Tag: Singapore
Emirates: A380 to connect Amman with Dubai in summer 2019
Dubai (TAN): Emirates has announced it will operate its Airbus A380 between Dubai and Amman during peak summer months this year. The upgraded service, as a remedy to higher seasonal demand, will run from June 1 to October 26, 2019.
Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president, commercial operations for Gulf, Middle East and Iran, Emirates, said, “Jordan has been a strategically important market in this region for Emirates for a long time. The upgrade to an A380 service to Amman during the peak summer period is in line with our strategy to better serve seasonal peaks, and strengthen our presence in key markets by providing an industry-leading experience for our customers, and offering them a seamless A380 experience via Dubai to major destinations in the world.”
While Emirates will use its A380 for one of its three daily flights on the Dubai-Amman route, it will be the first time the airline will run a scheduled A380 service to Amman since 2016. Continue reading Emirates: A380 to connect Amman with Dubai in summer 2019
Uzbekistan to waive visa for citizens of 45 countries
Tashkent (NITN): Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that tourists from 45 countries will be able to visit Uzbekistan visa free, effective from February 1, 2019.
This is the latest in a series of reforms designed to stimulate the Central Asian country’s tourism development, as Mirziyoyev identified tourism and foreign investment as the two priorities for his term when he came to power in December 2016.
Initiatives including the introduction of e-visas in June 2018 have already resulted in an increase in foreign tourist numbers from 2.6 million in 2017 to 5.3 million in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates significant further growth in 2019.
National carrier Uzbekistan Airways will take delivery of two new Airbus A320neos and three new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in spring 2019, increasing its capacity on long haul international routes and enabling it to add new destinations. The airline already provides direct flights between London Heathrow and Tashkent, and expects to add a second UK airport to its network this summer.
From February 1, 2019, the following countries will be able to enter Uzbekistan visa free for up to 30 days:
Andorra, Canada, Iceland, Mongolia, San Marino, Argentina, Chile, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia, Australia, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Norway, Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, Brunei Darussalam, Greece, Malta, Republic of Cyprus, United Kingdom Bulgaria Hungary Monaco Romania, and Vatican City.
Nationals of France, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey were granted visa free access in 2018. Germans will have visa free access from January 15, 2019.
President Mirziyoyev’s 5 January decrees also stated that:
- The existing e-visa scheme will be extended to cover the nationals of 76 countries, and will allow for double and multiple entries;
- New visa categories will be created for pilgrims, students, academics, and for medical tourism, and will be available within one month;
- Hotels must offer accommodation “regardless of the place of residence, citizenship, kinship and marital relations of individuals, as well as other factors that restrict the right to privacy.” This removes restrictions on unmarried couples;
- A list of prohibited sites (i.e. those of security concern) will be published on or before February 1, and clearly marked with signs. Tourists may photograph and film all unmarked sites without restriction.
SilkAir increases Singapore-Cairns flight frequency
Singapore (TAN): Singapore Airlines’ regional wing SilkAir has announced the increase of flight frequency to the Australian city of Cairns, from June 2, 2019.
The number of SilkAir flights from Singapore to Cairns will go up from five to seven, with one flight on each day of the week. The new flights will be offered on Sundays and Tuesdays.
SilkAir will use Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft to fly to Cairns.
Talking about the raised frequency, Foo Chai Woo, chief executive, SilkAir, said, “we are proud to announce a daily service to Cairns, providing greater accessibility and connectivity for our customers.”
Continue reading SilkAir increases Singapore-Cairns flight frequency
Jet Airways & Fiji Airways ink codeshare deal
March 7 (TravelAndy): Jet Airways, India’s full-service premier international airline and Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, have announced a code-share partnership which offers guests travelling on both carriers convenient and seamless connectivity between India and Fiji via Singapore and Hong Kong. Apart from connectivity, this increases the scope of Jet’s popular frequent flier programme JetPrivilege.
The codeshare agreement, a first-of-its-kind between the airlines of the two countries, will address the growing demand for travel between India and Fiji.
Jet Airways will place its ‘9W’ code on Fiji Airways’ flights from Singapore and Hong Kong to Nadi, and Fiji Airways will place its ‘FJ’ code on Jet Airways’ services between Singapore and Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai as well as between Hong Kong and Mumbai & Delhi. All codeshare flights will allow through check-in to the final destination of any journey. Continue reading Jet Airways & Fiji Airways ink codeshare deal
Singapore to turn Mandai into eco-tourism hub
June 1 (TravelAndy): Singapore will turn its Mandai Safari Park into an eco-tourism hub by 2020.
At present, the major tourism highlights of the park are Singapore Zoo, the River Safari and the Night Safari.
Within a span of three years, the authorities plan to develop it into a bigger area, comprising of several other attractions including a bird park and a rain forest. Continue reading Singapore to turn Mandai into eco-tourism hub
Cruise fest sets Nov 4 date
April 3 (TravelAndy): Asia’s largest electronic dance music cruise festival, Its the Ship (ITS) will set sail from Singapore’s Marina Bay on November 4, 2016.
The four-day and three-night floating festival will cruise along the strait of Malacca and reach the Pearl of Orient, Penang, in Malayasia, before it returns to Singapore on November 7.
Organisers are working with Malaysia’s tourism department to make the festival a success. Continue reading Cruise fest sets Nov 4 date
Scoot to Osaka from Singapore
May 22 (TravelAndy): Singapore-based low cost airline Scoot will operate six flights every week to Osaka from July 8.
“Osaka has long been on our radar and we’re excited to add it to our network,” Scoot’s CEO, Campbell Wilson was quoted as saying in a report. Scoot already flies to Tokyo and Kyoto.
Of the six weekly flights, three will fly via Bangkok and the rest via Kaohsiung,Taiwan. Continue reading Scoot to Osaka from Singapore