Northstar

News Private jet services in Bhutan SINGAPORE ��� Private charters, be it for corporate travellers or VIPs, are now available in the Kingdom of Bhutan ��� all thanks to the newly launched partnership between Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines, and Chapman Freeborn Airchartering. Remote areas will now be more widely accessible to international private jet travellers. For example, Paro International Airport, which is nestled deep in the steep mountains of the Eastern Himalayas, is considered as one of the most challenging locations for take-offs and landings, due to its contours and altitude. All flights from this area will require a specialist Drukair certified navigator to assist as a guide. At over 7,000 feet above sea level, the airport is only accessible using Visual Flight Rules for approach. The capital city Thimphu is a 60 minute drive away. Through the unique partnership with Drukair, Chapman Freeborn can now provide this service for private jet aircraft and obtain the necessary permits to operate charters to Bhutan. Global sales and marketing director Alex Berry says the partnership will provide private jet travellers with totally unique access to the Kingdom of Bhutan as a travel destination, setting Chapman Freeborn apart from all its competitors. Shailendra Seth, director of Chapman Freeborn India, added; ���Drukair and Chapman Freeborn are both niche organisations and this synergy between the two will enhance opportunities to boost luxury travel to the Kingdom of Bhutan.��� Besides luxury travel, Seth also highlighted that this is also the market for business and MICE travellers, specifically using Drukair���s A319. Welcoming the partnership Tshering Penjore, general manager of Drukair, said; ���Drukair has been providing reliable and safe transportation for the last 30 years and as the only airline that links Bhutan to the outside world, the challenge to fulfil diverse air transportation needs has become critical. ���The partnership with Chapman Freeborn will enable us to use the wide and global resources and portfolio of aircraft for private charters. Further we expect to build a strong and readily available access to improve search and rescue and emergency air operations within Bhutan.��� Established in the UK in 1973, Chapman Freeborn is the world���s leading aircraft charter broker, with 40 years of experience providing air charter solutions. It has 35 offices in 25 countries and offers unrivalled global coverage. Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines is the national airline of the Kingdom of Bhutan with a fleet of Airbus A319 and ATR 42 aircrafts that operates a short-haul scheduled flight network serving key destinations such as Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Bangkok and Singapore. Events Iskandar is next for Ascott ���We see immense potential for serviced residences in Iskandar. The economic corridor has attracted investments of over RM106 billion. Ascott will gain significant advantage by having a serviced residence in Medini, one of the fastest-growing areas within Iskandar. It is surrounded by exciting developments that will spur the growth of the Malaysian economy. This will bring a strong influx of expatriates as well as foreign and domestic travellers, creating demand for our serviced residence,��� said Chong Kee Hiong, Ascott���s chief executive officer. Located strategically in Medini which is the central business district of the Nusajaya flagship economic zone in Iskandar, the property is strategically housed close to developments such as Kota Iskandar ��� the state of Johor���s new administrative centre and Puteri Harbour, an integrated waterfront and marina development and Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, the largest independent integrated studio facility in Southeast Asia. Asia's first LEGOLAND theme park and Medini Lifestyle Mall, the largest retail centre in South Malaysia are also within the vicinity. Works at Puteri Harbour which includes new customs and immigration facilities are slated to complete this year, with plans for both Singapore and the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur to be connected via a high speed rail, boosting both economic and tourism ties between the two countries. Somerset Medini Iskandar is a convenient 15-minute drive from the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link and 25 minutes away from Johor's Senai International Airport. Expatriates and travellers will have a choice of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that come fully-furnished with modern amenities. Besides Somerset Medini and Somerset Puteri Harbour in Iskandar, Ascott will open Ascott Sentral Kuala Lumpur this year, Citadines D���Pulze Cyberjaya in 2014 and Somerset Damansara Uptown Petaling Jaya in 2016. Ascott currently operates Ascott Kuala Lumpur, Citadines Uplands Kuching, Somerset Ampang Kuala Lumpur, Seri Bukit Ceylon Residences and Marc Service Suites in Kuala Lumpur. Events February 2013 SINGAPORE ��� The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has set its eyes on Iskandar, Malaysia and come 2015, the Singapore-based, CapitaLand���s wholly owned serviced-residence business unit will welcome its tenth and largest property in Malaysia. The 310-unit Somerset Medini Iskandar will be part of the ���Urban Wellness��� integrated development by Pulau Indah Ventures Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited. On February 19, 2013, Malaysia���s Prime Minister Najib Razak and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the integrated development. 3

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