The Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus.
Singapore Tourism Board, Expedia in joint pact to spur tourism recovery at home and in overseas markets
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Expedia have formed a two-year global marketing partnership to stimulate local tourism and strengthen the destination as the preferred choice for international travellers.
On the domestic front, the two partners will support the on-going SingapoRediscovers campaign launched in July. This campagin, from now till April 2021, will make available to Singapore residents a selection of domestic holiday bundles, staycations offers, attractions and tours that cater to a variety of interests and budgets
To spur local rediscovery locals are invited to visit 10 key precincts hosted on the STB-Expedia SingaporeRediscovers campaign landing page. Among them are Chinatown, Little India, Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands and Joo Chiat/Katong.
The landing page will also highlight the SG Clean certification programme to show Singapore’s efforts to rebuild trust in travel and provide assurance of safety and cleanliness to all visitors.
To keep Singapore on top of mind of tourists when international travel resumes STB and Expedia, the latter through Expedia Group Media Solutions, will jointly promote Singapore in 10 overseas markets – Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, Switzerland, Canada, the UK and US. This part of the campaign will include the roll out of flight promotions, online display ads and creative campaigns.
The international campaign is in tandem with Singapore’s plan to open its borders to foreign tourists starting last week with the city-state reaching a preliminary agreement with Hong Kong to set up a two-way air travel bubble allowing for travel between the two cities without the need for quarantine or controlled itinerary – with testing as the only requirement.
“Local businesses are the heart and soul of our tourism industry, and it is important to support them through this challenging period, ” said Lynette Pang, STB’s assistant chief executive (marketing group). “When global travel returns and when the time is right, this partnership with Expedia will allow the Singapore tourism industry to tap on Expedia’s vast global network and user base to help local businesses reach new customers.”
Commenting on the partnership Ang Choo Pin, senior director, government and corporate affairs, and managing director Asia, Expedia Group, said: “As we work towards stimulating demand for domestic tourism and subsequently international leisure tourism as global travel gradually resumes, Expedia is uniquely positioned to leverage our global expertise, influence and technology to reinvigorate the Singapore tourism industry and help local tourism establishments sustain and grow their operations in the post-pandemic future.”
STB has a similar deal with Hong Kong-based travel activities and services booking platform Klook – a S$2 million (US$1.47 million) domestic marketing partnership – also under the SingapoRediscovers campaign .
Firefly to commence jet operations early next year, sparks speculation of turning into national carrier
Kuala Lumpur-based Firefly Airlines (Firefly), the subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), will the start jet operations from the first quarter of 2021 as part of its strategy to streamline its operations post-Covid-19..
The carrier, which currently operates 12 turbo jets out of Subang Skypark in Kuala Lumpur, will be adding up to 10 narrow body jets to its fleet in phases to serve the domestic, Asean and Asia Pacific markets out of Penang International Airport.
MAG group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail said domestic and short-haul travel would be the most preferred in the current environment, and it made commercial sense to meet this demand from the northern region.
“This is in line with the group’s enhanced long-term business plan which has been realigned to suit the current and future environment post-Covid-19, with a focus on strengthening the revenue streams of each subsidiary,” he added.
This announcement has fuelled speculation that the “community airline”, as it is fondly referred to, could be turned in Malaysia’s national carrier if ongoing talks by Malaysia Airlines with its lessors, creditors and key suppliers on repayment as part of its restructuring plan do not work out.
In this New Straits Time report Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, managing director of sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd (the sole owner of Malaysia Airlines), was quoted as saying Firefly has the potential to become a national airline if implemented successfully, that is if Malaysia Airlines were to close down if its creditors failed to agree on its restructuring. He stressed the shutting of the now current national carrier would be the last resort.
Until such talks become reality, Firefly is all set to resume jet operations again. The airline briefly operated jet aircraft in 2011 with flights to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sibu (Sabah) and Kuching (Sarawak) from the KL International Airport, and internationally to Bandung and Surabaya in Indonesia via Johor Bahru.
MAG said with this plan Firefly will be complementing sister company, Malaysia Airlines, in serving the leisure market, while diversifying its base connecting secondary cities in Malaysia to East Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.
It will leverage on available resources and talents from within MAG, with the possibility of deploying the Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Malaysia Airlines. This gives the latter room to focus on its network serving the premium market.
Firefly CEO Philip See said with the world evolving so much since the Covid-19 outbreak airlines must embrace changes and adapt to the market needs and wants.
“Firefly is ready to carry that challenge as we see strong potential in this dual hub strategy, while maintaining our turbo propeller service out of Subang Skypark, serving the mix of corporate and leisure travellers.”
With the jet operations Firefly will offer a flexible service concept with product unbundling to suit the leisure focused and price-sensitive customers, said MAG.
It added that passengers would continue to enjoy the privileges and services like a premium carrier including a complimentary 20kg checked baggage allowance, as well accruing and redeeming Enrich (loyalty programme) points with an option to add other privileges such as seat selection and insurance coverage.
“The setup of Firefly’s Penang hub jet operations requires minimal investment in 2021, with an expected increase in production, measured in average seat per kilometre (ASK), by 36% over the next five years,” MAG disclosed.
Launched in April 2007, Firefly currently serves mainly domestic destinations as Malaysia’s borders are closed due to Covid-19. Before the pandemic the carrier’s flew to international destinations – Banda Acheh in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand – and Singapore (Seletar Airport ).
Singapore Airlines’ introduces new Kris+ app to boost non-airline revenue
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has rolled out Kris+, an all-new app that brings payment, lifestyle and rewards services together in one platform.
The carrier said its investment in Kris+ is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to drive non-airline revenue streams in the coming years.
Kris+ builds on SIA’s existing Kris Pay, taking the app beyond a loyalty wallet by combining in dining, retail and entertainment discounts. It also offers customers the option to earn miles from everyday spend, and pay for purchases and experiences with these miles.
The app has more than 150 partners with over 650 outlets in Singapore providing customised deals with privileges.
“Products, services and experiences from our partners have been curated with our customers in mind, and offered with comprehensive discounts. More partners will be progressively added in the coming months,” SIA said in a statement..
The carrier will bring overseas partners and merchants in selected destinations to the app from January 2019, offering special offers and rewards to Singapore residents travelling abroad.
KrisPay, the airline’s blockchain-based airline loyalty digital wallet, has also been integrated into Kris+. It will soon be enhanced with other in-app payment options, allowing users to simultaneously earn more miles with each purchase.
• Featured image credit (Singapore’s Sentosa Island): preuk13/Getty Images
