MALAYSIA: AirAsia X places 42 plane order with Airbus

AirAsia X has completed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 12 A330-900 and 30 A321XLR aircraft.

The contract was signed by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, chairman of AirAsia X, and Guillaume Faury, chief executive of Airbus in Kuala Lumpur earlier.

The deal was signed in the presence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister of Malaysia.

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, chief executive, AirAsia Group, who was present at the signing, said: This order reaffirms our selection of the A330neo as the most efficient choice for our future widebody fleet.

In addition, the A321XLR offers the longest flying range of any single aisle aircraft and will enable us to introduce services to new destinations.

Together, these aircraft are perfect partners for long-haul low-cost operations and will allow us to build further on our market leading position in this fast-growing sector.

The new contract increases the number of A330neo aircraft ordered by AirAsia X to 78, reaffirming the carrier’s status as the largest airline customer for the type.

Meanwhile, the A321XLR order sees the wider AirAsia Group strengthen its position as the world’s largest airline customer for the A320 family, having now ordered a total of 622 aircraft.

AirAsia X has been the pioneer of the long-haul low-cost model in the Asia-Pacific region.

This new order for the A330neo and A321XLR is a true endorsement of the Airbus solution to meet mid-market demand with a combination of single aisle and widebody products.

This powerful solution will provide AirAsia X with the lowest possible operating costs to expand its network and enable even more people to fly further than ever before.

AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of 36 A330-300s on services to points within the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.

In addition, in August the first A330neo joined the fleet of AirAsia’s Bangkok-based long-haul affiliate, AirAsia X Thailand.

The aircraft is the first of two leased A330neos joining the airline’s Thai affiliate by the end of the year.

Tourism Observer

EUROPE: Important Plane Crashes

A Germanwings Airbus A320 crashed into the French Alps on March 24, 2015 during a flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf. All 144 passengers and six crew members were killed. A co-pilot with mental problems intentionally crashed the plane.

Rebels in eastern Ukraine were accused of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on July 17, 2014 during a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

All 298 people on board died, 193 of them Dutch. A Dutch investigation found pro-Russian rebels shot the plane down with a Buk surface-to-air missile launched from separatist territory in eastern Ukraine.

A Polish air force plane carrying President Lech Kaczynski crashed near the Russian airport of Smolensk on April 10, 2010. A Russian and Polish investigation found pilot error during landing in thick fog caused the crash that killed more than 90 people.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin brother of Lech and leader of the ruling PiS, suggested the crash was a political assassination.

An Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed in the Atlantic on June 1, 2009, killing all 228 people on board.

It took nearly two years for the black box to be recovered from the bottom of the ocean. The investigation found a combination of technical and pilot error caused the crash.

A Spanair MD-82 plane crashed after take-off from Madrid airport on August 20, 2008, killing 154 people.

Surprisingly, 18 people survived the crash and subsequent fire. The crash was caused by an improper flap and slat configuration and a failure of the pilots to follow a pre-flight checklist.

A Russian passenger plane operated by Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise crashed near the eastern Ukraine city of Donetsk on August 22, 2006, killing all 170 people aboard. The plane was flying from St. Petersburg to the Black Sea resort of Anapa.

A Helios Airways flight from Cyprus crashed on August 14, 2005 near its destination Athens, killing all 121 on board. The crash was caused by a loss of cabin pressurization that immobilized the crew. The plane flew on autopilot until it ran out of fuel and crashed.

On October 8, 2001 a Scandinavian Airlines MD-87 airliner collided with a small Cessna on take-off from Milan's Linate Airport. All 114 people on the SAS and Cessna aircraft were killed, as were four people on the ground. The accident happened in thick fog. The SAS plane crashed into a hangar.

On July 25, 2000 a Air France Concorde flight from Paris to New York crashed two minutes after take-off, killing 109 people on board and four people on the ground.

The crash was caused by the Concorde running over a piece of debris on the runway, which sent tire debris into part of the fuel tank that burst into flames.


Tourism Observer

MALAYSIA: Malindo Goes To Adelaide

Malindo Air has made Adelaide (ADL), destination for this year’s World Routes, its fourth Australian gateway, launching a four times weekly service from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) via Denpasar (DPS) to the city.

The carrier is already present in Australia with flights to Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Launched 16 April from Kuala Lumpur, the carrier will serve the tri-city route using its fleet of 737-800s.

Competition on the 5,688-kilometre connection between Kuala Lumpur and Adelaide comes from Malaysia Airlines. The oneworld member already serves the airport pair five times weekly using its fleet of A330-300s.

The 3,764-kilometre sector between Denpasar and Adelaide is also served by another operator, with Jetstar Airways offering a daily rotation between the two destinations at present.

Malindo Air has added a fourth destination in Australia following the arrival of the Malaysia-based carrier’s inaugural service to Adelaide.

Flight OD173, operated by Boeing 737-800 9M-LCD, touched down in Adelaide a little after 0600 local time Wednesday morning and was greeted by an Airservices Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) monitor cross as it taxied to the terminal building.

The aircraft was on the ground for about two hours before operating the reciprocal OD174 to Denpasar (Bali), following some celebrations at the boarding gate. The flight then continues onward to Kuala Lumpur.

Malindo Air chief executive Chandran Rama Muthy, who was on the inaugural flight into Adelaide, said there had been a good response to the service since ticket sales began three weeks ago.

“I see the demand as solid from Adelaide to Bali and Kuala Lumpur,” Muthy told Australian Aviation in an interview on Wednesday.

“The Australian market is really good for us. We use Bali as our intermediate hub before flying into Kuala Lumpur, mainly because our aircraft needs refuelling.”

“We found that Bali is another good destination for Australians so why not use Bali as a transit hub.”

Further, the Adelaide route also offered good connections from Kuala Lumpur to Malindo’s Asian network, which stretches north to Japan and west to countries such as India and Sri Lanka.

“We have a great range of connecting destinations from Kuala Lumpur and also from Bali,” Muthy said.

“From Kuala Lumpur you can connect to about 57 destinations.”

Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young the airport was excited to have Malindo Air at Adelaide.

“Malindo Air will also be the first carrier since 2016 to offer a Business Class product directly between Adelaide and Bali,” Young said in a statement.

“This service provides South Australian passengers with more choice when heading to two of our most popular destinations, and also creates opportunities to attract South East Asian visitors to our city and local attractions.”

Malindo Air will operate four Kuala Lumpur-Denpasar-Adelaide flights a week with a mix of 737-800s and 737-900s featuring business and economy class seats.

Currently, Malaysia Airlines offers nonstop flights between Adelaide and Kuala Lumpur, while Qantas’s low-cost carrier (LCC) Jetstar is on the Adelaide-Denpasar route.

Malindo Air, which is part of Indonesia’s Lion Air group of carriers, started serving Australia in November 2015 when it began nonstop flights from Kuala Lumpur to Perth.

It added Kuala Lumpur-Denpasar-Brisbane and Kuala Lumpur-Denpasar-Melbourne services in March 2017 and June 2018, respectively.

All routes are served with either Boeing 737-800 or 737-900s in a two-class configuration. The airline has fifth freedom traffic rights for all it one-stop flights from Kuala Lumpur to Australia via Denpasar.

Muthy said he hoped to start flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, again via Denpasar, in the second half of the year.

“We are still waiting for one final regulatory approval from the Malaysian civil aviation authority,” Muthy said. “Once that is sorted out, then we will announce the date and start operating the flight.”

“Hopefully we can catch the June school holidays. That would be great. We’ll see how it goes.”

As aviation thinktank CAPA – Centre for Aviation noted in a recent research report, Malindo is utilising the available capacity to serve Australia from Bali under the Indonesia-Malaysia air services agreement.

The bilateral allows Malaysian carriers to operate a maximum of 28 flights a week between Bali and Australia, and a maximum of seven frequencies per Australian destination.

Should Sydney launch with a daily service, that would mean Malindo would operate a total of 22 of the 28 available weekly Bali-Australia flights – four flights a week to Adelaide and Brisbane, as well daily services to Melbourne and Sydney – leaving only six frequencies for other airlines.

CAPA chief analyst Brendan Sobie said the expansion of Malindo in this part of the world has led to an intensifying of competition in the Australia-Bali market.

“Bali remains a popular and growing destination for Australians. As competition intensifies the fares will likely come down, stimulating further demand,” Sobie said in his March 19 2019 research note.

Jetstar could drive a new phase of growth as it starts to take delivery of A321neoLRs, some of which are earmarked for Australia-Bali routes, in 2020.

“The return of AirAsia X could have an even bigger impact, but bilateral constraints will need to be resolved.”

Muthy said Malindo would remain a narrowbody operator for the foreseeable future.

“I’m quite concerned to expand into widebody because the cost of operations is totally different than narrowbody,” Muthy said.

“We don’t want to take the risk of competing head to head with the national carrier and also the other carrier, fighting for market share.”


Tourism Observer

SINGAPORE: Ascott To Manage 14 Properties In China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

The Ascott Limited, has clinched contracts to manage 14 properties with over 2,000 units across eight countries namely: China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Three of the 14 new properties are under its co-living ‘lyf’ brand, strategically located in the vibrant cities of Fukuoka in Japan, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Shanghai in China.

Under a partnership with Japanese real estate company, NTT Urban Development Corporation – a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Ascott will manage lyf Fukuoka as well as jointly explore serviced residence opportunities in Japan.

The 131-unit lyf property, nestled within Fukuoka’s major retail and recreational centre, is targeted to open in 2020.

Meanwhile, the 160-unit lyf Hongqiao Shanghai, strategically located in the Central Business District of Hongqiao, is set to open in 2022. lyf Raja Chulan Kuala Lumpur, which resides within Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle, the Malaysian capital city’s commercial, shopping and entertainment hub, is scheduled to open in 2020.

Mr Kevin Goh, Ascott’s Chief Executive Officer, said: Demand for our lyf-branded co-living properties is gaining ground.

We are bringing lyf to Fukuoka, Kuala Lumpur, and Shanghai as the buzzing start-up ecosystems in these cities have given rise to a popular culture of living and co-creating as a community among the millennials.

Ascott’s lyf properties, with their flexible communal spaces and social programmes, will cater to the lifestyle aspirations of creative professionals, technopreneurs, trendsetters and millennial travellers who seek collaborative and networking opportunities in the community.

Millennials already account for a quarter of Ascott’s customer base; and with our lyf brand, we can seize opportunities presented by the booming millennial generation, set to become the largest spending travel demographic in the near future.

Besides Singapore, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines where we will be opening lyf properties, we are also looking to bring lyf to other potential markets including Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom.

The 14 new properties marked Ascott’s first foray into Changchun, the second largest city in Northeast China, and deepened its presence in Foshan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; Frankfurt, Germany; Fukuoka, Japan; Gurgaon, India; Jakarta and Semarang, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Pattaya, Thailand; and Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia.

The Ascott Limited is a member of CapitaLand. It is an international serviced residence owner-operator with more than 73,000 units in over 500 properties, spanning over 130 cities across 30 countries like the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Its portfolio of brands includes Ascott The Residence, Citadines Apart’hotel, Somerset Serviced Residence, Quest Apartment Hotels, The Crest Collection and lyf.

From 1984 to 2000, merger and acquisition activities involving real estate and hospitality players in Singapore, Scotts Holdings, Pidemco Land, Somerset International, Liang Court Holdings, Stamford Group, DBS Land and Citadines an established hospitality brand in Europe led to the establishment of The Ascott Limited.

In 2006, the company established the world's first pan-Asian serviced residence real estate investment trust, the Ascott Residence Trust (Ascott REIT).

The Scotts Holdings, a Singapore corporation with business interests in serviced apartments, shopping centres and property investments, opened Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence, The Ascott Singapore on 14 August 1984.

Scotts Holdings was listed in 1991. In 1998, Pidemco Land set up Somerset International, its new serviced residence arm. It acquired Liang Court Holdings, one of Asia's largest serviced residence operators, to form Somerset Holdings.

Together, these two companies had a combined portfolio of 3,200 serviced residence units in 15 cities. Scotts Holdings merged with Stamford Group, the serviced residence arm of DBS Land to form The Ascott Limited, creating a joint portfolio of more than 1,700 units in eight cities.

Citadines merged with Orion, while Whitehall and Westmont later sold its tourist-oriented Orion serviced residences to focus on its business clientele.

In 2001, The Ascott Limited was listed following the merger of Somerset Holdings and The Ascott Limited in 2000. In the following year, Ascott acquired a 50 percent stake in Citadines, which made it the largest international serviced residence operator outside of the US.

In 2004, it acquired the remaining 50 percent interest in Citadines.

Ascott Reit was established with the goal of investing mainly in real estate related assets and real estate which are used or essentially used as rental housing properties, serviced residences and other hospitality assets which generates revenue.

With 11,430 units and 73 properties, in 37 cities across 14 countries, Ascott Reit has a presence in regions such as The Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.

The asset size of Ascott Reit has grown to S$5.2 billion, four times the amount since it was listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX – ST) in March 2006.

Ascott Reit clinched the “Best REIT (Asia)” award by World Finance magazine at its Real Estate Awards in 2015.

Ascott Brands are:

- Ascott The Residence

- Citadines Apart'hotel

- Somerset Serviced Residence

- Quest Apartment Hotels

- The Crest Collection

- lyf


Tourism Observer

MALAYSIA: W Kuala Lumpur Hotel Opens, Features 150 Stylish Guest Rooms

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, Inc., has announced the opening of W Kuala Lumpur, marking the brand's first-ever hotel in Malaysia.

Owned by Tropicana Corporation Berhad, W Kuala Lumpur opens its doors in the heart of the capital, steps from the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers.

Kuala Lumpur is known for its fast paced spirit which emerged from modest beginnings.

Nestled between the Klang and Gombak Rivers, Kuala Lumpur boasts a sunny tropical climate, flourishing jungle, soaring buildings and traditional Malaysian architecture a meeting of old and new, nature and humankind, on every street.

Even within the city center, nature is juxtaposed against architecture with towering skyscrapers emerging from the canopy of green. Beyond the city's juxtapositions, Kuala Lumpur is home to a multicultural mix of world-class cuisine and creativity, the perfect spot for the brand's debut in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur is one of the most modern cities in Asia. Skyrocketing from its humble heritage as a mining town to a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers, it's clear that, like W, the city has a passion for embracing what's new and next in the world , a natural fit for the W Hotels brand, said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide.

We are blown away by how the city is moving towards the future while still maintaining its traditional and cultural roots.

It's a precise balancing act that we have brought to the intricate, vibrant design of W Kuala Lumpur to show guests from across the globe all the magic this city has to offer.

W Kuala Lumpur combines an inexhaustible mix of old and new colors, aromas and sounds that blend effortlessly together in a cultural festival for the senses. A distinct design feature at W Kuala Lumpur is the pixel or dot.

It is cleverly integrated throughout the hotel and is used to create a bigger picture inspired by a broader multicultural Malaysia made up of many ethnicities.

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by larger-than-life traditional batik motifs, a nod to ancient artwork of the region, blended with sleek metal accents.

The city's abundant plant life is pulled into the space via bamboo inspired chandeliers set against an ever-changing wall of lights, a representation of the new technology that is enhancing the cityscape.

At the Welcome area, guests check in among modern nods to the jungle.

Streaming LED lights hang from above, playfully mimicking waterfalls, spotlights alternate along the floor like a flowing river while the ceiling patterns depict an artistic interpretation of Kuala Lumpur's topography, and chandeliers show off the shapes of spinning Malay toys known throughout the country.

Extending from the Living Room, the hotel's grand staircase plays with light and space in a towering geometric cascade of steel-mirrored panels.

Reflecting the vibrant colors and native designs found throughout the room and floors above, the staircase shifts each guests' view of both color and spacial dynamics as they move through the creatively extroverted mirroring.

W Kuala Lumpur features 150 stylish guest rooms and suites, including two WOW suites and the lavish Extreme WOW Suite, the brand's take on the traditional presidential suite.

With a living space of over 520 square meters, the Extreme WOW Suite brings a new level of eclectic luxury to the city.

All W Kuala Lumpur rooms and suites embody both the traditional and modern elements of the Jungle City, teaming W essentials like signature W beds with traditional accents like indigenous Wau tassels commonly featured on Malaysian kites and pixelated versions of batik designs.

W Kuala Lumpur brings a flawless synergy to Kuala Lumpur's booming, multicultural food and drink scene with six diverse beverage and food venues.

YEN offers an imperial ambience with a contemporary take on traditional Cantonese recipes and a wide selection of fresh seafood.

The energetic all-day dining restaurant, FLOCK, showcases an extensive open kitchen where expert chefs serve up Australian, farm-to-flock dishes featuring organic produce and a focus on sustainable eats.

For inventive bar bites and meticulously crafted cocktails, WOOBAR is a chic all-day social space perfect to fuel up and stay longer.

Set to be the best spot to see and be seen in Kuala Lumpur, the WET® Deck pool bar features creative concoctions, with breathtaking views of Petronas Twin Towers as its stunning backdrop.

W Kuala Lumpur will also offer two privately managed dining and entertainment venues including SAINT PIERRE, a 70-seat French eatery that has already earned a Michelin star at its Singapore location, and WICKED, the city's newest VIP club, further amplifying Kuala Lumpur's buzzing nightlife.

W Kuala Lumpur adopts a bold approach to elevate events from ordinary to extraordinary.

Featuring over 1,500 square meters of function space including the sprawling 1,000-square-meter GREAT ROOM, W Kuala Lumpur is setting the stage for lively and vivid presentations, conferences, weddings, and product launches.

Guests and staycationers looking to get pampered can treat themselves to luxe indulgences at AWAY®Spa. With five treatment rooms, this 1,100-square-meter oasis offers massages and treatments, vitality pools, chroma-therapy steam baths and bio infrared saunas.

For complete head-to-toe pampering, the Beauty Bar, a local elite beauty house by 176 Avenue, offers manicures and pedicures, as well as hair and eyelash extension services.

For those wanting to detox before they retox and repeat, guests can sweat it out at the hotel's FIT gym which features state-of-the-art equipment and views of the city skyline.

To celebrate the debut of W Kuala Lumpur, guests are invited to experience W and detox in style.

Book a stay with W Kuala Lumpur and revel in the signature Whatever/Whenever® experience. Rates start from MYR850+ per room per night, subject to availability at the time of reservation. Terms & conditions apply.

Prices are subject to prevailing taxes.


Tourism Observer

MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines Creates New Routes

Malaysia Airlines this week filed initial changes to its winter 2018/19 schedule, effective from 28OCT18. The changes includes the extension of Airbus A380 operational schedule.

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon MH066/067 operational aircraft changes
28OCT18 – 14MAR19 A380
15MAR19 – 30MAR19 A350

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan eff 28OCT18 A330-200 replaces 737-800, 1 daily
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita 15MAR19 – 30MAR19 MH088/089 A380 replaces A350-900XWB

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update extended Airbus A380 operational schedule to late-October 2018. For the month of September and October, planned A380 operation as follows.

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon 01SEP18 – 26OCT18 1 daily MH066/067 (Except selected dates)
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita 06AUG18 – 27OCT18 1 daily MH088/089 (Previously scheduled until 31AUG18)

Malaysia Airlines in latest schedule update filed additional Airbus A380 service to Tokyo, which sees the Super Jumbo operating 7 of 12 weekly Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita service, from 15AUG18 to 25AUG18 (16AUG18 – 26AUG18 from Tokyo). Planned schedule as follows.

MH088 KUL2330 – 0740+1NRT 388 D
MH089 NRT1020 – 1645KUL 388 D

Previously reported A380 regional service to Australia and Japan as follow:
Kuala Lumpur – Sydney MH123/122 30MAR18 – 31MAR18, 12APR18 – 14APR18, 21JUN18 – 24JUN18, 29JUN18 – 30JUN18, 15JUL18*
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita MH088/089 17MAR18 – 10APR18

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update filed Airbus A380 service on Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon route, scheduled from 11APR18 to 31MAY18 (ICN departure). MH066/067 service will once again sees the A380 operating on daily basis, instead of A330-300.

The airline operates 10 weekly flights on this route.

MH038 KUL1405 – 2145ICN 333 346
MH066 KUL2330 – 0710+1ICN 388 D

MH039 ICN0010 – 0545KUL 333 457
MH067 ICN1100 – 1635KUL 388 D

Malaysia Airlines this week filed initial changes to its winter 2018/19 schedule, effective from 28OCT18. The changes includes the extension of Airbus A380 operational schedule.

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon MH066/067 operational aircraft changes
28OCT18 – 14MAR19 A380
15MAR19 – 30MAR19 A350

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan eff 28OCT18 A330-200 replaces 737-800, 1 daily
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita 15MAR19 – 30MAR19 MH088/089 A380 replaces A350-900XWB

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update filed additional Airbus A350-900XWB operating service, scheduled for Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong between July and September 2018. Following is planned A350 operation, based on KUL departure.

Kuala Lumpur – Hong Kong MH072/073
13AUG18 – 28AUG18 Day 12
06SEP18 – 12SEP18 Day 34
15SEP18 – 21SEP18 Day x123
24SEP18 Day 1

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon
MH038/039 27JUL18 – 29AUG18 2 weekly (3 weekly from 04AUG18, 5 weekly from 12AUG18)
MH066/067 23JUL18 – 31AUG18 1 daily


Tourism Observer

MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines Allows Passengers To Postpone Travels

Following the strong earthquake that struck Osaka, Japan yesterday, Malaysia Airlines announced that it will allow passengers to postpone travels between Kuala Lumpur and Kansai.

Passengers travelling from 19 until 30 June 2018 will be able to postpone their travels before 15 July 2018, subject to flight availability, the national carrier said in a statement.

It added that they are monitoring the situation and will be guided by the authorities on safety to travel into Kansai International Airport.

Meanwhile, present flights by Malaysia Airlines to and from Kansai, are operating as scheduled.

For more information, passengers may call Malaysia Airlines’ call centre at 1-300-88-3000 (in Malaysia) or +603-7843 3000 (outside Malaysia).

The 5.3 magnitude quake resulted in the deaths of at least four people while 214 sustained injuries.

Those who were killed included a nine-year-old girl.

The powerful quake rocked Japan’s second city of Osaka on Monday, killing three people including a nine-year-old girl and injuring more than 200, according to an official tally.

Television images showed buildings swaying and burst pipes spewing water after the quake, which struck at the height of rush hour in the city of around two million.

However, there was no large-scale destruction and no tsunami warning issued after the earthquake, although commuters were stranded and tens of thousands were left without power.

Among the casualties was a nine-year-old girl who died in the city of Takatsuki north of Osaka, reportedly trapped by a collapsed wall following the 5.3-magnitude quake.

The other two dead were an 80-year-old man killed by a collapsing wall and a man trapped under a bookcase in his home.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said more than 200 people were injured.

Prime Minister Shinzo said the government was working united, with its first priority on saving people’s lives.

And government spokesman Yoshihide Suga cautioned there was a possibility of strong aftershocks.

Large-scale quakes are likely to happen in the next two to three days, he said.

Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire where many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded.

On March 11, 2011, a devastating magnitude 9.0 quake struck under the Pacific Ocean, and the resulting tsunami caused widespread damage and claimed thousands of lives.

It also sent three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing Japan’s worst postwar disaster and the most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

Local residents described the moment the quake jolted the highly urbanised area at 8:00 am, when platforms would have been heaving with passengers waiting to board their commuter trains.

The floor moved violently. It was a strong vertical jolt. Nearly all of the dishes fell and shattered on the floor, said Kaori Iwakiri, a 50-year-old nurse in Moriguchi just north of Osaka city.

My parents suffered a blackout and they have no water. I plan to take water to them now.

Despite its relatively low magnitude, the quake caused quite a shake, registering a lower six on the Japanese experiential scale of up to seven – meaning it is hard to stay standing.

The tremor reminded Japanese of the devastating 1995 Kobe earthquake, which killed nearly 6,500 people.

A parent said, i was worried about my son as he had just left for his high school. I was relieved when I confirmed he was safe.

NHK showed footage of firefighters tackling a blaze that ripped through a home north of Osaka.

A number of train services were suspended, including the shinkansen bullet train, as multiple smaller aftershocks followed the quake.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said it had detected no problems at its local atomic power plants, but some companies including Honda said they had suspended operations at local plants.

Kansai Electric said on its website that around 170,000 homes in the Osaka region were briefly left without power.

There are fears that the risk of house collapses and landslides has increased in the areas shaken strongly, said Toshiyuki Matsumori, in charge of monitoring quakes at the meteorological agency.

Around 850 people were evacuated to shelters, a local government spokesman said.

Some 40 soldiers were deployed to areas where the water supply was damaged.

Local officials also issued a warning against spreading fake news online after a tweet claiming a zebra was on the loose after the quake went viral.

Tourism Observer

HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific Acquires First A350-1000 And Orders Twenty More

Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, making it the variant's second operator after Qatar Airways, which received its initial example in February.

The Hong Kong carrier has ordered 20 A350-1000s and already operates 22 A350-900s, Airbus says. The airline has another six -900s on order and holds four options.

Airbus says Cathay Pacific will from September deploy the A350-1000 on nonstop services to Washington DC, which the airframer describes as the longest flight performed by any airline out of Hong Kong. Flight time will be approximately 17h.

Cathay Pacific chief customer and commercial officer Paul Loo states that the A350-900's introduction to the airline in 2016"enabled us to expand our long-haul network at a near unprecedented rate.

He adds that the larger -1000 variant has an incredible range, is remarkably fuel efficient and quiet, provides customers with an unsurpassed cabin environment, and has extremely attractive operating economics.

The A350 is exclusively powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

The first of 20 A350-1000s for Cathay Pacific has completed its initial test flight from Airbus's Toulouse plant.

Deliveries of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered aircraft to the Hong Kong carrier are scheduled to begin in June. It will become the second operator after launch customer Qatar Airways to receive Airbus's biggest twinjet.

The new twinjets will be operated alongside Cathay's existing fleet of smaller A350-900s, 22 of which are currently in service with six more on order, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.

Cathay will deploy the A350-1000 on its new route to Washington DC from September. The airline says that at 8,153 miles (7,095nm/13,126km), the new service to Dulles will become the longest in its network.

Airbus's third test-flight A330-900, carrying the colours of launch operator TAP Portugal, has landed in Lisbon after commencing the initial stage of route-proving flights.

For the first state of route-proving, MSN1819 is set to fly on to Brazil, visiting cities including Recife, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Miami.

The Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-powered aircraft took off on 19 June from Toulouse's runway 32R – using a full-thrust departure, rather than a flex setting, on the request of flight-test engineers – for a 1h 30min flight to the Portuguese capital.

MSN1819 had pushed back with just under 20t of fuel, and a weight of 164t, with a projected landing weight of 156.8t. The crew confirmed, after touchdown on Lisbon's on runway 21, that the twinjet had burned 8t of fuel.

The 298-seat aircraft – featuring the airframer's three-class revamped Airspace cabin interior, fitted with Recaro seating – was transporting board members from the carrier and the airframer, as well as government figures and media representatives.

Route-proving will subsequently take the aircraft to Asia, with stops in Kuala Lumpur and other regional hubs, before it returns to Europe via Mauritius. It also fly to Delhi before heading west again, operating through Reykjavik, Chicago and Atlanta.

The exercise is intended to demonstrate the A330neo's readiness for airline service.

As part of the testing the aircraft will undertake extended twin-engined operations flights, approaches to alternate airports, and tests with ground-handling systems.

Airbus head of A330 marketing Crawford Hamilton, speaking during the event, said the route-proving effort would involve about 150h of flights, spanning 18 days, and taking in 16 cities. The exercise is set to run to 7 July.

Hamilton says the A330neo test-flight campaign, which involves three aircraft including MSN1819, is around 80% complete. The fleet has logged around 1,000h in 267 flights.

Performance is in line with predictions, he adds.

Certification is still on track for summer this year, with subsequent entry into service with TAP.


Tourism Observer

INDONESIA: Garuda Indonesia Is A Leading Airline , Denpensar The Leading Airport In Asia

Denpasar is the main international airport on the Indonesian island of Bali.

It was the second largest Indonesian airport based on total departing capacity in 2017.

Denpasar was the fourth busiest Indonesian airport for departing domestic seats last year and the second largest for international capacity.

The available two-way seats on flights serving Denpasar grew from 10.63 million in 2008 to 29.18 million in 2017, representing a substantial 174% increase.

Between 2009 and 2017 the airport experienced double-digit, year-on-year growth on six occasions.

The single largest annual increase came in 2010, with available seat numbers boosted by nearly 20% over 2009 levels. Since 2008, Denpasar has only witnessed one annual capacity contraction.

This took place in 2015, and the cuts were marginal at less than one percent. From 2010 to 2017 available capacity to and from the Balinese airport more than doubled, increasing by 108%.

Denpasar has seen a relatively even split between capacity offered on domestic and international services over the past 10 years.

In 2008 there were 5.43 million two-way seats available on domestic services. By 2017 this had grown to 14.65 million, which is equivalent to a 170% increase.

Over the same period, international capacity increased by 174% from 5.20 million seats to 14.53 million. Domestic seats accounted for 51% of the airport’s two-way capacity in 2008 and around 50% in 2017.

Indonesian-based carriers accounted for nine of the top 12 airlines at Denpasar in 2017, based on annual departing seats.

This included the four largest airlines, and eight of the top 10. National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia was the biggest single capacity provider, with more than three million departing seats, 21% of the airport’s total.

Garuda will offer 323 flights from Denpasar across 29 destinations during the week commencing 15 May, with between 45 and 47 daily departures.

Jetstar Airways was the largest international carrier in 2017.

During the week commencing 15 May it will serve eight destinations from Denpasar with the highest frequency link being Perth, which it operates three times daily.

Most of the top 12 airlines expanded their capacity from Denpasar last year. The strongest growth came from Batik Air 620% increase and NAM Air 207%.

Batik Air was a new entrant to the top 12 in 2017 increasing the number of one-way seats on offer from Denpasar from 65,000 in 2016, to 468,000 last year.

The Indonesian airline more than trebled its domestic capacity in 2017 and introduced international services to Perth and Kuala Lumpur.

Two of the top-ranked airlines cut capacity from the Bali facility last year. The largest reduction came from Indonesia AirAsia, with the LCC removing 5.4% of its seats compared to 2016.

Half of the top 12 routes from Denpasar in 2017 were domestic services. This included its biggest single link to Jakarta.

There were 3.21 million one-way seats available on the capital city connection, representing 22% of the airport’s total capacity.

Six airlines will offer 232 combined flights from Denpasar to Jakarta during the week commencing 15 May.

Three of the top-ranked routes last year were international services, with Singapore the largest of these. The biggest international country market was Australia, with nine links and 1.74 million seats available.

The largest country market outside of Asia Pacific was Qatar, which finished in seventh place.

Denpasar’s top two routes remained unchanged in 2017, with the majority of the top-ranked routes witnessing a year-on-year capacity boost comapred to 2016.

The largest increases came on services to Kuala Lumpur 60% increase over 2016 , Jakarta 24% and Doha (23%).

The Kuala Lumpur link experienced growth from existing operators, plus the introduction of services by Batik Air and AirAsia X.

The Malaysian destination subsequently overtook Surabaya to become the third largest route from Denpasar.

Three connections witnessed a year-on-year decline in seat numbers. The largest cuts came on domestic services to Surabaya 16% reduction. Melbourne dropped out of the top 12 and was replaced by Doha.

One new route has already launched to Denpasar in 2018 and that at least three more are scheduled to begin.

These include Qantas and Malindo Air introducing services to Melbourne, and Emirates adding a link to Auckland. All three services are due to commence in June.


Tourism Observer

VIETNAM: Best Western To Open New Beach Resort In Cam Ranh

Just a month after announcing a new BW Premier Collection property that will be opened in Vung Tau, Vietnam, Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced yet another property that will open in Vietnam.

Best Western Premier Cam Ranh Seahorse Beach Resort is the latest addition to the hotel group's growing portfolio.

Best Western Premier Cam Ranh Seahorse Beach Resort will be nestled on an idyllic stretch of golden sand on Vietnam’s south-central coast, overlooking the azure East Sea.

The new upscale beach resort in Cam Ranh is ideal for all types of travelers, from families seeking a beachfront vacation to corporate groups planning memorable meetings.

We are delighted to sign such a prestigious project in Vietnam, as we ramp up our expansion strategy in this dynamic country, said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations - Asia.

Best Western Premier Cam Ranh Seahorse Beach Resort is a perfect example of the type of first-class properties we are now attracting in Asia.

With record numbers of international visitors, a large domestic population and rising levels of affluence, Vietnam is an incredibly exciting destination with huge tourism potential.

We look forward to welcoming guests to this excellent resort in future and will continue to seek opportunities to bring Best Western’s world-class standards of hospitality to more areas of the country in future, Olivier added.

Upon opening, Best Western Premier Cam Ranh Seahorse Beach Resort will feature a total of 376 rooms and suites, all equipped with upscale facilities, spacious bathrooms and cutting-edge technology, including complimentary Wi-Fi.

Guests can sample delectable local and international cuisine in the restaurant, enjoy soothing therapies in the spa, have fun on the tennis court, cool off in the tropical outdoor pool, or simply stroll along the sandy beach or beside the landscaped lakes.

For corporate clients and event planners, the adjacent convention hall provides an ideal setting for every type and size of event.

This including major international conferences, all backed up with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

Located in Khanh Hoa province, in the south-central coast region of Vietnam, Cam Ranh is a stunning destination with golden sands and turquoise seas.

The expansion of Cam Ranh International Airport, which will soon open a new international passenger terminal featuring 80 check-in counters and ten aircraft bridges, is helping to transform the area into a major tourism destination.

The airport now welcomes direct flights from major cities including Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur.


Tourism Observer

THAILAND: KLM Flight From Amsterdam To Kuala Lumpur Makes Stopover In Phuket After A Passenger's Phone Overheated And Caused Smoke

KLM Boeing 777-200 was enroute at FL390 about 100nm northwest of Phuket - Thailand when the crew decided to divert to Phuket due to a passenger’s mobile phone overheating and emitting a lot of smoke.

The aircraft landed safely in Phuket about 20 minutes later.

The airline said Flight KL 809 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur made a stopover in Phuket, Thailand.

Smoke accumulated in the cabin when a passenger’s mobile phone overheated.

The crew handled the situation well and the captain opted to land the aircraft as a precautionary measure.

The aircraft landed safely and at no time were passengers or crew in danger.

A safety check has since been carried out in the cabin and the aircraft has been released for departure.

Owing to compulsory crew work and rest times, the flight to Kuala Lumpur cannot continue immediately and passengers and crew are being accommodated in hotels in Phuket.

As a result, the flight has incurred an 18-hour delay.

The onward flight to Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta- Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled.

KLM regrets the inconvenience this is causing its passengers.



Tourism Observer

FRANCE: Air France Starts Flights From Paris-Charles de Gaulle To Taipei

On Monday 16 April, Air France inaugurated its new Paris -Charles de Gaulle – Taipei (Taiwan) service.

The company now offers its customers 3 weekly flights by Boeing 777, equipped with the new long-haul travel cabins.

This new route between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Taipei is operated on a code-share basis with SkyTeam alliance member, China Airlines.

AF552: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:35, arrives in Taipei at 8:15 the next day

AF557: leaves Taipei at 10:25, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 18:20.

Flights operated on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays as from 16 April 2018 on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

14 weekly flights between Europe and Taipei

In addition, Air France-KLM offers 11 weekly flights on departure from Amsterdam-Schiphol: a daily flight operated by KLM by Boeing 777 and 4 weekly codeshare flights by China Airlines by Airbus A350.

In this way, in 2018, the group offers its customers 14 weekly flights between Europe and Taipei together with its partner China Airlines.

This summer, Air France and KLM customers will benefit from 203 weekly flights to 19 Asian destinations(1): Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Denpasar-Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Manila.

Air France’s best cabins take off to Taipei

On board the Boeing 777 to Taipei, passengers enjoy all the comforts of the latest Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

In the Business cabin, Air France offers excellence in the sky. The seat adapts to the shape of each individual, from seating position to a real 2-metre long bed.

At the heart of the curved structure, each passenger creates their own space, enveloping and protective, according to their desires.

The seat’s soft foam is designed to offer impeccable quality of sleep.

With a soft duvet and XXL-sized feather down pillow, everything has been designed to ensure peaceful sleep among the clouds.

Each passenger has a wide 16-inch (41 cm) HD touch screen.

In the Premium Economy cabin, customers enjoy more comfortable seats and a multi-position footrest, which enhances the comfort of this cabin even further.

In the Economy cabin, the seat has been entirely redesigned, with additional legroom, new seat cushions, softer headrests and a larger tray table.


Tourism Observer

NEPAL: Hi Fly To Provide Nepal Airlines Two Airbus A330-200s

Nepal Airlines Corp. (NAC) will take delivery of the first of two Airbus A330-200s in June, in order to expand its international network following the acquisition of the two wide-body planes.

Portuguese wet-lease specialist, Hi Fly, will provide both airplanes, which are currently in final assembly stage in Toulouse, France.

The two A330-200s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, will feature a two-class cabin configuration that will seat a total of 274 passengers, respectively 18 in Business class and 256 Economy class.

Likewise, the 2-aisle cabin will have each seat equipped with RAVE Centric, the latest In-seat AVOD In-Flight Entertainment System.

According to NAC, it has signed a 12-year contract of total-care-package for the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce engines, including spare engines, if needed.

Nepal Airlines flies to eight international destinations from its main hub in Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), including Kathmandu to Doha (Qatar), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hong Kong, Bangkok (Thailand) and Dubai as well to Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai (India).

Also, it operates domestic flights from its regional hubs at Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, and Pokhara.

As of January 2017, the oldest airline from Nepal manages a fleet of 12 aircraft, consisting of two Airbus A320-200s, one Boeing 757-200M, two Xian MA-60 used for regional flights, three de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, and four Harbin Y-12 only two used due to lack of pilot.


Tourism Observer

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines Acquires Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner

Boeing and Singapore Airlines celebrated the delivery of the first 787-10 airplane, the newest and largest member of the Dreamliner family and a jet that will set a new global standard for fuel efficiency.

About 3,000 people marked the milestone at Boeing’s facility in North Charleston, South Carolina where the latest 787 model is manufactured.

Like the other 787 Dreamliners, the 787-10 is designed with strong, lightweight composites, the most advanced systems, and comfortable cabin features.

The 787-10, though, features a longer fuselage which allows it to carry about 40 more passengers or a total of 330 seats in a standard two-class configuration.

With the additional capacity, the 787-10 provides airlines the lowest operating cost per seat of any widebody airplane in service today.

It is an honour for us to be the world’s first airline to take delivery of this amazing aircraft, said Mr. Goh Choon Phong, chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines, the 787-10 launch customer.

The 787-10 is a magnificent piece of engineering and truly a work of art. It will be an important element in our overall growth strategy, enabling us to expand our network and strengthen our operations.

Goh added that the 787-10 underscores Singapore Airlines’ longstanding commitment to operate a modern fleet, and marks the start of a new chapter in our shared story with Boeing.

Singapore Airlines – through its subsidiary Scoot – already flies the 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners. With today’s delivery the group will be the first to operate all three Dreamliner models.

Singapore Airlines has 68 additional Boeing widebody jets on order, including 48 additional 787-10s, and 20 of the new 777-9s.

This is a big day for all of us at Boeing and for our global supplier partners. We are thrilled to deliver the first 787-10 Dreamliner to Singapore Airlines, one of the world’s leading carriers.

And we are honored by Singapore’s partnership and trust, as reflected by their repeated orders for the Dreamliner, said Kevin McAllister, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer.

The 787-10 will extend the Dreamliner effect that we are seeing across commercial aviation as the 787’s superior passenger experience and unmatched fuel efficiency helps airlines open new routes and achieve significant fuel savings and emission reduction.

The 787-10’s superior performance and high commonality with its Dreamliner siblings have attracted strong interest from around the world, including in Asia where the jet can connect all points within the region.

The 787-10 also offers Asian operators the flexibility to fly to Europe, Africa and Oceania.

Singapore Airlines plans to puts its 787-10s into scheduled service in May, with flights from Singapore to Osaka, Japan and Perth, Australia.

Prior to the introduction of these services, the aircraft will be operated on selected flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for crew training purposes.



Tourism Observer

INDIA: Love Fight Compels Qatar Airways Doha-Bali Filght To Make Unscheduled Landing At Chennai Airport

An Iranian couple's holiday to Bali ended temporarily in India when a woman forced the Doha-Bali flight of Qatar Airways to make an unscheduled landing at the Chennai airport.

The woman had unlocked her husband’s phone by putting his finger on its scanner, after which she realised that he was cheating on her.

She later started misbehaving with the crew members who tried to calm her down, the report added.

The confusion compelled the pilots to land the plane mid-way in Chennai.

Qatar Airways' Doha-Bali nonstop flight is almost 10 hours long while Chennai is midway.

The couple was offloaded at the airport.

The family spent the day at Chennai airport and was sent to Kuala Lumpur by a Batik Air flight.

Police took no action.

The airline in its statement did not comment on the matter, stating the actions were taken with respect towards passenger safety.

This incident comes a week after a Delhi-bound Jet Airways flight was diverted to the airport in Ahmedabad after a note was found on board threatening the presence of hijackers and explosives on the aircraft.

The person responsible for the letter has been detained by the city police.

Inspection by the bomb disposal squad found no explosive in the plane and the note turned out to be a hoax.

The note, allegedly placed by Mumbai-based Gujarati jeweller Birju Salla, demanded that the pilot not land at Delhi and instead should fly the aircraft to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), stating that there were 12 hijackers and a bomb in the cargo area.



Tourism Observer

Top Shopping Countries For Travelers

Bangkok, London, and Paris are the top-ranked international travel destinations for holiday shoppers, according to the annual Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index released today.

The Index is more than a ranking of the 132 top destination cities of today and tomorrow. Based on visitor volume and spend for the 2016 calendar year.

The in-depth analysis also provides a forecast for growth in 2017, insight on the fastest growing destination cities, and a deeper understanding of why people travel and how they spend around the world.

The global top 10 destination cities

Forecasts for continued growth in 2017 are also positive, and London is predicated to eclipse Bangkok’s growth (see table below). Travellers from USA and France represented nearly one quarter of visitors to London, with 2.32m and 1.99m visitors respectively.


City 2016 International Overnight Visitors Forecast for 2017

Bangkok 19.41 million visitors 4.0%

London 19.06 million visitors 5.0%

Paris 15.45 million visitors 4.4%

Dubai 14.87 million visitors 7.7%

Singapore 13.11 million visitors 2.6%

New York 12.70 million visitors (-2.4%)

Seoul 12.39 million visitors 0.4%

Kuala Lumpur 11.28 million visitors 7.2%

Tokyo 11.15 million visitors 12.2%

Istanbul 9.16 million visitors 0.9%

London’s importance as a global hub has once again been underlined because of its iconic landmarks, incredible architecture and arts scene, but also because of its world-class connectivity, in terms of getting to and within the city.

Yet London stands out particularly for its shopping, representing 46.7% of visitors’ expenditure, more than any other city.

81% of the visitors are for leisure, while the remaining 1 in 5 people are in London for business reasons.

People spend more on shopping while in London than any other city in the report.

It represents 46.7% of visitors’ expenditure. Only Osaka (43.4%) and Tokyo (43.1%) come close.

International visitor spent $16.09 billion in 2016, the highest of all European destinations, and significantly higher than Paris which came in second for expenditure with $12.03 billion.

Their expenditure was broken down as follows:

Shopping: 46.7%

Accommodation: 30.1%

Food and beverages: 16.5%

Local transport: 4.3%

Local services: 1.9%

Miscellaneous: 0.5%

Mark Barnett, President of UK, Ireland, Nordics & Baltics, Mastercard said London appeals to so many different passions of so many people.

It is one of the capitals for fashion and theatre.

Thousands of restaurants and countless Michelin stars make it a mecca for foodies.

Historic landmarks rub shoulders with futuristic towers but above all else it is the incredible diversity, energy and creative spirit that make it so special, so international and outward-looking.

That is why London is a true destination city and well positioned to benefit from increased visitor numbers and spending.

Andrew Cooke, Acting CEO of London & Partners which runs visitlondon.com, said The enduring appeal of London means the city is consistently one of the world’s top destinations for visitors from around the world.

London is one of the most diverse and thrilling cities in the world with everything from historic palaces to leading exhibitions.

And now, according to MasterCard it’s the world’s leading city for shopping. Whether it’s browsing high-end luxury stores or bargain-hunting in quirky markets off the beaten track, London has something to offer every visitor.”



Tourism Observer

PHILIPPINES: Philippine Airlines To Fly To Kuala Lumpur After Three Years

Philippine Airlines (PAL) resumed daily service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 8, 2017 after three years.

With investment opportunities in Malaysia's service and manufacturing sectors, the PAL route will provide direct access to new business opportunities. Close to 800,000 Overseas Filipino Workers are employed in Malaysia.

The resumption of PAL flights between Manila and Kuala Lumpur will help foster economic and cultural ties between the Philippines and Malaysia. Most importantly, it addresses the clamor for a direct service between the two capital cities, said PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista.

Through PAL flights and code-share partners, we can carry passenger traffic from Kuala Lumpur to China, Japan, South Pacific and North America and thus enhance our ASEAN network, he added.

As the airport operator, we are always committed towards building a strong relationship with our partner airlines to support its growth, not only in Malaysia but globally. Our mission here at Malaysia Airports is to create joyful experiences for all our stakeholders.

Therefore, we will ensure that Philippines Airlines operations will receive Malaysia Airports’ fullest support for any airport facilities and services needed at the terminal, shared Malaysia Airports Senior General Manager Zainol Mohd Isa.

The decision to return to Kuala Lumpur comes after PAL and Malaysia Airlines expanded their code-share arrangement. The enhancements include code-sharing on 12 domestic Malaysian destinations and nine domestic Philippine destinations.

The points are:

Malaysia - Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Labuan (Sabah), Langkawi, Miri (Sarawak), Penang, Sibu (Sarawak), Tawau (Sabah).

Philippines - Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Caticlan.

Passengers may book on Business Class or Economy Class to any of these destinations. Lounge access is also available to Business Class passengers.

Current frequent flyer baggage benefits of Mabuhay Miles and Enrich members are also extended.

Code-share passengers traveling between terminals in Manila can avail of PAL's free transfer services.

Passengers can choose from any of the daily Manila-Kuala Lumpur flight timings.

PR 525 departs Manila every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 7:25 AM and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 11:00 AM local time; the return flight – PR526 – leaves Kuala Lumpur on the same days at 12:10 PM local time, and touches down in Manila at 3:50 PM.

PR 527 leaves Manila on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11:30 AM and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 3:00 PM local time; the return service – PR528 – departs Kuala Lumpur on the same days at 4:00 PM local time and touches down in Manila at 7:30 PM.

PAL is deploying the Airbus A321 on the route. The 199-seater aircraft has 12 seats in business class, 18 in premium economy and 169 in regular economy.

Wireless inflight entertainment can be enjoyed while flying onboard the A321 by downloading the myPAL Player app for free. This will allow passengers to stream movies, TV shows and music from their personal electronic devices. Passengers also have meal options - Asian, Western or Halal meals. Generous free baggage allowance form part of the flight offerings.

The PAL service enables travelers from KL to enjoy Manila for several days and connect to any of PAL's 28 domestic and 42 international destinations.

NEW ZEALAND: Police Storm Malaysia Airlines Flight After Passenger Threatened To Blow Up The Plane

Armed police stormed a Malaysia Airlines flight which was forced to return to Melbourne after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit claiming he had a bomb, officials said Thursday.

Passengers told of fearing for their lives, but Malaysian Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said a Sri Lankan national, who appeared to have been drunk, was overpowered by the plane's crew and later arrested.

It is not a hijack. One disruptive passenger tried to enter the plane's cockpit,he said.

The passenger claimed to have a bomb. But it was not a bomb but a powerbank, Aziz said.

Everyone on board is safe.He was taken out of the plane handcuffed by Australian security officers."

Kuala Lumpur-bound Flight MH128 left Melbourne at 11:11pm (1311 GMT) on Wednesday but turned back shortly afterwards when a man allegedly threatened those on board, Australian police said.

It is alleged that a man tried to enter the cockpit and threatened the safety of passengers and staff, Victoria state police said in a statement, but added that he did not gain entry to the cockpit and was subdued.

Superintendent Andy Langdon said the suspect appeared to have a history of mental illness.

We do not believe this is terrorist-related at the moment,Langdon said.

Photographs on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website showed black-clad officers armed with rifles on board the plane.

While officials tried to play down the incident, passengers told of some 90 minutes of onboard drama and fear after take-off.

A business class passenger, who identified himself as Andy, said the arrested man had threatened to blow the plane up.

The staff were saying 'Sit back down sir, sit back down sir'. He goes 'No, I'm not going to sit back down, I'm going to blow the plane up', Andy said.

"The staff screamed out 'I need some help, I need some help'. So I jumped up, undid my buckle, and approached him."

Andy said the man ran to the back of the plane, where two other men grabbed and disarmed him of a "giant black thing" and "put hog ties on him".

Superintendent Langdon described the experience for passengers as "very traumatic", adding passengers and crew were "heroic".

Passenger Arif Chaudery said he joined several others to subdue the man.

"Families, kids, they were very scared, and some screaming... so three or four guys, we jumped as quickly as possible," he told Channel Nine.

"We just put him on the floor and finally staff brought the belt, so we handcuffed him and tied his legs and put his face on the floor."

Laura, who asked for her surname to be withheld, told the ABC she feared for her life.

"I thought the plane was going to go down, I thought the bomb was going to go off, I really did think I was going to die," she said.

Malaysia Airlines said the plane's passengers would be put up at hotels and offered another flight.

Melbourne airport said inbound and outbound flights had been affected and advised passengers to check with their airlines.

The incident came just months after Canberra called off the search for missing flight MH370 carrying 239 passengers and crew, after a vast underwater hunt off Australia's west coast failed to find the plane.

MH370 disappeared in March 2014, while another passenger jet, MH17, was shot down in July of the same year while flying over Ukraine in twin tragedies to hit Malaysia's national carrier.

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.

Families Plan To Raise $15 million To Help Search For Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

The families of those onboard missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 launched efforts Saturday to raise at least $15 million to fund a private search as they marked the third anniversary of the plane’s disappearance.

Malaysia, Australia and China suspended a nearly three-year search in the southern Indian Ocean on Jan. 17 after it failed to find any trace of the plane. The jet disappeared March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Jacquita Gomes, whose husband was a flight attendant on the plane, said families have no choice but to take matters into their own hands by raising the money.

“What happened to MH370 is a mystery, but it should not go down in the history books as a mystery. Everybody wants answers,” Gomes said at a three-hour remembrance event at a shopping mall near Kuala Lumpur.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a speech at the event that a final report with information and analysis on what happened to the plane based on available data and evidence would be released this year. He didn’t say when.

He said authorities would step up efforts to comb for plane debris along the African coast. So far, Liow said, 27 pieces of debris have been found, including two new pieces found off Africa about two weeks ago. He said that three pieces of debris have been confirmed to be from Flight 370, and that five more are “almost certain” to be from the plane.

Despite the suspension of the $160 million hunt for the plane, Liow said authorities haven’t abandoned all efforts to locate the wreckage. He told reporters that an international team of experts in Australia is still studying whether an area north of the previous search area could be the plane’s final resting place.

Liow said there was an 85 percent chance that the new 25,000-square-kilometer (15,535-square-mile) area could be the crash site, and that experts needed more time to study satellite images, debris flow and other clues.

“Funding has never been an issue, but we have to be sure, we need credible evidence,” said Liow, who was making his first appearance at a Flight 370 anniversary event organized by the families.

Gomes said that through online fundraising and corporate donations, families hope to raise at least $15 million to pursue the search in the new area recommended by the experts.

More than 30 family members from Malaysia, Australia, China, India and France went on stage and spoke about the urgency to find closure. They released eight white pigeons and shouted “Search on.”

“We will keep fighting, we will keep trying,” said Danica Weeks of Australia, whose husband was a passenger on Flight 370. “We have no peace at this point. It’s painful. It doesn’t get better with time.”