DOHA: Qatar Airways has announced a huge expansion in Thailand with the introduction of a third daily flight to Bangkok, effective Nov. 1. The increase in capacity comes three weeks after the airline launches scheduled flights to the Thai resort of Phuket. The Bangkok service will facilitate increasing demand from many parts of the world, particularly Europe, and North and South America travelers heading for Thailand. The carrier’s Northern Winter schedule upgrades offer convenient connections for travelers both in and out of the Thai capital. The additional Bangkok service will continue to Vietnam with four of the flights heading onward to the capital Hanoi and three onto Ho Chi Minh City. Passengers originating in Thailand or Vietnam can also purchase tickets to fly between Bangkok and both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on the airline. Beginning Oct. 12, the carrier introduces six-flights-a-week to Phuket via Kuala Lumpur. With the Bangkok flights, the airline’s Thai operations will step up from 21 to 27 flights a week across two destinations. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the expansion in Thailand reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to one of its most important markets.

JEDDAH: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will progressively introduce an electronic version of magazines on its award-winning KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system. As a first step, the airline will offer in electronic format its three in-flight magazines — SilverKris, KrisShop and KrisWorld — as part of a trial with a privately held Singapore-based company. SilverKris, SIA’s travel magazine; KrisShop, the airline’s in-flight sales catalogue; and KrisWorld, SIA’s in-flight entertainment guide; will be the first publications featured as part of the in-flight entertainment system offerings. The SmarttPapers application uses a patented file compression technology to compress and transform magazines and newspaper contents into a digital format for integration into the in-flight entertainment system. In line with efforts to reduce the amount of paper carried on board, thus reducing weight and saving fuel, the airline aims to extend this initiative to other publications at a later date, including menu cards and the more than 100 international and local magazines currently carried systemwide. The plan is also to introduce e-newspapers and e-books on board.

JEDDAH: Elaf Group CEO Ziyad Ahmed Bin Mahfouz recently met a Turkish delegation headed by Minister of Industry and Trade Nihat Ergun in Jeddah. The delegation’s agenda included a meeting with the Elaf Travel and Tourism Group to discuss the joint cooperation and explore the facilities available to Turkish tourists visiting the Kingdom for various purposes including Umrah and Haj. Bin Mahfouz said: “Turkey represents a key market for the Kingdom and for the Elaf Group in particular, especially since numerous pilgrims from Turkey visit for Umrah and Haj. We believe this meeting with the Turkish minister will go a long way in further boosting bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. In addition, Turkey is one of the preferred holiday destinations for Saudi families.” Bin Mahfouz also escorted the visiting delegation on a tour across Jeddah’s Elaf Hotel at the Red Sea and the Red Sea Mall. The delegation expressed their admiration on the idea of operating a hotel within a commercial shopping center that attracts families and businessmen.

JEDDAH: Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, is introducing daily direct flights to Colombo from Mumbai and Delhi, effective Nov. 5. The airline will deploy a state-of-the-art 170-seater Boeing 737-800 for the service to this SAARC country. The two new flights serving Sri Lanka and India are in addition to the existing daily Chennai-Colombo service, with which the airline launched its international operations in 2004. The airline will also commence daily non-stop flights from New Delhi to Milan from Dec. 5. The service on the India-Italy route will make Milan the 24th international destination on Jet Airways’ network. The airline will introduce this new service to the fashion and design capital of the world using its state-of-the-art Airbus 330-200 aircraft. This new flight, the only one to offer a direct air link on the India — Italy route will also effectively utilize New Delhi’s new state-of-the-art Terminal 3, as an operational hub offering seamless connectivity to and from India. Meanwhile, the airline and IBM signed a strategic 10-year business transformation and IT services agreement valued at $62 million.