Senai airport needs better bus service

Senai airport needs better bus service

TRAVELLERS arriving at the Senai International Airport, who rely on public transport to go to other places in Johor, need to plan ahead.

At the airport, the cheapest mode of transport is the stage bus which drops passengers off at bus stops along the route it is plying.

The bus fare compared to the airport taxi fare could be 10 times cheaper.

For example, it costs less than RM3.50 to take a bus from the airport to Bandar Baru Uda but an airport cab would charge about RM40.

At present, Handal Indah Sdn Bhd, which owns Causeway Link buses, operates a bus service from the airport.

Its stage bus passes Senai town, Jalan Skudai and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak before reaching Larkin Sentral.

It also has a direct bus (express bus) service to the JB Sentral Terminal via the Eastern Dispersal Link.

The stage bus service from the airport to Larkin Sentral runs from 9.30am to 7pm at every two-hour interval.

It does not have a fixed schedule but the departure time depends on plane arrival time.

The direct bus service starts from 6.10am to 11.15pm daily with an hour interval between every bus.

Ticket is RM8 for a one-way journey but it is free for AirAsia passengers who book the bus e-ticket. It has a fixed schedule though.

It makes 18 trips daily, taking an average of 45 minutes to reach JB Sentral.

The direct bus service is an option if travellers miss the stage bus service.

At the JB Sentral, travellers who wish to board a local stage bus will have to walk to Jalan Wong Ah Fook which is about 10 minutes away.

It is not convenient for those carrying a lot of baggage.

Suhaimi Saleh, 37, said the airport bus service can be improved to cater to the increasing number of passengers coming to Johor Baru.

Another passenger, Kathrin Schmelter, 21, said ideally there should be a stage bus or direct bus every 30 minutes so that they can better plan their journey.

Based on my experience, passengers have several things to do at the airport such as waiting for the luggage, shopping or eating.

It would be good to have more stage buses, mini buses or vans travelling to the city.

More transport operators are needed as the airport gets busier and demand for airport bus service increases.

My other suggestion is for the stage buses to have a fixed departure schedule.

There is also a need to improve the waiting area for passengers.

Currently, benches are placed at the entrance of the airport where the booths for bus tickets and airport taxi vouchers are located.

However, the bus will not stop near the entrance but near the end of the airport which is about three minutes' walk from the entrance.

Those new to the airport may get confused with this arrangement.

The benches at the end of the airport could only sit four persons at most.

It is not conducive for senior citizens or mothers with babies who may be forced to stand while waiting for their bus.



There is a big demand for bus service at the Senai International Airport. Pix by Dazar Suarman

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

India moves to ease visa restrictions

India moves to ease visa restrictions to attract tourists

India is looking at issuing visas on arrival for visitors from 40 more countries, a minister has said, raising hopes it will overcome national security fears to boost its tourism industry.

A meeting of senior officials from the home, foreign and tourism ministries, as well as intelligence officers, concluded on Monday evening with a consensus in favour of the sweeping visa reform.

"There was a consensus about initiating the process to make India a tourist-friendly country and extending the on-arrival visa facility to around 40 more countries," Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla told the Press Trust of India news agency.

The new countries would include the United States and Britain -- the source of about 25 percent of all tourists last year -- as well as Canada, Brazil, Australia and most western European nations including France and Germany.

Despite its cultural attractions, beaches and mountains, India attracts relatively few foreign holidaymakers -- 6.58 million in 2012, which was about a quarter of Thailand or Malaysia, for example.

In 2009, it tightened restrictions in the wake of revelations that David Headley, a militant of American and Pakistani descent who helped plot the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, had regularly stayed in the country on long-term tourist visas.

India currently issues visas on arrival to visitors from about a dozen foreign nations including Japan, Finland, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and the Philippines among others.

All others must apply several weeks in advance and visit a visa-processing centre in person.

The proposed relaxation of the rules, which is likely to take time to organise and would require cabinet-level approval, was hailed by The Times of India newspaper in an editorial.

"While relaxing our restrictive visa regime is a good first step, much more needs to be done to attract visitors to India," it said.

The proposed changes would also make it easier for elderly visitors and those wishing to attend conferences, the Press Trust of India reported.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

SIA's new-look cabins take to the skies

SIA's new-look cabins take to the skies

It is third airline in last three months to debut overhauled cabin products



SIA's overhauled cabins include a new inflight entertainment touchscreen monitor in economy class; more storage space in the seats in business class; and first-class seats that can be turned into longer beds than before (above). The new cabins debut on the new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft today to London, on flight SQ318. The improvements will also be included on the airline's new Airbus 350 jets, which will start joining the fleet in 2015. 

Singapore Airlines will put its latest cabin products in the air today, becoming the third airline in the last three months to do so as competition in the sector intensifies.

Passengers flying on SQ318 to London this afternoon will enjoy wider, cushier seats, and more personal and storage space in first, business and economy cabins.

The new-look cabins are also decked with the latest inflight entertainment system featuring wider LCD screens and touchscreen handsets across all classes.

Economy-class passengers can browse through more than 1,000 entertainment options by scrolling through touchscreen monitors.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Malaysia Causeway Link Fare Hike

Watch what you buy as holiday gifts

Watch what you buy as holiday gifts

Have you ever thrown away an unwanted gift from someone who just returned from a holiday, or put away the gift in a drawer for years only to discover it later?

Well, you are not alone.

A survey by global travel search site Skyscanner of 1,000 Singaporean travellers found that nearly three quarters - 74 per cent - have received unwanted gifts, with 9 per cent even confessing that they threw them straight into the bin.

Others were more empathetic: 41 per cent said they kept such gifts to "avoid hurting the other person's feelings".

Some 28 per cent said they gave the gifts away later.

Ms Ira Noviani, marketing manager of Skyscanner Singapore, said: "Although they say 'it's the thought that counts', receiving an unwanted gift can certainly be an awkward moment.

"Maybe we should play it safer with the gifts we choose and stick to something we all enjoy - like chocolate."

Topping the list of most unwanted holiday gifts are disgusting food or sweets, followed by clothing and knick-knacks or display ornaments.

While food souvenirs appear to be a no-no, people My Paper spoke to said they remain the most practical gift when they want to share a part of their travel experience with friends and family.

Financial planner Diana Foo, 41, said she would buy an assortment of food items and repack them in bags containing a little of each.

She said of her gift recipients: "This way, there is a high chance that they will find at least one snack that they like."

Fresh graduate Nicolette Michael, 23, said the key to not buying unwanted gifts is to refrain from buying souvenirs for too many people.

She said: "I always end up buying the cheapest gifts, which are often useless, because of the sheer number of people on my list."

Of the Singaporeans surveyed, 57 per cent also admitted that they have made holiday purchases which they later regretted.

One respondent cited the purchase of Chinese herbal medicine amounting to US$2,000 (S$2,550), while another cited the purchase of a pair of leather boots.

Ms Michael said she regretted her decision to buy shot glasses from every city she visited.

"I now have over 30 shot glasses and they take up so much space on my table."

TOP 10 most unwanted items:

Disgusting food/sweets
Item of clothing
Knick-knack/ornament for the house
Cuddly toy
'Comedy' T-shirt
'Comedy' hat
Local alchoholic drink
Cosmetics/perfumes
Health Products
Jewellery

~News courtesy of My Paper~

Slight haze may hit Singapore

Slight haze may hit Singapore

The number of hot spots in Sumatra, Indonesia, jumped to 225 yesterday from 86 on Saturday, said Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA). There were 21 hot spots on Friday.

The agency added that dense smoke plumes were seen from some of the hot spots in central and southern Sumatra.

With dry-weather conditions in these areas expected to continue, NEA warned that Singapore "may experience occasional slight haze over the next few days".

On Tuesday afternoon, Singapore was affected by slight haze, with the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hitting 56 at 2pm.

A PSI reading below 50 means air quality is good, while one between 51 and 100 means it is moderate.

The number of hot spots on Tuesday was 29, although there might have been some that were undetected due to cloud cover. On Aug 16, the number of hot spots was 267.

Despite the rise in hot-spot numbers yesterday, NEA said that, based on the 24-hour PSI, air quality today until 6pm is expected to be in the good range.

~News courtesy of Omy~

Haze in Singapore due to Sumatra fires: NEA

Haze in Singapore due to Sumatra fires: NEA



Haze surrounding the Singapore Flyer and Singapore skyline at 12pm. (Photo: Richard Lim)

The skies over Singapore were slightly hazy on Tuesday.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said the haziness was due to smoke from fires in southern Sumatra, brought over by the southwesterly winds overnight.

At 1pm, the 3-hour PSI hit the moderate range of 55, edging up to 56 at 2pm and 3pm before coming down to the good range.

At 7pm, the 3-hour PSI stood at 27.

The PSI reading in Singapore hit a record high of 401 on 21 June this year as a result of smog from forest fires in Indonesia.

However, the NEA website indicated the number of hotspots in Sumatra decreased from 82 on Monday to 29 on Tuesday.

"However, due to extensive cloud cover in the central and northern regions of Sumatra, we cannot be certain of the exact situation. Nevertheless, recent showers over central and southern Sumatra would have helped to further subdue the hotspot activities there," said NEA.

It added that over the next few days, Singapore may experience slightly hazy conditions in the morning due to the accumulation of particulate matter under light wind conditions.

"The 24-hour PSI for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the higher end of the 'good' band (that is ≤50). The 24-hour PM2.5 is expected to be slightly elevated," said NEA. "All persons can continue with normal activities."

Thundery showers are forecast over Singapore in the late morning and early afternoon on Wednesday, it added.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~