Qantas increases fares before Christmas

QANTAS will increase international airfares by up 5 per cent this week, offering further evidence that the recent run of exceptionally cheap air fares is ending.

In its first international fare increase since June last year, Qantas will raise first-class and business-class fares by 3 per cent on Friday. The increases will affect popular routes such as Britain, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong but not the hotly contested routes to the US, reports The Australian.

Premium economy and economy tickets will rise by 5 per cent, reflecting the relative strength of the leisure markets as travellers responded to the cheaper airfares and a high Australian dollar. These increases apply to wider range of destinations that include North America.

“Qantas reviews pricing continuously on all routes, taking into account demand and capacity, competitor actions and business performance,” a Qantas spokeswoman said.

Qantas has already been successful in raising domestic airfares by 5-10 per cent and desperately needs to get international fares up to improve yields, which in October were 24 per cent down on the previous year.

Qantas will test the water to see whether the increases affect passenger loads and whether competitors match them.

But even if the new fares stick, increased competition and continuing market softness is unlikely to see ticket prices return to previous high levels any time soon.

Read the full report in The Australian.

Source  :  www.news.com.au

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

AirAsia biggest promotion free airfares up for grabs

Free Seats are back! AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline is today giving away 1 million free seats*, to over 70 hot destinations including China, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and many more across our extensive network of over 130 routes; stretching across 20 countries.

The free seats promotion kicks off from 11 – 15 November 2009 (booking period) for the travel period from 1 May – 30 October 2010. Guests may log on to http://www.airasia.com or mobile.airasia.com to find out more about these exciting great deals.

AirAsia’s Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan said, “To usher 2010, this is the biggest and most exciting promotion of the year. With no fuel surcharge, and no administration fee, it’s a real deal, offering fantastic value to our guests. When the economy is tough, people seek cheaper traveling options which offer them better value for money and there is no better option than flying with AirAsia for Free! This is also our gesture of saying a big thank you to our guests and the public who supported and contributed to AirAsia’s success. Without them, we would not have been conferred the recent “Airline of the Year 2009” award from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), flying over 80 million guests to date.”

“AirAsia always observe the importance of low fares to ensure everyone can fly; and bringing back our highly popular free seats promotion will give our guests the greatest value ever. What’s more? To compliment the free flights, GoHoliday, AirAsia’s one stop travel portal is also offering sizzling deals and fantastic packages, including “Free Rooms” for over 180 Asia Pacific hotels online at http://goholiday.airasia.com. With this incredible offer, guests can plan their holidays ahead to enjoy great bargains, take this opportunity to be creative and map their holiday routing via AirAsia’s ten hubs (Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Phuket, Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali, Penang and Johor) across our network at ultra low fares. For instance, guests from Australia, Europe or the Middle East may explore exotic ASEAN and beyond to some of the world’s most popular island resorts such as Bali, Phuket, Langkawi, and vice versa. With these great deals, AirAsia’s guests with huge appetite for travel will be spoilt for choice as we not only cater to the leisure market but also the adventure seekers, diving enthusiasts, historical and heritage explorers, shopaholics, and keen golfers all within our vast route network.” concluded Kathleen.

Guests can fly from Kuala Lumpur to domestic destinations such as Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and many more from as low as RM6 (All In Fare)*. Popular international destinations such as Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta, Bangkok, Phuket and even Tianjin are offered from as low as RM25 (All In Fare)*.
The best part is that, AirAsia’s long haul affiliate, AirAsia X recently launched routes such as Abu Dhabi, and Chengdu are also offered within the same period with special fares from as low as RM 99.00* (All In Fare)* only. AirAsia X highly in demand “Kangaroo Routes” to Australia such as Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth are offered from as low as RM149.00 (All In Fare)* and the popular London route is also on offer from as low as RM499 (All In Fare)*.

Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively online via http://www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com.

Stay tuned! Follow AirAsia on Twitter, Facebook, and AirAsia’s Blog where we will provide real time updates on our latest promotion.

Source  :  www.tourismtravel.com

 

Read Full Post »

AirAsia welcomes 2010 with a Big Regional Sale!

Skytrax World’s Best Low Cost airline, AirAsia welcomes 2010 with a BIG Regional Sale! The leading airline makes flying more affordable by offering airfares from as low as *RM19 for its domestic and international routes (excluding Thailand domestic routes and London).

The sale will run from 19 – 25 October 2009 for the travel period from 11 January 2010 – 30 April 2010. The incredible low fares offered by AirAsia are available to all of its Asia destinations including the Middle East departing from its hub from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali including Penang and Johor.

To make the deal sweeter, Go Holiday, AirAsia’s own online travel portal is also offering attractive holiday packages in conjunction with the 2010 Sale Campaign. Guests can book their packages via http://goholiday.airasia.com, from as low as RM112 per person for domestic packages (with flight, 3 days 2 nights hotel stay inclusive of breakfast) and from as low as RM199 per person for international packages (with flight, 3 days 2 nights hotel stay).

Exciting holiday packages on offer under the heritage sights include destinations to Seam Reap, Hanoi, Guilin, Yogyakarta, and Hangzhou. Those opting for a domestic vacation may book holiday packages to Langkawi, Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Johor Bahru. For our shopaholic enthusiast, guests may opt for a shopping spree holiday package deals in Bandung, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei and those who are all for city sights, Dhaka, Tianjin, Perth, Melbourne and Abu Dhabi package deals are on offer.

For the Sun-Sand-Sea lovers, dream no more as holiday packages to Bali, Phuket, Krabi and Colombo are also available. Check out our online travel portal as there are more exciting holiday packages to many exciting destinations available.

Promotional seats are limited and available on first-come, first-served basis and made exclusively available online via www.airasia.com and mobile.airasia.com.

Source  :  www.etravelblackboardasia.com

Read Full Post »

BA teams up with Australian radio stars

British Airways has teamed up with Australian radio station Nova 969 to launch a special promotion.

The airline announced that it would be carrying the popular radio presenting trio Merrick & Rosso & Kate Richie to the UK for a week in September.

Every day during the week, listeners will have the chance to win a pair of World Traveller tickets to London.

The competition is part of an initiative being launched by BA to promote its offer of a trip from Sydney to the UK with a free European break thrown in.

BA previously worked with the radio presenters to launch a competition giving listeners the chance to win holidays in Bangkok.

Sam Heine, the airline’s commercial manager in the south-west Pacific region, said: ‘After our best ever result, off the back of the 2008 consumer promotion Mile Thai Club, it meant that we once again turned to Nova to produce an integrated solution that would spread awareness of the exciting fare deal British Airways has to offer and also to let Australians experience everything that’s fantastic about the UK.’

BA operates flights to Sydney via Singapore and Bangkok, as well as connections to Melbourne, Perth and other Australian cities as part of a codeshare deal with Qantas.

Source  :  http://news.opodo.co.uk/NewsDetails/2009-08-26/BA_teams_up_with_Australian_radio_stars

Read Full Post »

Petrol prices ‘rising’ in next fortnight

Further increases in petrol prices are predicted as Australia’s unleaded benchmark price scaled a 10-month high of almost $100 a barrel in the past week.  

While the continued signs of a recovery in the global economy had been great news for share market investors, the same could not be said for motorists, Commonwealth Securities economist Savanth Sebastian said.

The Australian Institute of Petroleum’s weekly report showed the unleaded petrol prices rose by an average 1.9 cents per litre in the past week to 124.5 cents.

The average metropolitan price rose by 2.6 cents a litre to 124.2 cents, while the regional average price rose by 0.7 cents to 125.1 cents.

“The glut of oil inventory on global markets is not putting downward pressure on prices,” Mr Sebastian said, adding traders and investors were focussed on the recovery story.

Even a strong Australian dollar has not been able to significantly absorb the rally in oil prices.

This resulted in the benchmark for Australian unleaded petrol – the Singapore gasoline price – rising to a 10-month high of $99.70 from $97.33 in the past week.

“If there is any consolation for motorists, it is that the rise in pump prices is likely to be rather sedate,” Mr Sebastian said.

“The petrol price will rise over the next fortnight, but only modestly, up around three to five cents a litre.”

Source  :  www.thewest.com.au

Read Full Post »

Qantas jet hit by lightning… again

Qantas Airbus operating the QF72 Singapore to Perth flight was struck by lightning soon after departure from Changi Airport, the airline confirmed.

A spokesman for the airline said the incident had not presented any safety issue to the aircraft or passengers.               

The plane landed safely in Perth at its scheduled arrival time of 2.20pm, where it will now be inspected.

“The A330-300 aircraft will be inspected by engineers after landing,” the spokesman said.

“It is too soon to say if any maintenance will be required.”

To allow the necessary checks to be undertaken, the return QF71 flight to Singapore will be delayed by about two-and-a-half hours.

It will now depart Perth at 6pm.

Qantas said passengers booked on QF71 would be provided with refreshment vouchers.

“We will be keeping them informed of developments in the lead up to the departure,” the spokesman said.

Source  :  www.watoday.com.au

Read Full Post »

Singapore Airlines promotional fares from London

London	Singapore	295 GBP
London	Bali (Denpasar)	319 GBP
London	Manila	319 GBP
London	Hong Kong	425 GBP
London	Bangkok	329 GBP
London	Kuala Lumpur	329 GBP
London	Perth	389 GBP
London	Adelaide	395 GBP
London	Brisbane	399 GBP
London	Melbourne	389 GBP
London	Sydney	399 GBP
London	Auckland	369 GBP
London	Christchurch	359 GBP

• Fares are inclusive of all taxes, surcharges and fees correct as of 12June09.
• No minimum stay, maximum stay 3 months to South East Asia destinations.
• No minimum stay, maximum stay 12 months to Australia and New Zealand destinations.
• Fares are subject to change without prior notice.
• Stopovers in Singapore permitted subject to additional taxes.
• Above fares valid for sale between 13June and 30June09.
• Above fares valid for travel between 1September to 09December09 and 16January to 31March 2010.
• Fuel surcharges, taxes and fees may differ due to exchange rate fluctuations.
• Fares are subject to availability.

Source  :  http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/local/UK/promo_fares/index.jsp

Read Full Post »

Register for a seminar with www.immagine-immigration.com

If interested in attending these seminars please Email : info@immagine-immigration.com  

IMMagine Australia is an Australian based Immigration Consultancy that specialise in immigration to Australia. We will be holding a number of Australia Immigration Seminars and consultations in South Africa and Singapore for those people interested in Australia immigration / emigrating to Australia.

The Australian Immigration Seminars include information about:                                                                                        
Australia’s immigration policy and any recent changes;
the Australia immigration process;
the impact of moving to Australia;
finding a job in Australia;
Australia’s cost of living, taxation, salaries, the education system and;
what Australia has to offer those interested in emigration.
We will also discuss the global economic environment and how it might impact on your immigration plans.

We are specifically interested in those people with Degrees, Trade Qualifications, National Diplomas, business people, the self employed and those with family in Australia.

We are specifically interested in those people with Degrees, Trade Qualifications, National Diplomas, business people, the self employed and those with family in Australia.

Please select a country below to view full seminar details and reserve a place:

South African Immigration Seminars
Register for a seminar today!

Cape Town – Wednesday 13 May 09 at 7.00 p.m.
Durban – Monday 18 May 09 at 7.00 p.m.
Johannesburg – Thursday 4 June 09 at 7.00 p.m

Singapore – Saturday 6 June 09 at 12.30 p.m

Singapore Immigration Seminars
Email : info@immagine-immigration.com

Read Full Post »