Tune Hotels.com Opens At Bali’s Kuta Beach

Tune Hotels.com has opened its first hotel in Indonesia, marking the budget hotel operator’s expansion beyond Malaysia. The 139-room Tune Hotels.com Kuta, Bali is located off Jalan Pantai Kuta and is a 6-minute walk from the famous beach as well as the main shopping and dining areas.

 

Each of the 84 double and 55 single rooms offer guests a clean, comfortable bed, ensuite shower and a ceiling fan. Guests can also choose to add-on optional amenities such as air-conditioning, laudered towels, television and wireless internet access for a fee.

 

Despite being minimally-priced, the hotel also provides daily housekeeping, electronic keycard access and 24-hour security. Other hotel facilities include a transportation/tour desk and a convenience store selling food and beverages, newspapers and magazines, essentials and souvenirs.

 

Malaysia-based Tune Hotels.com currently operate 5 limited service hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. The group will add a second Indonesian property when the 170-room Tune Hotels.com Double Six Legian opens next month.

 

For more information, visit www.tunehotels.com.

Air Astana Begins Almaty – Kuala Lumpur, Tiger Airways Resumes Singapore – Hat Yai

Air travellers in Southeast Asia now have greater options when flying beyond and within the region. Kazakh national carrier Air Astana has commenced flights from Almaty to Kuala Lumpur, while low cost carrier Tiger Airways returns to the southern Thai city of Hat Yai.

 

Air Astana Links Malaysia With Kazakhstan

Travellers now have a direct link when flying between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty. Air Astana has launched a weekly, nonstop service using a 2-class Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 30 Business and 190 Economy Class seats.

 

The inaugural flight on 31 October 2009 was welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, YB Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat, and officials of Malaysia Airports. Onboard the flight was the Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Committee for Civil Aviation, Talgat Lastaev, accompanied by Ibrahim Canliel, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales at Air Astana and members of the media from Kazakhstan. 

 

Flight KC 935 departs Almaty International Airport every Saturday at 0055 hrs, arriving in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1055 hrs. The return flight, KC 936, takes off from Kuala Lumpur at 2335 hrs, landing back in Almaty at 0625 hrs the next morning.

 

Kuala Lumpur is Air Astana’s 7th international destination in Asia and the Middle East, joining Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Dubai, Seoul and Urumqi. From its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau, the airline flies to 44 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of Airbus A319, A320, Boeing B757, B767 and Fokker 50 aircraft.

 

For more information, visit www.airastana.com.

 

Tiger Airways Returns To Hat Yai

Singapore-based Tiger Airways has resumed flights to Hat Yai in southern Thailand. The low cost carrier will operate 3 flights a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 

Flight TR 132 departs Singapore at 1325 hrs, arriving in Hat Yai at 1350 hrs. The return flight, TR 133, takes off from Hat Yai International Airport at 1420 hrs, landing back in Changi International Airport at 1645 hrs. Tiger Airways will operate a 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft on the route.

 

The resumption of flights to Hat Yai increases the number of Thai destinations in Tiger Airways’ network to 4, including Bangkok (served triple daily), Phuket (served double daily) and Krabi (served 4 times weekly), which was also recently restarted in October 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.tigerairways.com.

AirAsia X Begins Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu Flights

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has launched flights between its Kuala Lumpur hub and the Chinese city of Chengdu. The inaugural flight, D7 2622, arrived in Chengdu International Airport at 1340 hrs with 378 passengers onboard the Airbus A330-300.

 

AirAsia X will fly the route 4 times weekly with different flight timings depending on the day of operation. Every Tuesday and Saturday, flight D7 2622 departs Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 0900 hrs, arriving in Chengdu at 1340 hrs. On Thursdays, flight D7 2626 will take off at 1800 hrs from Kuala Lumpur and arrive in Chengdu International Airport at 2240 hrs, while flight D7 2624 departs Malaysia at 1330 hrs every Sunday to arrive in the capital city of Sichuan province at 1810 hrs.

 

On the return leg, flight D7 2623 departs Chengdu at 1455 hrs, landing back in Malaysia at 1935 hrs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  The Thursday evening service, D7 2627, will take off from Chengdu International Airport at 2355 hrs, arriving back in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 0435 hrs the next morning. Every Sunday, flight D7 2625 will depart at 1925 hrs to land back in Kuala Lumpur at 0005 hrs the next day.

 

Chengdu is the 3rd destination in China for AirAsia X, after Hangzhou and Tianjin. The airline is promoting the city as a gateway to China’s western regions such as UNESCO World Heritage Site Jiuzhaigou and Tibet. AirAsia X’s short-haul affiliate, AirAsia, also connects Kuala Lumpur with Guilin, Haikou and Shenzhen.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.

Garuda Indonesia To Reopen Jakarta – Amsterdam Service

Following a 5-year absence, Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is to return to Europe with the reopening of its flagship Jakarta-Amsterdam route, operated via Dubai, from June 2010. Amsterdam is the first of several European services planned by Garuda Indonesia, which was recently permitted to operate in the European Union following improvements to its safety standards.

 

Flight GA 088 departs Jakarta at 2100 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0209 hrs the next morning before departing again at 0315 hrs for a 0800 hrs arrival into Amsterdam. The return service, GA 089, takes off from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 1000 hrs, landing in Dubai at 1830 hrs and departing for Jakarta at 1945 hrs, where it lands at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 0710 hrs the next morning.

 

Garuda Indonesia will operate a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with the airline’s latest cabin products. Passengers will enjoy 36 full-flat beds in Executive Class, while the Economy Class seats feature a 32-inch seat pitch and 6 inches of recline. Individual touch-screen monitors deliver audio-video on-demand entertainment in both classes.

 

The airline joins several airlines already established on the route, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Garuda Indonesia currently flies to 17 international destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Osaka, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

 

For more information, visit www.garuda-indonesia.com.

Refurbished Mandarin Oriental Jakarta Opens

Following a comprehensive 20-month renovation, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has reopened the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gala event attended by the Indonesian capital’s society elite. Located at Jalan M. H. Thamrin, the hotel is easily accessible to Soekarno-Hatta Interantional Airport and the business district.

 

The 272 rooms and suites have been outfitted in a classic, contemporary design by renowned interior design firm Lim, Teo & Wilkes, blending Indonesian culture with the group’s oriental heritage and modern amenities. Each room is furnished with luxury bedding, a large marble bathroom with mood lighting, separate rain shower and bathtub, in-room entertainment system with 42-inch LCD television, CD/DVD player and surround-sound stereo, iPod connectivity and multi-function data port, high-speed internet access, workdesk with telephone, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. 56 spacious Mandarin rooms measuring 64 square meters in size feature a living area that can be separated from the bedroom by sliding doors, while the luxurious Oriental and Mandarin Suites also offer guests complimentary use of the Executive Club Lounge facilities and the group’s renowned personalised service.

 

The hotel’s 4 new restaurants serve a range of international cuisine, including authentic Gallic fare at Lyon, the French fine dining restaurant. Each dish is carefully prepared according to traditional techniques with fresh seasonal ingredients, accompanied by the vintage selection from the wine cellar. Specialising in Cantonese and Szechuan cuisines, guests dine on authentic dishes, premium dim sum and a wide selection of Chinese teas amidst the ornate decor at Xin Hwa. For casual dining, Cinnamon showcases classic dishes from across Asia prepared at live cooking stations, while the signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop returns to offer guests freshly made pastries, cakes, chocolates and savouries, paired with afternoon tea in a casual and comfortable setting. Located on the 5th floor next to the swimming pool, guests will find exotic cocktails, smoothies, fresh juices and beverages at Azure, before partying the night away to the beats of the DJs at MO Bar.

 

Business travellers at the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta have a fully-equipped business center at their disposal, with a comprehensive range of secretarial, translation and interpretation services. The hotel also offers 9 flexible function rooms, including a Grand Ballroom which seats up to 350 guests for a dinner banquet. Following a day of meetings, guests can relax in the freeform swimming pool, or enjoy a workout at the state-of-the-art fitness center. The hotel can also book a round of golf for guests at one of the numerous courses in Jakarta.

 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group currently operates hotels and resorts around the world in the Americas, Asia and Europe, including Bangkok, Geneva, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Manila, New York, Prague, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington DC. The group’s portfolio is slated to further expand with new developments announced in Barcelona, Beijing, Chicago, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech, Moscow and Paris.

 

For more information, visit www.mandarinoriental.com.

New Southeast Asian Route Updates From KLM, Silkair

Beginning in December 2009, KLM and Silkair will add new flights to Bali and Penang respectively. The new services mark KLM’s return to the Indonesian resort island, while Silkair takes over the morning flight from sister carrier Singapore Airlines.

 

3 Times Weekly Amsterdam-Singapore-Bali Flights From KLM

Following a 12-year absence, KLM resumes services to Bali in Indonesia from 6 December 2009. KLM will operate a 2-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with 35 seats in World Business Class and 390 seats in Economy Class on the route.

 

Flight KL 835 departs from Amsterdam at 2100 hrs on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Singapore at 1620 hrs the next day before taking off at 1730 hrs for a 2010 hrs landing at Ngurah Rai International Airport. The return flight, KL 836, departs Bali at 2130 hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, landing in Changi International Airport at 0005 hrs the next morning before continuing back to Amsterdam at 0120 hrs where it arrives at 0800 hrs.

 

The tropical destination is popular amongst Dutch and European holidaymakers. With the new flights, KLM will operate 10 flights each week between the Netherlands and Indonesia, where it also flies to the capital Jakarta via Kuala Lumpur.

 

For more information, visit www.klm.com.

 

Silkair To Fly Triple-Daily On Singapore-Penang Route

Singapore-based regional carrier Silkair will increase flights on the Singapore-Penang route from 1 December 2009 when it takes over the daily morning service from affiliate Singapore Airlines. Rich in culture, history and heritage, Penang is one of Malaysia’s top tourist destinations with its charming colonial buildings and famous food such as the Penang laksa and char kway teow.

 

Flight MI 352 will depart Changi International Airport Terminal 2 at 0850 hrs, arriving in Penang International Airport at 0930 hrs. The aircraft returns as flight MI 351 at 1025 hrs, landing back in Singapore at 1150 hrs.

 

Passengers who have made bookings to travel between Singapore and Penang on Singapore Airlines will be re-accomodated on Silkair flights. The airline, which began flying the route in June this year, currently operates an afternoon and evening flight using a 2-class Airbus A320. Silkair also flies to Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Langkawi in Malaysia.

 

For more information, visit www.silkair.com.

AirAsia X To Commence Abu Dhabi Flights In November 2009

Malaysia’s AirAsia X has announced it will begin flights from its Kuala Lumpur base to Abu Dhabi from 23 November 2009, marking its entry to the Middle East. The airline will fly the route 5 times a week and has indicated an intention to establish a hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport to support its international expansion.

 

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, flight D7 2402 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 2200 hrs and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 0130 hrs the next morning. The return flight, D7 2403, takes off from Abu Dhabi International Airport at 0255 hrs, landing back in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1355 hrs in the afternoon. All flights will be operated with AirAsia X’s Airbus A340-300 aircraft configured with 30 XL Class premium seats and 256 Economy Class seats.

 

The capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi offers travellers excellent connectivity to other destinations within the Middle East, as well as cities in Africa, Europe and Central Asia. AirAsia X joins UAE national carrier Etihad Airways on the route and the flights are expected to boost traffic between both cities, as well as regional destinations in Asia served by the airline and its short-haul associate AirAsia.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.

Frequency Increases From AirAsia X, Tiger Airways

Asian low cost carriers AirAsia X and Tiger Airways have announced flight frequency increases on the Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne and Singapore-Bangalore routes respectively. Responding to growing demand on the routes, AirAsia X will fly between the Malaysian capital and Melbourne 11 times a week from 1 December 2009, while Tiger Airways will operate 5 times weekly services between Singapore and Bangalore from late October 2009.

 

AirAsia X To Add 4 Weekly Flights To Melbourne

Malaysia’s AirAsia X, the long-haul affiliate of low cost carrier AirAsia, will increase the number of flights it flies every week between its Kuala Lumpur hub and the Australian city of Melbourne. The airline will add an additional 4 weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Flight D7 2722 will become a daily service, with an additional departure on Sundays from Kuala Lumpur at 1320 hrs, arriving in Melbourne at 0010 hrs the next day. The red-eye flight D7 2724 will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in addition to the existing Sunday service, taking off from Kuala Lumpur at 2140 hrs and landing in Melbourne at 0830 hrs the next morning.

 

On the return leg, flight D7 2723 becomes a daily service departing Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport at 0125 hrs, arriving back in Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal at 0635 hrs in the morning. Flight D7 2725, the daytime service, will now operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, taking off from Melbourne at 1005 hrs and landing in Kuala Lumpur at 1515 hrs.

 

The new schedule will take effect from 1 December 2009 and will be operated with AirAsia X’s Airbus A330-300 jets.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.

 

Tiger Airways To Introduce Saturday Service On Singapore – Bangalore Route

Beginning 25 October 2009, Singapore-based Tiger Airways will add an additional Saturday service to the Indian city of Bangalore. The frequency increase marks a 25% rise in the airline’s capacity on the route, which it has flown since June 2008. 

 

Flight TR 652 departs Singapore at 2115 hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving in Bangalore at 2300 hrs. The return flight, TR 653, takes off at 2350 hrs and lands back in Singapore at 0630 hrs the next day.

 

With the new flight, Tiger Airways’ travellers can now travel between both cities 5 times a week. All flights will be operated by Tiger Airways’ Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 180 seats.

 

For more information, visit www.tigerairways.com.

South African Developments For UAE Carriers

The major carriers of the UAE, Etihad Airways and Emirates, have announced developments for their operations in South Africa. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad will be launching daily flights to Cape Town in September 2009, while Dubai’s Emirates has opened its latest international lounge in Johannesburg.

 

Etihad Airways To Fly Abu Dhabi – Johannesburg – Cape Town

From 30 September 2009, Etihad Airways will commence daily flights to Cape Town, its second South African destination. The service will operate via Etihad’s existing Abu Dhabi-Johannesburg route with an Airbus A330-200.

 

Flight EY 602 will depart Abu Dhabi at 2220 hrs, arriving in Johannesburg at 0455 hrs the next morning, before continuing to Cape Town at 0625 hrs for a 0825 hrs arrival. The return flight, EY 601, departs Cape Town at 1050 hrs, arriving in Johannesburg at 1250 hrs and taking off again at 1355 hrs back to Abu Dhabi, where it lands at 0010 hrs the next morning.

 

Etihad began flying to Johannesburg in December 2005 and the service has proven popular with travellers. The new flights to Cape Town will offer further travel choices to and from South Africa in time for the 2010 World Cup tournament.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com.

 

Africa Gets Its First Emirates Lounge

Emirates has opened its first airport lounge in Africa. The new facility at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport is the Dubai-based airline’s fourth new lounge to be opened this year, following similar facilities in Dusseldorf, Mumbai and Beijing.

 

The lounge features furnishings and services catering to passengers’ leisure and business requirements. As with other Emirates Lounges around the world, there are plush couches and comfortable seating areas, designer showers, full bar service and a selection of hot and cold food available. The fully-equipped business center with individual workstations and complimentary wireless high speed internet access allow business travellers to keep up to date with work before their flight.

 

Emirates is one of a few international airlines to invest in its own lounge facilities outside of its base at Dubai International Airport, with 23 lounges across its global network. Emirates Lounges are located in Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London (Gatwick and Heathrow), Melbourne, Mumbai, Munich, New York (JFK), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Perth, Singapore, Sydney and Zurich.

 

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

AirAsia Bucks Trend With New Routes, Frequency Increases

Amidst the route cuts and capacity reductions adopted by many of the world’s airlines, Malaysia’s AirAsia has bucked the trend by inaugurating new routes and increasing frequency to existing points in its network. The low cost carrier has launched Denpasar-Perth flights and will expand its Kuala Lumpur-Taipei flights to daily services.

 

AirAsia Indonesia Starts Denpasar – Perth

AirAsia Indonesia commenced flights to Perth from Bali last friday, 17 July 2009, with a daily Airbus A320 service. Reflecting the strong demand for low cost services on the route, the inaugural flights enjoyed 100% loads.

 

Flight QZ 8620 departs Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport at 0030 hrs, arriving in Perth at 0410 hrs. The return flight, QZ 8621, takes off at 0450 hrs and lands in Denpasar at 0830 hrs.

 

From 19 August 2009, AirAsia Indonesia will add a second daily flight on the route. Flight QZ 8626 departs Denpasar at 1230 hrs and arrives in Perth at 1620 hrs, before returning as flight QZ 8627 at 1710 hrs for a 2050 hrs arrival back in Bali.

 

Perth is the first Australian destination to be serviced by AirAsia Indonesia and its fourth international route operated from Bali (after Denpasar-Kuala Lumpur, Denpasar-Bangkok and Denpasar-Singapore). The city receives 21 weekly flights of the AirAsia Group, including a daily Kuala Lumpur-Perth nonstop flight operated by the group’s long haul affiliate, AirAsia X.

 

AirAsia X To Fly Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Daily From 19 October 2009

Launched in April 2009, AirAsia X’s 5 times weekly Kuala Lumpur-Taipei route will be increased to daily service from 19 October 2009 in response to increased demand.

 

The outbound flight D7 2672 will now depart Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal at 1000 hrs (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) and 1800 hrs (Saturdays), arriving in Taipei at 1440 hrs and 2240 hrs respectively. On the return leg, flight D7 2673 takes off from Taipei at 1555 hrs (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) and 2355 hrs (Saturdays), landing in Kuala Lumpur at 2035 hrs and 0435 hrs on Sunday mornings.

 

The additional flights will be operated by the airline’s 2-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft configured with 383 seats, including 28 XL Class premium seats with a 60-inch seat pitch.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.