RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has achieved the International AirTransport Association (IATA’s) new distribution capability (NDC) level-4 certification.The certification is of the highest level, awarded to PIA. A press release issued by PIA on Monday stated that the national flag carrier recentlyembarked upon a Digital Transformation Programme, under which it is focusing onmodernising its business practices, resource competence, technology upgrade andpartner collaborations in line with new industry standards and practices. The certification will enable the airline to better connect, communicate and share richcontent among industry partners through distribution channels. This achievement willsignificantly enhance PIA’s capability of merchandising, retailing and productdifferentiation,…
Author: holidayweekly
BANGKOK: Thailand unveiled a roadmap to revive its tourism-reliant economy by gradually scrapping a mandatory quarantine for vaccinated visitors, joining a growing list of nations in making cross-border travel easier ahead of the year-end holiday season. Visitors from 10 low-risk countries including the U.S., China, Singapore, Germany and the U.K. will not be required to undergo isolation on arrival from November 1, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said in an address to the nation on Monday. The list of travelers eligible for quarantine waiver will be further expanded from December, he said, and by January 1 the nation “would move to…
PESHAWAR: The Malaysian firm of international repute has presented a master plan for the development of four tourism zones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to attract more tourists to the province. Briefing the participants at a workshop held here on Wednesday, AJM Planning and Urban Design Group (APUDG) Managing Director Norliza Hashim said that her firm had prepared a master plan for the four tourism zones including Mankial in Swat, Thandiani in Abbottabad, Ganol in Mansehra and Madaklasht in Lower Chitral. She said that map making, local planning, destination management plan, phase-wise infrastructure development andconstruction of roads leading to the tourist zones…
MUSCAT: Oman Air hopes to join the global Oneworld airline alliance, putting it alongside American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and more. The carrier has approached its regional neighbor Qatar Airways for assistance in getting aboard – a strategic move, given Qatar’s CEO is also currently Chairman of the Oneworld Governing Board. “As the industry recovers from COVID, airline alliances are going to be more important than ever,” an Oman Air spokesperson told. “This will provide us with excellent global connectivity, a seamless travel experience and more valuable loyalty offerings for our guests.” If successful, Oman Air would be…
LONDON: The beautiful city of Lahore has been projected globally as 150 iconic red London buses go live with the ‘Lahore – The heart of Pakistan’ branding adorned on busy routes of London. The campaign has been launched to highlight the rich cultural heritage of Lahore and also to project Pakistan’s soft image of beauty and culture at a city like London which is known as the capital of the world as almost every nationality of the world has a strong presence in the city. The buses pass through busy areas of Westminster outside the UK Parliament, 10 Downing Street,…
NEW DELHI: India’s Tata Sons has won a competitive bid for acquiring the country’s flag carrier Air India, including its wholly-owned subsidiary Air India Express and 50% stake in Air India SATS, it was announced by the government. Tata group was the successful bidder of the divestment process of Air India, it said. The Tata group’s holding company, Tata Sons through its wholly-owned subsidiary Talace Pvt Ltd submitted a winning bid of Rs18,000 crore ($2.4 billion) as the enterprise value of Air India. SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh (in his private capacity) had also placed bids for the airline. Consequent to…
SINGAPORE: Singapore and South Korea have agreed to establish a travel corridor toallow quarantine-free travel between the two countries for people who have been fullyvaccinated against Covid-19, starting November 15. Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) said in a statement Friday (October 8) thatSingapore will jointly launch Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTLs) with South Korea that willallow fully vaccinated travelers to travel between Changi Airport and IncheonInternational Airport, and be subjected to Covid-19 PCR tests, in lieu of servingquarantine or stay-home notice. Singapore, South Korea to open vaccinated travel lane from November 15; YeouidoHangang Park pictured There will be no restrictions on…
BOSTON: The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 77th annual generalmeeting approved a resolution for the global air transport industry to achieve net-zerocarbon emissions by 2050. This commitment will align with the Paris Agreement goal for global warming not toexceed 1.5°C. Director-General Willie Walsh said: “The world’s airlines have taken a momentousdecision to ensure that flying is sustainable. The post-Covid-19 re-connect will be on aclear path towards net zero. “That will ensure the freedom of future generations to sustainably explore, learn, trade,build markets, appreciate cultures and connect with people the world over. With thecollective efforts of the entire value chain and…
HONG KONG: The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH) is delighted toannounce that the French Government has bestowed the distinction of Chevalier dansl’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur and Chevalier dans l’Ordre du Mérite Agricoleon HSH Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Peter Borer, at a private ceremony held at ThePeninsula Hong Kong on 6 October 2021. The Order of the Légion d’Honneur was established by Napoléon Bonaparte on 19 May It is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees: Chevalier(Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer),and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). Speaking at the ceremony,…
BANGKOK: Thailand says fully vaccinated travelers from any country can now visitThailand using the Phuket “sandbox” scheme. Thailand’s tourism industry has been on its knees, with the coronavirus pandemic andrelated restrictions slashing visitor numbers from 40 million in 2019 to a mere trickleover the last two years. Pre-virus, the sector made up a fifth of Thailand’s national income and the travel curbshave fed into the country’s worst economic performance in more than two decades. The kingdom launched a “sandbox” scheme in July, which allowed fully vaccinatedtravelers from countries considered a low-to-medium risk to roam free on the popularbeach island for…