9air launches four new routes to Vientiane in September 2025

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

News (1)

9air expands its Lao route network from 16 September 2025 onwards

9air, Guangzhou-based low-cost airline, launches scheduled flights from Nantong, Wuxi, Hefei and Ningbo to Vientiane in September 2025 with its B737-800 multi-hue aircraft. The inaugural flight dates are 16 September 2025, 22 September 2025, 25 September 2025 and 27 September 2025.

News (2)

9air launches flight from Nantong to Vientiane on 16 September 2025

9air launches scheduled passenger flight from Nantong to Vientiane on 16 September 2025. According to Variflight, 9air flight AQ1239 departs from Nantong for Vientiane at 10.20 am, touches down in Vientiane at 1.05 pm before leaving Vientiane for Nantong at 2.05 pm and arriving in Nantong at 6.35 pm under flight AQ1240.

9air flies to Vientiane from Nantong on Tuesdays.

News (3)

9air launches flight from Wuxi to Vientiane on 22 September 2025

Beginning 22 September 2025, 9air introduces new link to Wuxi Sunan Shuofang Airport when it commences scheduled flight from Wuxi to Vientiane with flight AQ1233 taking off from Wuxi for Vientiane at 10.45 am, touching down in Vientiane at 1.45 pm before leaving Vientiane for Wuxi at 2.45 pm and arriving in Wuxi at 7.30 pm under flight AQ1234.

9air flies from Wuxi to Vientiane on Mondays.

News (4)

9air links Hefei and Vientiane from 25 September 2025

On 25 September 2025, Hefei Xinqiao Airport celebrates the launch of 9air's scheduled flight to Vientiane from Hefei.

According to Variflight, 9air flight AQ1237 leaves Hefei for Vientiane at 10.50 am, touches down in Vientiane at 1.15 pm before departing from Vientiane for Hefei at 2.15 pm and landing in Hefei at 6.20 pm under flight AQ1238.

9air flies to Vientiane from Hefei on Thursdays.

News (5)

9air launches flight from Vientiane to Ningbo on 27 September 2025

On 27 September 2025, 9air connects Ningbo with Vientiane on the same day with flight AQ1231 departing from Ningbo for Vientiane at 10.55 am, arriving in Vientiane at 1.35 pm before taking off from Vientiane for Ningbo at 2.35 pm and touching down in Ningbo at 7 pm under flight AQ1232.

9air flies from Ningbo to Vientiane return on Saturdays.

News (6)

9air's external route network expands

9air currently connects Vientiane with Guangzhou and Haikou on a weekly basis. It also flies to Suvarnabhumi from Guangzhou and Guiyang, from Guiyang to KLIA and from Linyi to Kansai.

With the additions of the new routes from Nantong, Wuxi, Hefei and Ningbo, the airline has opened perfect ten new routes so far to four Asian countries outside China including Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Japan.

Centrum Air launches flights to Phuket and Copenhagen in September and October 2025

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

Centrum Air, Uzbekistan's youngest airline, launches scheduled passenger flights from Tashkent to Phuket and Copenhagen in September and October 2025.

The official inaugural flight of Centrum Air from Tashkent to Phuket takes off on 17 September 2025.

Based on schedules, Centrum Air flight C6529 flies to Phuket on Wednesdays and Fridays at different timings. The flights are operated by its A321neo aircraft.

On 17 September 2025 (Wednesday), flight C6529 departs from Tashkent for Phuket at 11.30 am, touches down in Phuket at 8.20 pm before leaving Phuket for Tashkent at 10.30 pm and arriving in Tashkent at 3.10 am on the next day under flight C6530.

On Fridays (first Friday flight on 19 September 2025), flight C6529 leaves Tashkent for Phuket at 12.40 am, touches down in Phuket at 9.25 am before departing from Phuket for Tashkent at 10.45 am and landing in Tashkent at 3.15 pm local time.

Centrum Air officially commences flight to Copenhagen from Tashkent on 2 October 2025 with its A320-series aircraft.

On 2 October 2025, Centrum Air flight C6141 departs from Tashkent for Copenhagen at 9 am, touches down in Copenhagen at 11.20 am before taking off from Copenhagen for Tashkent at 12.20 pm under flight C6142 and arriving in Tashkent at 10.05 pm.

The above flights are effective for travel on Thursdays.

On Tuesdays, C6141 is scheduled to depart from Tashkent for Copenhagen at 6 pm, arrive in Copenhagen at 8.25 pm and taking off from Copenhagen for Tashkent at 9.40 pm and touching down in Tashkent at 7.25 am on Wednesdays under flight C6142.

Jiangxi Air launches scheduled flight to KLIA on 25 August 2025

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

Nanchang-based subdidiary of XiamenAir, Jiangxi Air, launches scheduled flight to KLIA from Nanchang on 25 August 2025. According to Jiangxi Air, the tickets of the return flight are sold by XiamenAir, online travel platforms such as Trip and Agoda and not on Jiangxi Air's web-site.

According to schedules provided by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Jiangxi Air flight RY6607 departs from Nanchang for KLIA at 10 am, touches down in KLIA at 3 pm before leaving KLIA at 4 pm under flight RY6608 and arrives in Nanchang at 8.50 pm on Mondays and Saturdays.

Jiangxi Air flies to KLIA with its B737-800 aircraft.

The inaugural flight from Nanchang was greeted with a water cannon salute before passengers were welcomed at the boarding gate with Malaysia-themed gifts.

Representatives from the Chinese Communist Embassy in Kuala Lumour, the Ministory of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Transport and MAHB attended the Jiangxi Air inaugural flight welcome ceremony at KLIA.

Jiangxi Air's general manager Kang Zhiyong said the launch is part of its strategy to support the Belt and Road Initiative and to promote Jiangxi's rich tourism offerings. The airline aims to continuoysly enhance service quality, introduce customised travel products and strengthen connectivity to foster greater exchanges and cooperation between CCP China and Malaysia.

Inflight Pictures : Shandong Airlines 737 MAX 8 in Changi

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Air Cambodia conducts test flight to Techo on 15 August 2025

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

According to the Cambodian Chinese Daily, on 15 August 2025, Techo airport in Cambodia successfully completed its test flight operations. The success of this test flight signifies that the airport is fully prepared for its official opening.

The test flight was fully supervised by Minister of the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation of Cambodia, Mau Havanna, and relevant department personnel. According to a spokesperson for the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation, the test aircraft, an Air Cambodia A320 commercial aircraft, took off from Phnom Penh and landed successfully in Techo.

The test flight was reportedly a complete success in terms of flight technical systems. The test included check-in for 100 passengers and border inspection for another 100 passengers, including baggage security and immigration checks.

Korean Air receives the world's 125th 787-10

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA        Image : Boeing

Boeing recently delivered a 787 Dreamliner to Korean Air, marking the 1,200th 787 delivery. This is also the 125th 787-10 to enter service worldwide.

Inflight Pictures and Poem : Ode to Pelita Air

 Photo, poem copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Ode to Pelita Air

Pelican on August the eighteenth 

Empresses pray on the race

Lion Changi is the rock that adores

In the centuries gone and calm comes

Thousand islands behold, echo

A flight realizes the dream

Accomplished is Alaska premier A320

Indonesia's pride that roars and goes

Race now to complete the memorious play of awe

Congratulations to Pelita Air on the official launch of the inaugural flight to Changi on 18 August 2025

Air Niugini takes delivery of its first A220 during the first week of September 2025

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

On 15 August 2025, Air Niugini makes its exhibitor debut together with Papua New Guinea Tourism at NATAS Travel Holidays 2025 in Singapore. It announces that the airline is receiving its first A220 in September 2025, coinciding with the country's 50th anniversary of independence.

Air Niugini's first new Airbus A220 is named the People's Balus. Its arrival signifies a transformative step in the nation's aviation history, introducing a new era of modern, efficient and comfortable air travel not only in Papua New Guinea but also to the world.

People's Balus the A220-300 jet is scheduled to depart for Port Moresby during the first week of September 2025 and it will arrive for the independence celebrations in Papua New Guinea before 16 September 2025.

Air Niugini is the 25th airline to operate the A220. It has ordered 11 brand-new A220s and they will come in two variants including three A220-300 planes with a seating capacity of 138 passengers and eight smaller A220-100 jets with 114 seats.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney's latest-generation GTF engines, the A220 reduces fuel consumption by 25 per cent compared to previous-generation aircraft. The aircraft boasts the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, ensuring a superior travel experience on domestic and regional routes. It is capable of operating with up to 50 per cent sustainable aviation fuel or SAF.

The fleet of A220s is aimed to replace Air Niugini's aging Fokker F100/70 fleet on domestic routes and eventually its B737-800 jets on international flights to Changi, Hong Kong and its other international destinations.

Air Niugini meanwhile is considering some potential new routes that the A220s may be deployed on including resumption of flights to KLIA, Cebu and Cengkareng. Once the airline starts utilizing the A220s on international flights, its B767-300ER will resume scheduled flights to Narita and Kansai and launch flights to Chinese cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou.

See also: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2025/08/air-niugini-exhibits-at-natas-travel.html

Air Niugini exhibits at NATAS Travel Holidays 2025

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

Air Niugini is exhibiting its Papua New Guinea tour packages and promoting Papua New Guinea travel during the country's 50th year of independence at the Papua New Guinea Destination Pavilion at NATAS Travel Holidays 2025 from 15 to 17 August 2025 at the Singapore Expo.

At the same time, Air Niugini has announced to the public that it is receiving its first A220 in September 2025, which will replace its sole B737-800 in due course.

The airline has been operating scheduled flights to Singapore from Port Moresby for more than 45 years. It last celebrated its 50th Anniversary of flight operations between 5 November 2023 and 4 November 2024. 

Photos of Air Niugini / Papua New Guinea Pavilion

See also: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2025/08/air-niugini-takes-delivery-of-its-first.html

Other Airline Exhibitors at NATAS Travel Holidays 2025

Akasa Air launches flight to Phuket on 20 September 2025

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA        Image : Akasa Air Web Screenshot

Indian private airline Akasa Air launches daily scheduled flight from Mumbai to Phuket on 20 September 2025.

According to schedules, on 20 September 2025, Akasa Air flight QP618 departs from Mumbai for Phuket at 7.45 am, touches down in Phuket at 2.35 pm before leaving Phuket for Mumbai at 3.35 pm and arriving in Mumbai at 7.55 pm under flight QP619.

Akasa Air flies to Phuket with one of its 30 737 MAX 8 jets. It has a confirmed purchase order of another 226 737 MAX aircraft.

Phuket is Akasa Air's sixth overseas destination after Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City and its first Southeast Asia destination. It also operates scheduled flights on 23 domestic routes in India.