Emirates Cancels Clark Route

Emirates will be cancelling its route between Clark International Airport and Dubai beginning on May 3, 2014 just 7 months after the route was launched at the start of October 2013. 

The route was launched with much fanfare as the first long haul route to be operated out of a Philippine gateway other than Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. But stiff competition and new capacity from Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, and Cebu Pacific undercut any hopes of the route's survival.

Earlier this year, the Centre for Aviation published a report indicating that the United Arab Emirates-Philippines market wassuffering from overcapacity. In the report, it was stated that capacity reductions are inevitable after 24 weekly non-stop flights were added between the two countries in the fourth quarter of 2013. 

Fares dropped to record low levels as the three Philippine carriers dumped capacity into the market while struggling to fill their new A330 aircraft. The Centre for Aviation warned that load factors could only be sustainable during peak periods and that if capacity was not reduced for the rest of the year, losses were likely for all carriers.

Malaysia Airlines Has Lost Contact With A Plane Carrying 239 People

Malaysia Airlines said it has lost contact with one of its airplanes that was carrying 239 people. The search is still ongoing.

The plane lost communication two hours into the flight in Vietnam’s airspace at 1.20am (10.20pm UAE Friday), China’s official Xinhua News Agency said. Vietnamese website VN Express said a Vietnamese search and rescue official reported that signals from the plane were detected about 120 nautical miles (140 miles; 225 kilometres) southwest of Vietnam’s southernmost Ca Mau province.


Malaysian Airline Statement:
MEDIA STATEMENT released at 7.24am/8 Mar 2014 MH370 Incident

Sepang, 8 March 2014: Malaysia Airlines confirms that flight MH370 has lost contact with Subang Air Traffic Control at 2.40am, today (8 March 2014).

Flight MH370, operated on the B777-200 aircraft, departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am on 8 March 2014. MH370 was expected to land in Beijing at 6.30am the same day. The flight was carrying a total number of 227 passengers (including 2 infants), 12 crew members.

Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft. 

The airline will provide regular updates on the situation. Meanwhile, the public may contact +603 7884 1234 for further info.

New7Wonders of Nature

These are the New7Wonders of Nature as announced at the New7Wonders headquarters in Zurich on 11.11.11.

Amazon: South America

The Amazon Rainforest (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela), also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres), located within nine nations. Read More Here

Ha Long Bay: Vietnam

Ha Long Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size with 1969 islets. Read More Here

Iguazu Falls: Argentina/Brazil

Iguazu Falls, in Iguazu River, are one of the world’s largest waterfalls. They extend over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles)  in a semi-circular shape.  Of the 275 falls that collectively make up Iguassu Falls, “Devil’s Throat” is the tallest at 80 m in height. Iguazu Falls are on the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, and are surrounded by two National Parks (BR/ARG). 

Jeju Island: South Korea

Jejudo is a volcanic island, 130 km from the southern coast of Korea. The largest island and smallest province in Korea, the island has a surface area of 1,846 sqkm.

Komodo: Indonesia

Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. 

PP Underground River: Philippines

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers.

Table Mountain: South Africa

Table Mountain is a South African icon and the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it – Mensa, meaning “the table.” The flat-topped mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species.

Read More Here