AirAsia introduces S'pore-Miri route
Malaysian low cost airline AirAsia is enhancing its connectivity from Singapore with the introduction of a new route to Miri, Sarawak, and increased frequencies to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
AirAsia will be flying four times a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - from Singapore to Miri.
To celebrate the new addition to its route network, the Malaysian budget carrier has launched promotional fares from Singapore to Miri from S$39 per way. The travel period is from 21 January 2011 - 30 June 2011.
AirAsia will also increase the frequencies of flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur will be raised to 10 times daily, effective 17 December 2010, from the current eight times a day.
For the Singapore-Penang route, with the addition of another frequency from 21 January 2011, the number of flights will increase to 3 times daily.
Kathleen Tan, regional head of commercial, AirAsia, said: "AirAsia is committed to connecting people and the new addition of Singapore to Miri route as well as increased frequencies from Singapore reiterates that commitment as Singapore is our virtual hub with 401 weekly flights to 13 cities internationally.
"This new route is definitely sustainable as Singapore is an international gateway, while Miri is the second largest city in Sarawak with a significant number of expatriates and international students.
"With this new route, Singapore is now connected to six cities in Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and now Miri."
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Singapore-Jakarta flights cancelled
Singapore-Jakarta flights cancelled due to volcano
Several major airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, AirAsia, Valuair and Tiger Airways, cancelled their flights between Singapore and Jakarta on Saturday, citing volcanic ash from Mount Merapi.
Changi Airport Group said 11 out of 35 flights to the Indonesian capital were cancelled.
Volcanic ash can affect flight visibility and cause an aircraft's engine to fail.
Jakarta lies some 430 kilometres away from the volcano in central Java.
But with the adverse movements of the ash clouds, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it was in the interest of safety that its flights were cancelled on Saturday.
SIA's vice-president for public affairs, Nicholas Ionides, said: "We've been monitoring the situation very closely. The decision was taken at about 3 o'clock to cancel all subsequent flights for the day. There were four outbound flights from Singapore and four return flights from Jakarta.
"That was a precautionary measure based on the information that we had from the volcanic ash advisory centre in Darwin...the latest was that the ash cloud was moving in a manner that made it prudent for us to cancel those flights."
Some passengers were unhappy over the flight cancellation.
An affected passenger said: "I have come here to see the doctors. And today I have (to go back) to continue my medical treatment in Indonesia. So I really hope it (the flight) would not be cancelled. And they haven't decided any compensation for us, or new arrangements, because they are still waiting for the news from Jakarta."
But another affected passenger said: "It's pretty good that they are not taking the risk to fly to Jakarta."
Still, there were those who still insisted on making their way to the Indonesian capital.
They turned to Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air to fly to Jakarta.
SIA has also cancelled flights scheduled for Sunday.
The flights affected are:
SQ952, Singapore-Jakarta, scheduled to depart at 0740 hours;
SQ956, Singapore-Jakarta, scheduled to depart at 0930 hours;
SQ951, Jakarta-Singapore, scheduled to depart at 0615 hours;
SQ953, Jakarta-Singapore, scheduled to depart at 0920 hours; and
SQ957, Jakarta-Singapore, scheduled to depart at 1140 hours.
Singapore Airlines said it will waive cancellation/change fees for confirmed tickets to and from Jakarta issued on or before 6 November 2010 for travel between 6 November and 13 November 2010.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Several major airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, AirAsia, Valuair and Tiger Airways, cancelled their flights between Singapore and Jakarta on Saturday, citing volcanic ash from Mount Merapi.
Changi Airport Group said 11 out of 35 flights to the Indonesian capital were cancelled.
Volcanic ash can affect flight visibility and cause an aircraft's engine to fail.
Jakarta lies some 430 kilometres away from the volcano in central Java.
But with the adverse movements of the ash clouds, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it was in the interest of safety that its flights were cancelled on Saturday.
SIA's vice-president for public affairs, Nicholas Ionides, said: "We've been monitoring the situation very closely. The decision was taken at about 3 o'clock to cancel all subsequent flights for the day. There were four outbound flights from Singapore and four return flights from Jakarta.
"That was a precautionary measure based on the information that we had from the volcanic ash advisory centre in Darwin...the latest was that the ash cloud was moving in a manner that made it prudent for us to cancel those flights."
Some passengers were unhappy over the flight cancellation.
An affected passenger said: "I have come here to see the doctors. And today I have (to go back) to continue my medical treatment in Indonesia. So I really hope it (the flight) would not be cancelled. And they haven't decided any compensation for us, or new arrangements, because they are still waiting for the news from Jakarta."
But another affected passenger said: "It's pretty good that they are not taking the risk to fly to Jakarta."
Still, there were those who still insisted on making their way to the Indonesian capital.
They turned to Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air to fly to Jakarta.
SIA has also cancelled flights scheduled for Sunday.
The flights affected are:
SQ952, Singapore-Jakarta, scheduled to depart at 0740 hours;
SQ956, Singapore-Jakarta, scheduled to depart at 0930 hours;
SQ951, Jakarta-Singapore, scheduled to depart at 0615 hours;
SQ953, Jakarta-Singapore, scheduled to depart at 0920 hours; and
SQ957, Jakarta-Singapore, scheduled to depart at 1140 hours.
Singapore Airlines said it will waive cancellation/change fees for confirmed tickets to and from Jakarta issued on or before 6 November 2010 for travel between 6 November and 13 November 2010.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Friday, November 5, 2010
SIA resumes A380 flights
SIA resumes A380 flights after precautionary checks
Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it has begun resuming A380 flights following precautionary checks. The checks were carried out following advice from engine manufacturer Rolls Royce and aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
SIA delayed its flights operating the A380 aircraft Thursday evening.
This followed Thursday's incident in which a Qantas A380 Sydney bound flight encountered engine trouble.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it has begun resuming A380 flights following precautionary checks. The checks were carried out following advice from engine manufacturer Rolls Royce and aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
SIA delayed its flights operating the A380 aircraft Thursday evening.
This followed Thursday's incident in which a Qantas A380 Sydney bound flight encountered engine trouble.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Changi Airport raises airport charges
Changi Airport Group raises airport charges
Airlines and travellers using Changi Airport will have to pay more from April next year, following the revision of airport charges announced by the Changi Airport Group on Wednesday.
The revision includes service and security charges for transit and transfer passengers, and an increase in landing fees for airlines, which analysts said will also result in budget travellers paying more.
Departing passengers using Changi Terminals 1, 2, and 3 will not be affected.
Changi Airport handles about 37 million passengers a year - with 30 per cent on transit or making a transfer.
From April 1 next year, such travellers will be subjected to a passenger service charge of S$9 and a security service charge of S$3, which will be added to the price of the air ticket.
Changi Airport Group said transit and transfer passengers also have access to the facilities and services within the transit areas in Changi. These include the holding rooms, transfer counters and free Internet access. So it is only appropriate for them to share the costs of providing these facilities.
It added that investments in security since the September 11, 2001 attacks have resulted in higher costs.
It said fees for such transit and transfer passengers are already levied in major airports in Europe and Asia.
Travellers that Channel NewsAsia spoke to had mixed reactions.
One traveller said: "I guess S$12 is too much for a transit passenger."
However, another said: "The things you can do - eat and shop - so for me, I will be ok with it."
Changi said following a S$20 million upgrading last year, budget travellers have enjoyed an improved experience at the terminal, and there is a need to recover part of the cost of operating the terminal.
The passenger service charge for budget travellers will be raised to S$7.80 per trip, from S$4.80. The passenger security service charge, however, remains unchanged at S$8.
"As a whole, if you compare the total amount, the S$3 (increase) is not very significant," a traveller said.
"I would not think it's expensive, it's fine for me," another added.
The new fees will apply to all air tickets purchased from February 1 next year for travel on or after April 1.
Analysts said it is still too early to tell how much ticket prices will be affected, as airlines - especially those with smaller aircraft - will have to pay more landing fees.
Airlines will see a 15 per cent average increase in their landing, parking and aerobridge (LPA) bill.
Changi said expenses have increased significantly with major enhancements to infrastructure, and the current landing fees for narrow body aircraft is also disproportionately lower compared to larger aircraft types.
Low-cost carriers are no doubt unhappy with the move as it will hit them harder, but analysts said they are unlikely to see a loss of business.
Siva Govindasamy, managing editor, Asia, Flightglobal, said: "It is far easier for the full service carriers to pass on higher costs to their passengers, simply because fares are higher.
"This will affect the low cost market a lot more because it will mean higher fares for the passengers ...
"The low cost carriers which operate on the principle that you have to keep your cost base low - they are going to face higher cost and they will have no choice but to pass it on to their customers.
"So will it affect their business? Unlikely, because the low cost model is growing and there will continue to be a lot of demand for low cost travel in this part of the world."
As for full-service carriers, Singapore Airlines said that in general, any cost increase is of concern, given the fragility of the economic recovery.
Nicholas Ionides, vice president of public affairs at Singapore Airlines, added: "Where increases in fees are applied, they should be fair and equitable so that all airlines compete on a level playing field.
"Our common objective is the sustained success of Singapore as a leading aviation hub. We are appreciative of the fact that CAG consulted stakeholders as part of its review of aeronautical charges."
Jetstar said it is concerned that its cost base will rise in "this extremely competitive environment".
Both Tiger Airways and Jetstar said they will take cost adjustments into consideration when determining future capacity.
Tiger Airways added that Asia continues to hold a lot of growth potential for low cost carriers. To keep up with the region's growth potential, it is looking to expand its fleet from 21 to 26 by next March, and to 33 by the following March.
Tony Davis, president and group CEO, Tiger Airways, said: "We're saying to airports - you've got to make your facilities affordable. If we're pushing fares down and reducing our costs, we expect airports to do the same.
"We want simple basic infrastructure at a low price, and airports that deliver that to us are going to get the most growth."
The impact of the fee increase may be cushioned as Changi extends its landing fee rebate of up to 10 per cent for all airlines until 31 March 2012.
Changi said even with the landing fee revision, the airport will remain competitive.
Since the airport's opening in 1981, landing fees have been adjusted twice - in 1993 and 1995.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Airlines and travellers using Changi Airport will have to pay more from April next year, following the revision of airport charges announced by the Changi Airport Group on Wednesday.
The revision includes service and security charges for transit and transfer passengers, and an increase in landing fees for airlines, which analysts said will also result in budget travellers paying more.
Departing passengers using Changi Terminals 1, 2, and 3 will not be affected.
Changi Airport handles about 37 million passengers a year - with 30 per cent on transit or making a transfer.
From April 1 next year, such travellers will be subjected to a passenger service charge of S$9 and a security service charge of S$3, which will be added to the price of the air ticket.
Changi Airport Group said transit and transfer passengers also have access to the facilities and services within the transit areas in Changi. These include the holding rooms, transfer counters and free Internet access. So it is only appropriate for them to share the costs of providing these facilities.
It added that investments in security since the September 11, 2001 attacks have resulted in higher costs.
It said fees for such transit and transfer passengers are already levied in major airports in Europe and Asia.
Travellers that Channel NewsAsia spoke to had mixed reactions.
One traveller said: "I guess S$12 is too much for a transit passenger."
However, another said: "The things you can do - eat and shop - so for me, I will be ok with it."
Changi said following a S$20 million upgrading last year, budget travellers have enjoyed an improved experience at the terminal, and there is a need to recover part of the cost of operating the terminal.
The passenger service charge for budget travellers will be raised to S$7.80 per trip, from S$4.80. The passenger security service charge, however, remains unchanged at S$8.
"As a whole, if you compare the total amount, the S$3 (increase) is not very significant," a traveller said.
"I would not think it's expensive, it's fine for me," another added.
The new fees will apply to all air tickets purchased from February 1 next year for travel on or after April 1.
Analysts said it is still too early to tell how much ticket prices will be affected, as airlines - especially those with smaller aircraft - will have to pay more landing fees.
Airlines will see a 15 per cent average increase in their landing, parking and aerobridge (LPA) bill.
Changi said expenses have increased significantly with major enhancements to infrastructure, and the current landing fees for narrow body aircraft is also disproportionately lower compared to larger aircraft types.
Low-cost carriers are no doubt unhappy with the move as it will hit them harder, but analysts said they are unlikely to see a loss of business.
Siva Govindasamy, managing editor, Asia, Flightglobal, said: "It is far easier for the full service carriers to pass on higher costs to their passengers, simply because fares are higher.
"This will affect the low cost market a lot more because it will mean higher fares for the passengers ...
"The low cost carriers which operate on the principle that you have to keep your cost base low - they are going to face higher cost and they will have no choice but to pass it on to their customers.
"So will it affect their business? Unlikely, because the low cost model is growing and there will continue to be a lot of demand for low cost travel in this part of the world."
As for full-service carriers, Singapore Airlines said that in general, any cost increase is of concern, given the fragility of the economic recovery.
Nicholas Ionides, vice president of public affairs at Singapore Airlines, added: "Where increases in fees are applied, they should be fair and equitable so that all airlines compete on a level playing field.
"Our common objective is the sustained success of Singapore as a leading aviation hub. We are appreciative of the fact that CAG consulted stakeholders as part of its review of aeronautical charges."
Jetstar said it is concerned that its cost base will rise in "this extremely competitive environment".
Both Tiger Airways and Jetstar said they will take cost adjustments into consideration when determining future capacity.
Tiger Airways added that Asia continues to hold a lot of growth potential for low cost carriers. To keep up with the region's growth potential, it is looking to expand its fleet from 21 to 26 by next March, and to 33 by the following March.
Tony Davis, president and group CEO, Tiger Airways, said: "We're saying to airports - you've got to make your facilities affordable. If we're pushing fares down and reducing our costs, we expect airports to do the same.
"We want simple basic infrastructure at a low price, and airports that deliver that to us are going to get the most growth."
The impact of the fee increase may be cushioned as Changi extends its landing fee rebate of up to 10 per cent for all airlines until 31 March 2012.
Changi said even with the landing fee revision, the airport will remain competitive.
Since the airport's opening in 1981, landing fees have been adjusted twice - in 1993 and 1995.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Floods disrupting northern Malaysia
Floods disrupt bus, train and air services to the north
Floods in the Malaysian northern states have disrupted all bus, train and air services.
The Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar, Kedah will be closed until Thursday to all flights except helicopter services, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Chong Ha said Wednesday.
Heavy rain for the past few days, especially in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia, had caused flooding in the area and forced the airport to close from Tuesday, he said according to Bernama.
"We would like to apologise for this unforeseen circumstance due to the weather condition," he told reporters after attending the Malaysia Airlines' showcase of partnership with American companies operating in Malaysia at Skypark Terminal, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, here, Wednesday.
The airport handles Malaysia Airlines flights from Alor Setar to KLIA three times daily, AirAsia's flights from Alor Setar to KLIA (twice daily), and Firefly's from Alor Setar to Subang Airport (twice daily). Kong said other airports like the Langkawi International Airport, Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baharu and Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu were still operating as usual.
Malaysia Airlines managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Azmil Zahruddin said the national airline's customers who had booked flights to Alor Setar but unable to take the flights due to the airport closure were allowed to reschedule their flights or choose the nearest destination.
Meanwhile, buses scheduled to run from Sungai Petani and Alor Setar to areas in the north such as Changloon, Jitra, Kodiang, Arau, Kuala Perlis and Kangar were cancelled Wednesday.
“We can only go as far as Simpang Empat, Simpang Kuala Perlis, which is four kilometres away from Kangar, and from there on, passengers will have to find their own way,” said Supervisor of Kenderaan Langkasuka Ahmad Rejap, adding that the bus services along these routes have yet to be rescheduled.
Buses have been unable to go into those areas since Monday when waters rose.
“We have had to also cancel services to Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Sintok, Kedah, and many were unable to make it for the UUM convocation on Tuesday,” said Ahmad.
Transnasional, the leading express bus service in Malaysia, has also cancelled its bus services from Kuala Lumpur to Kangar.
“Passengers will have to get off at Seriap and take alternate means of transport to their final destinations. We are doing all that we can,” said Transnasional Acting Head of Operations Muhammad Saiful, adding that Seriap is about eight to nine kilometres away from Kangar.
Saiful said that, at the moment, there were no passengers stranded in Seriap. He said that the other services from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur to Sungai Petani and back on schedule.
AirAsia also cancelled its Wednesday flights from KL to Alor Setar and back due to the floods.
Flights from Subang to Alor Setar and back via Firefly have also been cancelled.
Passengers could move their flight to another date or request a refund, but it will take up to one month for the money to be refunded, a Firefly spokesman said.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd(KTMB), had said in a statement on Tuesday that a number of its services to the north have been cancelled.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Floods in the Malaysian northern states have disrupted all bus, train and air services.
The Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Alor Setar, Kedah will be closed until Thursday to all flights except helicopter services, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Chong Ha said Wednesday.
Heavy rain for the past few days, especially in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia, had caused flooding in the area and forced the airport to close from Tuesday, he said according to Bernama.
"We would like to apologise for this unforeseen circumstance due to the weather condition," he told reporters after attending the Malaysia Airlines' showcase of partnership with American companies operating in Malaysia at Skypark Terminal, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, here, Wednesday.
The airport handles Malaysia Airlines flights from Alor Setar to KLIA three times daily, AirAsia's flights from Alor Setar to KLIA (twice daily), and Firefly's from Alor Setar to Subang Airport (twice daily). Kong said other airports like the Langkawi International Airport, Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baharu and Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu were still operating as usual.
Malaysia Airlines managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Azmil Zahruddin said the national airline's customers who had booked flights to Alor Setar but unable to take the flights due to the airport closure were allowed to reschedule their flights or choose the nearest destination.
Meanwhile, buses scheduled to run from Sungai Petani and Alor Setar to areas in the north such as Changloon, Jitra, Kodiang, Arau, Kuala Perlis and Kangar were cancelled Wednesday.
“We can only go as far as Simpang Empat, Simpang Kuala Perlis, which is four kilometres away from Kangar, and from there on, passengers will have to find their own way,” said Supervisor of Kenderaan Langkasuka Ahmad Rejap, adding that the bus services along these routes have yet to be rescheduled.
Buses have been unable to go into those areas since Monday when waters rose.
“We have had to also cancel services to Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Sintok, Kedah, and many were unable to make it for the UUM convocation on Tuesday,” said Ahmad.
Transnasional, the leading express bus service in Malaysia, has also cancelled its bus services from Kuala Lumpur to Kangar.
“Passengers will have to get off at Seriap and take alternate means of transport to their final destinations. We are doing all that we can,” said Transnasional Acting Head of Operations Muhammad Saiful, adding that Seriap is about eight to nine kilometres away from Kangar.
Saiful said that, at the moment, there were no passengers stranded in Seriap. He said that the other services from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur to Sungai Petani and back on schedule.
AirAsia also cancelled its Wednesday flights from KL to Alor Setar and back due to the floods.
Flights from Subang to Alor Setar and back via Firefly have also been cancelled.
Passengers could move their flight to another date or request a refund, but it will take up to one month for the money to be refunded, a Firefly spokesman said.
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd(KTMB), had said in a statement on Tuesday that a number of its services to the north have been cancelled.
-News courtesy of The Star-
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