Fond farewell to the jumbo

Flight SQ747 departed Singapore’s Changi Airport after a series of celebratory events at Gate B7 in Terminal 3. The flight is being operated with aircraft “9V-SPQ”, the last Boeing 747-400 that SIA took delivery of in 2001. More than 350 customers and crew, as well as media and other invited guests, are on board flight SQ747, which is commemorating the Boeing 747’s 38-year history with the airline. SIA placed its first orders for Boeing 747s in 1972 and took delivery of the first planes in 1973.

 

Myanmar on the plate

Myanmar, the country with many generals and one much-loved lady, is getting hot on the political map as well as on the plate. Young Australian-Vietnamese chef, Luke Nguyen takes audiences on a trip through Myanmar via a food and travel TV documentary. Part of the Greater Mekong series, the program aims to educate viewers about Burmese gastronomy, giving insight to its origins and flavours. He works with locals in preparing various foods and discusses the sometimes rather unusual ingredients. Look for Luke Nguyen on www.youtube.com.

 

Singapore as a health destination

Travellers from across Asia are making a beeline for Singapore - not to holiday here, but to seek medical treatment. Health-care providers say they are handling more patients from India and China, on top of traditional sources such as Indonesia and Malaysia. This trend is in line with one identified by the Singapore Tourism Board in 2010, where Asia was expected to be a key player in driving the industry’s growth as it recovered from the global recession. Treatment for blood disorders, and kidney and liver transplants rank among the top three areas where patients seek help. – ANN

 

Airbus A350 on the wing

Final assembly of the first Airbus A350 XWB is now underway at the brand new final assembly line in Toulouse, France. This latest step in the A350 XWB’s progress is achieved as Airbus starts joining the 19.7 metre long centre fuselage with the 21 metre long front fuselage. This first A350 XWB airframe will be used for the static structural tests that all new aircraft undergo as part of their certification process. The assembly of the first flying A350 XWB, MSN1, will start during summer. To complete with Boeing’s Dreamliner, the A350 family is designed for a lightweight, long-range aircraft. 

 

Getting cultural in Xian

Westin Hotels debuts in Xian, one of China’s fast growing cities. The Westin Xian is the first Westin in the world and the first hotel in Xian to have its own museum, paying tribute to the ancient history of China with its exceptional collection of over 2,000 artefacts. The hotel features 329 rooms and 32 one- to two-bedroom apartments. The hotel is just minutes from the train station and 40km from the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.