In the news: e-commerce payment platform for Myanmar, Travelport partners BeMyGuest, 7% passenger growth for AirAsia in FY2014
Myanmar gets its first e-commerce payment platform
MPU cardholders in Myanmar can now make online transactions. (Image credit: scyther/iStock)
Myanmar citizens, who hold payment cards issued by Myanmar Payment Union (MPU), which authorises the issuance and acceptance of such cards within the country, can now pay online for local and international purchases.
This is make possible by the first electronic commerce payment platform developedy MPU and payment services provider, 2c2P.
The platform creates Myanmar’s e-commerce and online payments infrastructure, modernising what is a cash-based economy. The partnership provides non-cash payment options, eliminating the inefficiencies and risks inherent in cash payments, including high costs and long processing times.
There are currently about 900,000 MPU cardholders in Myanmar, and the number is increasing rapidly in line with ongoing economic reforms said MPU. The cards can also be used when travelling abroad, boosting the outbound travel and tourism sector.
Aung Kyaw Moe, group CEO of 2C2P, said MPU as a payment network is comparable to VISA and MasterCard globally, NETS in Singapore, JCB in Japan, and China UnionPay in the People’s Republic of China.
Zaw Lin Htut, MPU CEO, revealed Myanmar is witnessing a period of explosive growth that is fuelled by mobile and internet penetration and this new phase of Myanmar’s electronic commerce “will be key, not just for our citizens to transact online, but also to boost the economy, ensuring that we are on a more even footing with other regional markets.”
According to he McKinsey Global Institute, e-commerce and online retail in Myanmar is limited due to a lack of modern electronic payments systems. In its current state, Myanmar is a cash-based society, with cash-on-delivery (COD) remaining the predominant means of settling transactions.
With the implementation of secure payment systems, as well as the expected rise in the penetration and use of credit and debit cards, the country’s consuming class will hit 19 million people by 2030, it added.
Travelport partners with BeMyGuest to expand content offering in Asia
Partnership with Travelport is BeMyGuest’s first distribution agreement.
Travelport has inked a distribution partnership with Singapore’s BeMyGuest, Asia;s leading aggregator of local tours and activities, to provide travellers with more choice in content offering.
As Niklas Andréen, Travelport’s GVP hospitality, car and digital media solutions said: “There’s no doubt that tours and activities are the future of travel, and BeMyGuest have established a specialised selection of experiences, which are growing in popularity and are in great demand with travellers. We pride ourselves on our breadth of content offering, and this partnership is a true example of how we provide travellers more choice by not only working with big players, but also supporting start-ups in the travel industry too.”
This is BeMyGuest first distribution agreement. Its content has been integrated as a local content provider into Travelport Rooms and More, a solution that offers travel agencies access to a wide variety of accommodation around the world.
Travel agencies now have direct access to BeMyGuest’s inventory of attractions, sightseeing and day tours, unique experiences and local activities throughout Asia in both gateway cities and tier two and three cities.
Blanca Menchaca, BeMyGuest’s chief marketing officer, said: “This is the first of many new global partnerships in BeMyGuest’s strategy to secure the best possible means to directly connect the travel industry with exciting local experiences.”
PhoCusWright states that four in five travellers seek tour and activity options when planning their travel arrangements online, with the tours and activities sector valued at an estimated US$100 billion per year globally.
45 million passenger flew with AirAsia group in FY2014
Positive performance for airlines in AirAsia group for FY2014. (Image credit: AirAsia)
AirAsia Bhd recorded a 7% year-to-year passenger growth, bringing the total number of passengers carried in 2014 to 45.6 million for its full financial year ended 2014 (FY2014),
The company, which released its operating statistics for the 4th quarter 2014 (4Q14) and full financial year ended 31 December 2014 (FY2014) earlier this week, said this growth was in line with the increase in capacity that stood at 8%, allowing the group to close the year with aload factor of 78%
In 4Q14, the load factor was 78%, down 3% from the same period last year. Number of passengers carried increased 2% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 12.1 million, along with the 5% increase in capacity.
During the quarter under review only one additional aircraft was added into the system but y-o-y 18 aircraft were added, which brings the total fleet size for the group to 172 at the end of 2014.
Malaysia AirAsia posted a load factor of 78% in 4Q14 on the back of 5.9 million passengers carried and 8% y-o-y increase in capacity. It also introduced three new international routes in 4Q14: Johor Bahru–Bandung, and Kuala Lumpur–Clark and Hyderabad. Frequencies were also increased on five routes: Kuala Lumpur–Singapore, Surat Thani, Kalibo and Balik Papan, and Kota Kinabalu–Miri.
Thai AirAsia recorded a 79% load factor in the quarter under review. Total number of passengers carried in 4Q14 increased 16% y-o-y to 3.4 million with 19% y-o-y increase in capacity. This quarter, TAA introduced three new routes: Chiang Mai–Surat Thani, Bangkok–Sakon Nakhon, and Krabi–Guangzhou. Frequencies were added to the Chiang Mai–Krabi, and Bangkok–Siem Reap routes.
Indonesia AirAsia recorded a strong load factor at 80%. It introduced three new domestic routes in 4Q14: Medan–Yogyakarta and Palembang, and Surabaya–Lombok. Frequencies were increased to five routes: Jakarta–Medan, Surabaya, Bali and Penang; and Medan–Bangkok.
Philippines’ AirAsia reported a load factor of 72% in 4Q14 from 64% recorded during the same period last year. Two new routes were introduced in 4Q14: Cebu–Cagayan and Davao, while frequencies were increased to the Cebu–Cagayan, and Manila–Cebu and Kalibo routes.
AirAsia India carried a total of 0.22 million passengers in its second full quarter of operations with a load factor of 83%. From its hub in Bengaluru the carrier launched two new routes in 4Q14: Bengaluru–Pune and Pune–Jaipur. Frequencies were increased on the Bengaluru–Jaipur route.
