Wednesday, April 24 2024 | ASIA TODAY INTERNATIONAL - Reporting the Business that Matters in Asia
SINGAPORE- Singapore Airlines’ newest class of travel, Premium Economy Class, opened for sale today. From August 9, 2015, travellers on some flights from Singapore to Sydney will be the first to experience the new cabin class. It will subsequently be made available to other destinations served by the Airline’s Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs, in addition to the future fleet of Airbus A350s.
SYDNEY – Qantas and China Eastern have signed a five-year joint venture (subject to regulatory approval) to deepen commercial co-operation on flights between Australia and China, including the opening of new routes between Brisbane and Perth to Shanghai, where China Eastern is based. The two airlines have had a codeshare agreement since 2008.
MANILA – Effective December 10, Cebu Pacific Air is increasing flight frequency on Manila-Sydney services from three to five weekly. Until December 13, flights from Sydney to Manila are available for AUD249 seats (for travel from January 1 to March 31, 2015) or for AUD149 (for travel from June 1 to September 30, 2015). Quoted fares are inclusive of fees and fuel surcharges, but exclusive of travel products such as meals or baggage allowance. For more information or to book flights, visit www.cebupacificair.com (ATI).
BRISBANE - Qantas will begin direct flights from Brisbane to Tokyo’s Narita Airport from August next year as part of the airline’s expansion of services into Japan. The new direct service will operate four times weekly and complement a new direct daily Sydney-Haneda (Tokyo) service.
NEW DELHI – India has introduced an electronic Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) system for visitors from 43 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Visa applications can be made online at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html The visa fee is US$60 and covers a 30-day stay for tourism, short-term medical visit, casual business visit or VFR. The visa will normally be issued within four days. (ATI).
TOKYO - Japan Airlines will launch its first "JAL SKY SUITE 787" service on the Tokyo (Narita) to Frankfurt route from December 1, followed by the Narita-New York route from January 2015 and then progressively on JAL international medium and long-haul routes.
The fully-flat JAL SKY SUITE bed will be available in Business Class, while Premium Economy passengers will be provided in the latest Boeing 787-8s with "JAL SKY PREMIUM" seats. In Economy Class, new "JAL SKY WIDER II" seats in a 2-4-2 configuration will be offered. www.jal.com (ATI).