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Emirates’ Skywards members get speedy check-in when departing from Dubai
Emirates Airline recently unveiled special kiosks which
will offer quick check-in time at Dubai International Airport departures
hall for Emirates’ First and Business Class customers. Kiosks are also
located in the airport’s main departures hall for Skywards members
traveling in Economy Class.
 Members
of Skywards, the frequent flyer program of Emirates and SriLankan Airlines,
who are carrying only hand baggage, can check themselves in, using their
membership e-cards.
The facility is also available to customers who are
members of Skywards’ partner airlines - British Airways, Continental
Airlines, Delta, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways
and United Airlines.
But the speedy departure process doesn’t stop there.
Customers traveling in First, Business or Economy Class can also use their
e-cards to pass through the electronically-controlled gates (e-gates) at
Immigration, giving them more time before their flight.
Six e-gates have so far been installed at the airport;
two for Arrivals, two for Economy Class Departures and two for First and
Business Class Departures, allowing customers to bypass manual Immigration
checks.
PM wants Bangkok’s new airport completed on time
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra recently called a
meeting to address the delays that have put the construction of Bangkok’s
new Suvarnabhumi Airport four months behind schedule.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of the Suvarnabhumi
Airport Development Committee, Thaksin said, “I am aware of the obstacles
and problems that needed solving. I have called all concerned parties
together to redress delays to construction. They need to work hand-in-hand
to complete the project on time.”
Regarding the delays during construction of the passenger
terminal, the prime minister said, “The roof designed by MJT Company must
be modified to solve the problems.”
Suvarnabhumi Airport has been plagued by numerous delays
since the mid-1990s when the plans finally got off the drawing board. The
new airport is due to open for service on September 29, 2005. However,
construction on the passenger terminal is approximately 26.42 percent behind
schedule, and construction of the aircraft stands is approximately 10.22
percent behind schedule. (TNA)
Crowds flock to see ‘miraculous’ Buddha image
Crowds of worshippers and tourists recently flocked to a
temple in northern Thailand’s Mae Hong Son to see an ancient Buddha image
which was said to be emitting snow flakes from its middle finger.
Luang Pu In Paphsasaro, abbot of Wat Tai Baan Dert in
Yasothon’s Muang district professed bafflement at the ‘miracle’, but
said that religious officials would come and inspect the image to try to
determine the cause of the phenomenon. The temple is thought to date back
from AD670. (TNA)
Lufthansa increases flights to Asia
Good news for Lufthansa passengers: Lufthansa increased
its services to Asia at the end of July and will again reach the level prior
to the SARS crisis on the routes from Frankfurt to Beijing, Shanghai and
Hong Kong. Frequencies from Frankfurt to Beijing increased by 40 percent.
The Chinese capital will be served with daily flights from Frankfurt. As of
12 September, instead of the smaller Airbus A340, the route will be served
by a Boeing 747, so seat capacity will also increase.
With three weekly flights from Munich to Shanghai, as of
September 2nd Lufthansa will also extend another important part of its Asia
program. Lufthansa passengers will benefit from a wider range of flights
from the new Terminal 2 in Munich.
“Asia is the most important future market for business
and an attractive tourist destination. The demand in the Asian traffic is
increasing again,” said Lufthansa German Airlines Executive Vice President
Thierry Antinori.
Thailand tries keeping business at home
Thailand’s first meeting, incentives, convention and
exhibitions (MICE) event targeting domestic buyers was recently held at
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.
Organized by The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT)
newly-established Convention and Exhibition Bureau and the Tourism Council
of Thailand, the exhibition attracted more than 300 sellers.
About 3,000 executives of Thai government agencies, trade
associations, companies and multinational companies based in Thailand
attended the one-day mart. One of the key objectives was to encourage them
to first explore domestic opportunities for their meetings, seminars,
incentive travel program and exhibitions before looking overseas. (TTG Asia)
IT&CMA seminar workshop draws in future leaders
IT&CMA (Incentive Travel and Meetings Asia) 2003
seminar and workshops will feature a new component, the Asia-Pacific Future
Leaders Forum. The forum is the first of its kind in the region and is made
possible by the show organizers, TTG Asia Media, in collaboration with Imex,
ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) and the Tourism
Authority of Thailand.
It is aimed at encouraging young people to join the
meetings and incentive travel industry and will include a lineup of industry
leaders who share their personal experiences and careers. Other confirmed
topics include event management in changing times by Meeting Professionals
International, crisis management for event planners and suppliers, and
creative marketing for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and
exhibitions) destinations by SITE Asia-Pacific chapters.
Meanwhile, members of SITE International, which is
holding regional meetings with its Asian chapters in Bangkok concurrently,
are expected at IT&CMA 2003. SITE’s executive director and CEO, Ms
Brenda Anderson is also one of the speakers at IT&CMA. (TTG Asia)
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