2011 wasn't a banner year for Japan, not to mention for any industry in the country. We saw the ripple effects of natural disasters throughout the aviation world with the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami topping the list. What can be more indicative of Japanese pride, but to quickly rebuild stronger and better? Fortunately for us, airlines are towards the top of the progress.

· Peachy Keen
Last year we talked about the introduction of ANA's budget carrier based out of Osaka, Peach. With only 3 destinations, the airline will draw business passengers, eventually moving into the leisure market. Flights are taking off in March and tickets are already to purchase.

Happy Peach Fares have no baggage allowance or advanced seat selection but are quite affordable at around $175 return to Sapporo. If you need the sweet little perks, cough up about $75 more. Happy Peach Plus fares allow you to pick where you park yourself on the plane and some space in the belly for your luggage. With a bright purple livery and cabin, Peach is on our short list! ]]> jetflyboy 2012-01-03T11:26:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/11/26/222733/52

Asia seems to be the breeding ground for LCCs with announcements about Peach, Scoot, and Jetstar Japan. Last week the chief at Hong Kong Airlines announced that they'd be doing a regional subsidiary as well. Hong Kong Express will be re-branded and operate as a low-cost carrier to compete with the slew of budget airlines popping up all over the region.

The full transition will take place middle of 2012 and flights will serve mainland China, South Korea, Japan and southeast Asia. Airbus A320s will hit the skies, but what the livery will look like (or even the airline's name), we can't yet be sure. ]]> jetflyboy 2011-12-01T08:40:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/9/15/95733/0034

Happening upon a hungry Coati wasn't our only interesting animal sighting on our recent trip to Mexico's Riviera Maya. We also spotted a school of fish, only they weren't in the ocean—they were in aquariums inside the Spa at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya. These fishies aren't there for decoration, either; they're there to nibble the dead skin off your feet in what's become something of a spa trend borrowed from Asia.

Ahhh! That was our reaction, too, but you see the "fish pedicure" is quite common in other parts of the world.

]]> MsRebecca 2011-09-15T11:12:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/3/16/01819/4316

It's hard to believe that Foursquare, the location-based social network we once pegged as the thing which could positively impact the way we travel, hasn't been more proficient in developing international badges. Sure, there are a couple; Louis Vuitton sponsored a London one and the most recent World Cup saw a few South Africa-specific badges, but poor Asia has been completely ignored in this respect. Until now.

Starting today, Singapore has the distinction of being the first Asian country (and indeed part of the first group of international countries) to get its own Foursquare badges. There are two—SuperConnected and SuperStyle—and they're associated with a Project Runway-like TV Show called SupermodelMe, that begins airing tonight.

Now, how to get the badges: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-03-17T08:26:42-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/2/28/22363/1190

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of all things Lego to Florida, but now it seems like we might want to turn our attention elsewhere around the globe. The plastic pieces are on the move, and it looks like Malaysia might be welcoming the first Legoland in Asia sometime in 2012.

Apparently bulldozers have already been hard at work clearing around 75 acres or so for the new park, and its 40 plus rides and attractions that will make up the new Legoland Malaysia. This will be the sixth land devoted to Legos worldwide, so if you’ve already been to the other five, you better start planning your trip to hit up the latest and the greatest. There’s over 30 million plastic pieces to assemble, so you’ve still got a little bit of time to find a decent flight. ]]> kjb 2011-03-01T10:16:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/1/26/135347/267

Tenzing-Hillary Airport, a small, beautiful airport better known as Lukla and nestled into the mountains of eastern Nepal, is notable for a few things. First, it really is kind of pretty. Check out the full panoramic shot here. Second, it's where most people start their hikes up Mount Everest. Neat! Third—and as we've warned you over and over again—it's arguably the world's sketchiest airport, and is actually kind of a death trap. Last October saw another crash that killed everyone aboard, and then in December a plane ran into a wall after losing its brakes.

Now that you have a mental picture of what the facilities are probably like, imagine being trapped there with no way out, like the 140 international tourists who have been there since last week. Hollywood makes horror movies that start like this.]]> Omri 2011-01-26T15:49:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/8/11/153235/742

Major airlines like Mexicana might still be in a death spiral, bouncing between bankruptcy and outright failure, but low-cost carriers seem to be doing at least relatively well.

A few weeks ago we saw the first ever entrance of an LCC into a major airline alliance with Air Berlin joined Oneworld, and now Asia is getting an entirely new carrier. Launching a new airline might seem kind of reckless given the punishing business environment, but we long ago learned that LCCs can thrive in bad economic times even while everyone else is taking a beating.

The new Thai Tiger Airways, a cooperative venture between Thai Airways and Tiger Airways, will begin flying next year.]]> Omri 2010-08-11T16:13:51-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/