In the news: AirAsia introduces the Asean Pass, Westminster Travel deploys Abacus TravelPlus, Cebu Pacific Air offers a Fun Data SIM to its guests.
AirAsia Asean Pass to boost intra-regional travel
L-R: Two flight stewardesses with (L-R) Tony Fernandes; Tan Sri Munir Abdul Majid, Asean-BAC Malaysia chairman; Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, AirAsia executive chairman
Low cost carrier AirAsia will live up to its name of being a “true Asean airline” with the commercial launch of the AirAsia Asean Pass on 15 January 2015, which will allow travellers to use pre-purchased credits to book flights at a fixed rate across selected routes throughout the region.
The airline said the credit-based system acts like a single currency, which reduces the hassle of dealing with differing foreign exchange rates as routes are valued according to credits.
There will be two options for the pass – RM500 (US$149) with 10 credits (each credit worth RM50), and RM900 for 20 credits. The pricing does not include airport charges.
The pass is valid for a month from the date of first travel.
Pass holders will be able to purchase flights to over 137 routes throughout Asean with these credits, priced from one credit up to a maximum of eight credits one way.
The pass will also come with numerous benefits including BIG points, which can be used to redeem free AirAsia flights.
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia’s group CEO, said the innovative pass is expected to be launched at the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia Conference on SMEs in January next year.
He is confident the introduction of the pass will boost air travel within the Asean communities, as well as attract foreign tourists to this region
“The most convenient way to move around Asean is by air, given that we live in places separated by large bodies of water, as well as being home to the two largest archipelago nations in the world – Indonesia and the Philippines. The challenge was to make air travel affordable, and AirAsia has lived up to our promise so far; but it’s time to push the envelope further and the Asean Pass will be the catalyst for a new chapter of air travel with AirAsia,” added Fernandes.
The pass will be available for booking on airasia.com at its launch.
Westminster Travel ventures into wholesale digital marketing with Abacus TravelPlus
Larry Lo: Abacus TravelPlus helps devise tactical packages in a tenth of the time.
Westminster Travel is the first travel agency to deploy Abacus TravelPlus, a web-based solution tailored to help agencies achieve the volume and profits by addressing wholesaler’s content connectivity, distribution as well as booking process.
Abacus said agents using the solution can, for the first time, ”combine then distribute targeted products in minutes, refreshing their offers in real-time.”
Larry Lo, managing director of Westminster Travel, said: “Abacus has created a perfect digital market for wholesale travel. Our regional teams here in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Singapore can devise tactical packages in a tenth of the time, posting eFlyers to promote the live inventory.”
He anticipates “a substantial competitive edge” from the seamless application, integrated within his existing adholidays.com platform.
Sub-agents and private clients searching the virtual wholesale shelves can even check for cost variances if their requested dates do not perfectly align with those proposed. The aim is to always maximise sales within the rules.
Agatha Lee, general manager for Abacus Hong Kong, added: “For sub-agents using Abacus solutions the super-PNR for each package gets pushed straight through their own mid- and back-office system. It’s a big advantage for existing clients.”
Abacus TravelPlus was launched in October at the Abacus International Conference 2014 in Abu Dhabi.
Cebu Pacific offers inbound tourists a Fun Data SIM to stay connected
Cebu Pacific’s Candice Iyog (left) and Smart’s Michelle Curran at the signing ceremony.
Manila-based Cebu Pacific Air has inked a strategic partnership agreement with wireless service provider, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), to offer inbound passengers aboard its international flights the Cebu Pacific Fun Data SIM.
The SIM is on sale inflight from 1 December. It gives purchasers access to 1.5 GB data to upload photos on Facebook and Instagram, send tweets or chat with friends and relatives abroad.
Valid for 15 days the SIM also includes 100 text messages and 10 minutes of voice calls to all Philippine mobile networks, as well as discounted rates for international calls.
The LTE-capable SIM, which costs 500 Pesos (US$11), can be used with a variety of gadgets, as it is pre-cut for devices using regular, mini-, or nano-SIM slots.
The deal makes Cebu Pacific the first airline in the country to offer an innovative travel product that caters to the communication needs of its passengers. It also allows Smart to tap into the growing number of tourists especially from Asia.
Statistics from Philippines Department of Tourism showed that international tourist arrivals for the first eight months of the year increased by 2.72% from the same period in 2013.
Michele Curran, first vice president, data and international services at Smart, said: “With international tourist arrivals expected to grow further in the coming years, we see a bright spot in targeting foreign travellers who want to experience what the Philippines has to offer.”
She added that the partnership with Cebu Pacific opened a wider market for Smart as the carrier expands its route network to more countries worldwide.
Cebu Pacific VP for marketing and distribution, Candice Iyog, added that the product would contribute to the country’s tourism agenda as the SIM “can enable guests to share their fun experiences online, real-time, wherever they may be in the Philippines.”
