Inflight Pictures : Qatar Airways A380-800

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Hainan Airlines' grand welcome ceremony for its first A330-900

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA       Image : Company leaders and crew photo (Photo by Geng Weixing)

On 29 October 2025, local time in Toulouse, France, Hainan Airlines, a subsidiary of the newly formed HNA Aviation Group, received a brand-new Airbus A330 aircraft. On the morning of November 1st, Beijing time, the newly acquired Airbus A330 successfully landed at Haikou Meilan International Airport and is scheduled to officially enter service soon.

That morning, Hainan Airlines held a grand welcoming ceremony at Haikou Meilan International Airport. After arriving, the new A330 aircraft passed through a water salute, symbolizing the highest level of civil aviation protocol, officially joining the Hainan Airlines fleet. Xu Gang, Executive Vice President of Airbus Global and CEO of Airbus China; Liu Yinan, Director, Executive President and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Liaoning Fangda Group; Ding Yongzheng, Senior Vice President of Liaoning Fangda Group and Chairman of HNA Aviation Group; Zhu Tao, Vice President of HNA Aviation Group and Chairman of Hainan Airlines; Gui Haihong, Vice President of HNA Aviation Group and Secretary of the Party Committee of Hainan Airlines; Yu Chaojie, President of Hainan Airlines; Guo Shuo, Vice President of Hainan Airlines; and representatives of media reporters attended the welcoming ceremony and witnessed this important moment.

It is understood that the newly introduced Airbus A330 aircraft has a total of 301 seats, including 24 business class seats and 277 economy class seats. To ensure a comfortable journey for passengers in all classes, the business class features a 1-2-1 staggered layout, ensuring that every passenger has direct access to the aisle, enjoying the convenience of easy access and good personal privacy, while also allowing for greater freedom of movement. The economy class seats have a pitch of 30-34 inches, providing passengers with ample legroom. It's worth mentioning that the economy class seats on Hainan Airlines' new A330 aircraft are domestically produced by the aviation industry, marking the first time domestically made seats have been included in the selection catalog for mainstream international wide-body aircraft. Furthermore, the highly acclaimed "Dream Feather" cabin interior design, following its use on the Boeing 787, is being fully applied to this new Airbus A330 for the first time, creating a warm and soothing sensory experience through its colour scheme, lighting, and materials. The aircraft is also equipped with industry-leading 4K ultra-high-definition screens, and all cabins support high-power USB-C ports and Bluetooth connectivity, significantly upgrading the entertainment and charging experience.

As of 31 October 2025, Hainan Airlines has operated 29 A330 series aircraft and 10 Airbus A320 series aircraft. The newly introduced A330 aircraft boasts a maximum range increased by 700 nautical miles compared to its predecessor, providing the fleet with a more diverse range gradient and allowing for more flexible route planning and capacity allocation. The new aircraft will be primarily deployed on approximately 15 key long-haul routes to Europe, Oceania, and the Middle East, continuously expanding and densifying the "Air Silk Road" network. Simultaneously, these advanced and efficient new aircraft will also serve premium express routes departing from Beijing and Haikou, as well as express routes to the Free Trade Port, thereby achieving efficient connections between international and domestic route networks.

Inflight Pictures : MIAT Mongolian Airlines B767-300ER's first Mongolia livery

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Greater Bay Airlines launches flight to Male on 8 February 2026

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA      Image : Greater Bay Airlines

On 31 October 2025, Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) announces that it is launching scheduled flight from Hong Kong to Male on 8 February 2026.

On 8 February 2026, according to schedules, GBA flight HB2500 departs from Hong Kong for Male at 1.50 pm, touches down in Male at 5.20 pm before leaving Male for Hong Kong at 7.20 pm under flight HB2501 and arriving in Hong Kong at 5.20 am on 9 February 2026.

GBA flies to Male with its newly-acquired 737 MAX 9 aircraft daily from 8 February to 25 February 2026.

Inflight Pictures : United Airlines 787-9 Dreamliner

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Asiana Airlines launches flight to Budapest on 3 April 2026

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

Asiana Airlines launches non-stop scheduled flight from Incheon to Budapest on 3 April 2026.

On 3 April 2026, according to schedules, Asiana flight OZ547 departs from Incheon for Budapest at 12.35 pm, touches down in Budapest at 6.05 pm before leaving Budapest for Incheon at 8 pm and landing in Incheon on 4 April 2026 at 1.40 pm under flight OZ548.

Asiana Airlines flies to Budapest on Fridays and Sundays with its A350-900 aircraft.

Delta plans to launch routes to Changi and Manila with A350

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

Delta Air Lines recently announced a series of ultra-long-haul route plans, including routes to Hong Kong and Riyadh.  A Delta executive also disclosed its Asian expansion plans internally, and how these plans will be implemented is worth watching.

According to the Delta executive, the potential of the European market has been largely exhausted. In the long term, Delta believes that long-haul routes in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa have the greatest growth potential.

Delta plans to launch routes to Changi and Manila but it has not yet disclosed which airports in the U.S. will operate these routes from.

It also hopes to connect its hub airports in Los Angeles and New York JFK with Incheon, which happens to be the hub airport for Delta's joint venture partner, Korean Air.

There is currently no specific timetable for when these routes will be launched. However, they are clearly all part of Delta's plans.

This expansion plan by Delta clearly relies on receiving more Airbus A350 aircraft, as this is the aircraft Delta uses to operate its trans-Pacific routes. In addition to the 20 A350-1000s, Delta has six A350-900s awaiting delivery.

Jeju Air launches flight to Phu Quoc from Busan on 17 December 2025

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

Jeju Air launches scheduled flight from Busan to Phu Quoc on 17 December 2025.

On 17 December 2025, according to schedules, Jeju Air flight 7C2355 leaves Busan for Phu Quoc at 6.55 pm, touches down in Phu Quoc at 11 pm before taking off from Phu Quoc for Busan at 12.01 am local time and arriving in Busan at 8 am under flight 7C2356.

Jeju Air flies to Phu Quoc daily with its B737-800 aircraft.

Citilink launches flight to Don Mueang on 12 December 2025

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

Citilink launches scheduled flight to Don Mueang from Cengkareng on 12 December 2025.

On 12 December 2025, Citilink flight QG512 takes off from Cengkareng for Don Mueang at 12.30 pm, arrives in Don Mueang at 4.10 pm local time before leaving for Cengkareng at 5.10 pm under flight QG513 and touches down in Cengkareng at 8.30 pm.

Citilink flies daily to Don Mueang with its A320 aircraft.

West Air launches flight to Kota Kinabalu on 29 November 2025

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

Chongqing-based airline West Air launches non-stop scheduled flight from Chongqing to Kota Kinabalu on 29 November 2025.

On 29 November 2025, according to schedules, West Air flight PN6421 departs from Chongqing for Kota Kinabalu at 9.25 pm, touches down in Kota Kinabalu at 1.50 am before leaving Kota Kinabalu on 30 November 2025 for Chongqing at 2.50 am and arriving in Chongqing at 7.35 am under flight PN6422.

West Air flies to Kota Kinabalu with its A320 aircraft on Saturdays and lands in Chongqing on Sundays.