Thursday, April 25 2024 | ASIA TODAY INTERNATIONAL - Reporting the Business that Matters in Asia
SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines has increased its frequency into Melbourne to four daily, with services into Adelaide lifted from 10 to 12 weekly. SIA now offers a total of 121flights weekly into Australia – to Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney – and remains Australia’s largest foreign carrier. Since linking with Virgin Australia in June 2011, SIA has increased its capacity into Australia by 20 per cent.
MELBOURNE - Melbourne airport handled 37,000 international passengers from China for the month of May, up 17.0% (5,000 passengers)from May 2012, continuing a trend that has seen the China-Melbourne market grow by more than 10% for the year ending March 2013, to reach 685,000 passengers. Over three years the Melbourne-China market has grown 66%. For the year ending March 2013, China was Melbourne's largest long-haul international market for the third consecutive year, ahead of the traditional US and UK markets, and other Asian growth markets.
SYDNEY – The International Air Transport AssocIation (IATA) has called on the Australian Government to reconsider the economic damage being done by the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC), which is currently AUD55 per passenger. Tont Yler, Director-General and CEO of IATA, told an Aviation Press Club luncheon in Sydney that the PMC was originally designed to fund Australia’s border agencies, including customs and border protection, quarantine and immigration, but at $55 per passenger it exceeds the cost of funding these agencies. It is estimated that about AUD800 million will be collected in the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
SYDNEY – To mark the introduction of A380 services between Guangzhou and Sydney from October 28, China Southern Airlines is offering return economy fares between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth and Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing fromAUD720 (AUD380 plus taxes). Business Class fares start from AUD2,380 and First Class from AUD3,800. There are minor variations in the fares because of varying taxes applying in different cities. Business and First Class fares are available until June 1 for travel from October 28 to January 31, 2014.
SYDNEY - Australia’s cruise industry growth continues to lead the world, with passenger numbers surgeing 11% last year to a record high of 694,062. For a second consecutive year, growth in the Australian cruise passenger market surpassed other major cruise markets, with 11% in 2012 equalled only by Germany. North American passenger numbers grew just 2% in 2012, and the UK remained steady.
HONG KONG – The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has opened its second city hotel in China, Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, and is offering guests two packages, both priced from CN 3,600 (plus 15% service charge), until September 30.