News in Asia

The third day the main office of national carrier of Thailand Thai Airways International is blocked by antigovernment demonstrators in Bangkok, but it will not cancel any flights.

Last Saturday new 25,1km road connecting Northern Vietnamese provinces Nam Dinh and Ha Nam was officially opened.

From 29 January the most popular destination in the northern Thailand Chiang Mai will be connected to Mandalay in Myanmar.

The frequent complaints about unscrupulous taxi drivers became a reason to strengthen control over taxi drivers by The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) of Malaysia.

In the frame of the national target plan for the welfare of elderly people the HCM City Centre for Public Transport Management reported, that they offer free bus rides to passengers older than 80 years.

One of the main Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific reported, that it plans to buy the rights to ownership Tigerair in Phillipines.

Last Friday the first commercial flight to Yogyakarta departed Halim Perdanakusuma Airport which will support congested main airport of Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

As the Transportation Minister of Indonesia EE Mangindaan said, the construction of Trans-Java double-track railway from Jakarta to Surabaya will be totally completed in March this year.

Popular budget carrier of Thailand Nok Air launched grand promotion for domestic and international travels from 8 February to 25 October this year. The price for one way flights including all taxes and fees starts from 999 baht.

Thai Air Asia continues to expand its influence in China and strengthen the status of Chiang Mai as the northern gateway of the Mekong Region.

The plan of expanding Transjakarta bus system’s fleet gave rise to the rumor that transport prices will rise. Nevertheless the Governor of Jakarta Joko “Jokowi” Widodo dispelled them.

In early February the air fleet of SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, will be expanded with 8 new Boeing 737s, which should support the actively developing airline.

On 3 February Malaysia Airlines will operate new route Kuala Lumpur – Krabi, Thailand four times a week on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

To meet the growing number of passengers by 50% the subway of Bangkok (MRT) and Airport Rail Link (ARL) will increase the train frequency on 13 January when the mass protests will be held in the capital of Thailand.

In preparation to the Bangkok's shutdown on 13 January because of the mass Thai opposition demostration Marine Department decided to increase the number of boats to ease transportation around the city.

Bus and taxi companies in Jakarta are preparing for transfer some flights of the major airlines from overcrowded Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

To reduce the functioning capacity of the main Indonesian Airport Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang the main carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to transfer 10 its flights to the Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport situated in East Jakarta.

At the end of this month the best low cost carrier of Southeast Asia – Air Asia will increase the number of flights to strengthen its influence in the Mekong Region, which is the most promising currently.

In spite of opposition leader Sutep Taugsuban said demonstrators will not block Airports of Bangkok during mass protest 13 January, Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Airports already try to prepare for the capital’s shutdown.

The passenger of unfortunate Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Baku, Azerbaijan are still awaiting.