to Minsk will give the passengers, especially to business people, the opportunity to plan their time in Belarus rational: to accomplish all their works and to return home. For another thing, the flight schedule of airline “Belavia – Belarusian Airlines” will give to connecting passengers the opportunity to continue their travel practically along the whole flight network of the airline.

BELARUS: Belavia Links Minsk With Odessa

Belavia commences services between Minsk and Odessa on 25 October. The 848-kilometre sector will be operated daily using the carrier’s 737-300s. The route faces no competition.

Belavia commenced operations between Minsk (MSQ) and Odessa (ODS) on 25 October. The 848-kilometre sector will be operated daily by the carrier’s 737-300s and face no incumbent carriers on the link between the Belarusian and Ukrainian cities.

This brings to 37 the number of destinations served non-stop by Belavia from Minsk, of which nine (including Odessa) are served at least daily. By far the airline’s busiest route is to Moscow Domodedovo, which it operates seven times daily.