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Rolls-Royce wins
US$350 million order from THAI
Rolls-Royce has won an order worth around $350 million
from Thai Airways International (THAI) for Trent 500 engines to power eight
long-range Airbus A340s. The order comprises five A340-600s and three
A340-500s with deliveries commencing in March 2005.
THAI is an existing operator of the Rolls-Royce Trent
engine family, having been the launch customer of the Trent 800 powered
Boeing 777 which entered service in April 1996. Thai Airways International
has a total of 14 Trent-powered aircraft in service, including eight Boeing
777-200s and six Boeing 777-300s.
Mike Terrett, President - Civil Aerospace, said, “This
announcement further underlines the success of the Rolls-Royce Trent family
of engines and the popularity of the Trent 500 powered A340s. We are
delighted at the prospect of strengthening our relationship with Thai
Airways International.”
Luv Mum Charity Fashion Show
Amari
Watergate Hotel, led by Pierre Andre Pelletier (6th right) in cooperation
with UBC Social News, led by Avasada Pokmontri (8th right) recently jointly
held a charity fashion show titled, “UBC Social News Luv Mum” on the
occasion of Mother’s Day at Watergate Ballroom, Amari Watergate Hotel. The
event included a fashion show of socialites, with moms and children on
stage, including M.L. Laksasubha Kridakon, Sunongnart Sutabutr, Marisa
Mahawongtrakul, Dr. Chommanart Rattanamanee, and Rommanee Thienprasit. All
proceeds from the event will be donated to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in
honor of Her 71st Birthday Anniversary.
Railway Authority donates
old trucks to make coral reefs
One hundred ageing and disused railway trucks may not
seem like much of a birthday present, but the gift presented on August 12 to
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will be
instrumental in preserving some of the Kingdom’s rare and beautiful coral.
Sukaman Sritula, head of the SRT’s public relations
division, explained that the SRT had selected 100 ageing freight trucks kept
at the Makkasan, Nakhon Ratchasima and Uttradit engine workshops to present
as a gift to HM the Queen in honor of her 71st birthday. The trucks will be
used in Royal projects to revive coastal life in the southern provinces of
Pattani and Narathiwat, where they will be made into artificial coral reefs.
The SRT has agreed to clean the trucks and remove
unnecessary equipment, before sending the trucks to Chonburi, from where the
Fisheries Department will load them onto boats to be taken to their final
destinations.
This was the second time which the SRT had given trucks
to HM the Queen, the first being in 2001, when 210 trucks were handed over.
(TNA)
Myanmar relaxes FEC requirements
In a move welcomed by the travel trade, free independent
travelers (FIT) visiting Myanmar no longer must buy the minimum US$200 worth
of foreign exchange certificates (FEC) previously required by law.
US sanctions have caused the FEC, which is pegged to the
US dollar, to depreciate in value. One FEC was equivalent to US$1.
Previously those with FIT visas had to buy the FEC upon
arrival. They could make purchases using the FEC but some establishments did
not want to accept the currency. It also meant that they had to spend at
least 200 FEC (US$200) in the country. Only those who had bought in excess
of US$200 could have the extra amount exchanged back to US dollars at the
airport on their departure.
Meanwhile, US sanctions have also caused American banks
such as MasterCard and Visa to temporarily cease trading since end July.
Tourists going to the destination should bring cash or arrange for financial
transfers with local operators. (TTG Asia)
Japanese Prince Akishino participates in Thai tourism seminar
His Imperial Highness Japanese Prince Akishino, who
recently visited the Thai kingdom with his wife and daughter, gave a special
lecture on ecotourism as part of an ecotourism and ornithology seminar
organized by the Office of Tourism Development.
The office’s Director-General, Sasithara
Phichaichannarong, said that Prince Akishino spoke before an audience of
ecotourism experts at a seminar held at Khao Yai National Park.
Noting that ecotourism was growing in popularity among
both domestic and foreign tourists, Sasithara stressed the importance of
developing the ecotourism sector, in particular ornithology trips, in a
manner that ensured the sustainability of the ecosystem.
Pointing to the fact that Thailand was home to a huge
number of pristine environments suitable for tourism and study, with a
wealth of birdlife including species native to the kingdom, he expressed
hope that the seminar would help the Office of Tourism Development to draw
up plans to protect local environments, solve problems, and develop
ecotourism destinations, with a suitable dispersal of tourist revenue. (TNA)
Thais to have e-passports next year
Thai nationals will soon hold e-passports,
thanks to the government’s plan to introduce the e-passports by mid 2004.
Information and Communications Technology Minister M.D. Surapong Suebwonglee
said that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information and
Communications Technology had agreed to introduce electronic passports, or
e-passports, for Thai citizens.
The move intends to facilitate traveling to the United
States of Thai nationals, as Washington had required that all foreigners
wanting to enter the United States must hold e-passports as of October 2004
to weed out fake passports.
With the e-passports, computer chips containing personal
data and information of individual passport holders would be installed in
each passport, making it difficult for cheaters to alter the data and
information.
“The e-passports will be introduced in Thailand by mid
2004 at the latest to smooth the process for Thai nationals wanting to
travel to the United States, and even to other countries which are expected
to follow the US move in the future,” M.D. Surapong said. (TNA)
Eastern & Oriental Express train
offers new Thai Explorer
The luxurious Eastern & Oriental
Express train is launching a Thai Explorer itinerary in northern Thailand in
its 2004 program. The new two-night itinerary, Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Chiang Mai-Lampang-
Kanchanaburi (River Kwai)-Bangkok, first offered to E&O customers during
the SARS epidemic as an alternative to the Bangkok-Singapore route, proved
so popular that a decision was made to make it a regular feature.
There will be seven ‘Thai Explorer’ departure dates
next year (call +65 63923500 or visit www.orient-express.com for details,
with prices starting at 2,210 Singapore dollars per person based on two
adults sharing a Pullman compartment (inclusive of all meals on board and
off train guided tours).
Passengers who choose to travel the traditional Singapore
to Bangkok route, combined with the Thai Explorer, in a state compartment,
will get three free nights at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok in
between itineraries. The E&O, which continues to operate its traditional
journey between Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore, celebrates its
10th anniversary in September. (TTG Asia)
Emirates and Continental Airlines begin code-share flights
Emirates, the Dubai-based international
carrier, and US-based Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) will start
code-sharing on flights between Dubai and the US via London Gatwick airport.
The link will also allow travelers on both carriers to enjoy access to one
another’s airport lounges, as well as enhanced frequent flyer benefits.
For travel from September 15, 2003 Continental will place
its CO flight code on Emirates services between Dubai and Gatwick connecting
with Continental flights to and from Houston and New York/Newark airports.
Emirates will place its EK code on Continental flights to and from Houston
and New York Newark connecting via Gatwick with Emirates services to Dubai.
Customers then check in just once, receiving seat assignments and boarding
passes to their final destination at the same time, and collecting their
bags at the end of their trip.
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