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KLM Charity Tulip Sale
16 May, 2012
The 14th KLM Charity Tulip Sale held at Sungei Wang Plaza brought smiles to many mothers in Malaysia, and to the happy students of the Special Children Society of Ampang (SCSOA). The charity sale saw members of the public standing in queue bright and early, at the mall’s concourse area to ensure that they would have the best pick from the big bunch of colourful, fresh tulips.
Proceeds from the sale will go to the Special Children of Ampang (SCSOA), an establishment that meets the educational and social needs of special children.
“Fourteen years on and going strong, the KLM Annual Charity Tulip Sale is a success thanks to generous support from the public and our event partners alike. Their generosity has helped thousands in need over the years and we look forward to doing many, many more,” said Ms. Estee Ng, Air France-KLM’s Country Manager for Malaysia..
Cabin Baggage Allowance on MAS
16 May, 2012
According to a report in the Malaysian Insider, Malaysia Airlines has streamlined its baggage allowance rules for all domestic and international flights.Guests travelling in Economy Class will now be allowed one piece of cabin baggage with a maximum weight of 7kg each. Guests in First and Business Class have an allowance of two pieces of cabin baggage with maximum weight of 7kg each. Each cabin bag must not exceed 56cm in height, 36cm in length and 23cm in width. Guests are also allowed to carry on-board a notebook/laptop, briefcase or a binoculars bag, and a small handbag and a walking stick. Travelling with infants below 24 months old will allow guests to carry one bag containing baby food and diapers weighing 5kg, a carry cot and a fully collapsible baby stroller. For more information on the guidelines, please visit www.malaysiaairlines.com.
KLM Wins Award for 100% Departure Flying On-Track Out of Birmingham Airport
16 May, 2012
Oman Air has been awarded ‘Best Business Class Airline, Middle East’ in the prestigious Business Destinations Travel Awards 2012. The Business Destinations Travel Awards are voted for by readers of Business Destinations magazine, which is published in the UK every other month. The award follows the introduction over the last two years of a brand new fleet of Airbus A330s to the airline’s long haul routes, the launch from March 2011 of Embraer 175s on short haul routes, the pioneering of onboard mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity and the unveiling of superb new business class and first class lounges at Muscat International Airport. A state-of-the-art new Business Class lounge was also opened in Bangkok..
KLM Wins Award for 100% Departure Flying On-Track Out of Birmingham Airport
11 May, 2012
At the end of last month, KLM received an award at Birmingham airport for Best Track-Keeping Performance during the 2011 Operations Pathfinder Awards. The prize was awarded to KLM because its B737, F70 and E190 pilots adhered strictly to the prescribed departure routes out of Birmingham last year. This contributed towards minimising noise impact for the surrounding residents.
According to Estee Ng, Malaysia Country Manager for Air France KLM, KLM offers very convenient direct flights for passengers travelling to all its UK destinations via its user friendly Schiphol Airport Amsterdam hub. She adds that KLM has daily flights from KLIA to Jakarta, and to Amsterdam which is the airline’s gateway to all of Europe, Africa, USA, Canada and South America. For enquiries and ticket reservations, log on to www.klm.com.my.
First MAS A380 Moves to Flight Line in Preparation for Delivery
11 May, 2012
The first A380 for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has returned to Toulouse following completion of interior furnishing and cabin system tests. The aircraft is now stationed at the Airbus flight line for final system checks prior to the start of the customer acceptance process and delivery at the end of the month. The national airline of Malaysia will become the eighth operator of the A380 and will commence commercial service between Kuala Lumpur and London effective 1 July this year. Altogether, the carrier has ordered six A380s and has specified a premium three-class layout for the aircraft, seating a total of 494 passengers. The MAS A380 fleet will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.
Oman Air Backs Oman Wild Art Competition and Exhibition
11 May, 2012
Held between 5th and 10th May and launched at the Cultural Club in Qurum, Muscat, Oman Wild Art is a juried exhibition, organized in association with the Omani Society for Fine Arts, which will provide the opportunity for the Sultanate’s painters of natural history subjects to display their work and have it assessed by internationally-recognised judges.
Winning artists will then have their work exhibited throughout July at the Nature in Art Museum in Gloucester, England. Oman Air’s support for the initiative takes the form of sponsorship and continues the airline’s strategy of promoting Omani creativity and supporting local artists to achieve their full potential.
“Our involvement has two goals: building on our commitment to Omani talent, and strengthening links between the Sultanate and one of the key destinations within Oman Air’s growing network: the United Kingdom. I look forward to viewing what promises to be a superb exhibition at the Cultural Club in Qurum,” said Wayne Pearce, Oman Air’s CEO.
Emirates to Sponsor Arsenal’s Summer Tour of Asia and Africa
9 May, 2012
Emirates have announced that it will connect Arsenal fans in Asia and Africa with their heroes after it was announced that the carrier will be the Presenting Sponsor of the club’s summer tour. The Arsenal 2012 Tour, Presented by Emirates, will provide an opportunity for many of the club’s huge following of international supporters to see the likes of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott in action for the first time.
“Emirates and Arsenal started their journey together back in 2004 and our aim has always been to bring Arsenal closer to its millions of loyal fans across the six continents that we fly to. With this in mind, we are delighted to announce that Emirates will be the Presenting Sponsor of the Arsenal 2012 Tour" said Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications.
MAS and ANA Ends Partnership
9 May, 2012
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) recently announced that it will end its partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA) on 31st May, 2012.
Both MAS and ANA will no longer code share on select routes. This also means that members of the two frequent flyer programmes; Enrich and ANA Mileage Club, will not be able to earn miles and redeem award tickets. Travellers will still be able to claim missing miles until 27th November 2012. Award tickets will still be valid for one year after date of issuance. The last date for travellers to book their award tickets with ANA is by the 31st of May, 2012.
For more information, visit www.malaysiaairlines.com
Etihad Wins!
7 May, 2012
Etihad has scooped up a number of awards at the recent Freddie Awards. This new award - on top of all their previous wins - cements the airline as the best airline in the Middle East. Out of the seven categories, Etihad Guest brought home three top wins and four runners up, thus, making it the most applauded frequent flyer programme of the year. The Freddie Awards are the most prestigious member-generated awards amongst travel loyalty programmes and a symbol of excellence that can only be obtained by exceeding the expectations of frequent travellers.
Jet Airways Wins at the Prestigious Freddie Awards 2012
3 May, 2012
Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege programme – India’s largest frequent flyer programme, has swept the annual Freddie Awards 2012, held in New York, by bagging a prestigious treble. In doing so, JetPrivilege won in three categories; Program of the Year, Best Promotion for Earning – The JetPrivilege – Trip Advisor Promotion and Best Customer Service in the Middle East/Oceania/Asia region. The airline had previously been honoured at the Freddie Awards for five consecutive years.
Firefly Opens up Kota Bharu - Johor Bahru Connections
27 April, 2012
Firefly is made history by being the first airline to provide direct air linkages connecting the south and the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Passengers who boarded flight FY2231 at 8.30am on 26 April, from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Kota Bahru were given a warm welcome reception upon
their arrival at Senai International Airport at 10.10am, on the same day.
On-board this flight was representatives from Malaysia Airports Holdings, the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia, two members from the Kelantan
Executive Council and the local media from Kelantan.
Firefly’s CEO, Ignatius M.C. Ong, said in a statement: “Our direct, thrice weekly services with a travel time of approximately 1 hour 40 minutes
provides tremendous convenience to travellers. We are providing an alternative to existing public land transportation servicing this route
such as coach and rail services.
To further promote this route and others on Firefly’s network, the airline is currently running an online promotion for bookings made up to
6 May 2012 for travel from 7 May to 30 June 2012.
For more information, log on to http://www.fireflyz.com.my/
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly Winners at Putra Brand Awards 2012
25 April, 2012
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly were big winners at the Putra Brand Awards 2012 held on April 24. Malaysia Airlines clinched Gold for the
Transportation, Travel & Tourism category whilst Firefly, the wholly-owned Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiary was the recipient of The Most
Promising Brand Award.
Malaysia Airlines’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, and Firefly’s CEO, Ignatius Ong Ming Choy, received the recognitions at
the award presentation gala dinner which was graced by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The annual Putra Brand Awards, organized by The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As), is a brand valuation recognition
measured by consumer preference. It serves as a yardstick for acknowledging top-tier Malaysian brands across multiple categories.
Uzbekistan Offers Three Flights a Week to Tashkent
20 April, 2012
Uzbekistan Airways has decided to increase its number of flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tashkent, from three times a week to five times a week.
The additional two flight frequency was introduced for the convenience of travellers. The enforcement of the new flights will be effective
from April 21, 2012.
Uzbekistan Airways, the flag carrier of Uzbekistan and the leading carrier in the Central Asian Region, was founded on January 28, 1992, and
is based in Tashkent. The airline operates scheduled flights to more than forty cities in the world including America, Europe, Middle East,
Southeast, Central Asia and the Commonwealth Independent States.
For more information on the airline, please visit
www.uzairways.com.
Firefly Opens Scheduled Charter Link to Nanning
20 April, 2012
Firefly’s maiden flight to Nanning in Southern China commenced on April 19, 2012. The twice weekly charter services will comprise of
direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Nanning every Sunday and flights from Kuala Lumpur to Nanning via Penang every Thursday. These services
are a collaboration between Firefly and Guangxi China International Travel Service. Currently, Firefly is the only airline providing a
direct link between Malaysia and Nanning. The new direct connection will now help travellers who previously had to travel six hours to
get to Nanning via Guangzhou or Hong Kong.
For more information on Firefly’s flight and services, please visit
www.fireflyz.com.my.
Passengers on Board Aeroflot to Enjoy New Seats
20 April, 2012
Passengers in Aeroflot’s Business – President Class, will now be able to enjoy a more comfortable flight. All of Aeroflot’s Boeings 767 and
Airbuses 330 are equipped with new comfortable "Cocoon" sleeper seats. The newly developed President Class will allow passengers to relax,
sleep or work, and simply feel right at home.
Aeroflot Russian Airlines, founded I 1923, is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, serving flights to 95 cities
in 48 countries including 27 destinations within Russia, 42 in Europe, 4 in America, 2 in Africa, 5 in the Middle East, 9 in Asia and 6 in
the Commonwealth of Independent States countries, mainly from its hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport.
For more information, please
visit www.aeroflot.ru.
AirAsia Big Partners KL Sogo
13 April, 2012
The country’s largest single department store SOGO Kuala Lumpur (KL SOGO) recently announced its partnership with AirAsia BIG, the global
loyalty programme of the world’s best low cost airline AirAsia.
To kick off the partnership, the shopping centre launched a new campaign, “BIG Gets 5x BIGGER at KL SOGO” where AirAsia BIG card
members (BIG Shots) are entitled to earn 5X BIG Points for every RM2 spent at KL SOGO, making it the only merchant partner to offer
this privilege.
AirAsia BIG is an innovative global loyalty programme that allows card holders to earn BIG Points when travelling and shopping,
and redeem the accumulated points for exciting rewards including flight seats on AirAsia and AirAsia X. AirAsia BIG loyalty
membership is open to anyone aged 2 years and above anywhere in the world.
Click here for more information www.tune2big.com
Firefly Increases Frequencies between Subang - Langkawi to Meet School Holiday Demand
10 April, 2012
Firefly will add four weekly flights on its Subang – Langkawi route to meet school holiday demand.
The additional frequencies, from May 25 to June 10 will be on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
With these additional flights, the total number of weekly flights between Subang and Langkawi will increase from 10 to 14 and
result in an increase of weekly seats on this route from 1,440 to 2,016.
To book your tickets, visit http://www.fireflyz.com.my/
Malaysia Airlines to Accommodate Air Asia X Passengers
5 April, 2012
Passengers affected by the cancellation of AirAsia X’s flights to London, Paris, Mumbai and New Delhi can rest assured, because Malaysian Airlines has agreed to accommodate them. The flights were cancelled as part of a cost-saving initiative. Passengers with confirmed AirAsia X tickets issued before January 13 2012 for any of the four routes will be transferred onto Malaysia Airlines operated flights. For more information, visit www.malaysiaairlines.com
Malaysia Airlines to Introduce No-Child Zone
5 April, 2012
The upper-deck economy cabin of Malaysian Airlines, Airbus A380s, will be off limits to children under 12. This is to ensure that passengers, especially business travellers will have a more relaxing and enjoyable trip. The decision was made following a series of complaints from first-class passengers about children crying and disturbing the peace of other passengers. The Airbus A380 is set to make its debut on July 1 on the Kuala Lumpur route.
Firefly Defers Commencement of Subang – Hat Yai Service
2 April, 2012
Firefly has deferred the commencement of its newest route between Subang and Hat Yai, following a series of bomb attacks in Yala and Hat Yai district in Songkhla, Thailand, on Saturday. The flight was originally scheduled to commence on May 2. Passengers who have purchased tickets to Hat Yai on Firefly or travel packages to Hat Yai from Firefly Holiday should contact Firefly’s call centre at +603 78454543 or email customer_care@fireflyz.com.my for an option of a credit account facility or a full refund.
Firefly Adds Hat Yai, Kelantan-Johor Connections
30 March, 2012
Two new routes by Firefly – three times a week – between Kota Bharu and Johor Bahru will commence on April 26. With this new route, Firefly will be the first airline to offer a direct connection between the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Johor. Additionally, four-weekly Subang-Hat Yai flights will also begin on May 2.
AirAsia Starts Additional Daily Flights to Vientiane
30 March, 2012
According to a news report on Bernama, beginning May 27, AirAsia will introduce additional daily flights, from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane, to boost connectivity to Laos. With these additional flights, the frequency is now up to seven flights a week.
Melaka Air to Begin Flights to Penang
29 March, 2012
From April 6, travellers will be able to fly twice-weekly from Malacca to Penang, via Melaka Air. This information was released in a statement by Syed Mahaza Syed Dakien, Chairman of Melaka Holiday Sdn Bhd. The flights will take place every Mondays and Fridays, and the planes can seat a capacity of 72 passengers. The hour-long flight will make it convenient for locals and tourist, allowing them to enjoy the unique tourist attractions in both states.
Concern over Drop in Tourist Arrivals
29 March, 2012
A recent article in the Star (Malaysia), reported that a recent cancelation of flights by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia for both domestic and international destinations has resulted in a drop in tourist arrivals in Kuala Lumpur. This statement was made by Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit, Deputy Tourism Minister. Last year, an estimate of RM698.8mil in domestic tourist revenue was lost after 1,820 flights to Sabah and Sarawak were cancelled.
Tie-Up Between MAS-Air Asia can Reduce Operational Cost for Both Airlines
28 March, 2012
Bernama recently reported that both Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia can help reduce their cost in terms of training and catering, with a tie-up. According to Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein, Deputy Finance Minister, MAS has given the ministry its assurance that the airline will work hard to improve its revenues.
Firefly Encouraging Women Pilots
22 March, 2012
In conjunction with International Women’s Day which took place last month, local airline Firefly organised a special interactive session with female undergraduates to encourage more of them to join the aviation industry. The students were from The Business School of Aviation Management College and International Education College of Universiti Teknologi MARA, and they got to spend time with a number of females working with the airline including Sofia Sani, Malaysia’s first female pilot qualified to commercially operate the ATR 72-500 turboprop and the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Ignatius Ong, the COO of Short Haul Operations Malaysia Airlines/Firefly spoke at the event and commended the women’s success in what is often seen as a male-dominated industry. “I am personally very honoured to have an incredible team of dedicated women in the company,” he said. For more information on the airline, visit www.fireflyz.com.my.
Malaysia Airlines Boosts Entertainment Options
22 March, 2012
Passengers taking their seats on Malaysia Airlines during 2012 will be impressed to find an increase in entertainment options available onboard. The Hollywood movie selection has been doubled, as has the CD selection, while the choice of movies on international release has increased from 24 to 36. Malaysia Airlines’ Head of Customer Experience, Dato’ Mohd Salleh Ahmad Tabrani said, “We are always looking for ways to enhance the inflight experience of our customers and offer them more choices. They can now choose up to 60 Hollywood films; double the number offered when the IFE was first installed. Included in this are new film titles like Happy Feet Two and The Adventures of TinTin, plus the top ten highest grossing movies of all time.” To book flights visit www.malaysiaairlines.com.
Air China Boast Exclusive Routes to Numerous Chinese Cities
22 March, 2012
The corporate logo of Air China is made up of an artistic phoenix pattern, the Chinese name of the airline written in calligraphy by former national leader Deng Xiaoping, and “Air China” in English. The Phoenix logo is also the artistic transfiguration of VIP. Air China is China’s national flag carrier for civil aviation and a member of Star Alliance – the world's largest airline alliance - and was the official airline partner of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. As of December 31, 2010, Air China (including holding companies) owns 393 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with scheduled flights covering 29 countries and regions worldwide. These include 47 international cities, 91 domestic cities and three regions. Through cooperation with Star Alliance member airlines, its service network will be further extended to 1,160 destinations in 181 countries. Air China also takes exclusive routes to Xinjiang, Tibet and Inner Mongolia. These routes include Kashi, Hetian, Dunhuang, Ali, Linzhi, Manzhouli, Hailaer and Jiamus. Find more information and to book flights visit www.airchina.com.my.
Oman Air Awarded Again
22 March, 2012
Oman Air scooped two key awards at the TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards 2011, which were held recently in London. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman won both the Best First Class Female Amenity Bag and the Best Business Class Unisex Amenity Bag categories, and was also Highly Commended in the Best First Class Male Amenity Bag category. This latest success follows a time in which Oman Air has won a number of awards in recognition of its many recent changes, the unveiling of spacious and luxurious aircraft interiors, and the launch of state-of-the-art complete connectivity and in-flight entertainment systems. Mr. Wayne Pearce, Chief Executive Officer for Oman Air, said, “We are proud to offer all our customers the very best in choice and this award further enhances Oman Air’s reputation as a leading airline.”For more information about the airline or to book tickets, visit www.omanair.com.
Save Money at the Airport with The Expat Card
22 March, 2012
For expats travelling around the country and beyond, it is worth knowing that if you flash your Expat Card at many airport outlets you can get 15% off your purchases. Outlets such as Secret Recipe, The Coffee Bean and DeliFrance are participating in this deal, and the savings can be made at KLIA, the LCCT as well as in Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Miri airports. This is a great bonus for those with Expat Cards are prices are notoriously higher at airports than in the malls on products such as food and beverages. This discount allows travellers to treat themselves to a coffee or some food if flights are delayed without worrying about having to pay more.
Visit www.expatcard.com for more details on the Expat Card and for the full list of participating outlets.
Etihad Airways Increases Baggage Allowances
22 March, 2012
Shopaholics will be delighted to learn they can pack even more holiday purchases in their bags when they fly with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. The airline has announced an increase of 10 kg in the baggage allowance for its Diamond First Class and Pearl Business Class passengers, which brings the allowances to 50 kg and 40 kg, respectively. Moreover, all members of the Etihad GUEST loyalty programme will receive an increased allowance ranging from 5 to 20 kg, depending on membership level.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit www.etihadairways.com.
Firefly Celebrates its Latest Milestone with Children in Kota Baharu
20 March, 2012
In conjunction with the announcement of their new route from Kota Baharu to Johor Baharu, Firefly held a special luncheon for 50 children from Yayasan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Kelantan (YAATIM) and PEKA YATIM – two non-profit organisations. The luncheon, held at Syam Bungaraya Restaurant in Kota Baharu, was filled with activities and appearances by renowned local singers, radio personalities and actors. Firefly’s newest service between Kota Baharu and Johor Bahru will commence on April 26, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Korean Air the Official Sponsor of 2014 Incheon Asian Games
18 March, 2012
The 17th Asian Games to be held in Incheon, September 2014, may seem like a long time more. But a MOU has already been signed to say that Korean Air will be the official sponsor. The MOU was signed at the Olympic Council of Asia advisory board meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Present at the signing were Yang Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO of the Hanjin Group; Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, President of OCA; and Yong-soo Kim, President of the organising committee of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
In conjunction with the Games, Korean Air will underwrite air tickets; luggage and most areas related to air transport as well as participate in the construction of Wang San Marina, which will be used during the games. The Hanjin group will also construct a brand new hotel to accommodate participating squads to show its support.
$950,000 Spent Promoting Air Asia X
15 March, 2012
A lump sum of $950,000 was spent to promote the nose-dived Air Asia X service between Christchurch and Kuala Lumpur by Tourism New Zealand. The service is said to stop at the end of May this year, instead of carrying on their two year agreement with Christchurch International Airport. In its place, the airline will now focus on profiting further from their Asian network and Australia.
Firefly Launches Two New Routes
15 March, 2012
Two new routes; Kota Baharu to Johor Baharu from 26 April and Subang to Hat Yai from 2 May, has been introduced by Malaysia’s favourite community airline, Firefly. Flights from Kota Baharu to Johor Baharu will occur every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, while flights from Subang to Hat Yai will ensue every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The new flight routes were introduced to satisfy the needs of the airlines business and leisure customers who travel regularly from Kota Baharu to Johor Baharu, while the Subang to Hat Yai flight routes were introduced because Hat Yai provides access to two popular island destinations; Satun and Trang provinces. Ticket sales to these new destinations commenced on 16 March and can be purchased from www.fireflyz.com.my, Firefly’s airport and city ticketing offices and through travel agents.
Air Asia X Increases Flights to Perth and Taipei
14 March, 2012
An increasing demand for travel to Perth and Taipei has led to Air Asia X increasing their flight schedule. Daily flights to Taipei are up to 11 a week starting from June 22 and nine a week to Perth from June 24. Air Asia X is also offering promotional fares from as low as MYR299 one way (all-in) from Kuala Lumpur to the two destinations. This special promotion is to celebrate the increased frequencies.
Malaysia Airways boosts Entertainment Options
23 February, 2012
Passengers taking their seats on Malaysia Airways during 2012 will be impressed to find the increase in entertainment options available onboard. The Hollywood movie selection has been doubled, as has the CD selections while the variety of International releases has increased from 24 to 36. Malaysia Airlines’ Head of Customer Experience, Dato’ Mohd Salleh Ahmad Tabrani said, "We are always looking for ways to enhance the inflight experience of our customers and offer them more choices. They can now choose up to 60 Hollywood films, double the number offered when the IFE was first installed. Included in this are new film titles like Happy Feet Two and The Adventures of TinTin, plus the top 10 highest grossing movies of all times.” To book flights visit www.malaysiaairlines.com
Air Asia X offers Empty Seat Option
23 February, 2012
No longer do you need to worry about a stranger sitting next to you dribbling on you on the flight, as Air Asia X launches a new option whereby passengers can ensure the seat beside them on their long-haul flight is empty. This ‘Empty Seat Option’ is only available for online bookings and after paying a small signing up fee, passengers are then charged between RM60 and RM150, depending on the flight destination and time of travel, for ensuring that the seat beside them is kept empty. This is not guaranteed until closer to departure, and if the seat is not available then money will be refunded automatically. For online bookings, visit www.airasia.com
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