CONVERGENCE NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016

Chinese tourists can now fly
directly to Melaka Airport
China Southern Airlines uses an Airbus A319 for the Guangzhou Melaka route
The state of Melaka will soon see an increase in Chinese tourists.
With China Southern Airlines allowing passengers to fly directly
to the Melaka International Airport (LTAM) at Batu Berendam
via the Guangzhou Melaka route using an Airbus A319, tourist
figures are expected to increase up to three million in 2017
compared to around 879,000 currently.
The maiden flight took place on September 29 at the airport and
was witnessed by Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Idris Haron,
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee
Ka Siong and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang.
Airlines
The four-hour flight touched down at about 1.20pm, making
history for LTAM as the aircraft is the largest ever to land at
the airport.
Idris said the inaugural flight paved way for the Melaka-
Guangdong economic cooperation programme underlined
under a memorandum of understanding on friendly relations
between both states which was signed on September 21, last
year and gave an additional boost to trade and tourism
between Melaka and China.
He added that these direct flights were the beginning of a RM30
billion investment set to flow into the state over the next 20 years.
ANA launches new route from KLIA
to Tokyo's Haneda Airport
Passengers wishing to fly directly to
Tokyo's Haneda Airport can do so now
thanks to the All Nippon Airways (ANA)'s
new route between Haneda and KL
International Airport (KLIA).
The first passengers of the new route
were welcomed by a Malaysian cultural
troupe on October 30 accompanied by
General Manager of ANA Co.Ltd KUL
Branch, Roy Gay and General Manager
Operations of KLIA, Mohd Arif Jaafar.
Mohd Arif said, "Malaysia Airports is
thrilled and delighted to welcome ANA’s
new flight from Haneda Airport and this
new route will further promote KLIA’s
status as a preferred hub in the region.
Travellers from Japan now will have
more options for access to Kuala
Lumpur. I am confident with the launch
of this new route, it will also enhance
the image and reputation of ANA as a
transportation conduit among air
travellers in the region."
ANA’s daily service departs KLIA at
2.15pm (MST) and arrives at Tokyo’s
Haneda Airport at 10.15pm (JST). The
return flight departs Tokyo at 12.05am
(JST) and arrives KLIA at 6.35am (MST).
By offering night-time service to contrast
with its existing daytime service between
Narita and Kuala Lumpur, ANA is giving
its passengers more choices for access
to Kuala Lumpur from Japan and also to
make effective use of Haneda's
convenient location near the heart of the
Tokyo metropolitan area. Haneda Airport
is located less than 30 minutes south of
central Tokyo, considerably closer to the
city centre than Narita Airport, Tokyo’s
other international airport.
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