Firefly’s Sept 1 date for flight to Singapore

The country’s first community airline, Firefly, will begin its maiden flight to Singapore from Batu Berendam Airport here on Sept 1.

The Malacca-Singapore route would have three flights a week — on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

As an introductory offer, the tickets for the one-way trip from Malacca to Singapore would be available at only RM88.

Managing director Eddy Leong said the Firefly flights would leave the Batu Berendam Airport at 4.10pm and land at the Changi Budget Terminal in Singapore at 5.10pm.

The flight from the island republic to the World Heritage City of Malacca will leave at 2.45pm and arrive at the Batu Berendam Airport one hour later.

“This route reflects our commitment to the Malacca state overnment to help boost tourism in the state.

“We will be promoting the historical city through various unique and interesting holiday packages, such as Discovering the Historical Heritage of Malacca, Shopping for Antiques, or simply a Baba-Nyonya Family Holiday.

“These packages will not only allow Singaporeans to visit Malacca, but also expatriates, transit passengers and other travellers,” he said, after a briefing with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and the state executive council members at Seri Negeri, here, yesterday.

Leong also said flights from Singapore to Malacca would help promote the state as a major health tourism hub in the region.

“Malacca is a fast emerging healthcare hub in the region and the Malacca-Singapore route will bring in more tourists in the category.”

Mohd Ali said the newly upgraded airport at Batu Berendam was expected to receive more than 500,000 passengers within the next three years.

The airport, which will be renamed Malacca International Airport by year end after a RM131.5 million upgrade, is targeted to boost the state as a hub for health tourism.

Source : The New Straits Times

Singapore Airlines begins daily A330-300 service to Nagoya

Singapore Airlines commenced daily Airbus A330-300 services between Singapore and Nagoya, Japan, with effect from today. The daily services replace the Airline’s five times weekly Boeing B777 operations on the route.

The inaugural A330-300 flight to Nagoya took off from Singapore’s Changi Airport at 0100 hrs this morning, arriving at Central Japan International Airportat 0830hrs (all times local).

The arrival of the aircraft into Nagoya coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Airline’s operation of services into the city.

Nagoya is the first Japanese city to receive Singapore Airlines’ A330-300 aircraft. Osaka will be the second when the Airline replaces its daily B777 services to Osaka with A330-300 services in early 2010.

Singapore Airlines currently operates A330-300 services to and from three Australian cities, i.e. Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Said Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice-President Operations and Services, Mr Mak Swee Wah: “We are delighted to commence A330-300 services into Nagoya. We are confident that our Japanese customers will be happy with our latest product offerings, specially designed for regional and medium-haul routes. It also reaffirms our commitment to constantly enhance our product offerings to provide our customers the very best travel experience.”

The Singapore Airlines A330-300 is configured in a two-class layout with 30 new Business Class seats and 255 Economy Class seats.

The Business Class cabin is laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration (distinct from the existing B777 on these routes, which is in 2-3-2 layout) and features a new Business Class seat, specially designed for regional and medium-haul routes. The seat converts to an incline lie-flat bed and offers enhanced levels of comfort, privacy and functionality.

The Economy Class cabin is laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. Featured are the new generation Singapore Airlines Economy Class seats, currently available on the Airline’s B777-300ER and A380 aircraft. They are ergonomically designed to provide customers with an unsurpassed level of comfort, with more personal space and increased legroom.

All seats will feature the new KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, and in a world first, iPod and iPhone connectivity in every seat, including Economy Class.

Singapore Airlines currently has eight A330-300s in its fleet, with another 11 A330-300s due to be delivered between now and 2010.

The Singapore Airlines A330-300 will operate daily scheduled flights to and from Nagoya as follows:

SCHEDULED A330-300 NAGOYA SERVICES (NORTHERN SUMMER 2009)

Sector/Flight number Operating Departure Time Arrival Time

Singapore-Nagoya SQ672 Daily from 01 June 2009 0100 hours 0835 hours

Nagoya-Singapore SQ671 Daily from 01 June 2009 1100hrs* 1640hrs*

Source: eTurbo News