OrientalCompass Blog

Hong Kong Express kicked off its Bangkok services

too — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:39:20 +0000

Hong Kong Express has recently kicked off its Bangkok service, the 2nd Thai destination after Checking with 4 weekly flights, and the service will be bumped up to daily in November. By the end of 2007, the airline is also plannning to serve Phuket.

On the Bangkok route, a promotional roundtrip fare is available for THB 3,900.00 in ecnomy class. The fare excludes taxes and surcharges, which amounts to THB 2,200.00. The deal is valid for 7 days with the outbound journey commencing by October 27 2007.

Hong Kong Express (UO) uses a Boeing 737-800, configuraed with 2 classes - 8 seats in business and 156 in economy. Initially, the airline operates 4 flights a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Bangkok at 1035 and returning from Hong Kong at 0815. From October 27 2007, the service will be daily.

Source: TTR Weekly

Tags: Hong Kong Express, Flights Hong Kong Bangkok, Cheap flights from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Low costs air from Hong Kong to Bangkok

New Regulations for visitors to Angkor Wat

too — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:25:06 +0000

Effective as of September 10 2007, visitors to Angkor Wat will have to follow the designated sightseeing route through the temple. It is no longer possible to enter the temple compound from different points nor to follow the different sequences of the temple visit.

However, this new regulations only applies to Angkor Wat and not for other temples in Angkor.

Tags: Angkor Wat, Angkor Wat Tour, Siem Reap, Siem Reap hotels, Angkor Wat hotels

Airlines in Myanmar increase surcharges

too — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:09:09 +0000

Following Myanmar’s fuel price crisis, 3 of the country’s carriers have announced changes in their fuel surcharges. They increased surcharges from the previous US$ 3.00 to US$ 5.00, per sector, to US$ 10.00 to US$ 15.00, per sector.

Effective October 01 2007 - Yangon Airways and Air Bagan implemented new surcharges. Air Bagan’s domestic surcharges increased from US$ 3.00 to US$ 10.00, per sector from Yangon to Mandalay, Bagan and Heho.

The surcharge on Yangon Airways’s Mandalay-Yangon sector increase from US$ 3.00 to US$ 10.00.

On September 15 2007, Air Mandalay introduced its first surcharge jump on Mandalay-Chiang Mai se ctor from US$ 11.00 to US$ 13.00

Despite protest last week that disrupt traffic in Yangon, airlines reported advance bookings were positive for the country. Myanmar’s main tourist season will kick in this November raising concern that the recent protests could impact on travel bookings further down-track. So far both airlines and travel agents are reporting no change in booking trends.

Source: TTR Weekly

Tags: Myanmar airlines, Air Bagan, Yangon Airways, Air Mandalay, Domestic airlines in Myanmar, Domestic airlines in Burma, Yangon, Yangon hotels

First low-cost airlines going into Laos as of November 06 2007

too — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:07:51 +0000

Air Asia plans to launch the first low-cost airline services to Laos as of November 06 2007 linking the two capitals, Kuala Lumpur and Vientiane with 3 weekly flights. The flight will take 2 hours and 30 minutes. Services are scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, according to information supplied by Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s e-timetable. Currently, Laos is the only ASEAN country that has yet to open its doors to a low-cost airline.

Source: TTR Weekly

Tags: low cost airline to Laos, flights to Laos, Air Asia to Laos, Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang hotels, Vientiane hotels, hotels in Vientiane,

Samui Airport opens new terminals

too — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:55:54 +0000

Last month, the new terminals of Samui Airport commenced service for all international flights, following the earlier phase on May 27th when domestic flights were all shifted to the new facility. The completion of all terminals makes the airport’s passengers area now four times bigger than the old terminals. The airport is now able to accommodate up to 16,000 passengers a day.

The official opening of the new-look airport will be in January next year.

The new 500-million-Baht Samui Airport’s terminal comprises four new domestic terminals and two international terminals with a total passenger area of 73,000 square meters. The Check-in area for all domestic and international flights is now at the main single check-in area, whereas the “meeting point” is designated for all arriving passengers as a common pick-up venue.

The development also includes a walking street, just adjacent to the passengers’ terminal, with boutique-style shops lining abreast. Further to this development plan, a construction of a 60-room boutique hotel is scheduled for early next year.

Inaugurated in 1989, Samui Airport went public last year after 17 years of a private ownership by Bangkok Airways. The property worth of over ten billion Baht, is now the island’s only gateway by air, serving direct flights from Bangkok, Phuket, U-Tapao, Chiang Mai, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Next year, the airport will see more arrivals from expanding regional connections by Bangkok Airways.

Source: etravelblackboard

Tags: Samui, Samui thailand, Koh Samui, Koh Samui Thailand, Hotels in Samui, Samui hotels, Thailand hotels

Hong Kong Airlines launches weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City

too — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:47:49 +0000

Hong Kong Airlines has recently launched the new route Hong Kong-Ho Chi Minh City-Hong Kong with three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The two-and-a-half hour flights will depart Hong Kong at 9.30 a.m. and arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport at 10:30 a.m. while the return flight leaves Ho Chi Minh City at 11:15 a.m. arriving at Hong Kong at 2.45 p.m. using a 165-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the route.

A representative of the carrier said one more weekly flight on Sundays would be added to the three weekly flights beginning on Sunday.

For further information, please check out its website on:

http://www.hkairlines.com

Source: VietnamNet

Tags: flights to Ho Chi Minh City, flights to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City hotels, hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Light & Sound Extravaganza at Angkor Wat!

too — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:53:05 +0000

A new attraction will be added to Cambodia’s famous World Heritage site Angkor Wat: a light & Sound extravaganza.

The grand show, dubbed “The Legend of Angkor Wat: When History Comes to Life“, will feature over 150 stage performers, a 12×30-metre waterscreen and a variety of special effects. Designed to give audience a more vivid picture of the past glory of the ancient Khmer Kingdom as well as the beliefs and lifestyles of its people, the show will take place daily from November 24 to January 20, 2008, on the lawns behind Angkor Wat (its east side).According to Bayon CM Organizer, a Cambodian-Thai joint venture that runs the show, there will be no use of explosives for special effects as that can harm the World Heritage site. The performance, both its content and operation, has reportedly been approved by Apsara Authority, the agency that oversees the protection and management of Angkor and other historical sites in Siem Reap. Tickets for the one-hour show are priced at US$ 60.00 and US$ 80.00 - the latter, if it’s not for the front-row seats, will include an international buffet dinner at 7pm, an hour before the show starts. Fo

r further details, visit this web site: http://www.angkorwatshow.com

Tags: angkor wat, angkor wat hotels, hotels in angkor wat, siem reap hotels, angkor,

Air Bagan is launching the new international flight to Singapore and Siem Reap

too — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:50:35 +0000

As of September 07 2007, Air Bagan is launching its first international flight to Singapore. The schedules are as follows:

Routing              : From Yangon to Singpore      From Singapore to Yangon
Days of operation: Daily                                        Daily
Flight number      : W9# 777                                 W9# 778
Aircraft               : A-310                                      A-310
Timings               : 1100-1500 hrs. (local time)      1610-1720 hrs. (local time)

The airline is also introducing its first international flight to and from Siem Reap, Cambodia as of October -1 2007.

Routing              : From Yangon to Siem Reap    From Siem Reap to Yangon
Days of operation: Sun/Tue/Fri                              Sun/Tue/Fri
Flight number      : W9# 717                                 W9# 718
Aircraft               : F-100                                      F-100
Timings               : 1015-1235 hrs. (local time)      1325-1445 hrs. (local time)

For more information on the updated flight schedules and airfares, please visit the airline’s website on:

http://www.airbagan.com

Tags: air bagan, flights to myanmar, flights myanmar thailand, flights myanmar singapore, flights myanmar siem reap

One-Two-Go resumes Suvarnabhumi Flights as of September 15 2007

too — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:16:41 +0000

As of September 15 2007, One-Two-Go will resume operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport to serve Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai as there is significant demand for passengers connecting to international flights. The carrier plans about 10 flights a day.

“We want to facilitate passengers, who continue their trip on onward flights to other countries. Also, non-connecting passengers can choose either of the Bangkok airorts for their convenience.”, said Mr. Udom Tantiprasongchai, the airline’s CEO.

The airline will also up its frequency on several routes operating out of Don Muang Airport. Flights to Phuket will be increased from 5 to 6 and from 2 to 3 for Chiang Rai.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Udom Tantiprasongchai, One-Two-Go should be able to launch its first international services by November 2007. Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Phnom Penh are in thei initial line up with its sister carrier, Orient Thai, expanding the network to Chengdu, Guangzhou and Kathmandu this September. All destinations will be served with daily flights, except Nepal, which will have 3 weekly flights.

Domestic plans include new operations to Trang and Pitsanuloke, which are waiting for the Department of Civil Aviation approval.

For more information, please check on its website:

http://www.fly12go.com

Source: TTR Weekly

Tags: One two go, flights in thailand, orient air, flights to phuket, flights to chiang mai, phuket hotels, chiang mai hotels, thailand hotels

New International Terminal at Tan Son Nhat Airport

too — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 08:07:59 +0000

Tan Son Nhat Airport will soon officially open a new terminal to serve international airlines operating into and out of Ho Chi Minh City. Airport authorities began a one-week test in the new terminal on August 14 for check-in formalities by Mandarin Airlines, Tiger Airways, Shenzen Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines and Uni Air. If the test run goes smoothly, all 35 international airlines flying into and out of the airport will use the new facility after September 02 2007. The older terminal will serve only domestic flights.

With the additional terminal, the time required to check-in will be comparable to other international airports in Southeast Asia. The new terminal equipment meets international standards and includes 10 luggage conveyor belts, 8 sky bridges, 20 escalators, 18 elevators, 8 moving walkways, 10 sets of automatic doors, 43 X-ray machines, flight information boards and security equipment.

The four-storey terminal also has specialized retail areas, and will offer services such as the Internet, online ticket sales, entertainment areas, and health and beauty care. The new terminal, which covers 100,000 square meters, will accommodate 8 to 10 million international passengers per annum. The second phase of the new terminal, to be completed by 2010, will increase capacity to 15 million passengers a year.

Construction on the terminal began August 2004. The Japan Airport Consulting Company holds the design and construction contracts, which it sub-contracted out to a consortium of four Japanese companies: KTOM - Kajima Corporation, Taisei Corporation, Obayashi Corporation and Maeda Corporation - who constructed the terminal and installed the equipment. Tan Son Nhat Airport now accounts for nearly two-thirds of the international flight arrivals and departures in the country.

Controlled by SAA, Tan Son Nhat Airport has undergone various expansion projects to keep up with demand. In 2002 the Civil Aviation Administration of Viet Nam put forward a construction plan for a new international terminal. The project was to be financed by a special Japan Government Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 3.4 trillion VND (260 million USD). SAA said by 2015 a new international airport, which will be built in Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province, some 40 kms. from downtown of Ho Chi Minh City, will supersede Tan Son Nhat, which would then only handle domestic flights.

Source: VNA

Tags: tan son nhat airport, ho chi minh city airport, ho chi minh city hotels, vietnam hotels, hotels in vietnam