Notes and musings from the editorial desk

Recently I visited Boeing’s Renton facility on invitation by Silk Air, to witness the signing ceremony that marked the beginning of a transition that will see the carrier phasing out its all-Airbus fleet and building a new one of all B737s. It was a coup for Boeing, and during my visit the company’s executives were also enthusiastically showing us the opportunities they felt Max would bring. Although the A320 Neo by their archrival has a head start, they are confident that Max will catch up. Predictions such as this are, of course, subjective, but what is clear is that competition is fierce. At the Singapore Airshow that took place in the second week of February, a Qatar Airways Dreamliner stood right next to an A350XWB – one of the highly anticipated next generation aircraft that the gulf carrier is also expecting to start incorporating into its fleet in December this year.

The Dreamliner and the A350 are perceived as direct rivals, and how things will play out remains to be seen. On the other hand, many observations have already been made of the jumbo jet race. Boeing dominated the skies with the 747 for two decades, but today, the A380 continues to seize attention six years after its commercial flight launch and despite the appearance of fourth generation 747.

It is worth noting, though, that the superjumbo hasn't been all blessings. Filling up an aircraft of this size is no mean feat, and it is a challenge to many airlines that operate it. And there are still quite a number of airports in major business cities that are not equipped to welcome it. Perth has just become ready, and it is still uncertain as to when Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta will be even though airlines have expressed interest in sending the superjumbo to the Indonesian capital. In this issue, we present an update on how the A380 has been performing and what the future may bring for it. See “The big bird theory” on page 32.

New aircraft models are all boasting their fuel efficiency in the age of high energy costs, and “green” is the word of the day in the travel industry. Being environmentally friendly is not only good for public health, it is good for business as well. In many cases, however, “green” has also become a catchphrase or marketing tool. Only actions, not words, can truly bring balance back to nature. In “Going green for real” (page 38) we look at what you, as the business traveller, can actually do to reduce your carbon footprint.

Destinations around the world are gearing up to welcome travellers. This month, we bring you to Sentosa in Singapore to see the latest offerings this outlying island of the Lion City has rolled out (“Isle of adventure”, page 26). Other than being a fun and happening attraction, it is a showcase of Singapore’s determination to make the country a magnet for travellers. In another Inside China feature (page 52), we visit the pre-war Chinese capital of Nanjing to check out the new developments that have sprung up in the city and upcoming projects that are being planned for it. In Europe, we go to the southern French city of Marseille, named European Capital of Culture last year, to witness the architectural rebirth that has been kick-started (“Blueprint for success”, page 46).

Finally, have you packed your bag? Or more importantly, have you packed properly? Last month, I travelled from 10 degrees Celsius Seattle straight to balmy Singapore in a week, and then to Melbourne that ranged from chilly to blisteringly sunny within a day. It was quite a challenge to have to fit everything into a suitcase. Not matter how experienced a traveller you are, packing will remain an art that can be further perfected. And let’s face it, we are all imperfect and sometimes we forget things, even the most obvious. We are revisiting the topic in this issue, with a list of tips that you may want to stick onto the fridge door or download into your tablet. Turn to page 68 for “Pick what you pack”.

Happy travels!

Reggie Ho

Group editor, Asia