Airline News and Hotel Updates

Friday 28 October 2011

Cathay Pacific Reports Traffic Figures for September 2011

Cathay Pacific?s and Dragonair?s combined traffic figures for September 2011 show a year-on-year increase in passenger numbers that was below the increase in capacity. Cargo and mail tonnage showed a decline for the sixth consecutive month.

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair carried a total of 2,255,605 passengers last month ? up 3.5% on the same month last year ? while the passenger load factor fell by 2.1 percentage points to 79.7%. Capacity for the month, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), was up by 9.8%. For the year to date, the number of passengers carried increased by 2.1% while capacity was up by 9.1%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Revenue Management James Tong said, ?In September we saw a falloff in demand in the back end, as expected after the summer peak. The Japan route continued to see a recovery, though China was down compared to last year due to the Shanghai Expo effect in 2010. Premium business held up well in September in terms of volume and yield, with currency movements working in our favour, but the outlook is getting more uncertain as companies begin to review their travel policies in light of the economic situation.?

The two airlines carried 131,443 tonnes of cargo and mail in September, a 10.1% decrease compared to the same month last year, while the cargo and mail load factor was down 5 percentage points to 64.8%. Capacity, measured in available cargo/mail tonne kilometres, was down by 0.8%, while cargo and mail tonne kilometres flown were down by 7.9%. For the year to date, tonnage has dropped by 6.4% compared to a capacity increase of 9.8%.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing James Woodrow said, ?On the cargo side there was no significant change from the situation in August, with the key Hong Kong and China markets both remaining soft and demand to long-haul destinations, particularly Europe, below expectations. There is no sign yet of the traditional year-end peak beginning. On the positive side, intra-Asia traffic is holding up well and flights from most destinations into Hong Kong have been relatively full. We have recently launched freighter services to Chongqing and Chengdu to boost our presence in the growing Western China market.?

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Singapore Airlines Cargo to Add Frankfurt to Network

Singapore Airlines Cargo is to launch twice-weekly Boeing 747-400 freighter services to Frankfurt in Germany from 2 November 2011.

The freighter services will complement the cargo capacity available on Singapore Airlines? twice-daily passenger flights between Singapore and Frankfurt.

Frankfurt is a major manufacturing and air transportation hub. Its major exports include machinery and automobile parts.

Mr Tan Tiow Kor, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, said, ?These services are in line with our policy of matching capacity with demand. The freighter services to Frankfurt will give our customers more choice of flights to choose from and will play an important role in expanding two-way trade links with key markets in Asia and Europe.?

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Boeing Delivers No. 300 of its Best-Selling 777

Boeing's best-selling 777, the 777-300ER (extended range), has surpassed 300 deliveries with a delivery late last week to first-time customer Biman Bangladesh.

As of 30 September 2011, the 777-300ER has 543 orders. The 777 program (all models) has received a total of 1,288 orders and the program has a backlog of 325 orders.

"Introduced into service in 2005, the 777-300ER is the best seller for a reason," said Larry Loftis, 777 vice president and general manager. "It is distinguished by its fuel efficiency, award-winning cabin interior, range ? it can fly point to point bypassing crowded hub airports ? and its commonality with the Boeing 767 and 787."

The 777-300ER has been ordered by 37 customers around the globe. Twenty-seven customers now operate the 777-300ER; 10 additional customers will take delivery of their first 777-300ERs through 2014.

Approximately 35% of the 777-300ER was changed from earlier 777 models. Each wing was extended by 6.5 feet (1.98 m) by adding raked wingtips, which reduce takeoff field length, increase climb performance and reduce fuel burn.

The body, wing, empennage and nose gear of the airplanes were strengthened and new main landing gear, wheels, tires and brakes were installed. New semi-levered landing gear permits takeoffs on shorter runways.

The struts and nacelles were modified to accommodate the significantly higher-thrust engines. The airplanes are powered exclusively by the General Electric GE90-115BL engine producing 115,300 pounds (512 kn) of thrust.

Boeing's updated Current Market Outlook forecasts the twin-aisle market a the fastest-growing segment of the market over the next 20 years with a demand for 7,000 new airplanes in the 777 and 787 size range.

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Pegasus Solutions Acquires Open Hospitality

Pegasus Solutions has acquired Open Hospitality in a move that positions Pegasus as one of the top online hotel marketers in the hospitality industry.

With the internet marketing company operating as a division, Pegasus will now offer its own website design, online marketing and booking solutions, search engine optimization (SEO), mobile website development and social media services.

?Pegasus is committed to being the most trusted and valued partner in the travel industry,? said Mike Kistner, chief executive officer of Pegasus Solutions. ?By acquiring an online marketing company known for increasing web traffic volume, improving booking conversion rates and reducing marketing operating costs, we reaffirm that commitment. We can now offer hotel customers our own award-winning web marketing solutions to raise online visibility and increase reservations.?

Open Hospitality delivers a full array of online marketing solutions and accommodation booking options that help independent, group and chain hotels raise visibility and increase reservations online. The company?s expertise will enable Pegasus to design websites optimized for major search engines and create high-impact email marketing campaigns.

Pegasus? Open Hospitality division will be led by David Millili, CEO of Open Hospitality.

Pegasus? New York-based Open Hospitality Division will provide website and mobile site development, internet marketing, search engine marketing, and social media services, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Together with Pegasus? acclaimed reservations and booking solutions, the blended offering will position hotels to market and sell their most profitable room inventories on the internet.

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Christoph Szymanski Appointed Manager of Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Christoph Szymanski has been appointed Manager of the Mandarin Orchard Singapore.

Christoph joins Meritus from his previous capacity as General Manager for Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay where his leadership successfully steered profitability and brand presence for the then newly opened hotel, garnering 3 hospitality awards within just over a year of its 2010 opening.

Before taking the helm at Crowne Plaza, Christophe was Resident Manager at The Holiday Inn Golden Mile, Hong Kong, one of InterContinental Hotels Group?s most profitable hotels in Greater China. In this capacity, he oversaw an extensive renovation of the hotel and repositioned the Food and Beverage department through viable revenue strategies and action plans.

Christoph holds a strong food and beverage background, having gained valuable experience in Michelin-rated restaurants and proving his food and wine knowledge through his successful participation in several European trade competitions.

He had been based in Hong Kong since 1992, working with some of Hong Kong?s most prestigious hotels including The Peninsula Group?s Kowloon Hotel, The Langham Hong Kong, and The Regent, Hong Kong (now the InterContinental Hong Kong). He was also previously with The Harbour Plaza Hotels and Resorts as Group Food and Beverage Director.

A German national, Christoph holds a Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management, majoring in Tax and Finance, from Heidelberg Management School in Germany.

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Latest HD Videos

The HD videos ASIA Travel Tips.com features includes interviews with leading personalities within the travel industry, press conferences, events, travel trade show coverage, traveller's insights into destinations, visual guides to run along with reviews and other articles, stock footage, and of course, a few just for the sheer fun of it.

Most of the videos are serious, others less so, but we hope that the majority will be of use and/or interest to at least a few people.

All the videos are shot using High Definition (HD) 1920 x 1080 (or greater) video recorders and many of the HD videos are also contained within articles featured here on ASIA Travel Tips.com

Tips on how best to watch the videos are at the bottom of the page. There are many more videos on Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13 and the LATEST ARCHIVE: Page 14. We also have HD Videos from the ATF 2010, HD Videos from the ATF 2011, HD Videos from the Singapore Airshow 2010, HD Videos from Asian Aerospace 2011, HD Videos from the Hua Hin Kiteboarding World Cup 2010, HD Videos from Hua Hin in August 2010, HD Videos from Rest Detail Hotel in Hua Hin, HD Videos from the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2010, HD Videos from the 2010 Bintan Triathlon and HD Videos from the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, with much more on the way.

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Interview with Mr Carlos Guzman, Under Secretary of Tourism Promotion of Ecuador, at ITB Asia 2011.

HD video interview with Elsia Grandcourt, Deputy CEO Seychelles Tourism Board, at ITB Asia 2011.

Classic Room at Conrad Centennial Hotel in Singapore.

Interview with Senior Vice President Park Hotel Group - Mr. Mohd K. Rafin.

Deluxe King Room at the Grand Park City Hall Hotel in Singapore. Great location just opposite Funan Computer Centre and within very easy walking distance of City Hall MTR, Raffles Place as well as Clarke/Boat Quay. The Grand Park City Hall Hotel is a member of the Park Hotel Group.

Plus! There are many more videos on Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13 and the LATEST ARCHIVE: Page 14. We also have HD Videos from the ATF 2010, HD Videos from the ATF 2011, HD Videos from the Singapore Airshow 2010, HD Videos from Asian Aerospace 2011, HD Videos from the Hua Hin Kiteboarding World Cup 2010, HD Videos from Hua Hin in August 2010, HD Videos from Rest Detail Hotel in Hua Hin, HD Videos from the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2010, HD Videos from the 2010 Bintan Triathlon and HD Videos from the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, with much more on the way.

To watch the video, simply click play. If you are not on a fast connection, we suggest you click play, then pause immediately after, so that the video can be downloading as you do other things. Then, once complete (the red bar is all the way across), simply return to this page (without closing the browser window) and watch the video smoothly. If you prefer to watch the video in HD just click the HD button.

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Qatar Airways to Launch Flights to Benghazi

Qatar Airways is launching four-times-a-week non-stop scheduled flights to Libya?s second largest city of Benghazi on 1 November 2011.

Benghazi, Libya?s north eastern Mediterranean port city and major economic centre, is a key destination for trade and exports. Many industries including oil refining, food processing, cement production and tuna fishing, reside in the surrounding region of Cyrenaica, of which Benghazi is the capital.

Qatar Airways has a well established presence in Libya, having initially operated services to the capital Tripoli eight years ago. Flights to Tripoli are currently suspended due to the political situation, but are expected to resume soon.

?Qatar Airways continues to strive to provide a network to cater for all travel segments, conveniently connecting through our Doha hub. Almost a year ago in Nice, I spoke about the possibility of expanding our Libyan operations, and I am delighted that we are now, within this short of a period, set to start flights to Benghazi, another key city in the country, said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker. ?We identified Benghazi as an underserved, primarily business destination, and now have the opportunity to bring this city into our fold.?

Qatar Airways will operate the route with an Airbus A320 dual configuration aircraft, offering 12 seats in First Class and 132 in Economy.

Benghazi will be the airline?s 13th route of the year, and precedes two other new route launches ? Entebbe and Chongqing ? starting on 2 November and 28 November respectively.

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