Brunei

With a healthy selection of options facing the business travel buyer, booking flights to the Far East is no mean feat. Liz Baker takes a look at the options for reaching 16 destinations across the region.

SINGAPORE Airlines’ plan to launch A380 services from London this winter (March) should herald a new era of much-needed extra capacity on routes between the UK and Far East. Should, but won’t; at least not in the immediate term.

Forget, for a moment, the popular side debates as to whether or not travellers in the double-bedded but far from soundproof ‘suites’ should ditch polite protocol and join the mile-high club. Or whether the beleaguered Heathrow is fit to handle the loading and unloading of the 471-seat aircraft without descending into yet further chaos.

On its own admission and without ‘going tech’ with a 30% extra passenger load, SIA effectively needs a minimum two of the superjumbos to operate London-Singapore; more if it is to fly all three of its daily services with the A380.And that’s not going to happen until next year at the earliest.

At the same time, competitor airlines on UK-Far East routes, with A380 deliveries immediately due, including Qantas, Emirates and Korean Air, have been ominously coy about their deployment, citing factors including aircraft weight, end-to-end support services and other logistics before committing to dates.

Things may change when carriers including Thai International Airways, Malaysian Airlines, British Airways, Virgin, Qatar Airways and Etihad, begin to incorporate the aircraft – deemed ideal for UK- Far East routes - into fleets between 2010 and 2015.

In the meantime, a handful of A380s is unlikely to prove an instant panacea in a market in which it can be hard to secure premium seats to key points, despite Far East destinations consistently being forecast and proven, along with their economic performance over the past 10 years, as among the fastest growing and most competitive in the world.

This, in turn, is due to another long list of contributory influences, including some die-hard state protectionism hampering the global move towards multilateral open skies, prompting often anti-competitive or truncated route development and poor yields.

In addition, following a period of rapid growth into the region inspired by predatory Middle Eastern or home-grown start-ups, airlines flying to or within the region are starting to consolidate as they try to balance new aircraft purchases and juggle future capacity with downward fare adjustments to combat low cost carriers while battling increasing fuel, labour and airport costs.

All factors, regardless of the A380 hype, that reflect a market in transition and underline a modest 3% growth, along with an overall squeeze on business seats, between Europe and the Far East during the past year.

The X factor
It could be Stansted, Luton or Manchester… all airports short-listed for the proposed launch this year of low-cost business flights to and from the Far East by AirAsia X.

The long-haul subsidiary of Manchester United sponsor and Asia’s largest and most profitable LCC, the Kuala Lumpur-based carrier is proposing business class roundtrips, including substantially bigger than economy seats but without free meals or an FFP, for about £500. It joins Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, serving Gatwick, in offering 50% or more discounts to UK business travellers to the Far East.

Jetstar Asia, based in Singapore, and Viva Macau are other specialist long-haul LCCs throwing down the gauntlet to legacy carriers in a regional low-cost market that has mushroomed during the past five years.

India, with nine LCCs, and Singapore, with four, add to the AirAsia combo with the most comprehensive selection of routes, predominantly in a Southeast Asian arena also served by five Indonesian, three Thai, two Filipino and one Vietnamese LCC.

Slower to develop, due initially to regulatory restrictions, but fast catching up are North Asian destinations. Japan now has four LCCs, China three (including Oasis and Viva) and South Korea two.

Bangkok
The capital of Thailand ranks alongside Singapore as a key transport hub for Southeast Asia as well as being the primary national gateway for agricultural, marine and textile exports plus high-tech, high-end imports and tourism. Although subject to military rule, complex hierarchical customs and hard to fathom legal systems, Bangkok remains one of the most cost-effective regional bases for a variety of multinationals in the financial services, pharmaceutical, electronics and automotive sectors.

Thai Airways International flies double daily; British Airways and Qantas daily plus EVA Air six times weekly non-stop from Heathrow to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Onward connections are offered from UK points by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air  and Etihad. Connections via Europe are provided by China Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, Air Portugal, Alitalia, SAS and Finnair.

Beijing
The host city to the 2008 Olympic Games is the capital and  administrative centre of China. With a metro area spanning 80km and surrounded by economic development zones, Beijing houses a municipal population of 15 million and is home to foreign banks, universities, manufacturing and service industries, notably in the IT sector.

Much recent development, including a huge influx of international hotels and restaurants, has been geared for completion in time for the Games, viewed by government as an opportunity to present Beijing globally as a showpiece capital.

Air China and British Airways fly six times weekly non-stop from Heathrow to the recently-extended Capital Airport. Daily connections are provided by Cathay Pacific/Dragonair via Hong Kong; Singapore Airlines via Singapore and Qatar Airways via Doha. Etihad is considering flights from Heathrow or Manchester via Abu Dhabi in 2008. Finnair provides rapid direct flights from the UK via Helsinki. Additional European carriers with connections include KLM and Lufthansa.

Brunei
This oil-rich sultanate on the north-eastern edge of Borneo is fast gaining attention as a tax-efficient regional base for UK businesses.

English-speaking and with a skilled labour force to supplement a raft of incentives, Brunei is located within short flying time of most key centres in the Far East.

With new extended range aircraft, Royal Brunei is launching daily non-stop flights from Heathrow to the recently expanded hub airport at Bandar Seri Begawan. Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways International offer daily connections.

Colombo
International cricket and tourism hog the limelight while civil strife and heightened security continue to overshadow the much-liberalised, long-term competitive attributes of the capital of Sri Lanka.

The island couples a skilled, educated workforce with low labour costs and thirst for foreign investment in a wide range of sectors from textiles and rubber to telecommunications.

Sri Lankan Airlines flies 12 times weekly direct from Heathrow to Bandaranaike International Airport.

Hanoi
The capital, political and intellectual centre of Vietnam is where UK exports, worth in the region of £100 million per year, are officially vetted and rubber stamped by government.

Air France flies three times weekly from UK points via Paris to Noi Bai International Airport. Also with UK connections, Vietnam Airlines flies three times weekly from both Paris and Frankfurt.

Ho Chi Minh City
The commercial centre of Vietnam and principal gateway to a fast growing economy with countless opportunities for UK business in a wide variety of fields from industrial machinery, transport and agriculture to telecommunications, medicinal and precision instruments.

With connections from the UK, Air France flies four times weekly from Paris to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Vietnam Airlines flies three times weekly from Paris and twice weekly from Frankfurt.

Hong Kong
A regional Jack of all trades and master of all, Hong Kong remains the preferred point of entry for UK business in China.

With another 40 (of 50) years to run as a largely autonomous Special Administrative Region of the mainland, a free market economy is assured here in trade, commerce and transhipping of or in virtually anything and everything. Cathay Pacific Airways flies four times daily from Heathrow to Hong Kong International, the world’s largest airport. British Airways flies three times daily and Virgin Atlantic, Qantas and Air New Zealand daily from Heathrow. Oasis Airlines flies10 times weekly from Gatwick.

Emirates, Qatar Airways and Gulf Air provide daily connections via The Gulf. Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways nternational and Royal Brunei fly via their gateways.

Connections via Europe are offered by many airlines.

Jakarta
Little, if any, business of any size can be conducted in any of Indonesia’s 13,000 islands without a visit here.

This sprawling capital, seat of government and bureaucratic behemoth is base to  foreign banks, institutions or organisations dealing in, among others, financial services, health, intellectual property, oil and gas, timber and textiles.

Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines fly daily from Heathrow via their gateways to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Emirates and Qatar Airways operate daily and Etihad six times weekly via The Gulf.

Kuala Lumpur
Transformed from a sleepy administrative town into a slick city, KL now challenges Singapore and Bangkok as a primary air and accommodation hub for Southeast Asia. At the same time its stock in trade has broadened from timber, rubber and tin to encompass the manufacture or assembly of computers, cars, chemicals, mobile phones and electronics.

KL is one of the most inexpensive and economically viable places to conduct business in the Far East.

Malaysia Airlines flies double daily non-stop from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines  Thai Airways International and Royal Brunei flies offer connections.

Manila
Tamer and more organised than previously, the capital of The Philippines is an opportunistic and competitive centre for business.

Special economic zones, tax incentives and an English-speaking labour force help to make this irreverent but IT savvy city an increasingly formidable partner for UK trade and investment.

Cathay Pacific flies daily from Heathrow to Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Hong Kong. Also providing daily or onward flights are Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International, Emirates, Gulf Air, Etihad  and KLM.

Osaka
The fashion industry capital of Japan is also a base for electronics and power giants. Japan Airlines flies daily non-stop from Heathrow to Kansai International. ANA flies daily via Tokyo. Airlines including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Emirates and Qatar Airways connect via their gateways.

Seoul
Home to major corporations and multinationals, the newly hip and outward- looking capital of South Korea is venue for growing UK trade in sectors including creative design and media, TV and film, IT, agriculture, chemicals, marine engineering and automotive sports.

Korean Air flies daily and Asiana Airlines four times weekly from Heathrow to Incheon International Airport. Direct links are available via Europe with KLM and other carriers.

Shanghai
Nicknamed Blade Runner City for its futuristic skyline, China’s foremost industrial, trading and commercial centre is also its primary international business and meetings venue. High-tech, high powered Shanghai is also the country’s most populous city (18.5 million).

Virgin Atlantic flies daily non-stop from Heathrow to Pudong International Airport. British Airways and China Eastern fly five times weekly. Direct flights are offered by a variety of European, Gulf and Far Eastern carriers.

Singapore
A financial centre and base for more than 700 UK companies. Compact, ordered, functional and proficient, English-speaking Singapore is generally regarded as the premier gateway to Southeast Asia.

Singapore Airlines flies three times daily from Heathrow and daily from Manchester to the newly extended Changi International. British Airways and Qantas fly double daily from Heathrow. Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Royal Brunei and most European carriers provide daily connections.

Taipei

China’s breakaway sibling and capitalist alter ego. Who dares wins is the motto in this fast-paced and industrious capital of Taiwan, best known these days for its quality computers and bicycles.

EVA Air flies six times weekly direct from Heathrow to Chiang kai Shek International Airport. Cathay Pacific connects daily via Hong Kong.

Tokyo
Economic crises in recent years have made the capital of Japan more open amenable effective to western business in a variety of manufacturing and service sectors.

Tokyo is also the major distribution point for more cost effective Japanese products, including electronic gadgets, food and drink, arts and crafts.

British Airways flies twice daily and Virgin Atlantic, ANA and Japan Airlines  daily from Heathrow to Narita Airport. There are also multiple connections offered by European. Middle and Far Eastern carriers serving the UK.

THE CARBON COST
The table below shows the distance covered by a return flight between London and the destination, along with the approximate carbon emissions and the cost of offsetting it with The CarbonNeutral Company.