Fifth-Freedom Flights from Jakarta

Over the Easter long weekend, we had two airlines bidding farewell to the city of Jakarta, the airlines are Air France and Kuwait Airways respectively.

I had been asked a few questions surrounding these flights on instagram hence I feel it might be more useful to write about it here from my point of view.

List of Cancelled Services to Jakarta:

Kuwait Airways cancelled its Kuwait City - Kuala Lumpur - Jakarta services from Mar 27, 2016. Its original schedule before its cancellation were below (source: airlineroute.net).

KU415 KWI2340 – 1250+1KUL1350+1 – 1500+1CGK 340 347 KU416 CGK2300 – 0215+1KUL0325+1 – 0715+1KWI 340 145

Air France cancelled its Paris CDG - Singapore - Jakarta services from Mar 27, 2016. Its original schedule before cancellation were as below (source: airlineroute.net)

AF254 CDG1925 – 1415+1SIN1610+1 – 1700+1CGK 77W D AF259 CGK2005 – 2255SIN0025+1 – 0745+1CDG 77W D

Lufthansa has cancelled its 5 weekly Frankfurt - Kuala Lumpur - Jakarta services from October 2015. The flight now only operates nonstop between Frankfurt and Kuala Lumpur.

Both airlines sell tickets between Singapore/Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta during its operation as a fifth freedom flight.

Current Fifth Freedom flights to Jakarta

• KLM operates Amsterdam - Kuala Lumpur - Jakarta services daily using a Boeing 777 aircraft.

• China Airlines operates Taipei - Hong Kong - Jakarta services using an Airbus A330-300

Fifth freedom means the airline has the right to sell ticket between Jakarta - Kuala Lumpur/Hong Kong vv.

Why are these flights cancelled?

Now, this is where I have to tell you that these answers are purely speculative from my point of view, given the limited facts we had.

Both airlines canceled its service to Jakarta ultimately because of low demand. This means that they were struggling to fill up the seats enough to reach a break even point on such flights. How come?

• Air France has its aircraft configured premium heavy (4 First/60 Business Class seats) that is suitable for Singapore market as a global economic hub, but not so much for Jakarta market which relies on leisure (holiday-maker) travel.

• As a result, First/Business Class seats remain largely empty on the flights between Paris/Singapore to Jakarta.

• Indonesia is a market with rapid growing middle / high class income but most of these customer base remain loyal to another airline that have long established its market in Jakarta.

• Kuwait Airways, based on my experience it relies on Umrah pilgrimage traffic and domestic workers traveling between Middle East and Indonesia, which can be seasonal.

• At times, these flights can be full and at times it can be empty. From Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, very few passengers fly with the airline (at most only 3-4 people usually) probably because many were unaware the airline flew the route or due to poor timing on the returning sector to KUL.

Hope this post clears your query on fifth-freedom flights to/from Jakarta.

#HotelRoomTales: Ibis Budget Makassar Airport

As I have an overnight layover between two domestic flights in Makassar, Indonesia (UPG), I opted to stay at the Ibis Budget Airport Hotel. The hotel is situated at the landside of the Sultan Hassanudin Airport, Makassar, nearby the departures drop-off area.

It is within a 10 minutes walking distance from the airport's arrival hall. The price I got for the standard room was approximately USD 35 per night.

Sultan Hassanudin Airport, Makassar.

The hotel is inside the airport compound. Its entrance is clearly visible, before the departures drop-off area.

The hotel lobby designed in a light and colorful theme, suitable for the young and adventurous leisure travelers the hotel is aiming for.

Notice that the hotel also provides a vending machine and computers with free internet access for the guests' convenience. A free wi-fi is also provided for the guests.

The standard room rate also comes with breakfast. That being said, the buffet breakfast option was decent, but rather limited (no omelet station or juice/milk). Drinks were only water, hot coffee/tea.

Colorful hallways leading to our room.

The standard room as I first entered. Everything was neat and clean, while the room space might be a bit tight if you are traveling with a partner. The TV had a decent selection of local and international channels to watch.

There is no concept as a dedicated "bathroom" in the hotel. While the shower and sink is ensuite, there's no partition between the bed area and the shower itself. So, if you're intending to share a room with someone else, privacy issues might arise.

That being said, no need to worry as the toilet is hidden on a dedicated, closet-like room.

As this is a budget hotel, the room really come as a no-frills, except for a pair of towel and two mineral water bottles. So, be reminded to bring your own toileteries on your trip here.

During my one night stay on this hotel, I found what I got to be value-for money. For a bare USD35 I could get a room with breakfast, without ever leaving the airport. The room itself was clean and well maintained, with a working free-access internet. I had nothing to complain about and would certainly consider another stay here should I need to transit UPG again someday.

#HotelRoomTales: Orchid Garden Brunei

Hi everyone!

During my flight from Melbourne to Singapore (via Brunei) on Royal Brunei's B787 Dreamliner, my flight between Melbourne and Brunei was delayed, causing few passengers including myself to missed my connecting flight to Singapore. As a result, we have to stay overnight on the Orchid Garden Hotel in Brunei, with compliments of Royal Brunei Airlines.

Situated nearby the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, the hotel is only 10-minutes drive from the airport. A quick search on the internet shows that the price for a Standard Room, which I was allocated, started from USD65 per night.

Standard Room on Orchid Garden Hotel.

Personally I found the room was clean and rather spacious, for a standard room. That being said, signs of wear and tear can be seen on its furniture and fixtures.

The standard room comes with a hot water kettle and coffee/tea packs for your late-night tea sessions, along with two mineral water bottles that can be handy.

The attached bathroom on my standard room. The bathroom was well maintained, and come with complimentary toileteries, and a bathtub/shower.

Breakfast choice was standard, with a complete set of Southeast Asian/Western options on the buffet menu. The staff, which was fluent in both Bahasa Melayu and English, was also friendly and helpful. Overall it was a nice overnight stay at the Orchid Garden hotel, despite the hotel showing its age.