EVA Air is launching new meal choices, especially for Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers on flights from Taipei to the United States, Canada, Australia and nonstop to Europe, from Oct 1 to Dec 31.
Passengers can now preview menus for all cabins in advance of flights and pre-select meals in Premium Economy Class in addition to Royal Laurel, Premium Laurel and Business.
Master chef Huang Ching Biao created a multi-course meal selection featuring signature steamed halibut with chopped chilli paste paired with his seasoned shrimp and lime vinaigrette, chayote vines salad with pine nuts and water chestnut cake with osmanthus for dessert, all served in traditional Tan-banquet style.
Evergreen Sky Catering celebrity chef Joe Huang also designed a new meatless main course of artichoke with plant-based lasagna preceded by an appetiser of layered plant-based crepes filled with chopped truffles and accompanied by an apricot tart with oriental beauty tea jelly for dessert.
Both meals are presented on tableware from Singapore luxury brand Luzerne, elegantly plated and accompanied by appetisers, bread and desserts. Availability is limited to eight special meals in Premium Economy and 12 in Economy Class. Passengers can upgrade to one of these Royal Laurel or Business Class meals for approximately 950 baht before departure.
Ticketed passengers can purchase these limited dining selections now by logging into Manage Your Trip on the official EVA Air website or EVA Mobile APP from 21 days until 24 hours before their scheduled departures.
Visit evaair.com.
U-Tapao airport adopts the ACUS platform
The U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya Airport announced its collaboration with Amadeus to adopt its Airport Cloud Use Service (ACUS), a cloud-based platform that maximises the use of terminal check-ins and boarding areas. In the wake of the global pandemic, the travel industry including airports need to remain agile in managing the fluctuating demand for air travel.
ACUS enables the airport to easily scale back, or up, to meet traveller demands. Due to the lockdowns and travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of flights in 2021 was 30% compared to 2019.
Furthermore, at U-Tapao airport, passengers are mainly tourists, and this means that demand drops after the winter months. Therefore, the number of airlines operating at the airport also fluctuates. By deploying ACUS, the airport will be able to move airline service points to another location easily, effectively shutting down a terminal and reducing operational costs during the offseason. Fast forward to today, as travel rebuilds and restrictions have eased, Thailand is expecting an influx of as many as 1.5 million travellers to the country per month during high seasons, and U-Tapao will be able to scale back up accordingly and be ready to re-establish routes.
With ACUS, the U-Tapao airport can use a shared, common-use platform and connect multiple airlines, airports and ground handlers to access critical passenger servicing information and applications safely, from anywhere -- from one airport to multiple airports and even to off-airport locations. The U-Tapao airport can serve any passenger, no matter which airline they fly on, from any check-in desk or terminal.
Emirates joins United Airlines to expand destinations. (Photo: Spark Communications)
Emirates, United ink agreement to enhance network
Emirates and United recently signed a historic commercial agreement that will enhance each airline's network and give customers easier access to hundreds of new destinations within the United States and around the world.
From November, Emirates customers flying into Chicago, San Francisco and Houston will be able to easily connect to United flights to and from nearly 200 cities across the Americas on a single ticket.
At the eight other US airports served by Emirates -- Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC -- both airlines will have an interline arrangement in place.
United will launch a new direct flight between New York/Newark and Dubai starting in March 2023 -- and from there, customers will be able to travel on Emirates or its sister airline flydubai to more than 100 cities. Tickets for United's new Dubai flight are now on sale.
Customers of both airlines can soon book these connecting flights on a single ticket -- making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier. For example -- travellers will be able to visit United.com or use the United app to book a flight from New York/Newark to Karachi, Pakistan or go to Emirates.com to book a flight from Dubai to Atlanta or Honolulu.
LUX opens Shangri-La in Yunnan Province
Global hospitality group The Lux Collective announced the opening of LUX* Tea Horse Road Shangri-La in the heart of Shangri-La, Yunnan Province.
Conveniently located near famous landmarks, the new hotel is a 10-minute drive from Shangri-La Airport, a 20-minute drive to Kadam Songtsam Monastery and Shikha Snow Mountain, and a 30-minute journey to the nature and biodiversity of Napa Sea Wetland Nature Reserve and Pudacuo National Park.
The hotel is designed by award-winning local Yunnan designer Li Zhong who specialises in creating a deep sense of place by drawing upon the natural surroundings and cultural heritage. Inspired by historic townhouses of the ancient city of Dukezong (also known as Moonlight City), the hotel's 18 exquisitely designed guestrooms and suites are built on the undulating slopes of Little Turtle Mountain. Combining traditional handicraft elements, sleek lines and a neutral palette with the use of natural woods and materials, the design exudes rich Tibetan culture, which is woven into the fabric of the town.
Visit luxresorts.com.
Suite at LUX* Tea Horse Road Shangri-La.
