MONGOLIA: Genghis Khan Airlines To Commence Flights 2019

Genghis Khan Airlines a new start-up in the Inner Mongolia region of China. However, unlike some airline start-ups, which start seamlessly, Genghis Khan has had a few problems along its route to the sky.

Genghis Khan Airlines was originally marketed as Tianjiao airlines. However, that name was dropped for a more iconic name, which is based on the famed historic Mongolian figure Genghis Khan.

The airline originally planned to start operations with Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft in March, but it was unable to secure production slots with Bombardier.

Then, in May, the airline was said to be negotiating with Embraer for E190 aircraft to launch operations. The airline was not able to secure production slots or maintenance contracting with Embraer either.

Finally, the airline announced a large order for up to 50 Comac ARJ21 aircraft, including 25 firm orders and options for an additional 25.

The airline plans to receive its first two aircraft in December 2018, with the remaining 23 in the next five years.

Genghis Khan Airlines has also entered into an agreement with Comac in order to establish a flight school for its pilots as well as a maintenance and overhaul facility for the airline’s operations.

The airline’s investors are mostly the Inner Mongolian government, which has invested USD$438 million US dollars into the airline.

The Inner Mongolian government is hoping to increase tourism to the region, which has increased already 12% over 2017, to 202,600 tourists in the first half of 2018.

The airline will be run by a mix of executives who have left various other Chinese airlines, such as Air China, 9 Air, China Southern Airlines, and Qingdao Airlines.

The former chairman of Qingdao Airlines will be in charge of preparing the airline for its commercial operations, and the chairman of the airline will be Hao Yutao.

Genghis Khan Airlines will be the second airline to operate the Comac ARJ21 after the Comac-owned Chengdu Airlines.

Genghis Khan will also be the second-largest operator of the ARJ21 should they exercise their options; Genghis Khan Airlines will follow Henan Airlines and tie with Joy Air.

Should the new carrier choose to do so, the 25 additional aircraft will be delivered 3 years after the original 25 aircraft.

After starting operations, Genghis Khan Airlines plans to launch into the international market once they have received their 25th aircraft.

The airline plans to be operating to 40 destinations with 25 aircraft in 5 years, and then to 80 destinations with 50 aircraft in 8 years. While these plans are ambitious, the airline’s wide investor pool will be able to help finance their expansion plans.

Genghis Khan Airlines yet released its plans for seating configurations on the ARJ21. However, the aircraft is typically equipped with between 78 and 90 seats depending on the number of classes, allowing for some flexibility on the airline’s part.

The aircraft also has a range of up to 3,700 km, which will allow for great flexibility when the airline is considering new routes.

The airline also plans to operate extensive flights within Inner Mongolia from its base at the capital of Hohhot, as there are 20 transport-class airports within the region prepared for the airline to serve them.

Genghis Khan Airlines says that it has completed acquiring the personnel required, including executives, maintenance personnel, pilots, cabin crew, and more.

Genghis Khan airlines look like it has a good chance at being successful in an under served region of China, and although their plans may be ambitious, they have a strong team behind the plans to help see them through.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved Genghis Khan Airlines to start operations. The brand-new carrier may commence the flight operations as early as early 2019.

Genghis Khan Airlines was established in 2015 and selected Hohhot Airport as their main hub. Hohhot is the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, which is located at northwest of Beijing and is just a short 90-minute flight away.

Inner Mongolia has an area of 1.183 million kilometers squared. In recent years, an improvement in airport facilities has not attracted carriers as originally planned.

According to the company proposal, the airline will use Chinese-manufactured Comac ARJ21 aircraft and hope to operate a fleet of 25 the type.

It plans to fly 40 destinations and 60 routes within the first five years. In the next eight years, a fleet of 50 aircraft are expected and the airline has set a goal to reach 80 destinations and 150 routes, the route map will be covering the country’s major cities, Mongolia and Russia.

Inner Mongolia has 28 civil airports, the most airports in a region of China. In 2017, 58 airlines served across the region, reaching 116 destinations and 426 routes, including 37 international route and 21 destinations.

In the first seven months of 2018, the total passengers volume of the airports in Inner Mongolia was 14.28 million, an increase of 17.6 percent over the same period last year.

Expecting rapid economic growth, the number of airports will 50 by 2030. At that point, Hohhot will become a major hub for the region.The airline has already employed maintenance personal, safety regulators, safety management teams and customer services agents.

Hao Yutao, the chairman of Genghis Khan, said, the airline has reached an agreement with Commercial Aircraft Cooperation Of China Ltd (COMAC). The company is going to setup Aero institute, aircraft maintenance center and training center in the region and support surrounding airports.

As a result of the rapid economic growth in China, the airline network of Inner Mongolia can’t meet popular demand. Genghis Khan Airlines commencing service may solve the region’s problems.

The airline has to face competition with the high speed train in the long run, meaning the future is cautiously optimistic.


Tourism Observer

MONGOLIA: Try Visiting Mongolia

According to Mongolian Buddhism, a spot in the middle of the Gobi desert is where the strongest spiritual energy in the world converges. To mark the location, the monastery complex was built in the 19th century, Khamriin Khiid.

The original Khamriin Khiid monastery was founded in 1820 by Danzanravjaa, known as the Terrible Noble Saint of the Gobi, who observed the location’s tremendous energy. At its peak, the monastery housed up to 500 monks, and included more than 80 temples within the complex.

Danzanravjaa was a great scholar and practitioner of the arts, as well as a social reformer.

He set up a theater at the monastery for people to develop their singing and acting skills, and a public school, which encouraged education for both men and women.

The lively and productive monastery was destroyed in 1937, in the wake of the Communist purge against religions, and Khamriin Khiid in its current form was reconstructed in 1990.

Today, hundreds of pilgrims visit the site every day at dawn to benefit from the spiritual energy that is believed to radiate as a new day is born.

Shambala, the centerpiece of the complex, is surrounded by 108 stupas, encircling other holy monuments and temples, the most prominent of which has a large pair of eyes staring at visitors.

The enclosed space is said to be warmer due to the energy that emanates from Shambala, and it is not uncommon to see pilgrims taking off their shoes to better absorb the energy.

Another form of worship is the throwing of rice, millet, milk and vodka on monuments. Other visitors walk around singing a song composed for Khamriin Khiid.

Outside the enclosure are the series of caves where Danzanravjaa and other monks meditated for 108 days, two huge breast-shaped mounds covered in milk, a wind-activated bell, and the actual monastery.

Mongolia is known as the land of blue skies, boasting vast and dramatic landscapes, from its sand dunes and alpine forests to its famous steppe that stretches toward never-ending horizons.

Go explore unique national parks and a historic sporting festival—by road, on foot, and even on camel and horseback.

On this remote adventure, we'll be charting a path across large swaths of Mongolia's striking terrain. Along the way, you'll have the chance to visit with nomadic families and dive into the complicated history of the Mongol Empire.

You'll stay in traditional ger camps and taste classic food and drink, including Airag, the fermented mare's milk that's a local favorite.

The journey will culminate with the annual Naadam Festival among thousands of other spectators, observing physical feats that pay tribute to Mongolia's warring history.

Your small group of 10 to 16 intrepid explorers will be traveling in the company of a local guide.

Highlights

Dramatic natural landscapes: You'll take in a vast variety of scenery, from the Mongol Els sand dune to the famous steppe, from the Orkhon River to lush meadowland and dramatic rock formations.

The Naadam Festival:Your adventure ends with the celebratory competitions of the three games of men — archery, horseback riding, and wrestling—that pay tribute to Mongolia's warrior history.

Hiking, horseback riding, and home cooking: You'll have many opportunities to roam beneath Mongolia's big blue skies—on foot, on horseback, and on camels—in addition to trying your hand at a few local dishes.

Overnights in traditional ger camps: A ger is a traditional nomadic dwelling similar to a yurt and has served as home to generations of Mongolians.

Throughout the trip, you'll be spending your nights in a range of remote settings, from the banks of Ögii Lake to multiple national parks.


Tourism Observer

World's Unfriendliest & Friendliest Countries For Tourists

When traveling, some countries just don't like you. Or at least, it can certainly feel that way.

A new report, put out earlier this month by the World Economic Forum, has ranked which countries roll out the welcome mat to travelers and which give the cold shoulder.

The "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013" ranked 140 countries according to attractiveness and competitiveness in the travel and tourism industries.

Unwelcoming

Among the extensive analyses, one of the most interesting rankings was how welcome tourists are in each country, under the category "Attitude of population toward foreign visitors."

And the world's most unfriendly country, according to the data?

Bolivia took the dubious honor, scoring a 4.1 out of seven on a scale of "very unwelcome" (0) to "very welcome" (7).

Venezuela and the Russian Federation were next.

Interestingly, despite their huge tourist arrivals, South Korea and China tied with four other countries for the eighth least friendly spot.

At the other end of the scale, Iceland and New Zealand were ranked the world's most welcoming nations for visitors.

You can see a top 10 for friendliest and unfriendliest at the bottom of this article.

Strengths and weaknesses

The "friendly" ranking was just one aspect of the report, analyzing each country's competitiveness in travel and tourism. That competitiveness is "based on the extent to which they are putting in place the factors and policies to make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector."

In the overall Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Europe was the top region with the first five positions all held by European countries. Switzerland, Germany and Austria were the top three in that order. Switzerland has headed the ranking since the index began five years ago.

Excellent tourism infrastructure and facilities, business travel appeal, sustainable development of natural resources and rich cultural resources were among the key factors in landing the highest positions in the rankings.

Safety/security, underdeveloped infrastructure and concerns about sustainable development were among the factors bringing down countries' competitiveness.

Haiti scored the lowest on the competitiveness index.

The United States (6th) topped the combined Americas, Singapore (10th) just pushed out Australia and New Zealand to lead the Asia Pacific region, the United Arab Emirates (28th) was the highest performer in the Middle East and the Seychelles (38th) overtook Mauritius to head Africa.

The report emphasized the need for continued development in the travel and tourism sector particularly for its role in job creation in a relatively stagnant global economy. The industry currently accounts for one in 11 jobs in the world.

The report used data compiled from the World Economic Forum's Executive Opinion Survey and hard data from private sources and national and international agencies and organizations such as the ICAO, IATA, UNWTO, World Bank/International Finance Corporation, IUCN, WHO and UNESCO.

Attitude of population toward foreign visitors
(1 = very unwelcome; 7 = very welcome)

Friendliest

1. Iceland 6.8
2. New Zealand 6.8
3. Morocco 6.7
4. Macedonia, FYR 6.7
5. Austria 6.7
6. Senegal 6.7
7. Portugal 6.6
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.6
9. Ireland 6.6
10. Burkina Faso 6.6

Unfriendliest

1. Bolivia 4.1
2. Venezuela 4.5
3. Russian Federation 5.0
4. Kuwait 5.2
5. Latvia 5.2
6. Iran 5.2
7. Pakistan 5.3
8. Slovak Republic 5.5
9. Bulgaria 5.5
10. Mongolia 5.5

CHINA: Sixth Hotel Added For Hilton In Hainan

Hilton has expanded its presence in China with the opening of a new hotel on Hainan Island.

The new Hilton Wenchang, which is located on Hainan’s east coast, becomes the first internationally-branded hotel in Wenchang and the sixth Hilton property in Hainan.

“Hilton Wenchang strengthens our presence on Hainan, which has a rapidly developing tourism industry that attracted over 35 million visitors in 2013,” said Bruce McKenzie, Hilton’s senior vice president of operations for Greater China & Mongolia.

“Hilton Wenchang is well-positioned to capture the leisure, corporate and MICE segments and is a great addition to our Hainan Island portfolio, which is growing from strength to strength.”

Hilton Wenchang, which is located 65km from Haikou‘s Meilan International Airport, offers 439 rooms, suites and villas with sea views. Facilities include five restaurants and bars, a spa, outdoor swimming pools, a 24-hour fitness centre and a children’s playground.

And for the MICE market there is more than 1,500m² of conference and banquet space, including an 800m² ballroom.

Hilton Wenchang joins the existing Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay, Hilton Haikou Meilan, Conrad Haitang Bay, DoubleTree by Hilton Haitang Bay and DoubleTree by Hilton Qixianling on Hainan Island.

MONGOLIA: Beautiful Mongolia

With an area of approximately 1.6 million square kilometers, Mongolia is about four times as big as California and more than six times bigger than the entire United Kingdom.

Getting from one province to another involves days of driving over some of the roughest terrain on the planet, often across vast stretches of empty space.

Sometimes the only company for miles is the herds of horses, yaks and sheep found grazing on the plains.

Other times its the vultures seen circling above.

While the landlocked country is mostly covered by steppes, you also get to see marvels such as lakes, canyons, sand dunes and cliffs along the way.

Mongolia's weather conditions are just as varied.

From the near arctic weather in the northwest where reindeer still run wild to the green larch forest in the northeast to the bone-dry conditions of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia has got every climate covered.

Sometimes, all four seasons can be experienced in one day.

Mongolians often leave their gers open for passersby who may need a rest.

With more than one third of its three million inhabitants living as nomads, Mongolia is one of the few countries where visitors can still experience a genuine nomadic lifestyle.

Family stays offer a glimpse on what it's like to live an itinerant lifestyle and a chance to experience the famous Mongolian hospitality.

"You can simply turn up unannounced and the Mongolian household will gladly offer you food, a bed and even tend to your horse," says Timur Yadamsuren, local guide and country manager for Intrepid Travel in Mongolia.

In fact, they don't believe in locking their gers -- the felt homes they dwell in.

They simply leave its door open to allow access to any passersby in need food or a rest.

Lucky visitors may be invited to a private shamanic ceremony in which a traditional healer is said to travel to an alternate reality to communicate with spirits and other beings.

Many Mongolians still observe such ancient beliefs to this day and often approach a shaman to receive blessings, cures or hints about their future.

Mongolia's also the place where American adventurer Roy Chapman Andrews discovered unhatched dinosaur eggs among other significant finds in the 1920s.

The epicenter of this discovery is South Gobi's Flaming Cliffs -- considered one of the world's greatest dinosaur fossil sites.

In other parts of the world, such a location might've been kept off-limits to the public.

Standing on the ground where dinosaurs once roamed, it's hard not to be thrilled by the prospect of finding even a small bone fragment on the sandstones.

During our visit our guide lets slip that she knows where to see one.

We find it concealed under a small rock at the base of a cliff.

After carefully moving the topsoil using her bare hands, she unearths a fully formed backbone.

Although she admits that it hasn't been verified yet, she's convinced it belongs to a dinosaur.

Whether it's the genuine article or not, Mongolia may offer one of the closest experiences uncovering dinosaur fossils in the wild.

As the sun starts to dip lower on the horizon, its rays cast brilliantly against the rugged sandstones, turning them a vibrant orange.

The brilliant sunset is just one of many awe-inspiring moments this country has to offer.

MONGOLIA: Ordos Airport Awarded 4-Star Rating

Ordos Airport Chairman (right) accepts the 4-Star Award Airport from Mr Edward Plaisted of Skytrax (left)

Ordos Airport in Inner Mongolia, China has been awarded the 4-Star Airport quality ranking for the first time by Skytrax, the air transport rating organisation.

The Skytrax Star Ranking of Ordos Airport evaluated departure, arrival and transfer processes, standard of terminal facilities and services, security and immigration processes. This included airport cleanliness, airport signage, shopping and dining facilities, luggage handling and other front-line areas around the airport.

At an awarding celebration held at Ordos Airport on 12th August 2015, Mr Edward Plaisted (CEO Skytrax) said: “Ordos Airport is responsible for welcoming both Chinese and foreign visitors, many for the first time, acting as a type of ambassador for Ordos. We are pleased to see Ordos Airport delivering a world-class package, showcasing the best attributes of Chinese culture and hospitality, and this reflects a dynamic and successful management approach at Ordos Airport. Skytrax is delighted to today announce that Ordos Airport is awarded the status of a 4-Star Airport, and this is an exceptional achievement for Ordos Airport, to meet the demanding requirements of the global 4-Star Airport ranking.”
About Ordos Airport

Ordos Airport is located in the Ordos Kangbashi district, close to the tourist attraction mausoleum of Genghis Khan. The runway length is 3200 meters, satisfying the Boeing 747 and other large cargo aircraft take-off and landing.

The new terminal was put into use in January 30, 2013, its design concept is “eagles of the grassland”. The terminal building totals some 100,300 square meters, equipped with 11 airbridges, and 11 stands. In the terminal there are 32 check-in counters, 7 domestic passenger security dual channels, 3 international passenger security single channels.

The VIP Wing of the airport covers an area of 10,000 square meters, with 34 separate lounges. The terminal design capability is optimised to meet the needs of 12 million passengers by 2020.