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Afganistan:
terrorism You should not travel at all to the countries colour coded red.
A low-cost carrier, also known as “No Frills” (No-frills or discount carrier) is an airline that offers low fares but eliminates most traditional passenger services. Typical low-cost carrier business model practices include: • A single passenger class • A single type of airplane, commonly the Boeing 737 (reducing training and servicing costs) • A simple fare scheme (typically fares increase as the plane fills up, which rewards early reservations, known as (“yield management") • Unreserved seating (encouraging passengers to board early and quickly) • Flying to cheaper, less congested secondary airports (avoiding air traffic delays and taking advantage of lower landing fees) • Short flights and fast turnaround times (allowing maximum utilization of planes) • Simplified routes, emphasizing point-to-point transit instead of transfers at hubs (again enhancing aircraft utilization) • Emphasis on direct sales of tickets, especially over the Internet (avoiding fees and commissions paid to travel agents and corporate booking systems). However, restriction varies from regular commercial airlines as such they do not support flight changes and cancellation refunds. • Employees working in multiple roles, for instance flight attendants also cleaning the aircraft or working as gate agents (limiting personnel costs) •
"Free" in-flight catering and other "complimentary"
services are eliminated, and replaced by optional paid-for in-flight
food and drink. |
South East Asia’s leading few low-cost carriers are: Valuair Ltd is a privately-owned Singapore-based budget airline, launched on 5 May 2004. It operates scheduled services around Asia. The fleet comprises of 2 new A320 Airbus aircraft at present. Valuair currently offers flights between Singapore to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Perth. www.valuair.com.sg Incorporated in 2003, Tiger Airways is Singapore’s first true low-cost carrier. Based at Singapore Changi Airport, it launched sales on August 31, 2004 and caters to cost-conscious travelers. The fleet comprises of few Airbus A320 and more to come in year 2006. Destination encompass airports within a four hour flying radius of Singapore. This includes Bangkok, Hat Yai and Phuket. Website: www.tigerairways.com
Due to its belated entry into the market, the airline intends to differentiate itself from its competitors by flying further - anywhere within a 5-hour radius from Singapore. The airline has seven routes from Singapore to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Pattaya, Jakarta, Surabaya and Manila, and is the most ambitious startup compared to any of its Asian rivals, giving Jetstar Asia the widest international coverage. Website: www.jetstarasia.com
This article was contributed by Alan Mak of BTI Singapore. |
Asia’s first home-grown travel distribution and technology conference – Wired 2005: Asia Travel Matrix – was launched recently with a three-year marketing commitment from the Singapore Tourism Board. Wired 2005 will bring together all major Asian industry players in travel’s most dynamic sector, reflecting the increasing maturity of the regional travel technology and distribution market. Based on three basic pillars - Bold Thinking, Fresh Ideas, New Technology – Wired 2005, which will be held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore on October 20-21, has already won strong industry support. Partners include Akamai, Yahoo! South-east Asia, Pegasus, HEDNA (Hotel Electronic Data Network Association). Wired 2005: Asia Travel Matrix has been founded by two of the region’s travel communication specialists - Yeoh Siew Hoon and Martin Kelly. “We saw a niche for a travel distribution event that truly understands the Asian marketplace and its incredible diversity,” said Siew Hoon. Kelly added that the pair had a long-term strategy to build the event into the regional market leader. “We want Wired 2005 to foster bold thinking, fresh ideas and new technologies,” he said. “Our sessions will be designed to facilitate thought-provoking debate and stimulating discussions and we want it to become the launching pad for new technologies with travel applications.” The STB’s Acting Asst Chief Executive Business Travel & MICE, Aloysius Arlando, said he believed the event has great potential. “We want to see Wired grow to become a signature event for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in Asia,” Mr Arlando said. He said this was in line with STB’s goals of developing strategic clusters of events to support Singapore’s meetings and conferences sector. “We hope in time that, under the Asia Travel Matrix banner, Wired will become one of a few key events under this cluster.”
The Associtation of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)'s 2005 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference will address the issues that affect travel management from a global and regional perspective; providing answers on matters that influence procurement, distribution, safety & security and many more. It will deliver valuable take-away content, authoritative speakers, excellent networking activities and enlightening interaction. The Conference keynote speakers include Erna Witoelar, United Nations Special Ambassador MDG, for Asia and the Pacific and : Dr. Roger Farrow, Senior Deputy Group Medical Director, International SOS. To learn more about the programme, click here. |
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Travel Warnings have been issued
for non-essential travel for the following countries:
