The idea for an airline magazine came from the airline industry, and was championed by one of my senior staff, Bill Cooper, who has had a long association with that industry. He felt the Malaysian market was long overdue for a publication which both supports the many airlines that fly here and helps educate, and give inspiration to, the growing number of Malaysians who now travel overseas. Some argued that this was not a good time to launch a publication, but after careful evaluation we decided to give it a try. In order to capture a wider market, we have also created the website Aeropolis.my which will significantly extend our reach. I first entered the publishing business some 21 years ago when we launched The Expat magazine and during the intervening years, we have expanded our range of media to include publications covering international education, property, healthcare, and other topics of interest to the international community. We have also launched popular websites, most notably ExpatGo.com and EatDrink.my. Our travel magazine Senses of Malaysia has won the Ministry of Tourism award for best tourism magazine on three occasions, and we are proud of its contribution to growing tourism into Malaysia. Our MM2H business, meanwhile, has helped many people obtain the visa to live here, and among Malaysia’s appeal is its central location from which to explore the region and the world and the comparatively low airfares. Aeropolis is a little different because it focuses on travel from Malaysia, as well as covering destinations within the country. More travel ideas can be found on our website aeropolis.my. Special thanks to our Group Editor, Chad Merchant, who did an excellent job, along with his team, in both designing and sourcing content for this issue.
J. Andrew Davison
CEO & Publisher
TEG Media
The name ‘Aeropolis’ is a reference to the ambitious undertaking called KLIA Aeropolis, a massive development plan which was launched by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd in May 2016. The KLIA Aeropolis plan envisions the creation of a 400-hectare, world-class ‘airport city’ around KLIA which will bring together the three key areas of air cargo and logistics; aerospace and aviation parks; and business and leisure air travel. Malaysia is perhaps one of the most ideal countries from which to launch such an air travel-focused publication. High on the list of Malaysia’s many plus points is its air travel opportunities. Not only is the country ideally located in the region, flying from Malaysia carries with it the benefit of enjoying the world’s most affordable average airfares, too! See our story on page 18 for more details on this terrific new 2017 ranking that confirms Malaysia’s average airfares as the cheapest in the world. In our launch issue, we highlight some of the many airlines flying in and out of Malaysia’s international airports, take a look at the world’s oldest luxury hotel chain, showcase a handful of great destinations – domestic, regional, and global – and report on a number of newsworthy developments in both the airline industry and in the travel markets they fly to. They say knowledge is power, and in the world of air travel, that’s certainly true. Knowing about various airlines, the aircraft they fly, the configuration of their seats, the amenities they offer, and the destinations they serve can make your journey more pleasant, sometimes significantly so. Today’s business and leisure travellers are both savvier and more demanding than ever before, and with such a wealth of information available at our fingertips, whether in print or online, it’s easy to be a wellinformed traveller. In line with that, it is our goal that what you see in these pages makes you a more knowledgeable traveller and also motivates you to book your flight and pack your bags. Thanks for reading Aeropolis: Airlines + Destinations, and we sincerely hope the following pages help to inspire your travel!
Chad Merchant
Group Editor
TEG Media