Air Congo officially starts operations on 17 December 2024

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA     Image : Ethiopian Airlines/Air Congo

Ethiopian Airlines officially announced that Air Congo, jointly established with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), will be officially put into operation on 17 December 2024. The DRC government holds a 51% majority stake in Air Congo, while Ethiopian Airlines holds a 49% stake and is responsible for the daily operations and management of the airline.

Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said: "The creation of Air Congo marks an important step in our strategic process of working with African governments to promote the development of aviation in Africa. This cooperation will greatly enhance air connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the entire Central African region, inject strong impetus into the development of investment, trade and tourism, and thus promote the socio-economic development of the region. We sincerely thank the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, all partners and our team. It is the joint efforts and close collaboration that have made this cooperation a success."

In the initial stage of operation, Air Congo will deploy two Boeing 737-800 aircraft to serve the domestic market of the Democratic Republic of Congo, initially covering seven airports in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two parties have signed a number of cooperation agreements including aircraft leasing, technical support and system maintenance. In addition, Ethiopian Airlines will also train aviation talents such as pilots, flight attendants, sales service personnel and technicians for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The establishment of Air Congo is an important practice of Ethiopian Airlines' "Vision 2035", which aims to promote the development of African aviation by establishing multiple aviation hubs in Africa, complementing the advantages of partners such as ASKY Airlines, Malawi Airlines and Zambia Airlines.

Air Cambodia resumes flight to Suvarnabhumi on 17 February 2025 after rename

Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Air Cambodia, renamed officially by the airline Cambodia Angkor Air on 1 January 2025, is resuming scheduled daily flight from Phnom Penh to Suvarnabhumi on 17 February 2025.

On 17 February 2025, according to schedules, Air Cambodia flight K6722 departs from Phnom Penh for Suvarnabhumi at 9.50 am, touches down in Suvarnabhumi at 11 am before leaving Suvarnabhumi for Phnom Penh at 12 pm and arriving in Phnom Penh at 1.10 pm local time under flight K6723.

The above timings are effective for travel on Fridays, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays, flight K6722 leaves Phnom Penh for Suvarnabhumi at 12.05 pm, lands in Suvarnabhumi at 1.10 pm before taking off for Phnom Penh at 2.15 pm and arriving in Phnom Penh at 3.35 pm under flight K6723.

Air Cambodia flies to Suvarnabhumi with its Airbus A320 aircraft. Till then, it is not known whether the new livery of Air Cambodia will appear on the existing A320 of Cambodia Angkor Air as the airline has not disclosed when the A320 and its A321 will be repainted. Meanwhile, news has it that the airline has ordered on lease three A320 jets from BOC Aviation for delivery in summer 2025. These new aircraft will spot the new livery of the airline.

Air Cambodia has leased three new ATR 72-600 turboprop propellor aircraft from Chinese aircraft-leasing firm HNCAL. The new aircraft will be delivered in May, November and December 2025 spotting the new blue-golden livery. 

TransNusa launches flight to Honiara on 19 December 2024, begins operating A321 to Changi

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

TransNusa, the Jakarta-based venture airline owned by China Everbright Limited and China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited, continues to expand its international route network. Following its Fuzhou flight launch, the airline has launched scheduled flight from Manado to Honiara, its first Pacific destination in the Solomon Islands on 19 December 2024. TransNusa is the first Asian airline to operate flights to the Solomon Islands.

On 19 December 2024, TransNusa flight 8B124 actually takes off from Manado for Honiara at 7.32 am (scheduled time 4.45 am) and touches down in Honiara at 7.36 pm (scheduled time 2.20 pm) after diversion to Jayapura, Indonesia. Flight 8B124 leaves Jayapura for Honiara at 2.34 pm (scheduled time 1.55 pm) and arrives in Honiara at 7.36 pm (scheduled time 7.39 pm).

On the same day of 19 December 2024, TransNusa flight 8B125 leaves Honiara for Manado at 8.35 pm Honiara local time and arrives in Manado at 11.29 pm according to AeroRoutes.

TransNusa flies to Honiara from Manado on Thursdays with its A320.

With the utilization of its A320 on routes from Manado to Fuzhou and Honiara, TransNusa has begun to operate its first A321 aircraft on its established route to Changi, with the first daily flight 8B151 landing in Changi before 12 pm daily since 6 December 2024. The other A320 aircraft of TransNusa continues to operate on the airline's second daily flight to Changi and daily flights to KLIA from Cengkareng (Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, gateway to Jakarta).

TransNusa now flies regularly to seven international airports including Senai, Subang, KLIA, Changi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Fuzhou Changle and Honiara, and six Indonesian airports including Cengkareng, Singkawang, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Manado and Morowali. 

The route to Guiyang begins as a charter flight on 15 December 2024 only.

TransNusa has a fleet of 4 A320, 1 A321 and 3 ARJ21-700 aircraft with an additional order for 27 more ARJ21-700 aircraft from China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited.

TransNusa launches flight from Manado to Fuzhou on 18 December 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

TransNusa, the Jakarta-based venture airline owned by China Everbright Limited and China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited, launches scheduled flight from Manado to Fuzhou on 18 December 2024.

On 18 December 2024, TransNusa flight 8B123 actually departs from Manado for Fuzhou at 6.28 pm (scheduled time 5 pm), touches down in Fuzhou at 10.21 pm (scheduled time 9.30 pm) before taking off from Fuzhou for Manado at 12.19 am (scheduled time 11 pm) and landing in Manado at 4.19 am (scheduled time 3.30 am) on 19 December 2024 under flight 8B124.

TransNusa flies to Fuzhou on Wednesdays with its A320 aircraft. Fuzhou is Manado Airport's second Chinese regular destination after Guangzhou, to which TransNusa flies to up to four times a week with its ARJ21-700 aircraft from 29 October 2024.

See also: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2024/12/transnusa-launches-flight-to-honiara-on.html

9air launches flight from Yancheng to Suvarnabhumi via Guiyang on 4 December 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Juneyao Air's low-cost airline subsidiary, 9air, has launched scheduled flight from Yancheng to Suvarnabhumi via Guiyang on 4 December 2024.

According to schedules, on 4 December 2024, 9air flight AQ1227 takes off from Yancheng for Suvarnabhumi via Guiyang at 4.55 pm, transits in Guiyang at 7.50 pm before leaving Guiyang for Suvarnabhumi at 9.30 pm and landing in Suvarnabhumi at 11.22 pm.

Then, on 5 December 2024, flight AQ1228 leaves Suvarnabhumi for Yancheng via Guiyang at 7.35 am, touches down in Guiyang at 11.25 am before departing from Guiyang for Yancheng at 1.35 pm and arriving in Yancheng at 3.55 pm local time.

9air flies from Yancheng to Guiyang and Suvarnabhumi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays before leaving Suvarnabhumi for Guiyang and Yancheng on Thursdays, Saturdays and Tuesdays with its B737-800 aircraft.

 

Kenya Airways renews codeshare agreement with China Eastern

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Kenya Airways announced that it has renewed its codeshare agreement with China Eastern from 9 December 2024, reinforcing Kenya Airways' commitment to providing seamless travel between Africa and China. This partnership provides passengers with more travel options, allowing them to conveniently travel to a wider range of destinations across the two continents.

The agreement allows Chinese passengers to purchase a connecting ticket from multiple domestic cities (Beijing, Pudong, Kunming, Nanchang) to Guangzhou or Suvarnabhumi on China Eastern flights and then seamlessly connect to Kenya Airways flights to Nairobi and various parts of Africa; the same applies to the return trip to Africa. The above flights are now available for sale.

Luxair signs order with Embraer for two E195-E2 aircraft

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA           Image : Embraer/Luxair

Embraer has signed a firm order with Luxair, the flagship airline of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, for two E195-E2 aircraft, the world’s most efficient single-aisle aircraft. The newly ordered E195-E2 small narrow-body aircraft will complement the airline’s recent order of large narrow-body aircraft in terms of capacity.

Luxair has decided to exercise its right of first refusal to purchase two more E195-E2s, in addition to the four E195-E2s already ordered, bringing Luxair’s E2 firm order to six. In addition, Luxair has the right to purchase three more aircraft, which can be flexibly converted into E190-E2s. The first aircraft ordered in 2023 is scheduled for delivery in early 2026.

Gilles Feith, CEO of Luxair, said: “The E195-E2 is an important investment for Luxair’s future, allowing us to find a balance between business growth and environmental sustainability. The new E2 aircraft will join our fleet in 2026. Their arrival will usher in a new era for Luxair; with quieter flying, better fuel efficiency and unparalleled cabin comfort for our customers. With its quiet cabin and extremely low noise emissions, the E195-E2 fits perfectly with our company’s vision to become a more sustainable, efficient and customer-centric regional airline.

Marie-Louise Philippe, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Embraer Commercial Aviation and Head of Europe and Central Asia, said: “We thank Luxair for its trust in Embraer by placing an additional order for this model before the delivery of the first E2 aircraft. The E2 is a perfect fit for Luxair’s operational needs and future growth goals, complementing its existing and on-order fleets while ensuring the long-term optimization of its fleet and network. The E2 features advanced features, new technologies, reduced noise and emissions, allowing the airline to grow its business while taking into account its sustainability goals. ”

Luxair’s E195-E2 will feature a comfortable single-class layout with 136 seats, using Embraer’s iconic 2+2 cabin seating layout with no middle seat. Luxair has also selected the popular Recaro seats.

Aero K launches flight to Pakse on 21 December 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

South Korea's youngest airline, Aero K, launches direct scheduled flight from Incheon to Pakse, the capital of Champasak Province, Lao PDR, on 21 December 2024.

According to Aero K's official web-site, Aero K flight RF561 departs from Incheon for Pakse on 21 December 2024 at 11.15 am, touches down in Pakse at 2.15 pm local time before leaving Pakse for Incheon at 3.15 pm and landing in Incheon at 9.45 pm under flight RF562.

The above flights operated by Aero K's A320 aircraft take off on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The airline will assess the success of the flights after 19 March 2025. If they attract enough passengers, Aero K plans to consider extending the service.

Aero K is the first foreign airline to fly to Pakse with a jet. Existing international flights to Siem Reap Angkor, Guangzhou and Ho Chi Minh City from Pakse are operated by Lao Airlines' ATR aircraft.

Jeju Air launches Busan-Hong Kong route on 25 January 2025, Incheon-Changi route on 30 March 2025

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Jeju Air is launching two new routes in the first quarter of 2025. They are Busan=Hong Kong and Incheon=Changi routes.

From 25 January 2025, Jeju Air flight 7C6031 departs from Busan for Hong Kong at 9.55 pm, touches down in Hong Kong at 12.40 am on 26 January 2025 before leaving Hong Kong for Busan under lfight 7C67032 at 2.05 am and arriving in Busan at 6.10 am. Flights continue until 6 February 2025.

From 30 March 2025, Jeju Air flight 7C2621 leaves Incheon for Changi at 8.05 pm, lands in Changi at 1.20 am on 31 March 2025 before taking off from Changi for Incheon at 2.20 am and touching down in Incheon at 6.10 am under flight 7C2622.

The above daily flights are operated by Jeju Air's B737-800 aircraft as usual.

Juneyao Air launches flight to Sydney on 16 December 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Juneyao Air launches scheduled flight from Pudong to Sydney on 16 December 2024.

According to schedules, Juneyao Air flight HO1669 departs from Pudong for Sydney at 5.30 pm on 16 December 2024, touches down in Sydney at 6.30 am on 17 December 2024 before taking off from Sydney for Pudong at 8.35 am and landing in Pudong at 4 pm under flight HO1670.

Juneyao Air flies to Sydney on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and returns to Pudong on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays with its 787-9 Dreamliner.