Airline News and Hotel Updates

Friday 28 October 2011

Rotana Jet Aviation to Attend Dubai Air Show

Rotana Jet Aviation, one of the region?s newest aviation services companies, is set to unveil its newest aircraft at this year?s Dubai Air Show to be held between 13-17 November 2011 at the Dubai Airport Expo.

The company, which provides a full range of executive jet services including charter options, aircraft management, consultation, new and pre-owned jet sales, and maintenance, is already successfully operating a Gulfstream G450 from its main base in at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi.

Executive aviation has emerged as a key growth area in the Middle East?s transport sector with over 400 business jets operating within the region.

?Rotana Jet took to the skies in early 2011 and we have already operated a host of successful flights on our Gulfstream G450. We have a luxury 50-seater A319LR VIP Airbus joining our fleet in mid-2012 and other aircraft currently being discussed and contracted? said James Coak, Rotana Jet?s Commercial Manager.

Rotana Jet?s staff will be on-hand at the Air Show to discuss the latest information on its various services in addition to new information about future growth plans, and the benefits provided to business jet users in the region.

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Abu Dhabi Airport Reports Q3 2011 Traffic

During the third quarter of 2011 Abu Dhabi Airport recorded a 15% increase in passenger traffic compared with the same period in 2010.

Some 3.3 million passengers passed through the capital?s airport during the period July to September 2011 surpassing for the first time the 1 million milestone for three consecutive months.

A total of 1,086,348 passengers passing through the airport in September, a double digit increase of 17.1% compared to the same month last year.

The increase in last quarter?s passenger traffic was mainly driven by Eid and summer holidays, Omra, the inauguration of new airlines and the frequency increases and new destinations introduced by most of the carriers at Abu Dhabi International Airport, mainly Etihad Airways.

Cargo volumes presented a parallel growth to that of passenger traffic with a recorded 10.8% increase in the month of September alone, and a further 7% increase over the July- September 2011 period, compared with same periods last year. The recorded increases are a result of the healthy economic growth witnessed in Abu Dhabi along with the increased cargo activity by Etihad Airways.

Commenting on this, Eng. Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operating Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), said, ?The passenger activity increases at Abu Dhabi international Airport are certainly a positive economic indicator for the UAE and the region. It is especially encouraging that we are seeing sustained growth throughout the year. We are thrilled with the positive passenger activity results of the third quarter of this year and it is clear that both business and leisure travelers are choosing Abu Dhabi International more and more as their portal to the world.?

The top five routes in the third quarter of 2011 include London, Bangkok, Doha, Jeddah, and Manila.

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Singapore Airlines to Increase Beijing Flights

Singapore Airlines is to launch a fourth daily flight between Singapore and Beijing from 16 December 2011.

With the additional service, the airline will operate a total of 28 weekly services to and from the Chinese capital.

The new service, SQ806, operated with Airbus A330 aircraft, will depart Singapore Changi Airport at 19:10 and arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport the following day at 01:05.

The return flight, SQ807, will depart Beijing at 02:15 and arrive in Singapore at 08:55.

Executive Vice President Commercial, Mr Mak Swee Wah, said, ?We thank our customers for their continued support for our services on this popular route. This has encouraged us to add a fourth daily service to Beijing, providing travellers more options with flight timings to better suit their travel needs.?

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Changi Reports September 2011 Traffic

Singapore Changi Airport handled 3.82 million passenger movements in September 2011, an increase of 12.5% over the same month last year.

Aircraft movements grew in tandem, increasing 16.4% to 25,500 movements during the month.

For the first nine months of the year, Changi handled 34.2 million passenger movements, a year-on-year increase of 11.3%.

Traffic on low-cost carriers, accounting for a quarter of the total at Changi, increased 26%, while traffic on full-service carriers grew 7.1% during the same period.

Aircraft movements increased 13.8% during the nine months, with Changi Airport handling 221,900 flights.

Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia have been the major contributors to passenger traffic growth at Changi Airport year-to-date. However, the sustainability of this growth may be impacted by weaker travel demand to and from Europe and the United States as a result of increasing economic uncertainty in these regions.

Changi Airport handled 154,400 tonnes of cargo in September, an increase of 2.2% year-on-year. For the nine months, airfreight movements amounted to 1.38 million tonnes, representing a growth of 2.5% over the corresponding period last year.

As at 1 October 2011, Changi Airport is connected to some 210 cities in 60 countries and territories, and serves 100 airlines operating more than 5,900 weekly flights.

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Ascott Opens Third Citadines in Xi'an, China

Ascott has opened its third Citadines serviced residence in Xi?an, China.

The 138-unit Citadines Xingqing Palace Xi?an is a five-minute walk to the historic Xingqing Palace Park, a popular tourist attraction built on the ruins of the palace dating back to the Tang dynasty. The serviced residence is also close to many shopping and entertainment outlets such as the Lifeng International Shopping Square, Jiaoda Computer Mall and Hongye Cinema.

Each of the studios to two-bedroom apartments has a fully-equipped kitchen, an ensuite bathroom and separate work and sleeping areas.

The serviced residence offers 24-hour reception, 24-hour security, meeting rooms, WiFi zones and business support services

For recreation, guests can make use of the fully equipped gymnasium, sauna, steam room or yoga room.

Residents also have the flexibility to choose from services including grocery shopping, laundry, dry cleaning and meal delivery to customise their stay experience.

To celebrate the opening of Citadines Xingqing Palace Xi?an, Ascott is offering introductory rates which start from RMB 350 for a studio. The rates are valid until 31 December 2011. Terms and conditions apply.

Mr Lee Chee Koon, Ascott?s Managing Director for North Asia, said, ?Xi?an has immense potential for serviced residences. As a key economic hub in Central West China, foreign direct investments have been growing with many multinational companies such as IBM, Intel, Fujitsu and NEC setting up their national R&D centres in the city. Xi?an is also a famous tourist destination attracting millions of foreign and domestic travellers every year with its many historic sites. The opening of our third Citadines in Xi?an will enable us to cater to the strong demand for accommodation from business and leisure travellers. Moving forward, high growth cities such as Xi?an will remain an important market for Ascott as we seek to expand our China portfolio to 12,000 units by 2015.?

Ascott currently also operates Citadines Central Xi?an (162 units) and Citadines Gaoxin Xi?an (251 units) while Somerset Gaoxin Xi?an (233 units) is expected to open in 2013. All four properties are in prime locations in the Hi-Tech Development Zone or the business district of Xi?an and are close to many tourist spots.

In China, Ascott has about 7,000 apartment units in 38 properties across 16 cities.

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Banyan Tree Signs Kuala Lumpur Property

Lumayan Indah Sdn Bhd and Banyan Tree Holdings are to open an hotel-plus-residence property.

The Banyan Tree Signatures Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is scheduled to open before the end of 2016, and will be located in a prime area in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur.

Ho Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman, Banyan Tree Holdings, said, ?Residents, city dwellers and guests can look forward to taking respite from the fast pace of life with luxury spa treatments from the Banyan Tree Spa ? again a first in Malaysia. At Banyan Tree Signatures Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, both residents and guests will enjoy a holistic lifestyle that encompasses dining, shopping and relaxation delivered with the signature Banyan Tree service standards.?

The first Banyan Tree Signatures in Kuala Lumpur will be located in the vibrant shopping hub of Bukit Bintang, right in the heart of the city.

Standing 55 storeys tall, the freehold building will exceed 240 metres in height and will have the honour of being the tallest residential building in Kuala Lumpur.

The property will house the Banyan Tree Residences and Banyan Tree Signatures Hotel. It is complemented by a spa, heated pool, comprehensive amenities, as well as a rooftop gourmet restaurant and sky bar with sweeping panoramic views from the 55th floor.

Banyan Tree Residences come partially furnished with top end European imported kitchens, wardrobes, electrical appliances, sanitary ware and fittings. Exclusively for the residences, facilities include a 58m infinity pool, meeting rooms, gymnasium and dance studio, set amidst water features and green lawns.

Banyan Tree Signatures Hotel boasts a Couture Concierge service which includes limousine, yacht and private jet booking facilities. A private link bridge to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur also offers its residents a world class shopping experience and conveniences within walking reach.

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Oaks Shores in Queenstown Joins Anantara Vacation Club

Anantara Vacation Club, a shared ownership cocncept launched in 2010 by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, has added Oaks Shores in the southern hemisphere?s adventure capital of Queenstown, New Zealand to its portfolio.

Located on the crystal clear waters of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, Oaks Shores offers breathtaking water and mountain views and is the perfect base for creating the unique and memorable experiences that New Zealand is famous for.

Just a fifteen-minute drive from the airport and an easy leisurely walk from Queenstown?s city centre, Oaks Shores offers a wealth of facilities. These include direct lake access, a walking track, a landscaped courtyard with BBQ facilities, a fully-equipped gym and sauna, covered car parking, a restaurant and bar and complimentary internet and cable TV.

Accommodation now available to Anantara Club Points Owners at Oaks Shores comprises a selection of hotel suites for two guests, along with two and three-bedroom deluxe suites able to accommodate up to six and eight guests respectively.

Each suite offers a private balcony with memorable views, underfloor heating to ensure year-round comfort and LCD flat screen TV. The two and three-bedroom suites also come complete with a full kitchen and washer/dryer, gas fire and DVD player.

Queenstown is world famous as an adventure capital, with access to some of the most stunning and inspiring scenery you will find anywhere. Boasting a four season lake and prime alpine pursuits, Queenstown offers an outstanding year round destination for travellers who value the scenic great outdoors and an impressive diversity of water, air and land based activities that make no two days the same. Activities include everything from laid-back river cruising to high-intensity jetboating, hiking and biking, golfing and fishing, ballooning and helicopter flights, rafting and canyoning, plus the city is a world class wine destination, with over 75 wineries very easily accessible in the nearby Gibbston Valley.

Harold Derrah, CEO of Anantara Vacation Club, said, ?Following the continuing success and growth of Anantara Vacation Club, we are really excited to now be able to include the superb offering of Oaks Shores in Queenstown to our Club Points Owners. It is a quality product in a breathtaking location, expanding on the multiple vacation options already available for our Club Owners.?

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