AirAsia X axes European and Indian flights

Flight to Mumbai will last until January 31, and the rest will be withdrawn in March. The airline reports that it has hardly made a profit from its European and Indian routes because of fuel charges and airport taxes. Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s CEO, announced that AAX would fly its passengers to London for as low as RM9.90 one way back in 2007.

 

Maldives reserves spa ban

The Maldives government has revoked a recent ban ordering hotel spas and wellness centres to shut down operations. President Mohamed Nasheed announced the change of heart after protests from the tourism industry, the Haveeru Online website reports. The Maldives government in December bowed to demands from Islamists who wanted the spas closed. Supporters of the closure claimed the facilities were effectively brothels and said they posed a danger to public morals.

 

A visit to the Eastern Front

A new trail in Poland is designed to take tourists on a tour of key World War I sites. The route leads through eight provinces and will be completed in 2014, in time for the 100th anniversary of the start of hostilities, Polish tourism officials said in Berlin. One of the initial route segments is already in place and takes visitors to 50 former battlefields and military cemeteries along what was once the “Eastern Front” in southern Poland. (www.Polen.travel). – dpa

 

Victoria turns 150

The city of Victoria in the Canadian province of British Columbia will be 150 years old on August 2 and it is staging a major celebration to mark the occasion. Festivities focus on Centennial Square, which was created in 1963 at the beginning of a huge scheme to preserve, restore and revive downtown Victoria. Throughout the year a programme of parades, art projects and festivals will highlight the founding of the city. (www.Victoria.ca/victoria150). 

 

Japan out to woo Korean tourists

Japan is looking to Korea to revive is tourism industry following last year’s tidal wave disaster. Korean tourists are crucial to Japanese tourism, making up about 28 per cent of the country’s foreign visitors. Unfortunately, the number dropped to nearly half that after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and recorded a 32.2 per cent drop overall for 2011. Radiation might worry Korean tourists, but the Japanese are trying hard to convince their neighbours that other areas, such as Tokyo and Kyoto, are safe for travel. – The Korea Herald/ANN

 

SQ introduces A380 services to New York

Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 is now flying to Frankfurt and New York. Flight SQ26 lands in Frankfurt at 6.10am, after which it departs the German city at 8.20am to arrive at New York’s JFK airport at 11.10am. The daily A380 flights replaces an existing daily Boeing 747-400 service to JFK Airport via Frankfurt, and represents a daily increase of 25 per cent in seat capacity. The airline currently has 15 A380s in service and four more on firm order.