More flights to Langkawi and Penang
FIREFLY will be introducing additional flights from Senai International Airport, Johor to Langkawi and Penang, from May 27 to June 12 in conjunction with the coming school holidays.
“This added service will give our southern passengers wiser choices in spending valuable time with their children. It serves as a perfect opportunity for families to take a break and head up north to Langkawi for a family holiday,” said Firefly head of marketing and communications Angelina Fernandez.
Firefly also offers flights between Johor Baru and Kuching, and between Johor Baru and Kota Kinabalu.
The flights will commence operations on May 19 and June 16 respectively. Both sectors will have a frequency of 14 flights weekly.
For details, visit www.fireflyz.com.my
-News courtesy of The Star-
Thursday, March 31, 2011
SG-MY Cross-border transport gets boost
Cross-border transport gets boost
From July, taxis plying both sides of the Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.
The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed on Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee.
Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.
There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services.
It noted that additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.
A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.
The statement said officials from both sides will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.
The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings have progressed in the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.
The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.
The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia is progressing well.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
From July, taxis plying both sides of the Singapore-Malaysia border will be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in their domestic countries.
The implementation date of this taxi rule change was agreed on Wednesday at the eighth working meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee.
Currently, cross-border taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at just two places - Ban San Street near Bugis, and Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor.
There are some 400 authorised cabs which offer cross-border services - 200 in Singapore and 200 in Malaysia.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services.
It noted that additional cross-border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.
A joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore was also approved.
The statement said officials from both sides will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customers, Immigration and Quarantine system to complement the RTS link.
The Joint Ministerial Committee noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings have progressed in the discussion on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia.
The project is targeted to be launched in May 2011.
The statement also said the river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia is progressing well.
The Joint Ministerial Committee also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Malaysia's three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai.
The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
SIA starts flights to Sao Paulo
SIA starts flights to Sao Paulo
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has started its first direct flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Flight SQ68 departed early Monday morning on its inaugural flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport via the Spanish city of Barcelona.
Sao Paulo is SIA's first destination in South America, which has become the sixth continent in its route network.
SIA said the new three-times-weekly service also strengthens Changi Airport's status as a global hub, as SIA is the first to offer direct flights between Singapore and South America.
SIA is confident that travel demand to Brazil will be strong, with such high-profile events as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games lined up in Brazil.
Similarly, it hopes that Brazilians will take the opportunity to visit Singapore and use Changi Airport as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has started its first direct flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Flight SQ68 departed early Monday morning on its inaugural flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport via the Spanish city of Barcelona.
Sao Paulo is SIA's first destination in South America, which has become the sixth continent in its route network.
SIA said the new three-times-weekly service also strengthens Changi Airport's status as a global hub, as SIA is the first to offer direct flights between Singapore and South America.
SIA is confident that travel demand to Brazil will be strong, with such high-profile events as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games lined up in Brazil.
Similarly, it hopes that Brazilians will take the opportunity to visit Singapore and use Changi Airport as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
SGD reaches new record-high against USD
SGD reaches new record-high against USD
The Singapore dollar touched a new record-high against the U.S. dollar in late Asia trade, with US$1 quoted as low as S$1.2626 - breaching the previous all-time low for the greenback at S$1.2637 on March 7.
This came as investor sentiment turned bullish on Asian assets on news that progress had been made in cooling reactors at a stricken nuclear power plant in Japan.
Market watchers say gains for the Sing dollar are likely to be mirrored by strength in other regional currencies such as the Malaysian ringgit, Korean won, thai Baht, and the Philippine Peso.
A bigger-than-expected drop in sales of existing homes in the U.S also saw liquidity flow back into the Asian region.
But analysts expect the Sing dollar to weaken slightly by the end of the year as the US economic recovery gains traction.
"If I were to put a year end target for the US Sing dollar perhaps we may see the dollar strengthening i.e..Sing dollar weakening from the current level to something like 1.29 mainly because of the stronger US economy than anything else," said Mr Song Seng Wun, regional economist for CIMB.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
The Singapore dollar touched a new record-high against the U.S. dollar in late Asia trade, with US$1 quoted as low as S$1.2626 - breaching the previous all-time low for the greenback at S$1.2637 on March 7.
This came as investor sentiment turned bullish on Asian assets on news that progress had been made in cooling reactors at a stricken nuclear power plant in Japan.
Market watchers say gains for the Sing dollar are likely to be mirrored by strength in other regional currencies such as the Malaysian ringgit, Korean won, thai Baht, and the Philippine Peso.
A bigger-than-expected drop in sales of existing homes in the U.S also saw liquidity flow back into the Asian region.
But analysts expect the Sing dollar to weaken slightly by the end of the year as the US economic recovery gains traction.
"If I were to put a year end target for the US Sing dollar perhaps we may see the dollar strengthening i.e..Sing dollar weakening from the current level to something like 1.29 mainly because of the stronger US economy than anything else," said Mr Song Seng Wun, regional economist for CIMB.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Monday, March 28, 2011
Budget airlines more resilient against rising fuel
Budget airlines more resilient against rising fuel prices
Analysts say rising fuel prices will have a more severe impact on legacy carriers than budget airines, and a US$10 increase in the price of a barrel of fuel will likely reduce airlines' operating profits by between 20 and 28%.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that for every one dollar increase in oil price per barrel, the airline industry needs to recover US$1.6 billion in additional costs.
Aviation analysts say airlines will pass on these rising fuel costs to consumers in the form of fuel surcharges and increased airfares.
"Budget airlines will be more resilient because after all the price increases they will still command the lowest fares compared to the legacy airlines; and there will be some downgrades of travelers from the legacy airlines to the budget airlines," said Mr John Rachmat, analyst for regional transport and consumers, RBS.
While higher fuel prices could erode the thin margins of low-cost carriers, analysts say these airlines still have a few things going for them.
"Low cost carriers have certain benefits in the current environment because one, they are very-well managed, very nimble and most of the low-cost carriers have aircrafts that are very fuel efficient," said Mr Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst for Standard & Poor's.
Still, analysts expect that if the political crisis in the Middle East and North Africa deepens, more carriers will consider hedging their exposure to oil prices.
So far, Garuda and Thai Airways have announced their hedging plans.
Meanwhile, analysts say Korean Air and Aseana Airlines will be affected by less demand for travel to and from Japan because of the twin threats of earthquake aftershocks and radiation leaks.
These airlines garner 16 to 20% of their revenue from Japan, compared with 4 to 6% for Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.
Analysts say budget carriers in Southeast Asia such as Tiger Airways, Air Asia and Cebu Pacific will likely not be affected by the disaster in Japan.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Analysts say rising fuel prices will have a more severe impact on legacy carriers than budget airines, and a US$10 increase in the price of a barrel of fuel will likely reduce airlines' operating profits by between 20 and 28%.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that for every one dollar increase in oil price per barrel, the airline industry needs to recover US$1.6 billion in additional costs.
Aviation analysts say airlines will pass on these rising fuel costs to consumers in the form of fuel surcharges and increased airfares.
"Budget airlines will be more resilient because after all the price increases they will still command the lowest fares compared to the legacy airlines; and there will be some downgrades of travelers from the legacy airlines to the budget airlines," said Mr John Rachmat, analyst for regional transport and consumers, RBS.
While higher fuel prices could erode the thin margins of low-cost carriers, analysts say these airlines still have a few things going for them.
"Low cost carriers have certain benefits in the current environment because one, they are very-well managed, very nimble and most of the low-cost carriers have aircrafts that are very fuel efficient," said Mr Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst for Standard & Poor's.
Still, analysts expect that if the political crisis in the Middle East and North Africa deepens, more carriers will consider hedging their exposure to oil prices.
So far, Garuda and Thai Airways have announced their hedging plans.
Meanwhile, analysts say Korean Air and Aseana Airlines will be affected by less demand for travel to and from Japan because of the twin threats of earthquake aftershocks and radiation leaks.
These airlines garner 16 to 20% of their revenue from Japan, compared with 4 to 6% for Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.
Analysts say budget carriers in Southeast Asia such as Tiger Airways, Air Asia and Cebu Pacific will likely not be affected by the disaster in Japan.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Slight haze expected over next few days
Slight haze expected in S'pore over next few days
Singapore may experience slight haze over the next few days.
The National Environment Agency said satellite pictures over Sumatra detected isolated hot spots, but no smoke plumes were observed.
The 24-hour PSI reading at 4pm on Saturday was 35, which is within the "good" range.
Wet weather conditions are expected over the region in the next few days, although slight haze may still be seen.
Callers to the MediaCorp hotline said the skies appear hazy, while others complained of a burning smell.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Singapore may experience slight haze over the next few days.
The National Environment Agency said satellite pictures over Sumatra detected isolated hot spots, but no smoke plumes were observed.
The 24-hour PSI reading at 4pm on Saturday was 35, which is within the "good" range.
Wet weather conditions are expected over the region in the next few days, although slight haze may still be seen.
Callers to the MediaCorp hotline said the skies appear hazy, while others complained of a burning smell.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Thursday, March 24, 2011
SIA cuts flights to Tokyo's Haneda airport
SIA cuts flights to Tokyo's Haneda airport
Singapore's flag-carrier said on Tuesday it will suspend half of its daily flights between the city-state and Tokyo's Haneda airport as demand weakened because of the nuclear crisis in Japan.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) said in its website it will halt two of its four flights between Changi Airport and Haneda from Sunday.
"Flights SQ635 and SQ636 which operate between Singapore and Haneda will be suspended from 27 March 2011," a post on the website read.
However, an SIA spokesman told AFP the airline would maintain its four flights between Singapore and the Japanese capital's Narita Airport.
The spokesman said the suspension of the Haneda flights was due to a slump in customers going to Japan after a massive 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the country's northeast.
The twin disasters triggered a crisis at a tsunami-hit nuclear power plant about 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Tokyo, where workers have been struggling to bring overheating reactors under control.
"We are seeing weakening demand in and out of Tokyo due to the situation in Japan," the spokesman said.
Kyodo News on Tuesday reported that smoke and steam were again rising from damaged reactors at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi plant.
White steam-like vapour was seen rising from the number two reactor and what looked like white hazy smoke from the number three reactor, Kyodo said, adding that efforts to spray water and restore electricity had temporarily stalled.
Abnormal levels of radiation were also detected in shipments of certain vegetables and milk from four prefectures near the plant, fuelling public anxiety about contamination from radiation.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Singapore's flag-carrier said on Tuesday it will suspend half of its daily flights between the city-state and Tokyo's Haneda airport as demand weakened because of the nuclear crisis in Japan.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) said in its website it will halt two of its four flights between Changi Airport and Haneda from Sunday.
"Flights SQ635 and SQ636 which operate between Singapore and Haneda will be suspended from 27 March 2011," a post on the website read.
However, an SIA spokesman told AFP the airline would maintain its four flights between Singapore and the Japanese capital's Narita Airport.
The spokesman said the suspension of the Haneda flights was due to a slump in customers going to Japan after a massive 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the country's northeast.
The twin disasters triggered a crisis at a tsunami-hit nuclear power plant about 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Tokyo, where workers have been struggling to bring overheating reactors under control.
"We are seeing weakening demand in and out of Tokyo due to the situation in Japan," the spokesman said.
Kyodo News on Tuesday reported that smoke and steam were again rising from damaged reactors at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi plant.
White steam-like vapour was seen rising from the number two reactor and what looked like white hazy smoke from the number three reactor, Kyodo said, adding that efforts to spray water and restore electricity had temporarily stalled.
Abnormal levels of radiation were also detected in shipments of certain vegetables and milk from four prefectures near the plant, fuelling public anxiety about contamination from radiation.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Moon Mountain cigarettes illegal in Singapore
Moon Mountain cigarettes are illegal
Cigarette-smuggling syndicates are now resorting to selling a brand of contraband cigarettes packaged as legitimate ones.
What's worse: The cigarettes which bear the brand "Moon Mountain" even come in packets showing the usual pictorial health warning.
Singapore Customs said in a statement yesterday that the cigarettes are currently not supplied by any local tobacco importer or wholesaler licensed by the Health Sciences Authority.
Investigations revealed that the cigarettes were smuggled into Singapore by syndicates. Singapore Customs said it has been keeping close tabs on their activities.
On the evening of March 11, an operation mounted resulted in the seizure of 32,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, which included 16,500 packets of Moon Mountain cigarettes. Four men three Singaporeans and a Chinese national were arrested. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded on the contraband amounted to almost $300,000.
Two Singapore-registered vehicles a car and a truck were also seized in the operation.
The operation took place in Woodlands, where officers were keeping tabs on a truck suspected to be loaded with duty-unpaid cigarettes. The four men were soon spotted and when officers moved in to arrest them, the Chinese national and a Singaporean man attempted to flee. All four were arrested subsequently.
Singapore Customs warns that Moon Mountain cigarettes are illegal in Singapore and members of the public should not buy or be in possession of the cigarettes.
-News courtesy of Omy-
Cigarette-smuggling syndicates are now resorting to selling a brand of contraband cigarettes packaged as legitimate ones.
What's worse: The cigarettes which bear the brand "Moon Mountain" even come in packets showing the usual pictorial health warning.
Singapore Customs said in a statement yesterday that the cigarettes are currently not supplied by any local tobacco importer or wholesaler licensed by the Health Sciences Authority.
Investigations revealed that the cigarettes were smuggled into Singapore by syndicates. Singapore Customs said it has been keeping close tabs on their activities.
On the evening of March 11, an operation mounted resulted in the seizure of 32,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, which included 16,500 packets of Moon Mountain cigarettes. Four men three Singaporeans and a Chinese national were arrested. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded on the contraband amounted to almost $300,000.
Two Singapore-registered vehicles a car and a truck were also seized in the operation.
The operation took place in Woodlands, where officers were keeping tabs on a truck suspected to be loaded with duty-unpaid cigarettes. The four men were soon spotted and when officers moved in to arrest them, the Chinese national and a Singaporean man attempted to flee. All four were arrested subsequently.
Singapore Customs warns that Moon Mountain cigarettes are illegal in Singapore and members of the public should not buy or be in possession of the cigarettes.
-News courtesy of Omy-
Radiation level in Singapore very low
Radiation level in Singapore very low
THE likelihood of any radioactive plume reaching Singapore from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in earthquake-stricken Japan remains "very low", said the Singapore Government yesterday.
A joint statement involving various government ministries and agencies said that round-the-clock monitoring of radiation levels shows an average reading which is "safe and is within the normal range of Singapore's natural background level".
The average reading is 0.08 microsieverts per hour. Singapore is about 5,000km away from the incident site in Japan.
The National Environment Agency said in the statement: "Even in the event that prevailing winds were to transport a plume to Singapore, the impact is expected to be insignificant."
The concentration of the plume, after travelling the long distance, would have been significantly reduced to the normal background levels, added the statement.
The Ministry of Health said that any Singaporean who was outside the 20km evacuation zone in Japan will not need any form of medical assessment.
The statement also said that while there are no health reasons that require the screening of passengers from Japan at airports, developments will be monitored and appropriate measures taken if the need arises.
In the statement, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) confirmed that there have been no food imports from the affected regions in Japan since the start of the incident.
-News courtesy of omy-
THE likelihood of any radioactive plume reaching Singapore from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in earthquake-stricken Japan remains "very low", said the Singapore Government yesterday.
A joint statement involving various government ministries and agencies said that round-the-clock monitoring of radiation levels shows an average reading which is "safe and is within the normal range of Singapore's natural background level".
The average reading is 0.08 microsieverts per hour. Singapore is about 5,000km away from the incident site in Japan.
The National Environment Agency said in the statement: "Even in the event that prevailing winds were to transport a plume to Singapore, the impact is expected to be insignificant."
The concentration of the plume, after travelling the long distance, would have been significantly reduced to the normal background levels, added the statement.
The Ministry of Health said that any Singaporean who was outside the 20km evacuation zone in Japan will not need any form of medical assessment.
The statement also said that while there are no health reasons that require the screening of passengers from Japan at airports, developments will be monitored and appropriate measures taken if the need arises.
In the statement, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) confirmed that there have been no food imports from the affected regions in Japan since the start of the incident.
-News courtesy of omy-
Friday, March 18, 2011
SIA ups capacity of flights to Tokyo Haneda
SIA ups capacity of flights to Tokyo Haneda
Starting on Saturday till March 21, Singapore Airlines will be operating larger capacity 777-300 aircraft for flight SQ633 from Tokyo Haneda to Singapore, to cater to increased demand.
The larger aircraft will take 332 passengers, about 50 more than the current Boeing 777-300ER.
The flight will depart Tokyo Haneda at 12.30am and make a stop-over at Seoul Incheon at 2.30am, before departing an hour later. It will arrive in Singapore at 9.05am.
This stop-over is to enable a change of crews as SIA's crew operating the flight have been moved to Seoul Incheon due to fears of aftershocks in Tokyo.
There are also changes to the timings for SQ638 on March 16 and March 22, which operates from Singapore to Tokyo Narita.
It will now depart later from Singapore at 3.00am instead of 12 midnight, and arrive in Narita at 10.35am instead of 7.30am. This means the ground time in Tokyo will be reduced by about 3 hours.
There is no change to the departure time of the flight out from Narita back to Singapore, SQ637, which is 11.30am.
From March 17 through March 22, flights SQ12 and SQ11 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita will also make an additional stop at Osaka Kansai airport.
SIA says this is to ensure that its crew have sufficient rest, as aftershocks are still being experienced in Tokyo.
The flight details and timings are as follows: SQ12 will depart Singapore at 9.45am, arriving in Narita at 5.20pm. It will depart Narita at 6.30pm, arriving in Osaka at 7.40pm. It will then depart Osaka at 8.40pm, arriving in Los Angeles at 2.00pm.
SQ11 will depart Los Angeles at 3.45pm, arriving in Narita at 7.25pm the following day, before departing Narita at 8.35pm, arriving in Osaka at 9.45pm. It will then depart Osaka at 10.45pm, arriving in Singapore at 4.45am the following day.
In addition, SIA is postponing the introduction of Airbus A380 services on flights SQ12 and SQ11 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita until further notice. The flights will continue to be operated with Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Starting on Saturday till March 21, Singapore Airlines will be operating larger capacity 777-300 aircraft for flight SQ633 from Tokyo Haneda to Singapore, to cater to increased demand.
The larger aircraft will take 332 passengers, about 50 more than the current Boeing 777-300ER.
The flight will depart Tokyo Haneda at 12.30am and make a stop-over at Seoul Incheon at 2.30am, before departing an hour later. It will arrive in Singapore at 9.05am.
This stop-over is to enable a change of crews as SIA's crew operating the flight have been moved to Seoul Incheon due to fears of aftershocks in Tokyo.
There are also changes to the timings for SQ638 on March 16 and March 22, which operates from Singapore to Tokyo Narita.
It will now depart later from Singapore at 3.00am instead of 12 midnight, and arrive in Narita at 10.35am instead of 7.30am. This means the ground time in Tokyo will be reduced by about 3 hours.
There is no change to the departure time of the flight out from Narita back to Singapore, SQ637, which is 11.30am.
From March 17 through March 22, flights SQ12 and SQ11 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita will also make an additional stop at Osaka Kansai airport.
SIA says this is to ensure that its crew have sufficient rest, as aftershocks are still being experienced in Tokyo.
The flight details and timings are as follows: SQ12 will depart Singapore at 9.45am, arriving in Narita at 5.20pm. It will depart Narita at 6.30pm, arriving in Osaka at 7.40pm. It will then depart Osaka at 8.40pm, arriving in Los Angeles at 2.00pm.
SQ11 will depart Los Angeles at 3.45pm, arriving in Narita at 7.25pm the following day, before departing Narita at 8.35pm, arriving in Osaka at 9.45pm. It will then depart Osaka at 10.45pm, arriving in Singapore at 4.45am the following day.
In addition, SIA is postponing the introduction of Airbus A380 services on flights SQ12 and SQ11 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita until further notice. The flights will continue to be operated with Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Jetstar Promo
Singapore to Melbourne
22 March - 14 April 2011
4 May - 22 June 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$198
Singapore to Auckland
19 March - 3 May 2011
4 May - 13 July 2011
2 August - 5 October 2011
$248
Singapore to Newcastle
(via Melbourne)~
4 May - 22 June 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$254
Singapore to Adelaide
(via Melbourne)~
4 May - 22 June 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$292
Singapore to Wellington
(via Auckland)~
19 March - 3 May 2011
4 May - 13 July 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$293
Singapore to Christchurch
(via Auckland)~
19 March - 3 May 2011
4 May - 13 July 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$306
22 March - 14 April 2011
4 May - 22 June 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$198
Singapore to Auckland
19 March - 3 May 2011
4 May - 13 July 2011
2 August - 5 October 2011
$248
Singapore to Newcastle
(via Melbourne)~
4 May - 22 June 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$254
Singapore to Adelaide
(via Melbourne)~
4 May - 22 June 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$292
Singapore to Wellington
(via Auckland)~
19 March - 3 May 2011
4 May - 13 July 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$293
Singapore to Christchurch
(via Auckland)~
19 March - 3 May 2011
4 May - 13 July 2011
2 August - 7 September 2011
$306
MFA urges S'poreans to evacuate
MFA urges S'poreans to evacuate
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday urged Singaporeans within 100km of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan to evacuate.
The Foreign Ministry also asked Singaporeans in the quake-battered prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi to "evacuate the area with immediate effect".
However, a handful of Singaporeans within the radius declined to leave.
"Twenty Singaporeans in Sendai have indicated to our mission that they wish to stay behind. Our embassy will continue to stay in touch with them," MFA said.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday urged Singaporeans within 100km of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan to evacuate.
The Foreign Ministry also asked Singaporeans in the quake-battered prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi to "evacuate the area with immediate effect".
However, a handful of Singaporeans within the radius declined to leave.
"Twenty Singaporeans in Sendai have indicated to our mission that they wish to stay behind. Our embassy will continue to stay in touch with them," MFA said.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
S'pore safe from Japan radiation fallout: expert
S'pore safe from Japan radiation fallout: expert
News of radiation leaks from one of Japan's nuclear plants have sparked off concerns among many netizens in Singapore.
Channel NewsAsia's Facebook page has also been receiving many responses.
Some asked about the authenticity of a message claiming to be from BBC News, which said "radiation may hit the Philippines" and "Asian countries should take necessary precautions".
However, BBC has clarified that it did not send out the SMS alert.
Others like Annie Lee asked if the radiation spread will affect Singapore. And if so, then when?
Nuclear experts said Singapore is in no danger from a radiation fallout.
Dr Benjamin Sovacool, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: "Even if a worst case scenario were to happen, an absolute nightmare, multiple reactors catch fire, they create a radioactive particle cloud that is hazardous, it's not likely to come to Singapore.
"The trade winds will most significantly blow it into the ocean towards the United States. If somehow we are wrong, and this radioactive cloud was to somehow defy the trade winds and come straight to Singapore, we still have adequate warning to prepare, to evacuate, to distribute preventative measures."
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
News of radiation leaks from one of Japan's nuclear plants have sparked off concerns among many netizens in Singapore.
Channel NewsAsia's Facebook page has also been receiving many responses.
Some asked about the authenticity of a message claiming to be from BBC News, which said "radiation may hit the Philippines" and "Asian countries should take necessary precautions".
However, BBC has clarified that it did not send out the SMS alert.
Others like Annie Lee asked if the radiation spread will affect Singapore. And if so, then when?
Nuclear experts said Singapore is in no danger from a radiation fallout.
Dr Benjamin Sovacool, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: "Even if a worst case scenario were to happen, an absolute nightmare, multiple reactors catch fire, they create a radioactive particle cloud that is hazardous, it's not likely to come to Singapore.
"The trade winds will most significantly blow it into the ocean towards the United States. If somehow we are wrong, and this radioactive cloud was to somehow defy the trade winds and come straight to Singapore, we still have adequate warning to prepare, to evacuate, to distribute preventative measures."
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
SIA maintaining flights to & from Japan
SIA maintaining flights to & from Japan
Singapore Airlines has said it is maintaining its flight operations to and from Japan despite fears of radiation leaks from nuclear plants in the country.
SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said they are monitoring the situation and would change operations if the need arises.
He also said SIA is seeing some cancellations for flights into Tokyo while "loads for flights out of the Japanese capital are strong".
Mr Ionides said the "situation remains fluid".
SIA is also making changes to two of its flights.
From Thursday to March 22, flights SQ12 and SQ11 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita will make an additional stop at Osaka Kansai airport, about 400km southwest of Tokyo, as aftershocks are still being experienced in Tokyo.
SIA said this is to ensure the crew have sufficient rest.
Mr Ionides said the best way to be updated on the status of SIA flights to and from Japan is via its website - www.singaporeair.com.sg.
The Fukushima nuclear facility in Japan has seen explosions, fires and radiation leaks since the massive earthquake and tsunami waves cut power supplies which caused the reactor fuel rods to heat up.
The situation in Japan has seen some foreigners scrambling to leave the country.
Some airlines have either cancelled flights to Tokyo or have diverted their flights to Nagoya and Osaka, both hundreds of kilometres away from the capital.
Some carriers are also reducing the number of flights to Tokyo.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said on Tuesday that it was monitoring the potential impact of the radiological plume from the Fukushima plant.
It said developments so far do not necessitate the screening of aircraft or passengers for radiation.
SIA also said it will waive administrative fees for refund, re-booking or re-routing for customers holding confirmed tickets issued on or before March 11 for travel to and from all cities in Japan from March 11 to April 10, both dates inclusive.
This also applies to KrisFlyer redemption tickets.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Singapore Airlines has said it is maintaining its flight operations to and from Japan despite fears of radiation leaks from nuclear plants in the country.
SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said they are monitoring the situation and would change operations if the need arises.
He also said SIA is seeing some cancellations for flights into Tokyo while "loads for flights out of the Japanese capital are strong".
Mr Ionides said the "situation remains fluid".
SIA is also making changes to two of its flights.
From Thursday to March 22, flights SQ12 and SQ11 between Singapore and Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita will make an additional stop at Osaka Kansai airport, about 400km southwest of Tokyo, as aftershocks are still being experienced in Tokyo.
SIA said this is to ensure the crew have sufficient rest.
Mr Ionides said the best way to be updated on the status of SIA flights to and from Japan is via its website - www.singaporeair.com.sg.
The Fukushima nuclear facility in Japan has seen explosions, fires and radiation leaks since the massive earthquake and tsunami waves cut power supplies which caused the reactor fuel rods to heat up.
The situation in Japan has seen some foreigners scrambling to leave the country.
Some airlines have either cancelled flights to Tokyo or have diverted their flights to Nagoya and Osaka, both hundreds of kilometres away from the capital.
Some carriers are also reducing the number of flights to Tokyo.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said on Tuesday that it was monitoring the potential impact of the radiological plume from the Fukushima plant.
It said developments so far do not necessitate the screening of aircraft or passengers for radiation.
SIA also said it will waive administrative fees for refund, re-booking or re-routing for customers holding confirmed tickets issued on or before March 11 for travel to and from all cities in Japan from March 11 to April 10, both dates inclusive.
This also applies to KrisFlyer redemption tickets.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Nuclear risks not covered by travel insurance
Nuclear risks not covered by travel insurance
TRAVEL-INSURANCE policies do not cover exposure to nuclear risks, a body representing insurers said yesterday in the wake of the earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan.
"All travel-insurance policies carry a total exclusion on nuclear risks and the cover excludes any loss, damage, and illness directly or indirectly arising from the existence or escape of nuclear, ionising-radiation contamination by radioactivity from nuclear fuel," said the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA).
In a statement, it added that travellers should also check if their policy covers losses, injuries and trip cancellations caused by natural disasters.
The GIA, which has received enquiries from consumers, is advising them to contact their insurers to clear their doubts, as benefits vary from one company to another.
THE STRAITS TIMES
TRAVEL-INSURANCE policies do not cover exposure to nuclear risks, a body representing insurers said yesterday in the wake of the earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan.
"All travel-insurance policies carry a total exclusion on nuclear risks and the cover excludes any loss, damage, and illness directly or indirectly arising from the existence or escape of nuclear, ionising-radiation contamination by radioactivity from nuclear fuel," said the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA).
In a statement, it added that travellers should also check if their policy covers losses, injuries and trip cancellations caused by natural disasters.
The GIA, which has received enquiries from consumers, is advising them to contact their insurers to clear their doubts, as benefits vary from one company to another.
THE STRAITS TIMES
Monday, March 14, 2011
Japan Hit By 8.9 Earthquake and Tsunamis
Japan Hit By 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake and Tsunamis
An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck just east of Japan's Tohoku region, causing a 10 foot tsunami to wreak havoc predominantly in Miyagi Prefecture, including mud floods in the capital of Sendai, although widespread fires and flooding have occurred in Iwate, Fukushima, and Ibaraki. Coastal cities in the region were most affected, but shocks could be felt in Tokyo, where it caused several fires, and even as far as Kyoto. The Asian Pacific Rim is on tsunami alert. This includes Russia, Hawaii, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, and the western coast of South America. There is potential for these regions to be hit with waves 6-10 meters high.
-News courtesy of Wikitravel-
An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck just east of Japan's Tohoku region, causing a 10 foot tsunami to wreak havoc predominantly in Miyagi Prefecture, including mud floods in the capital of Sendai, although widespread fires and flooding have occurred in Iwate, Fukushima, and Ibaraki. Coastal cities in the region were most affected, but shocks could be felt in Tokyo, where it caused several fires, and even as far as Kyoto. The Asian Pacific Rim is on tsunami alert. This includes Russia, Hawaii, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, and the western coast of South America. There is potential for these regions to be hit with waves 6-10 meters high.
-News courtesy of Wikitravel-
Some flights to Japan resumed
Some flights to Japan resumed
Some flights to Japan's Narita Airport have resumed from Changi Airport.
The wait has ended for some travellers at Changi Airport whose flights had been disrupted by a powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake which Japan on Friday.
ANA NH 6252 left for Narita, while SQ 12 departed for Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita.
However, some travellers had been scheduled to fly to Tokyo on ANA at 8.30am but found out that their flight had been cancelled.
According to an ANA service staff, NH 902 and NH 151 were cancelled on Saturday morning as the planes did not arrive from Narita Airport the day before.
He added most of the affected passengers have been put on flights with other airlines.
They include passengers on transit, as well as Japanese who are anxious to get home to their families and homes.
"My house is damaged by the earthquake. So it is worrying. I have made a telephone call to my son. My son has been now staying in school since last night," said Dr Nobutaka Hanagata, a Japanese who is in Singapore on a business trip.
Passenger Jennifer Chia, who is planning to travel to Los Angeles via Narita Airport, said she is at a loss of what to do, following her cancelled flight.
"Now we are stuck here, at a loss and not knowing what to do," she said.
"We are going to Los Angeles and now they are telling us the flight is cancelled.
"They just asked us to wait because they want to see if the airlines can [fly] us there".
A number of tour groups bound for Japan this weekend also dropped their travel plans. This is because mostly due to flight cancellations. Tour operators Channel NewsAsia spoke to said refunds are pending negotiations with airline, tour and hotel operators.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Some flights to Japan's Narita Airport have resumed from Changi Airport.
The wait has ended for some travellers at Changi Airport whose flights had been disrupted by a powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake which Japan on Friday.
ANA NH 6252 left for Narita, while SQ 12 departed for Los Angeles via Tokyo Narita.
However, some travellers had been scheduled to fly to Tokyo on ANA at 8.30am but found out that their flight had been cancelled.
According to an ANA service staff, NH 902 and NH 151 were cancelled on Saturday morning as the planes did not arrive from Narita Airport the day before.
He added most of the affected passengers have been put on flights with other airlines.
They include passengers on transit, as well as Japanese who are anxious to get home to their families and homes.
"My house is damaged by the earthquake. So it is worrying. I have made a telephone call to my son. My son has been now staying in school since last night," said Dr Nobutaka Hanagata, a Japanese who is in Singapore on a business trip.
Passenger Jennifer Chia, who is planning to travel to Los Angeles via Narita Airport, said she is at a loss of what to do, following her cancelled flight.
"Now we are stuck here, at a loss and not knowing what to do," she said.
"We are going to Los Angeles and now they are telling us the flight is cancelled.
"They just asked us to wait because they want to see if the airlines can [fly] us there".
A number of tour groups bound for Japan this weekend also dropped their travel plans. This is because mostly due to flight cancellations. Tour operators Channel NewsAsia spoke to said refunds are pending negotiations with airline, tour and hotel operators.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Friday, March 4, 2011
Jetstar Promotion!
Look out this Friday for Jetstar's 72 Hours Fare Frenzy starting at 9am. You will be amazed by our ridiculously low fares starting from just $28^ (eg. Singapore to Kuala Lumpur)!
Route Travel Period JetSaver Light^ Fare (SGD)
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur 27 April - 26 May 2011 $28
Singapore to Jakarta 27 April - 26 May 2011 $38
Singapore to Medan 27 April - 26 May 2011 $58
Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City 27 April - 26 May 2011 $60
Singapore to Bangkok 27 April - 26 May 2011(For travel from Tuesday to Thursday only) $65
Singapore to Yangon 27 April - 26 May 2011 $68
Singapore to Manila 27 April - 26 May 2011 $98
Singapore to Guilin 27 April - 26 May 2011 $98
Singapore to Hong Kong 27 April - 26 May 2011(For travel from Tuesday to Thursday only) $109
Singapore to Perth 4 May - 22 June 2011 $128
Singapore to Melbourne 4 May - 22 June 2011 $228
Singapore to Cairns 4 May - 22 June 2011 $348
Thursday, March 3, 2011
KTM relocation under way
KTM relocation under way
Work is under way to implement the Points of Agreement (POA) which will see the Malaysian railway (KTM) station in Tanjong Pagar move to Woodlands Train Checkpoint by July 1, 2011.
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo said this in Parliament, during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate.
Mr Yeo said a schedule of implementation has been drawn up, adding that work on some aspects of the implementation has also started.
The deal struck by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia in September last year was described as a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations.
The two leaders agreed on the implementation of the POA which had been "outstanding for almost 20 years".
Mr Yeo said the July 1 deadline for the KTM railway station to move from Tanjong Pager to Woodlands is a "firm deadline."
Already, he said work on some aspects of the implementation has started.
Several developments along the main railway line including the redevelopment of Silat Estate and the expansion of One North business park at Buona Vista will begin after July 1.
The question of development charges payable on land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands will be settled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
"When KTMB moves out of Tanjong Pagar, the Singapore government would vest in M-S Pte Ltd, a 60-40 joint venture company formed between Khazanah and Temasek, four land parcels in Marina South and two in Ophir-Rochor," said Mr Yeo.
Other initiatives agreed between both sides in the Joint Statement of May 24, 2010 include the joint development of a rapid transit system link between JB and Singapore.
It also includes Singapore's handing over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor authorities free of charge and in good working order on 31 August 2011.
In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will set up a 50-50 joint venture company to undertake the development of an iconic project in Iskandar Malaysia. Khazanah and Temasek are looking to launch the project in May 2011.
"Settling the POA was not a simple matter," Mr Yeo said.
"It took a few years of careful negotiations -- a lot of it, quiet, a lot of it looking for win-win political and economic outcomes on both sides and being mindful of the domestic commentary in Malaysia.
"The key was (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib's leadership and his relationship with our own Prime Minister, and I believe this will continue.
"I once had a discussion with a Malaysian friend and I told him, 'we are more likely to have our elections before yours'. He smiled. We don't know yet, but I think it's likely to be, and I hope -- in fact, I'm quite sure -- that both sides will win handsomely and this good relationship will continue," Mr Yeo said.
Beyond relations with neighbouring states, Mr Yeo also stressed on Singapore's heavy dependence on external relations.
He said the world is moving towards a messier multipolar reality and in this fluid situation, it's crucial to strengthen ASEAN.
One issue highlighted is the continuing turmoil in the Middle East, which Mr Yeo described as "history in the making".
He added it's something Singapore needs to adjust to and cut its losses if needed.
Singapore's economic and political links with countries in the Middle East have grown significantly in the past eight years, reaching an all-time high of S$44 billion last year.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Work is under way to implement the Points of Agreement (POA) which will see the Malaysian railway (KTM) station in Tanjong Pagar move to Woodlands Train Checkpoint by July 1, 2011.
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo said this in Parliament, during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate.
Mr Yeo said a schedule of implementation has been drawn up, adding that work on some aspects of the implementation has also started.
The deal struck by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia in September last year was described as a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations.
The two leaders agreed on the implementation of the POA which had been "outstanding for almost 20 years".
Mr Yeo said the July 1 deadline for the KTM railway station to move from Tanjong Pager to Woodlands is a "firm deadline."
Already, he said work on some aspects of the implementation has started.
Several developments along the main railway line including the redevelopment of Silat Estate and the expansion of One North business park at Buona Vista will begin after July 1.
The question of development charges payable on land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands will be settled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
"When KTMB moves out of Tanjong Pagar, the Singapore government would vest in M-S Pte Ltd, a 60-40 joint venture company formed between Khazanah and Temasek, four land parcels in Marina South and two in Ophir-Rochor," said Mr Yeo.
Other initiatives agreed between both sides in the Joint Statement of May 24, 2010 include the joint development of a rapid transit system link between JB and Singapore.
It also includes Singapore's handing over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor authorities free of charge and in good working order on 31 August 2011.
In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will set up a 50-50 joint venture company to undertake the development of an iconic project in Iskandar Malaysia. Khazanah and Temasek are looking to launch the project in May 2011.
"Settling the POA was not a simple matter," Mr Yeo said.
"It took a few years of careful negotiations -- a lot of it, quiet, a lot of it looking for win-win political and economic outcomes on both sides and being mindful of the domestic commentary in Malaysia.
"The key was (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib's leadership and his relationship with our own Prime Minister, and I believe this will continue.
"I once had a discussion with a Malaysian friend and I told him, 'we are more likely to have our elections before yours'. He smiled. We don't know yet, but I think it's likely to be, and I hope -- in fact, I'm quite sure -- that both sides will win handsomely and this good relationship will continue," Mr Yeo said.
Beyond relations with neighbouring states, Mr Yeo also stressed on Singapore's heavy dependence on external relations.
He said the world is moving towards a messier multipolar reality and in this fluid situation, it's crucial to strengthen ASEAN.
One issue highlighted is the continuing turmoil in the Middle East, which Mr Yeo described as "history in the making".
He added it's something Singapore needs to adjust to and cut its losses if needed.
Singapore's economic and political links with countries in the Middle East have grown significantly in the past eight years, reaching an all-time high of S$44 billion last year.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Online travel booking market in AsiaPac to grow
Online travel booking market in AsiaPac to grow by 40%
The online travel booking market in Asia Pacific is expected to hit a value of US$51.6 billion this year and will grow by 30 to 40 per cent a year going forward.
This is according to industry sources, like PhoCusWright and Expedia, that look at the online travel market in Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand.
Market players said this is in contrast to the more mature US market which is growing at five per cent a year.
More companies are also expanding their businesses here to tap that growth potential.
Singapore meanwhile, is expected to grow around 20 per cent to reach a value of US$1.5 billion in the online travel market this year.
One of the leading online travel booking companies, Expedia, will be launching country-specific websites in what it sees as growth markets.
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and Indonesia are all in the list.
The Nasdaq-listed company said that its shift in focus is due to the low number of online travel bookings in this region.
Daniel Lynn, Vice President and Managing Director of Expedia Asia Pacific, said: "We're also seeing that Asian consumers are increasingly looking to buy travel online. If you look at the overall percentage of travel that is bought online, in US its 40 per cent, in Europe it can be 30 per cent, in Asia Pacific...even in the most mature markets like Singapore - its still in the 20, 25 per cent range and in other markets its down in the single digit still. So there's a huge amount of growth to happen."
Overall, sites like Expedia expects between 10 to 20 per cent of their booking revenues to come from Asia Pacific over the next two years, up from five per cent now. Expedia currently takes in US$24.3 billion in annual gross bookings.
Other players like Chan Brothers said bookings via its online flight and hotel portals have been encouraging with an average growth of 50 per cent on-month. While at the same time, the number of visitors to their site have doubled since its revamp in the second half of last year.
Furthermore, experts said as broadband and credit card penetration increases in Asia, consumers will be more willing to spend online.
And complementing that is the recent phenomenon of group buying sites like Groupon and Deal.com.sg.
These sites allow consumers to buy deals at a huge discount, and sometimes it include airfares and hotel stays.
"We see those business models as not necessary be directly competitive with online travel, what they tend to do is they tend to introduce to a set of customers one hotel on one destination on one particular day. And that's great to get people excited about travel, but it doesn't meet the need of a place where you can go for all your travel needs on a regular basis," said Mr Lynn.
Corporate travel is another area that is driving growth as well, experts said.
This is because more executives are seen to be making their own bookings online for their corporate travel arrangements.
Sim Beng Khoon, Asia Pacific Regional Director of the Association of Croporate Travel Executives, said: "This is the right time for online travel sites to consider expanding in Asia, for all the right reasons, first I think it's driven by corporate clients themselves.
"Almost all the travel management companies have online booking solutions for their corporate clients and corporate clients are looking at this mainly to drive cost savings, to drive compliance to their travel policy and to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their travel programmes."
And this will be led by Asia's giants, India and China, which experts said will see growth of 35 per cent in business travel volume this year.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
The online travel booking market in Asia Pacific is expected to hit a value of US$51.6 billion this year and will grow by 30 to 40 per cent a year going forward.
This is according to industry sources, like PhoCusWright and Expedia, that look at the online travel market in Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand.
Market players said this is in contrast to the more mature US market which is growing at five per cent a year.
More companies are also expanding their businesses here to tap that growth potential.
Singapore meanwhile, is expected to grow around 20 per cent to reach a value of US$1.5 billion in the online travel market this year.
One of the leading online travel booking companies, Expedia, will be launching country-specific websites in what it sees as growth markets.
Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and Indonesia are all in the list.
The Nasdaq-listed company said that its shift in focus is due to the low number of online travel bookings in this region.
Daniel Lynn, Vice President and Managing Director of Expedia Asia Pacific, said: "We're also seeing that Asian consumers are increasingly looking to buy travel online. If you look at the overall percentage of travel that is bought online, in US its 40 per cent, in Europe it can be 30 per cent, in Asia Pacific...even in the most mature markets like Singapore - its still in the 20, 25 per cent range and in other markets its down in the single digit still. So there's a huge amount of growth to happen."
Overall, sites like Expedia expects between 10 to 20 per cent of their booking revenues to come from Asia Pacific over the next two years, up from five per cent now. Expedia currently takes in US$24.3 billion in annual gross bookings.
Other players like Chan Brothers said bookings via its online flight and hotel portals have been encouraging with an average growth of 50 per cent on-month. While at the same time, the number of visitors to their site have doubled since its revamp in the second half of last year.
Furthermore, experts said as broadband and credit card penetration increases in Asia, consumers will be more willing to spend online.
And complementing that is the recent phenomenon of group buying sites like Groupon and Deal.com.sg.
These sites allow consumers to buy deals at a huge discount, and sometimes it include airfares and hotel stays.
"We see those business models as not necessary be directly competitive with online travel, what they tend to do is they tend to introduce to a set of customers one hotel on one destination on one particular day. And that's great to get people excited about travel, but it doesn't meet the need of a place where you can go for all your travel needs on a regular basis," said Mr Lynn.
Corporate travel is another area that is driving growth as well, experts said.
This is because more executives are seen to be making their own bookings online for their corporate travel arrangements.
Sim Beng Khoon, Asia Pacific Regional Director of the Association of Croporate Travel Executives, said: "This is the right time for online travel sites to consider expanding in Asia, for all the right reasons, first I think it's driven by corporate clients themselves.
"Almost all the travel management companies have online booking solutions for their corporate clients and corporate clients are looking at this mainly to drive cost savings, to drive compliance to their travel policy and to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their travel programmes."
And this will be led by Asia's giants, India and China, which experts said will see growth of 35 per cent in business travel volume this year.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
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