Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Starlux's new A330neo jacket, A330neo commercial flight launch and saliva test from 1 June 2022

Reports by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

News on aviation management, disease control, Taiwan

News (1)

Starlux Airlines' new aerial trip and A330neo jacket in conjunction with the aircraft commercial flight launch

Image : Facebook, Starlux

Starlux Airlines launches a new pleasure flight on 25 June 2022 that features Hong Kong delicacies and an experience on one of its wide-body Airbus A330neo airliners.

The aerial trip will highlight the coastal scenery of Taiwan facing the Pacific and the Miyako Islands in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture. The event is organized in collaboration with ezTravel and sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Passengers will be able to sample Michelin-starred Hong Kong cuisine in the airport lounge and partake in a raffle promising prizes of accommodation at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Tickets for the “micro-travel” venture start at NT$6,330 (US$216).

Meanwhile, the airline known for its dazzling marketing gimmicks has rolled out a second-edition flight jacket to mark the operation of the new A330neo jets from 1 June 2022. Brown on the outside and with a vibrant orange inner lining sporting a Starlux A330neo aircraft, the gender-neutral jacket comes in various sizes.

News (2)

Taiwan airlines seize business opportunities as countries reopen borders


Image : NTDTV Video Screenshot



Japan reopens its borders to foreign passengers on 10  June 2022. Airline and tourism operators have quickly launched promotional plans. Some airlines in Taiwan, together with credit card companies, issue airline co-branded cards. They are optimistic about the Japanese market after the unblocking in the second half of the year.

The airline industry and the Japanese business credit card co-branded, for Japan tourism, offering the highest activity reward of 19% to seize business opportunities in Japan.

Eiji Ishii, Chairman of Japan Business Credit Card, said, "Before the epidemic, there were 440,000 (Taiwanese tourists visiting Japan) per month, about 4.5 million per year, (after the tourist opening) I think the number will grow to more than 5 million, I hope there will be 10% of people who can hold our family card."

Chen Hanming, chairman of the airline, said, "The arrival of tourism for recovery should not be far away, and we are seeing the light of day. If border controls continue to be loosened, we will definitely continue to add more flights to Japan."

Previously, Tigerair Taiwan launched winter flights for a limited time and launched Japan-Korea package tickets. Before the sale of tickets on its website, the traffic was overloaded. 

EVA Air said that it is estimated that the number of passenger seats in the fourth quarter of the second half of the year can return to 50% of that in 2019, and flights to Suvarnabhumi will resume in July, and Milan and Munich in Europe will also be included in the flight plan after the unblocking. 

Image : Central News Agency


Starlux Airlines currently has two twin-aisle passenger A330neo jets. These jets are launching commercial operations on 1 June 2022, including flights to Suvarnabhumi on 1 June, to Ho Chi Minh City on 18 June 2022. A new Japanese route is expected to open in the second half of the year. Starlux said that passenger traffic in May has seen more than multiples of growth.

Two other A330neo jets scheduled for delivery in late 2022 will fly on routes to Singapore and Japan, the airline said.

The 4K resolution personal screens of Starlux A330neo are equipped with Bluetooth, allowing passengers better entertainment options, the airline said. Wi-Fi service is also available throughout the plane. As for the food, Starlux said it was working with the renowned “Bar Home” bar from Tainan.

Reporter Zeng Xinmin said, "China Airlines, EVA Air and Starlux are all recruiting talents recently, but at the same time, in the era of high ticket prices, you have to consider the weight of your wallet when you go abroad to play."

News (3)

Taiwan epidemic prevention and control measures in June 2022

Image : Central News Agency

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Monday (30 May 2022) announced its mask regulations for the month of June 2022.

 

1. Situations when masks can be removed:

  • Indoor or outdoor sports
  • Individual/group photos either indoors or outdoors
  • Driving by oneself or with family members from the same household
  • Individual/group live broadcasts, video recordings, show hosting, reporting, speeches, lectures, and interactions while filming productions
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishery, and animal husbandry work in open areas such as fields, fish farms, and forests
  • Mountain, forest (including forest recreation areas), and seaside activities
  • Hot/cold springs, saunas, spas, and steam rooms, as well as other situations in which a mask could get wet
  • When it is necessary to eat or drink while out
  • Places or activities designated by the CECC or another competent authority if relevant anti-epidemic measures are met.
  • Gym users who have received two full vaccinations and a booster shot are not required to wear a mask when working out. However, people who have not received their booster shot must wear a mask and maintain a social distance from others when using a fitness centre.

Businesses and public venues must continue to measure body temperatures, clean public areas, monitor employees' health, and respond immediately to incidents involving confirmed cases.

Stores, supermarkets, and markets are not required to impose crowd control limits, and food sampling at such venues is allowed.

Eating and drinking are allowed on the following forms of public transportation:

  • Taiwan High-Speed Rail trains
  • Taiwan Railways Administration trains
  • Intercity buses
  • Ferries
  • Domestic flights

Dining venues must measure body temperatures, provide hand-washing equipment, and have adequate disinfection supplies. The ban on table-to-table toasting is still in place.

Houses of worship and religious gatherings must follow epidemic prevention measures stipulated by the Ministry of the Interior.

News (4)

Download Taiwan Social Distancing App when in Taiwan

The CECC emphasized that the Taiwan Social Distancing App will be most effective when it becomes widely used. After downloading and installing the app, Bluetooth must be enabled for it to be able to search for nearby confirmed cases and record relevant data.

When people enter a venue, they only need to show the app's interface. Those who have yet to download the app can find it under "Taiwan Social Distancing" in the Android and iOS app stores.

News (5)

Incoming passengers to Taiwan undergo saliva test from 1 June 2022

Image : Central News Agency


The Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC) on Tuesday (31 May 2022) announced that starting on Wednesday (1 June 2022), passengers arriving in Taiwan will no longer be required to undergo a nasal PCR test and will instead take a less-invasive saliva test.

Nevertheless, because the pandemic continues to smolder overseas, the CECC is urging international passengers preparing to travel to Taiwan to take a PCR test two days before their scheduled flight to the country.

As incoming passengers will be subject to a saliva test, the CECC advises them to not drink or eat approximately 30 minutes before their flight lands in Taiwan to ensure the quality of the samples. After taking the saliva test at the airport, passengers must go directly to their prearranged quarantine facility (one person per household or epidemic prevention hotel), rather than wait for the result, which was the case with long-haul passengers who took the PCR test.

If the saliva test comes back positive, passengers undergoing one person per household must commence home care in the same location. People who test covi-positive while staying in an epidemic prevention hotel will be transferred to an enhanced epidemic prevention hotel, quarantine centre, or hospital for treatment in accordance with regulations.

 

Ref: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4555927 


News (6) to (7) / Reporter : Luo Tingting / Editor : Fan Ming / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/06/01/a103443545.html https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/06/01/a103443635.html


News (6)


Tsai Ing-wen: The U.S. is planning for the National Guard to cooperate with the Taiwan military


 Image : Tsai Ing-wen at the Kaohsiung Naval Base on 14 January 2022. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)



On 31 May 2022, President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China said that the United States is planning to cooperate with the National Guard and Taiwan's military to deepen the security of Taiwan as the threat from the CCP rises. 


When Tsai Ing-wen met visiting U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in Taipei on 31 May, he said, "The U.S. Department of Defense is now actively planning for the U.S. National Guard and Taiwan's National Defense Forces. Collaborate." She didn't go into details.


"We look forward to closer and deeper Taiwan-US cooperation on regional security issues," Tsai Ing-wen said.


U.S. Senator Duckworth led a delegation to visit Taiwan from 30 May to 1 June 2022. This was the first time she met with U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Chris Coons in June last year. 


Duckworth was one of the main sponsors of the Taiwan Partnership Act, which has bipartisan support but has not yet become law.


Emphasizing her support for Taiwan's security, Duckworth said in a subsequent meeting with Taiwan's premier, Su Zhenchang, that she had brought the director of the National Guard's State Partnership Program, "which will work with the Together you build your total defense."


A briefing by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 31 May 2022 pointed out that Duckworth, as a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, will also meet with Defense Minister Qiu Guozheng to discuss Taiwan Strait security issues.


Taiwan media has previously reported that Taiwan may cooperate with the Hawaii National Guard on the program.


Mark Montgomery, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and a senior fellow at the Washington-based nonprofit Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, told Reuters that Hawaii's National Guard would be well suited for a partnership with Taiwan because of Hawaii's island geography and the state's presence in the U.S. military. The location of the Pacific Command.


"Once you agree to do that, it's not a one-time thing," Montgomery said. "It's an initial small element in the overall approach we need to take with Taiwan, but maybe one day it will be more important."


He advocated the move as a prelude to broader joint air and sea exercises.


China's foreign ministry expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. Senator Duckworth's visit to Taiwan, which has long been opposed to all high-level contacts between Taiwan and the United States. On 31 May 2022, the CCP once again dispatched 30 military planes to disrupt Taiwan.


In view of the CCP's threat to the stability of the Taiwan Strait, the United States has strengthened cooperation with the Taiwan military in recent years, providing it with higher-end weapons and equipment, and regularly sending special forces to Taiwan to train Taiwanese soldiers to enhance the combat effectiveness of the Taiwanese military.


News (7)


90% of Japanese agree to prepare for the war in the Taiwan Strait


The situation in the Taiwan Strait continues to be tense. A new Japanese poll shows that 90% of Japanese believe that they should prepare for the CCP's military invasion of Taiwan. Among them, more than 40% believe that Japan's constitution should be revised to allow Japan's military intervention in the war in the Taiwan Strait.


In a poll conducted by the Nikkei Asian Review from  27 to 29 May 2022 on the issue of the CCP's military invasion of Taiwan, more than 90% of the respondents believed that Japan should prepare for the "Taiwan emergency" triggered by the CCP.


Fifty percent of respondents believe that Japan should do as much preparation as possible within the current constitutional mandate.


Another 41% believe that Japan should amend its constitution to improve its resilience so that Japan can intervene militarily in the event of a "Taiwan emergency".


In addition, 60% of respondents believe that Japan should have the ability to fight back. Only 4% believe that Japan does not need to make any preparations for the Taiwan Strait crisis.


In recent years, the CCP's continuous military provocative actions have made the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea tense. Some U.S. military officials believe that China may attack Taiwan within five years.


"Nikkei Asia" reported that in the event of a "Taiwan emergency", Japan will act in accordance with the "Peace and Security Act", granting Japan's Ministry of Defense the right to participate in foreign operations under limited circumstances.


The report also pointed out that if the United States and other Japanese allies are attacked, this can be regarded as an "existential crisis situation for Japan", and Japan can conduct military intervention in the name of "collective self-defense" of the allies.


Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once publicly stated that "something in Taiwan" is equivalent to "something in Japan", and it can also be said to be equivalent to "something in the Japan-US alliance".


In response to the threat from the CCP, the Japanese government wants to increase its military power. In order to strengthen its deterrence capability in response to China's military expansion, Japan needs to double its annual defense budget to reach 10 trillion yen (about $77.79 billion).


The report compared the defense budgets of Japan and China and found that the proportion of Japan's defense budget fell from 38% in 2000 to 17% in 2020; while the proportion of China's defense budget rose from 36% to 65%.


When Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a summit with President Biden in Tokyo on May 23, both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing deterrence against the CCP. According to a poll by Nikkei Asia, 61% of respondents said they were in favor of increasing deterrence against the CCP, while only 21% opposed it.


Fumio Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party has proposed raising Japan's defense budget from the current 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to more than 2 percent. The poll showed that 56% of people voted in favor and 31% opposed.


The British "Guardian" reported that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sounded the alarm in the Asia-Pacific region. Beijing may follow Russia's example and launch an attack on Taiwan, which has aroused the vigilance of Japan and other countries. Japan has made a doubling of its defense budget on the agenda, and will soon move toward the ability to preempt enemy bases.






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Hotel Pictures and Plane-spotting site: Narita Tobu Hotel Airport West Wing

 Pictures copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA