Friday, June 4 2010

PHUKET: In a show of confidence in tourism to Phuket, Firefly Airlines launched a host of new destination travel packages and promotional campaigns, including the ability to book tickets through mobile phones.

Angelina Fernandez, Firefly’s Head of Marketing & Communications, told a press conference at The Metropole hotel late last week that she didn’t think Phuket had been too badly affected by the recent unrest in Bangkok.

Firefly would maintain its current flight schedule of four round-trip flights a week between Penang and Phuket, and from October 31 will start operating daily flights to Samui.

“That tells you how confident we are about Thailand,” Ms Fernandez said.

Ms Fernandez said that the load factor on the Phuket-Penang route currently stands at 65% to 70%.

“We have no directional problems. The number of all leisure travelers and holidaymakers flying from Phuket to Penang compared with those flying from Penang to Phuket is very balanced,” she explained.

The new packages, launched under the pre-existing Firefly Holiday campaign, saw the Selangor-based ‘community’ airline greatly expand its range of destinations through increased integration with its parent company, Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

“Firefly Holiday has been around since we began operations, but it promoted only destinations Firefly served directly. But now it is integrated with MAS domestic services and to MAS destinations worldwide,” she explained.

To mark the launch, Ms Fernandez announced that Firefly is offering round-trip flights from Phuket to Penang for 3,560 baht, and further abroad to Melbourne, via a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, for 33,350 baht, all inclusive.

Customized packages to cater to wedding trips, adventure holidays and romantic getaways, for example, were also available through the options offered on Firefly’s website, she added.

From a Phuket perspective, the new packages are perfect for foreigners in Phuket looking for a getaway or needing to make a ‘visa run’ to Penang, where there is a Thai consulate.

Firefly has no immediate plans to expand services.

“We simply do not have any more aircraft… We have just completed Phase I of our expansion. We now have seven aircraft and all of them are fully utilized. We will embark on Phase II when the board of directors and the management of Malaysia Airlines plans to have new aircraft.”

Firefly currently serves directly eight destinations in Malysia and 10 regional destinations.

The new packages are also available through Firefly’s new mobile phone booking service, also launched on May 25.

People can now book from literally anywhere, anytime, said Ms Fernandez.

The facility accepts payment by credit card, allowing people to book and pay for tickets for others.

“Parents can now book and pay for tickets for, say, their children or their grandparents, or even as a gift for someone,” she said.

To mark this service, Firefly offered a limited number of promotional one-way tickets between Phuket and Penang for just RM1 (one ringgit, about 12 baht).

Firefly currently flies Phuket-Penang with FY3605 departing at 2:05pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with return flight FY3604 departing Penang at 1:15pm on the same days. The flight takes 75 minutes

We are joining Malaysia’s ONLY Umrah & Muslim Travel Fair- MATTA INTERNATIONAL FAIR SELANGOR: UMRAH AND MUSLIM TRAVEL DESTINATIONS or MASUM 2010.

The MASUM 2010 has attracted many visitors from Malaysia and overseas over the years. The fair offers great bargains for Umrah & Muslim travel packages. Expect participation from travel agents, hotel, airlines and more at this exciting fairs!

Firefly will also be there for this once a year fair at BOOTH no. 83. Drop by and visit us and get great deal for tickets and packages. Our merchandise are also available for sale during these 3 days. So, hurry up and get your aircraft model now! They are priced at RM90 only!

The fair will begin this Friday to Sunday, 15- 17 January 2010 from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm at SACC Convention Centre, Shah Alam.

Do visit MASUM 2010 website at http://www.masum.com.my/content.cfm and join as fans at http://www.facebook.com/pages/MASUM-2010

Thank you.

The year 2009 was a good one for avid travellers. Of course, some of us were a little restrained by the wobbly economy and the health scares. But the plunging air fares, hotel rates and value-for-money tours were just too good to pass up.

In any case, those of us on a budget switched to exploring our own backyard. The plus side? We got to see Asia with fresh eyes.

So what does the crystal ball augur for 2010? Can travel industry folks brave the Year of the Tiger with cautious optimism? And are travellers going to enjoy even better deals?

“If 2009 was ‘The Year of the Deal’, 2010 will be ‘The Year of Value’,” says travel analyst Yeoh Siew Hoon.

“Travellers will continue seeking value, not only in terms of price and benefits, but in terms of travel experience. These could range from voluntourism (volunteer holidays) and green travel to specific activity-based holidays.”

The Singapore-based travel editor says three things will define the scene in Asia: low cost, Asia and value.               

“Low-cost airlines will dominate and continue to drive deals and change the way people live, work and play in Asia,” explains the Penang-born Malaysian with 25 years of experience in travel writing.

“It’s now possible to work in Singapore and live in Kuala Lumpur, for example, and commute to work, depending on the nature of your work and your income.”

Asia will be the main playground of Asians as new routes are being opened up by low-cost airlines such as Firefly, Yeoh adds.

Posted by azuan in :: All Posts ::, Featured Articles, Firefly Airline, Travel on 07 12th, 2009 | 10 responses

“Singapore offers experiences that are captivating beyond words”.At least that’s what written on the cover of my Singapore Guide Book. Some people call it great tourism branding but I just call it one heck of a good country to visit. I love KL, I love Malaysia but if I need a good weekend breakaway far from work and other daily stuff, I would choose Singapore definitely!

The only thing I hate about my many trips to Singapore is the traveling. I used to travel by bus and I’ve tried those executive/VIP express busses and it’s comfortable but the journey takes approximately 5 hours. That’s 10-hours for a return trip wasted being on the road out of 48-hours of weekend. And one way fare is RM90 in average!

(An old photo of me… don’t laugh!)

So when airlines start to offer low fares for flights to Singapore I was excited to have more options to spend my weekend in Singapore. Just recently Firefly has joined the fun and begins its flights to Singapore from Subang which offers me the best way to maximize my weekend in Singapore.

Yes!! no more 5-hours bus ride to Singapore or 1-hour drive to LCCT/KLIA. It’s only 15 minutes drive from Shah Alam to Subang and after a short 70 minutes flight, I’ll be in Singapore! And thanks to a well-planned schedule for Firefly Subang-Singapore flights, I can now leave Subang very early on Saturday (07:50am) and come back very late on Sunday (10:35pm) to maximize my weekend in Singapore and still get back on time for work on Monday.

I’m already planning my next 2D1N weekend breakaway trip to Singapore and here is the itinerary. Feel free to use it the next time you Firefly to Singapore

Note: Some of the photos used below are very ‘classic’ photos of mine. I know I look funny when I was younger (some say I still look funny now! Hehe), but try not to laugh too hard.

SINGAPORE 2 Days 1 Night Weekend Break! By AzuanZahdi.com

Day 1: Saturday

0600: Wake up early, grab your backpack and make way to Subang SkyPark.

0630: Check in at Subang SkyPark; enjoy a cup of coffee at Starbucks which opens early.

07:50: Enjoy a comfortable ride with Firefly’s ATR72-500. Start your day with a choice of juice/coffee/tea with free muffin!

09:05: Arrive in Singapore and breeze through the comfortable and efficient Budget Teminal Changi. Clear through immigration and customs within 20 minutes.

09:30: Board the free shuttle where you can shuttle conveniently between the terminal and Changi Airport Terminal 2 where you may access the MRT trains and public buses at Terminal 2 to connect to the city. Alternatively just get a taxi!

10:30: Take the MRT to Bugis Station. Visit the Arab Street or Kampong Glam area famous for its mosque, kampong style buildings and Zam Zam Murtabak! Have your brunch here. Try Murtabak, Briyani and Tulang!

12:30 : Make your way by MRT to Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station and take a 5-mins walk to National Museum of Singapore. Enjoy the beautiful collection of arts and history relevant to Singapore. A good place to chill out under the hot midday sun.

14:00 : Check-in to any hotel that suits your budget, take a nice shower and a short rest. There are many hotels available in Singapore. One of it being the Grand Mecure Hotel

15:00: Enjoy the nice views of Esplanade and Merlion Statue, two nice icons of Singapore.

16:00 Chill out at Singapore Flyer. Get into the 30-minute ride and enjoy the view of Singapore!

18:00 Time to do some shopping, famous for its cheap electronics, visit Sim Lim Square or Funan IT Mall. Make sure you visit various forums on the Internet prior to the visit to get the right price for you to bargain!

20:00 Enjoy the evening with a visit to Clarke Quay, enjoy the nice boat ride, dinner and unwind at any of the clubs for a great Saturday Night Fun!

23:00 Make your way to Little India and enjoy Mustafa Shopping Center. You can stay as long as you like as it’s a 24-hour shopping center and enjoy a variety of Indian food for supper!

Day 2

0900 – As early as possible, take the cable car to the Sentosa Island. It’s a nice way to reach Sentosa as you get to enjoy the thrill and view from up above

1000 – Beat the crowd and get yourself queue up for these 4D attractions:

1100 – Enjoy my personal favorite activity in Singapore – The Luge! Once is never enough!

12:00 Once you’re at Siloso Beach after the Luge ride, enjoy the beautiful and clean man-made beach. A good place to have lunch as well.

13:00 Take a walk around the beach area, discover the Southern most point of Asia and walked through this nice bridge to get a good view of Sentosa

14:00 Leave Sentoasa and head straight to Orhard Road. It goes without saying. Shop till you drop! Have late lunch at any of the shopping malls there.

18:00 Take a break from shopping and enjoy this delicious ice-cream wafer.

19:00 Leave Orchard Road and head towards Newton Food Centre, enjoy a variety of local food. I highly recommend TULANG!

20:00 Make your way to Changi Budget Terminal via taxi to catch your flight. Don’t worry about excess baggage as Firefly allows 20KG of free check-in bags. That’s more than enough for most people! Even if you exceed the limit, the charges are competitive so do not worry too much

21:00 Have your dinner at the Departure Hall of Budget Terminal. Lots of good choices

22:35: Leave Singapore with lots of fun, memories, photos and shopping bags! Ready for a trip back to work or to the clinic for MC the next day

******

Firefly is offering flight to Singapore via Subang started on July 1. Believe it or not, it’s only RM88 to Singapore for JULY ONLY! So, hurry up and grab those tickets now! Now you can spend your weekend shopping at the Great Singapore Sale 2009 affordably!