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New Japanese budget airline Peach unveils fares

on December 16, 2011 in Asia

Peach Aviation Ltd., the low-cost carrier affiliated with All Nippon Airways Co., has announced fares for its initial two routes beginning in March 2012 from Kansai International Airport to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport and Fukuoka Airport.

For fares effective until March 24, one-way tickets can be purchased for as little as 4,780 Yen (USD61) for the Osaka-Sapporo route and 3,780 Yen (USD48) for the Osaka-Fukuoka route. Ticket sales will begin in early January 2012.

Extra fees will apply for checked baggage, advance seat reservations, and changes to the booking. Also, fares will vary depending on crowding, so seats for any given flight could end up costing as much as 14,780 Yen (USD190) for the Osaka-Sapporo route and 11,780 Yen (USD151) for the Osaka-Fukuoka route.

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Jetstar Asia CEO to step down

on December 15, 2011 in Asia

Jetstar Asia has announced that Ms Chong Phit Lian will step down from her position as Chief Executive Officer on 1 February 2012. Ms Chong has served as CEO of Singapore’s largest budget airline for six years. She will remain a member of the Jetstar Asia board to help guide continued growth.

Chairman of Jetstar Asia, Dennis Choo, said Ms Chong had made a tremendous contribution to developing the low cost carrier’s Singapore hub. “Since taking over as CEO of Jetstar Asia in 2006, Ms Chong has led a rapid and very successful expansion in a competitive environment,” said Mr Choo. “Jetstar is now the largest low cost carrier in Singapore and is extremely well-positioned to make the most of emerging opportunities in the region.”

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AirAsia Indonesia postpones IPO until 2012

on December 13, 2011 in Asia

AirAsia Indonesia, the Indonesian subsidiary of Asia’s biggest budget airline, will postpone its initial public offering (IPO) until 2012 due to the global economic slowdown.

In March 2011 the airline announced plans for a public listing in the final quarter of the year. AirAsia Indonesia hoped to raise up to $200 million and named CIMB Securities Indonesia and Credit Suisse Securities Indonesia as its joint-lead underwriters.

However, on December 12, 2011, AirAsia Indonesia’a corporate communication manager Audrey Petriny stated “”The preparation for IPO is going well, but we decided to postpone it due to inconducive global economic conditions.” She said the 2012 launch date would depend on the “progress of the global economy”.

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GoAir launches its own loyalty program

on December 12, 2011 in Asia

Indian budget airline GoAir has announced its own loyalty program called Go Club exclusively for customers who book flights online. GoAir is the first low cost carrier to launch such an initiative to encourage direct online bookings. Membership to Go Club is free for customers who book GoAir tickets through their website and becoming a member is as simple as filling out an online form with your name, email address, and mobile number. To reduce administrative costs, the loyalty program is entirely electronic. Members can begin accumulating reward points as soon as they join and each point is worth one Indian Rupee.

Reward points can be redeemed for access to the GoAir airport lounges, voucher codes for GoAir flights, and upgrades to GoAir business class with extra leg room, baggage allowance, and in-flight meals. Go Club will also form partnerships with local restaurants, hotels, and other businesses.

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AirAsia’s new routes from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand, Indonesia

on December 12, 2011 in Asia

AirAsia, the leading budget airline in Southeast Asia, has announced two new routes to Thailand and Malaysia starting in 2012.

From their hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, AirAsia will fly to Semarang, Indonesia, once per day and to Surat Thani, Thailand, three times per week. Promotional one-way fares start from MYR79 (UDS25) including taxes. Service will commence on February 6, 2012.

Visit the official AirAsia website for more information or to make an online booking.

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Bangkok Airways plans flights to Lucknow, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai

on December 12, 2011 in Asia

Bangkok Airways, which recently added Bengaluru as its second destination in India offering five direct weekly flights after launching the daily Mumbai-Bangkok services earlier this year, is looking at further expansion plans in the Indian market. The airline plans to start fights to Lucknow, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. The airline has appointed Global Air Transport Services to represent Bangkok Airways in India as the general sales agent (GSA).

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AirAsia launches Kuala Lumpur – Da Nang flights

on December 12, 2011 in Asia

On December 16, 2011, AirAsia begins direct flights from their hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Da Nang International Airport, Vietnam.  Already offering direct flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this is AirAsia’s third route connecting Malaysia and Vietnam. Flights operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Flight AK0868 departs Kuala Lumpur [...]

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Nok Air starts flights to Nakhon Phanom

on December 9, 2011 in Asia

While Don Muang airport clean up continues Nok Air will starts flights to Nakhon Phanom operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Nok Air will operate a daily flight between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Nakhon Phanom from 9 December 2011, using an ATR-72 aircraft with a capacity of 66 seats.

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Thai AirAsia adds Bangkok – Trang flights

on December 2, 2011 in Asia

Thai AirAsia has announced they will begin Bangkok – Trang flights on January 15, 2012. This new route to the southern province of Trang on the Andaman Sea coast expands this budget airline’s domestic network to 11 destinations within Thailand.

There will be one flight per day departing Bangkok at 9.20am and arriving in Trang at 10.40am. The return flight departs Trang at 11.25am and arrives in Bangkok at 12.45pm.

To attract interest for the new route, Thai AirAsia is offering promotional fares for as little as THB690 (USD23) one-way (all-inclusive) for travel between January 15 and June 30, 2012. This route is already served by competing budget airlines Nok Air and Orient Thai.

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New budget airline Scoot reveals its first route

on December 1, 2011 in Asia

Upcoming Singapore budget airline Scoot has revealed its first destination – Sydney, Australia.

Starting in June 2012, the new low-cost, long-haul airline will fly daily from Singapore’s Changi Airport to Sydney, Australia. The route will be operated using a Boeing 777 aircraft and add about 400 seats per day to the route.

“Scoot is absolutely delighted that Sydney, one of the world’s great cities, will be our inaugural destination. And as the first true no-frills airline operating nonstop daily between Sydney and Asia, we can’t wait to bring a whole new style of travel, even better airfares and our unique attitude – our Scootitude – to shake things up. Sydney, here we come! “said Campbell Wilson, Scoot’s CEO.

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