Short Cuts

AIR CUT: Well ahead of 2002's "Visit ASEAN Year", the association's members have joined forces to offer a collective air pass to promote travel to the nine countries. After arriving in the region on a member-nation carrier--Garuda, Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways or Royal Brunei--holders of ASEAN Air Passes may travel to additional member states for only $90 a flight. Travelers must buy a minimum of three flight coupons ($270 total) in addition to their original ticket to qualify for the special fares. Passes for hotel discounts and land travel are also planned.

RE-TRAINING: Japan's fleet of bullet trains is being phased out this year, to make room for an even-faster model. In mid-March, six new 700 series Nozomi trains will start plying the Tokaido and Sanyo lines between Tokyo and Hakata. The new models can travel at a maximum speed of 285 km/h, compared with the existing Shinkansen's top rate of 210 km/h. The entire fleet is expected to be updated by fall.