In
Airline
News this month, the only airline to announce cabin
modifications this month is Air Canada who
have adopted the fully lie-flat beds from Condor on its long
haul international flights.
Airlines
adopting new flight paths include Jetstar Asia
who have launched flights between Singapore and Bangalore and
KLM who will launch scheduled flights between
Amsterdam and Chengdu with partner, China Southern Airlines;
and Tiger Airways gets the nod for flights
to China.
In
news about low cost carriers, Alitalia look
set to enter low-cost airline market; a new Airline, Macau
Asia Express is born in Macau; Ryanair
are taking low-cost travel a step further; Valuair
has launched flights between Singapore and Bali from SG$88.
In other news, Cathay Pacific is named Air
Transport World's 2006 Airline of the Year; Ozjet
has scored 100% for on-time flights in its first month; Qantas
may Dump Australian Airlines and Airbus is to show off their
A380 in Singapore Airlines colours at Asian
Aerospace in Singapore in February.
***Of
special mention, for Singapore outbound travellers, Northwest
Airlines has launched a promotion “Fly World
Business Class and receive a new Apple iPod Video 30G”.***
In
Airport
News, it seems like luggage mishandling problems
are irking Pacific airports as we answer why your baggage is
on another flight from Sdyney International Airport
and address why there are baggage handling glitches at Auckland
International Airport.
We
also report on why there is terminal frustration with the new
Adelaide Domestic Airport in Australia. And
the very positive news from Asia is that Hong Kong International
Airport will undergo a HKD4.5Bn Enhancement.
In
Hotel
News this month, the Shangri-La
Group have bought an historic Paris mansion,
with plans to convert it into a hotel. There are two new hotels
in Frankfurt, Germany to choose from, by the
Radisson and British luxury group Rocco Forte Hotels. The
Intercontinental Hong Kong has added a 7,000-square-foot
suite, believed to be the largest penthouse suite in Hong Kong.
Hotel
promotions this month include a Suite deal at The Excelsior
Hong Kong, and celebrating 130 years in existence,
The Oriental, Bangkok has launched a romantic
“130 Reasons” Anniversary Package. The
Peninsula Hong Kong has announced the ultimate
culinary experience, cooking classes at their hotel.
And
we ask Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed? Is it
time you bought an ultra violet light to see if your bed sheets
have been changed or not?
In
this month's Holiday
Offers we feature Sabah as a destination. If you
feel its high time that you got back in touch with nature, take
a two hour flight and make it happen. Our BTI agents are eager
to get you there.
In
Travel
News, it’s a blow, but U.S. Airlines are
to curb free drinks on international flights… all the
more reason to fly Asian airlines! As airline reward schemes
become cash cows, airlines are eyeing off a spinoff of such
programmes.
It
seems that Asian airlines might be in for a rough patch and
this month we inform you why. We also bring to you the very
cool news that a message in a bottle arrived in Australia all
the way from a 4 year old in Britain!
Of
course, keeping true to our true blue Singaporean shopping fetish,
we also bring you the Best Travel Gadgets for 2006 and describe
how shoppers can get lost amid luxury brands in Hong Kong.
Our
Travel
Services section this month includes tips if travelling
to an area with bird flu and we inform you about codesharing:
why if you book a flight with one airline, do you occasionally
fly with another?
We
do welcome your feedback. Please email me greg.james@bti.com.sg
with any comments you have that relate to BTI Singapore and
Communiqué.
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