Stay updated with the latest in the travel industry, from airline launches and route expansions to travel trends and industry developments shaping the way we explore the world.

This is the January edition of Airline and Travel News.

EMIRATES AIMS TO TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF FAMILY TRAVEL WITH ITS CURATED RANGE OF SPECIAL SERVICES

Regarded as one of the most family-friendly airlines worldwide, Emirates aims to make family travel an even more stress-free and enjoyable experience, offering a host of thoughtful services specially designed to cater to parents and children alike. Families are prioritized to sit together, and children are kept entertained with over 150 kids’ channels featuring plenty of beloved wizards, heroes, and animated favourites. Younger passengers also enjoy toys, colouring books, and stickers to make their journey more engaging and memorable.

For infants, the airline provides dedicated baby meals, as well as milk formula and bottles available upon request. Onboard infant kits, complete with bibs, wipes, and nappy cream, ensure parents have the essentials to care for their little ones. Lavatories equipped with changing tables add to the convenience.

Children with special dietary needs are also well-catered for with customized meals that can be pre-ordered during booking or added later through the airline’s ‘Manage a Booking’ feature.

The Emirates experience begins even before boarding, with family-friendly booking options and assistance to simplify travel logistics. Whether it’s the thoughtful in-flight services or the overall care for families’ needs, Emirates ensures a more pleasant, worry-free journey for everyone.

For more details or to book your next family adventure, visit emirates.com.

KOREAN AIR ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN ASIANA AIRLINES

SkyTeam member Korean Air has completed its acquisition of former rival and Star Alliance member Asiana Airlines, four years after announcing its decision in late 2020.

On December 12, 2024, Korean Air acquired more than 131 million newly issued Asiana shares, representing a 63.88% ownership stake and making Asiana a subsidiary of the South Korean flag carrier group.

Korean Air says it plans to complete the integration with Asiana within two years. This includes “network optimization through diversified flight schedules on overlapping routes, service expansion to new destinations and enhanced safety investments”, Korean Air says.

The two airline brands will continue to operate separately for now but the long-term plan is for Korean Air to be the surviving brand.

Korean Air promises that the integration will go through without a restructuring of the workforce, with employees in overlapping functions reassigned within the organisation.

Plans for an integrated frequent flyer programme will be submitted to the Korea Fair Trade Commission by June 2025, Korean Air says, with future programme details communicated following regulatory review.

Korean Air’s SkyTeam partnerships are expected to survive, while Asiana’s Star Alliance ties are going to be cut for the most part. Asiana’s 69 current aircraft fleet, plus its future orders, are going to be merged into the larger Korean Air operations.

For more information, visit koreanair.com.

THE RITZ-CARLTON BRAND MAKES ITS DEBUT IN BANGKOK

Marriott has announced the debut of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, a member of its Luxury Group portfolio. The hotel is set in a 216-meter-high tower at One Bangkok, the largest holistically integrated district and a business and lifestyle destination in the heart of Bangkok.

Overlooking the lawns and lakes of Lumpini Park, The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok’s rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, many with private loggias and terraces facing the park.

The entry rooms are the 50-sqm Deluxe Rooms, while the suites start with the 102sqm Gardenia Suites and range all the way to the 389-sqm Ritz-Carlton Suite.

The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge is on the 23rd floor and serves up five daily culinary presentations to club guests.

Other facilities include three dining experiences, including modern French restaurant Duet by David Toutain, led by Michelin-starred chef and culinary prodigy Valentin Fouache.

Naturally, the property also features a The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a space with five treatment rooms, a couple’s spa suite, and a relaxing pod, complemented by a state-of-the-art gym, and two swimming pools – including a dedicated kids’ pool.

“As the first Ritz-Carlton property in Bangkok, we bring local traditions and culture alive through imaginative, immersive experiences, including performances, activities, and artistic journeys,” says Tina Liu, the hotel’s general manager.

“Our stays are designed to create memorable moments that resonate with our guests, paying homage to Thailand’s ‘cultural bloom’ – the evolution from its graceful past to its exciting future.”

For details, visit marriott.com.

AFTER THREE DECADES, EMIRATES CANCELS SINGAPORE-MELBOURNE ROUTE

It’s extraordinarily unusual that Emirates would cancel a route. After all, ever since it was founded in the mid-1980s Dubai’s well-known airline has expanded year after year. But there is now news that Emirates will axe its fifth-freedom Singapore-Melbourne service effective March 30, 2025.

Some people on social media are saying that Emirates was unable to compete with the other five carriers on this route. Nothing is further from the truth, however. It’s all to do with the world of ‘aeropolitics’ (where governments negotiate traffic rights behind the scenes) and the fact that fifth-freedom rights, despite the name, are a privilege and not a right, even after 30 years.

Emirates will lose fifth-freedom rights but in return it can now operate as many as three daily non-stop flights from Dubai to Melbourne.

Emirates will deploy one of its Boeing 777-300ERs for the flights shown below:

• EK404 Dubai-Melbourne 2155-1740 (following day arrival)
• EK405 Melbourne-Dubai 2355-0500 (following day arrival)

Regular passengers may note the enhanced connection possibilities via the Dubai hub. If you are wondering whether the Melbourne departures are too late or too early for the curfew then remember that, unlike Sydney, Melbourne has no strict curfew.

Once Emirates axes the route, airlines operating from Singapore to Melbourne include Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Turkish Airlines plus budget carriers Scoot and Jetstar.

For additional information, visit emirates.com.

KLM’S FIFTH FREEDOM FLIGHT FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO JAKARTA: A FULL-SERVICE BARGAIN

Travellers in Southeast Asia can enjoy a premium European flight experience on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ (feature photo) fifth freedom route between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Jakarta (CGK). This flight, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offers a comfortable alternative to budget carriers, often at competitive fares. Despite the short 1,125-km journey, KLM provides full-service benefits, including a meal and inflight entertainment with seatback screens offering movies, games, and a flight map.

The widebody aircraft is in a three-class configuration, with economy, premium economy (called Premium Comfort), and business class.

This route, a continuation of KLM’s Amsterdam–Kuala Lumpur–Jakarta service, is one of the few remaining fifth freedom flights operated by a European carrier in Southeast Asia. Departing six days a week, the flight lasts about two hours. With prices similar to those of low-cost airlines, KLM provides a more premium, full-service option for those seeking a comfortable and efficient trip​ to the Indonesian capital city.

To learn more, visit klm.com.my.

CAPELLA EXPANDS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

Capella Hotel Group is expanding its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region. The growth includes properties in Taipei, Macau, and Kyoto, along with a Patina property in Osaka.

Capella Taipei (pictured above) is set to debut in the first quarter of 2025 along Dunhua North Road. Designed by Andre Fu, the 86-key property embodies Fu’s concept of a “modern mansion,” offering an urban retreat in the Songshan district.

With Fu’s signature “Relaxed Luxury” aesthetic woven throughout its spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views of Taipei 101 and the distant mountains, while five distinct dining venues create a culinary narrative.

Capella at Galaxy Macau is set to open in the second quarter of 2025 with 93 art-filled accommodations. The property’s design pays homage to the city’s heritage through light-filled ‘Sky Villas’ and suites that promise to offer a new perspective on luxury.

Meanwhile, Patina Osaka, also opening in Q2 2025, is a 221-key property drawing its design inspiration from water. Situated opposite the historic Osaka Castle and adjacent to Naniwanomiya-ato Park, the property hopes to create a dynamic dialogue between past and present.

The arrival experience on the 20th floor offers castle views, while distinctive features include P72, the signature restaurant celebrating Japan’s 72 micro-seasons, and The Listening Room by OJAS .

Furthermore, Capella Kyoto – opening in the fourth quarter of next year, is an intimate 89-key property in the historic Miyagawa-chō district drawing its design inspiration from the neighbourhood’s cultural heritage.

“Design is an emotional journey, not just an aesthetic choice,” said Cristiano Rinaldi, president of Capella Hotel Group. “With these openings, we’re expanding from eight properties to twelve by the end of 2025, with plans to double our portfolio by 2030. Future projects include a branded residential development in Seoul and hotels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Tianjin, China,” he added.

To learn more, visit capellahotelgroup.com.