Stay up to date with the latest in the travel and hospitality industry, from airline launches and route expansions to new trends and transportation developments shaping the way we explore the world.
This is the January 2026 edition of Airline and Travel News.
PETALING JAYA MARRIOTT HOTEL OPENS, MARKING BRAND’S FLAGSHIP ARRIVAL IN THE CITY
Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott Bonvoy, has officially opened the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel, bringing a 393-key, 18-storey property into one of Greater Kuala Lumpur’s most established commercial districts. The hotel occupies the former Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur site and follows the signing agreement between TSM Global Bhd and Marriott International Inc in July.
Located along the SPRINT Highway and within close reach of the Phileo Damansara MRT station, the property is positioned to serve both business and leisure travellers seeking connectivity without being in the capital’s central business district. Average room rates range between RM550 and RM630, placing the hotel firmly within the upper-upscale segment.
According to general manager Daniyal Ng, the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel aims to balance accessibility with a service-led guest experience, appealing to corporate travellers while remaining welcoming for families. The hotel’s accommodation offering includes family-oriented layouts, such as dedicated family rooms with bunk beds, as well as a Kids Club designed to support multi-generational stays.
Facilities at the property include a Chinese restaurant, an all-day lounge, the M Club Lounge for Elite and Club members, a fitness centre, an outdoor swimming pool, and 11 meeting rooms catering to conferences, corporate events, and social functions.
The hotel asset was sold earlier this year by CP Group to a private investment vehicle linked to Datuk Lim Kheng Yew, founder of KYM Holdings Bhd, in a transaction reported to be valued at approximately RM200 million. The opening marks Marriott Hotels’ latest expansion within Malaysia’s urban hospitality market.
To learn more, visit marriott.com/en-us/hotels/kulpj-petaling-jaya-marriott-hotel/overview/.
BATIK AIR EXPANDS BORNEO CONNECTIVITY WITH NEW SABAH, SARAWAK ROUTES
Batik Air has launched two new domestic routes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), strengthening air links within Sabah and between Sabah and Sarawak. The airline’s inaugural service between Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, alongside a new direct connection to Sandakan, is aimed at improving travel efficiency across Borneo while reducing reliance on lengthy road journeys or indirect flights.
The new daily services provide faster, more direct options for both leisure and business travellers, reinforcing regional connectivity and supporting closer economic and tourism ties between neighbouring states. The arrival of the inaugural Kuching – Kota Kinabalu flight was marked by a cultural welcome at BKI, with passengers greeted by traditional performances and local bead garlands presented by the Sabah Tourism Board, reflecting the state’s hospitality and heritage.
Batik Air chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy described the new routes as a significant step in establishing Kota Kinabalu as a key operational base in East Malaysia. He added that the expansion would continue with the introduction of direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to Singapore, scheduled to commence in February next year, supporting Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and broader regional tourism objectives.
Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit said the additional services respond to growing demand between cities such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, while improving access to Sandakan, a major gateway to Sabah’s wildlife and nature attractions. He noted that enhanced air connectivity underpins Explore Sabah 2026 by encouraging longer stays and more even visitor distribution across the state.
Having commenced on December 15, 2025, Batik Air will operate seven weekly flights on both the Kuching – Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan – Kota Kinabalu routes, offering 1,120 seats per week on each sector. The launch forms part of a wider network expansion, reinforcing Batik Air’s position as one of the region’s fastest-growing carriers.
Visit batikair.com for details and booking.
SCOOT OPENS DIRECT SINGAPORE–CHIANG RAI ROUTE
Low-cost carrier Scoot Airlines has launched its first nonstop service between Singapore and Chiang Rai, offering travellers a faster and more direct entry point into Northern Thailand without routing through Bangkok or Chiang Mai. The inaugural TR670 flight landed at Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International Airport on January 1, 2026, signalling growing airline confidence in secondary Asian destinations and a broader shift in regional travel patterns.
For Chiang Rai, the new service marks a significant step forward. The airport has long been oriented towards domestic traffic, with limited international links. A direct Singapore connection reduces dependence on indirect transfers and places the city more firmly on the regional aviation map, particularly for short-haul leisure travellers.
The route is operated by Scoot’s Embraer E190-E2, a 112-seat aircraft well suited to short- and medium-haul services. Its deployment allows the airline to balance capacity with efficiency while testing demand, while also supporting Thailand’s wider push to spread tourism beyond its most congested centres.
Chiang Rai offers a quieter counterpoint to Northern Thailand’s larger cities, with hillside tea plantations, Lanna-influenced wellness traditions, and distinctive contemporary temples such as Wat Rong Khun. Its compact scale makes it well suited to long weekends or as a slow-travel extension from Singapore.
The launch is supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which is rolling out joint fare promotions with Scoot in Singapore. Leading hotels, including The Riverie by Katathani and InterContinental Chiang Rai in the Golden Triangle, are also offering stay-and-fly packages aimed at encouraging longer visits.
Scoot operates five weekly flights, with a mix of early-morning and afternoon departures designed for flexible leisure itineraries. The service strengthens Thailand’s ambition to attract 37 million international visitors in 2026, with Singapore remaining one of its most important source markets.
Visit flyscoot.com to learn more.
AMAN NAI LERT BANGKOK MARKS FIRST YEAR AS THE BRAND DEEPENS ITS URBAN STRATEGY
Bangkok has never lacked contrasts, but few places illustrate them as quietly as Aman Nai Lert Bangkok. Having soft-opened in April 2025, the property has now concluded its first full calendar year of operations and is approaching its first anniversary, offering a timely moment to reflect on what the hotel represents for both the city and the Aman brand.
Set within the seven-acre Nai Lert Park, the hotel remains physically and emotionally removed from the surrounding streets. The sense of retreat is deliberate. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston, the interiors combine Aman’s signature restraint with understated references to Thai heritage. Polished timber, muted tones, and expansive glazing draw the surrounding greenery inward, reinforcing the idea of a private sanctuary rather than a conventional city hotel.
With just 52 suites, space is a defining luxury. Entry-level accommodations begin at 94 sqm, featuring generous daybeds, work areas, and views across the park. At the top end, the Aman Suite occupies the 18th floor and stretches up to 713 sqm. More private residence than hotel room, it includes expansive terraces, a formal dining room, a private spa with thermal facilities, and a tiered cinema, positioning it among the most substantial hotel suites in the region.
Service remains central to the experience. Guests receive airport fast-track assistance, limousine transfers, daily breakfast, and a dedicated host. Longer stays are complemented by rituals such as Afternoon Tea at 1872, reinforcing a sense of place rooted in the site’s history.
Beyond individual accommodations, the 1,500-sqm spa, thermal facilities, and medical wellness centre operated with Hertitude Clinic extend Aman’s wellness focus into an urban setting. Taken together, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok signals a broader shift for the brand, reflecting its growing confidence in city hotels that deliver intimacy and calm without retreating to the remote landscapes and curated bespoke resorts for which the brand has long been known.
To learn more, visit aman.com/hotels/aman-nai-lert-bangkok.
AIRASIA MOVE NAMED ASIA’S BEST TRAVEL BOOKING APP FOR THIRD YEAR
AirAsia MOVE (MOVE) has been named Asia’s Best Travel Booking App at the World Travel Tech Awards 2025, marking the third consecutive year it has received this accolade and cementing its status as the region’s leading homegrown online travel agent (OTA).
The platform’s sustained recognition is supported by notable growth across users, bookings, and partnerships in 2025. Monthly active users remain strong at 15 million, while hotel bookings climbed nearly 40% year-on-year, and SNAP (Flight + Hotel bundle) bookings rose 30%. Top SNAP destinations include Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Kota Kinabalu.
This year, MOVE broadened its direct airline network to include Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Brunei, Ethiopian Airlines, and Vietjet Air (via GalaxyJoy), bringing the total number of direct airline partners on the platform to more than 70.
Nadia Omer, CEO of AirAsia MOVE, said, “Winning this award for the third consecutive year is a meaningful recognition of what we are building, a travel platform born in Asean, made for Asean and now serving Asia and beyond. We have evolved from an airline app into a truly global, multi-airline, multi-product OTA, while staying true to our vision of being Asean’s favourite travel app. With expanded airline options, deeper partnerships, and enhanced user experiences, we’ll continue helping travellers discover more, plan better, and travel more, for less.”
Recent upgrades include an AI-driven AskBo chatbot, a refreshed interface, and offerings such as MOVETIX, its global live-events ticketing platform, and Cancel for Any Reason. MOVE now emphasises social discovery, letting users find trip inspiration through content and book seamlessly in one place. With access to over 700 airlines and more than a million hotels, MOVE remains committed to keeping travellers curious, connected, and inspired.
Follow @airasiamove on Instagram and TikTok, and download the for an enhanced booking experience.
