Agoda Plugs Into Meta’s Muse in Singapore and Japan

Staysskift.com28 Oct

Agoda Plugs Into Meta’s Muse in Singapore and Japan

Agoda, Booking Holdings’ Asia-focused online travel agency, is now available through Muse, Meta’s personal AI agent, in Singapore and Japan, the company said on Wednesday.

A new connector links Agoda’s own AI travel assistant to Muse. Like other AI agents, Muse can carry out tasks on a user’s behalf, and users can now use it to discover destinations, book accommodation and manage itineraries directly with Agoda. The announcement coincided with Muse’s launch in Singapore.

The move brings Agoda into Muse a month after Expedia joined the agent’s U.S. launch. Meta has since identified Expedia as a hotel booking partner, alongside Duffel for flights, Skift re

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Tags: AI agents, asia, asia monthly, OTAs

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Airlinessimpleflying.com28 Oct

British Airways Cuts A380 Heathrow Routes To Just 4: See Full List Now

British Airways is one of the few airlines that continue to operate the Airbus A380. According to ch-aviation, the UK flag carrier has 12 of these double-decker aircraft in its fleet, although only nine are currently active.

The airline is undertaking a refurbishment program across its entire A380 fleet, which, of course, requires aircraft to be temporarily withdrawn from service. As a result, it has reduced its planned A380 operations from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

According to aviation analytics company Cirium, this winter, the oneworld member has scheduled A380 operations on just four routes from LHR. These include services to Miami International Airport (MIA), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

Of these, Miami is the only route scheduled to be operated exclusively by the Airbus quad jet. On the remaining three routes, the double-decker will operate alongside other long-haul aircraft, including the Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER, and 787-9 Dreamliner. Overall, between November 2026 and February 2027, the UK airline has scheduled 28% fewer A380 flights compared to the same period a year earlier.

Other aircraft covering the rest of the frequencies

During the previous winter, British Airways also deployed the aircraft on routes to Dubai International Airport (DXB), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). However, the latter only operated with the A380 until November 7, 2025.

It is good to see BA's A380 back in Singapore. The airline returned the type to the route on September 6, having last operated it to the city-state in May 2025. However, it is a different story for DXB, which will not see the UK carrier's double-deckers this winter. This is probably the first winter since 2020 that the airline has not deployed the A380 on the route. LHR to DXB has traditionally been one of the airline's regular A380 routes.

According to historical schedule data, it typically operated one daily flight using the aircraft, alongside other long-haul types. However, this year, its Middle Eastern network has been heavily affected by the ongoing war involving Iran. Several of its services remain suspended, including its services to Abu Dhabi, which it now plans to resume in 2027. Dubai has also been affected.

British Airways has not operated flights there since March, shortly after the conflict began. The airline had initially planned to resume services on October 25, when the Northern Hemisphere winter season began, but Cirium data now indicates a November 3 return. The oneworld Alliance member had originally scheduled three daily flights between Heathrow and Dubai for winter 2026/27.

Those plans have since been revised, and the airline now expects to operate just one daily service, primarily using the 787-10, alongside occasional 787-9 flights. From March 28, 2027, when the summer scheduling season begins, the frequency is scheduled to increase to twice daily, using 777-200ER aircraft.

Overall, the reduction in A380 operations means British Airways is now the world's sixth-largest operator of the type in terms of scheduled flights between November 2026 and February 2027. However, this reduction is temporary. This is because the carrier is currently undertaking a major refurbishment of its quadjet fleet.

As part of the program, the London-based airline is reducing the seating capacity of its superjumbos from 469 to 417 passengers. The new configuration will have 88 fewer economy seats, making room for 13 additional business class suites and 29 more premium economy seats.

The first class cabin will remain at the front of the lower deck, although the number of seats will decrease from 14 to 12. As such, the new configuration will comprise 12 First Class suites, 106 Club Suites, 84 World Traveller Plus premium economy seats, and 215 World Traveller economy seats.

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Airlinessimpleflying.com28 Oct

Is The World's Best Low-Cost Airline Really That Good? My Experience After Dozens Of Flights

Having been based in Southeast Asia over the last few years, I have flown with the AirAsia group (legally AirAsia Berhad) dozens of times. The AirAsia group includes its subsidiaries AirAsia Cambodia, Thai AirAsia, and Indonesia AirAsia. The group's structure is somewhat complicated and confusing, with further restructuring and renaming in July 2026. AirAsia X, along with Thai AirAsia X, generally operates longer-haul routes mostly with the group's widebody A330s, although they also have A321s in their inventories.

I have mostly flown with AirAsia, AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia, and likely others. The group's subsidiaries are legally separate airlines, with AirAsia operating under the code AK and AirAsia X under the code D7. For the purposes of this review, all airlines of the AirAsia Group will be treated as a single airline. The core AirAsia brand operates from its hub at Terminal 2 of Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2).

AirAsia is somewhat remarkable as it is a low-cost airlinebut it receives an international ranking comparable to, and even above, many of the world's mainline carriers. In Skytrax's 2026 review of world airlines, AirAsia ranked as the best low-cost airline and the 26th-best overall airline in the world. This put it only modestly behind its full-service flag-carrier rival, Malaysia Airlines, at 21st. It is only one place below the top-ranked US-based airline, Delta Air Lines, at 25th. United Airlines trails at 45th, Alaska Airlines at 51st, and JetBlue at 54th.

Passengers and readers can decide whether they agree with that ranking. I have no issue with AirAsia as a low-cost and regional airline, but placing it alongside the world's mainline carriers seems a bit far-fetched. The standard economy class fare does not include checked baggage, and carry-on baggage is limited to just 15 lbs (7kg).

While US-based carriers may charge more for checked baggage, they typically have no weight limit for carry-on baggage. In the US, carry-on baggage is typically defined by size, not weight. Carry-on trolley suitcases are weighed before emigration; backpacks are generally waived through. Upgrading the fare to include checked baggage is generally best done with AirAsia's bundle option, which includes a complimentary meal and seat selection. AirAsia meals are reasonably decent for a low-cost carrier.

AirAsia is based at Kuala Lumpur's (KL) Terminal 2. Full-service airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and long-haul flights operate through Terminal 1. The two terminals are connected by airport transportation, but you can't walk between them. Terminal 2 connects KL with domestic airports across Malaysia and with international destinations across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Terminal 2 is unusual because it includes a reasonably large shopping mall adjacent to the building, even though the airport is far outside the city. This lets passengers dine affordably at a range of restaurants and shop before checking in. In many airports I have flown through in the world, I have never seen anything quite like it. The mall shops aren't typical airport shops; they are regular shops, including a supermarket.

The taxi pick-up and drop-off are on the mall side, with passengers walking through the mall to reach the terminal. Arriving passengers also pass through the mall to reach transportation from the airport. The express airport train to central Kuala Lumpur is accessed via the mall. AirAsia check-in is generally self-service, with passengers printing their own baggage tags and dropping off their baggage themselves.

I have flown with AirAsia on domestic Malaysia routes and on routes to Indonesia and Vietnam. Between Vietnam and Bangkok, I have flown with its sister airline, Thai AirAsia. I have also flown domestic Thai AirAsia routes within Thailand. Thai flights depart from Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), the secondary international airport that mostly serves low-cost and regional flights.

Bangkok's primary international airport is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). In my experience, Don Mueang works well as a gateway to Bangkok and a regional hub. The airport is connected to Bangkok's metro system and is roughly as easy to reach as Suvarnabhumi, located on the other side of the city.

In many ways, Don Mueang functions similarly to KL's Terminal 2 as a low-cost, primarily AirAsia group hub for the country and region. There are some differences. Because Don Mueang is in an urban area, plenty of low-cost accommodation options are located next to the airport, unlike KL. Check-in counters are also staffed, unlike the self-check-in kiosks in KL's Terminal 2.

Booking AirAsia fares is seamless through its AirAsia Move app. The app includes the various AirAsia flights and options, as well as flights from a range of other airlines in the region, like VietJet and Singapore Airlines. Personally, I would choose AirAsia flights over VietJet whenever possible. My VietJet flights have been repeatedly delayed, including by a full day, but never for AirAsia.

VietJet's check-in facilities at Ho Chi Minh International Airport (Saigon) are also frequently terrible, with long queues and wait times, though this can be a matter of luck. Vietnam is in the process of building its new Long Thanh International Airport to serve as the primary international gateway, which is expected to significantly improve the situation. The existing Tan Son Nhat International Airport will remain open for domestic and some regional international flights.

Southeast Asia has some other low-cost options, like Indonesia's Citilink and Lion Air, Singapore's Scoot, and even India's IndiGo (not technically Southeast Asia but serving many destinations). All of these low-cost Asian airlines are fine in my experience, and I have flown them without complaint. Low-cost airlines in the region typically operate A320 family aircraft instead of Boeing 737 aircraft, with some exceptions, such as Thailand's modest Nok Air low-cost airline.

According to Planespotters.net, the AirAsia group fleet totals 239 aircraft, all Airbus. AirAsia's website currently puts the figure at 244 aircraft. Planespotters.net's breakdown includes 196 A320s, 20 A321s, and 23 widebody A330s. Thai AirAsia X operates A330-300s with A330-900s on order. AirAsia X operates A330-300s and is taking delivery of new A321neos. The core Malaysia-based AirAsia brand operates around 104 aircraft, Thai AirAsia operates around 62, and most of the rest are operated by Indonesia AirAsia and Philippines AirAsia, with around 23 aircraft each.

The core AirAsia and Thai AirAsia airlines only operate narrowbody A320s and A321s. The AirAsia group is one of the world's fastest-growing airline groups, with around 520 aircraft on firm order and considerably more options. This is among the largest order books by any airline in the world. In 2026, AirAsia made headlines for ordering 150 regional Airbus A220-300s with options for another 150 examples. Deliveries are to commence in 2028.

AirAsia Group (per AirAsia, Planespotters.net)

The group no longer has A320neos on order and is instead ordering the stretched and longer-range A321neo series, including the A321LR and A321XLR subvariants. It has over 300 A321neos on order in total, though the exact number is dynamic as deliveries occur and options are exercised. AirAsia's 2026 A220 announcement says the group intends to phase down its A330 fleet as it transitions towards higher-utilization narrowbody operations.

AirAsia is expanding rapidly and moving toward a future focused on Airbus A220-300s and A321neos. It is the leading airline connecting Southeast Asia and arguably 'as good as it gets' when it comes to low-cost options. That said, I would personally rank India's low-cost IndiGo as comparable or even better given it generally includes meals and checked luggage. Skytrax's ranking disagrees, giving IndiGo an overall ranking of 61.

AirAsia often offers the lowest fares, and in my experience,

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Airlinesindependent.co.uk28 Oct

Ryanair warns Brits of new 60-minute luggage rule coming into force next month

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Ryanair has reminded Brits not to forget an upcoming change affecting all passengers with checked-in luggage.

The budget airline will close its airport bag drop services 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minute rule, from Tuesday, 10 November.

Ryanair originally announced the shake-up in April to make sure the 20 per cent of its passengers that check in a bag have “more time” to clear airport security and passport control queues before boarding begins.

It says the move will help reduce the “small number of passengers” who end up missing their flights due to delays at airport security or passport control.

The remaining 80 per cent of passengers who make the most of Ryanair’s cheap flights – and don’t want to spend money on checked-in luggage – will be unaffected by the 20-minute change.

These travellers will still have to check in online before travelling to the airport, where they can proceed directly through security to their departure gate.

“From Tuesday, 10 November, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes,” said Ryanair CMA Dara Brady.

“This small change will give the 20 per cent of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag, more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.”

Earlier this month, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary predicted that travellers across Europe will face the biggest increase in airfares “in history” in 2027.

O’Leary made the comments at a news conference in Brussels as airlines remain largely nudged against higher jet fuel costs.

The boss forecasted that there will be fewer seats available in a matter of months as a result of bankruptcies and takeovers among airlines, which, together with the unhedged positions, would result in fares increasing by as much as 20 per cent.

The Iran war has driven jet fuel prices sharply higher, mainly due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, squeezing margins for airlines that were unhedged.

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