Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
On 29 March 2017, Myanmar National Airlines announced that it is launching weekly scheduled flight from Mandalay to Hong Kong on 4 June 2017 using one of its four Boeing B737-800 aircraft. Flights between Mandalay and Hong Kong depart on Sundays.
On Sundays, Myanmar National Airlines flight UB8027 departs from Mandalay for Hong Kong at 9.45 am, arrives in Hong Kong at 2.15 pm before leaving Hong Kong for Mandalay at 3.15 pm and touching down in Mandalay at 4.55 pm under flight UB8028. Flights continue onwards to and from Mandalay to Yangon.
The new flight services to Hong Kong from Mandalay come in response to an increasing demand for premium flight services to Myanmar after HK Express announced withdrawal of budget flight services from Yangon early this week.
Myanmar National Airlines operates weekday flights to Hong Kong from Yangon. It flies to Singapore daily, operates frequent flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from Yangon and Mandalay, scheduled charter flights to Gaya, Kunming and it has the most extensive domestic flight network.
Besides the Mandalay-Hong Kong service, Myanmar National Airlines has plans to launch future flights to Chengdu, Jinan, Zhangjiajie, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Osaka and Jakarta.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Hebei Airlines, which launched its inaugural international flight to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from Shijiazhuang on 27 March 2017, plans to launch scheduled flights to Osaka and Singapore later in 2017. Other planned destinations include Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo and Incheon.
On the Bangkok inaugural flight, passengers were given Hebei Airlines inaugural Bangkok flight aircraft postcards as souvenirs. Passengers also participated in inflight games and took their best snapshots onboard.
Customers in Shijiazhuang can buy Hebei Airlines international flight tickets by calling the airline at 86311-96699 or browse the airline web-site www.hbhk.com.cn for more ticketing information. Hebei Airlines has no office of its own in Bangkok, Singapore and Osaka. XiamenAir in Suvarnabhumi takes charge of Hebei Airlines baggage enquiries and check-in matters at the Bangkok airport.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Colorful Guizhou Airlines introduces new domestic routes at the start of the summer season of 2017. On 26 March 2017, it launches flights to Hangzhou and Xianyang. On 27 March 2017, it begins to fly to Shijiazhuang via Kaili and on 28 March 2017, it launches scheduled flights to Hefei, via Kaili, and Haikou. All flights are operated by its Embraer E-190 aircraft.
On 26 March 2017, Colorful Guizhou flight GY7133 leaves Guiyang for Hangzhou via Kaili at 7.30 am, transits in Kaili at 8.10 am before departing for Hangzhou at 8.50 am and arriving in Hangzhou at 11.10 am. Then the return flight GY7134 departs from Hangzhou at 12.05 pm, transits in Kaili at 2.25 pm before taking off from Kaili at 3.05 pm and arriving in Guiyang at 3.45 pm. Fights are operated everyday.
On the same day, flight GY7149 departs from Guiyang for Xianyang Airport of Xi'an at 8.10 pm, arrives in Xianyang at 9.55 pm before leaving Xianyang for Guiyang at 10.55 pm and touching down in Guiyang at 12.45 am on 27 March 2017 under flight GY7150. These flights are operated on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
From 27 March 2017, Colorful Guizhou flight GY7141 leaves Guiyang for Shijiazhuang via Kaili at 8.20 am, transits in Kaili at 9 am before departing for Shijiazhuang at 9.40 am and arriving in Shijiazhuang at 12 pm. The outbound flight GY7142 departs from Shijiazhuang at 12.55 pm, transits in Kaili at 3.45 pm before taking off from Kaili at 4.30 pm and arriving in Guiyang at 5.15 pm. Fights are operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
From 28 March 2017, flight GY7127 embarks on the voyage for Hefei via Kaili at 4.35 pm, transits in Kaili at 5.10 pm before departing from Kaili for Hefei at 5.50 pm and arriving in Hefei at 7.35 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The outbound flight GY7128 takes off from Hefei for Kaili at 8.20 pm, transits in Kaili at 10.15 pm before departing from Kaili at 10.55 pm and returning to Guiyang at 11.35 pm.
On the same day of 28 March 2017, Colorful Guizhou Airlines flight GY7151 departs from Guiyang for Haikou at 7.55 am, arrives in Haikou at 9.50 am before leaving Haikou for Guiyang at 11.15 am and touching down in Guiyang at 1.10 pm under flight GY7152. These flights connecting Haikou with Guiyang are operated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and weekends.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Tigerair is taking over Scoot's Jaipur route on 26 March 2017. Scoot's last Jaipur flight service is on 25 March 2017.
On 26 March 2017, Tigerair flight TR2684 departs from Singapore for Jaipur at 8.55 pm, arrives in Jaipur at 12.35 am before leaving Jaipur for Singapore at 1.35 am and touching down in Singapore at 9.50 am on 27 March 2017 under flight TR2685.
Flights operated by Tigerair's A320 aircraft leaving for Jaipur from Singapore are on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while flights from Jaipur to Singapore are on the following days.
Tigerair is the only airline in Singapore to operate flights to Jaipur from 26 March.
Jaipur is the second destination that Scoot has transferred to Tigerair under the former's route rationalization exercise after Hong Kong, before both low-cost airlines plan to announce their new merger identity sometime in mid-2017.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Yangtze River Airlines, the Shanghai-headquartered subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, is launching five new routes on 26 March 2017 using its B737-800 aircraft. The new routes are Guiyang-Xiangyang, Xiangyang-Jinan, Shenzhen-Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou-Ningbo and Zhengzhou-Dalian.
On 26 March 2017, Yangtze River flight Y87587 departs from Guiyang for Xiangyang at 11.10 am, arrives in Xiangyang at 12.55 pm before leaving Xiangyang for Jinan at 1.50 pm and arriving in Jinan at 3.35 pm.
Flight Y87588 leaves Jinan for Xiangyang at 4.35 pm, lands in Xiangyang at 6.20 pm before departing from Xiangyang for Guiyang at 7.15 pm and arriving in Guiyang at 9.05 pm.
Flights from Guiyang to Xiangyang and Jinan are operated on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
On 26 March 2017, flight Y87565 departs from Shenzhen for Zhengzhou at 6.25 am, arrives in Zhengzhou at 9.10 am before leaving Zhengzhou for Shenzhen at 10.20 pm and arriving in Shenzhen at 12.35 am on 27 March under flight Y87566.
On 26 March 2017, flight Y87591 departs from Zhengzhou for Ningbo at 10.10 am, arrives in Ningbo at 12.05 pm before leaving Ningbo for Zhengzhou at 1 pm and arriving in Zhengzhou at 3.05 pm under flight Y87592.
On 26 March 2017, flight Y87593 departs from Zhengzhou for Dalian at 4.15 pm, arrives in Dalian at 6.25 pm before leaving Dalian for Zhengzhou at 7.15 pm and touching down in Zhengzhou at 9.20 pm under flight Y87594.
Services from Zhengzhou to Shenzhen, Ningbo and Dalian are operated on a daily basis.
Yangtze River Airlines is the first Chinese airline to exhibit at the first edition of ITB China, which will take place in Shanghai at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Centre from 10 to 12 May 2017. Formerly an all-cargo airline known as Yangtze River Express Airlines which was founded in 2002 with a registered capital of RMB5.025 billion and debut flight started in January 2003, it commenced passenger flights on 15 December 2015 under the current name of Yangtze River Airlines. It has a fleet of 22 Boeing aircraft including 6 B737-800 passenger jets, 11 B737-300F, 3 B737-400F and 3 B747-400BDSF cargo jets operating more than 50 domestic passenger and international cargo routes including flights from Shanghai-Pudong to Guiyang, Sanya, Zhuhai and Hong Kong.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Oman Air launches scheduled flight from Singapore to Guangzhou on 20 March 2017.
On 20 March 2017, Oman Air flight WY0847 departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 9.30 pm, arrives in Guangzhou at 1.30 am on 21 March 2017 before leaving Guangzhou for Singapore at 4.30 am and touching down in Singapore at 8.40 am on 21 March under flight WY0848.
The outbound flight for Guangzhou takes place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 20 March to 25 March 2017 while the outgoing flight from Guangzhou to Singapore is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
From 27 March 2017 to 31 March 2017, flight WY0847 leaves Singapore for Guangzhou at 9.45 pm, arrives in Guangzhou at 1.45 am before leaving Guangzhou at 3.15 am and arriving in Singapore at 7.10 am under flight WY0848. The flights to Guangzhou are on Tuesday and Thursdays while the flights to Singapore are on Wednesday and Friday.
From 1 April 2017, Oman Air increases the flight frequencies to three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for its flights to Guangzhou and on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for its flights from Guangzhou to Singapore.
Flights in Singapore are operated onwards to Muscat until further notice by Oman Air.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
MIAT Mongolian Airlines, the National Flag Carrier of Mongolia, is launching its inaugural flight from Ulaanbaatar to Busan, South Korea's second largest city after Seoul, on 22 June 2017.
On 22 June 2017, MIAT flight OM311 departs from Ulaanbaatar for Busan at 6.05 am, arrives in Busan at 10.35 am before leaving Busan for Ulaanbaatar at 11.30 am and touching down in Ulaanbaatar at 2.30 pm under flight OM312.
This inaugural flight is operated by MIAT's B767-300ER aircraft.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines may introduce more services on the Ulaanbaatar-Busan route if demand for seats on the inaugural flight is strong.
Currently, customers can book the return Ulaanbaatar-Busan flight on Canada-based on-line travel portal edreams and at MIAT sales offices in Ulaanbaatar and Seoul. Customers may also lodge ticket enquiries with MIAT offices in Beijing, Berlin, Moscow, Tokyo and including MIAT passenger general sales agents in Hong Kong and Singapore. The tickets are not yet available on MIAT web-site for sale.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
One day before the launch of China Express Airlines' flight from Zhanjiang to Bangkok Don Mueang on 28 March 2017, Shijiazhuang-headquartered Hebei Airlines is launching scheduled flight from Shijiazhuang to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport on 27 March 2017.
On 27 March 2017, Hebei Airlines flight NS3517 departs from Shijiazhuang for Suvarnabhumi at 3.40 pm, arrives in Suvarnabhumi at 7.15 pm before leaving Suvarnabhumi for Shijiazhuang at 8.15 pm and touching down in Shijiazhuang at 1.45 am on 28 March 2017 under flight NS3518.
Hebei Airlines will operate the services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays using its B737-800 aircraft. Suvarnabhumi is the airline's first international destination airport. It plans to inaugurate flights to other parts of Southeast Asia as well as to Incheon, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei as well.
Hebei Airlines also operates an extensive domestic flight network in China. It is a subsidiary of XiamenAir.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
China's largest private regional feeder service airline, China Express Airlines, finally goes international on 28 March 2017 when it launches its first international flight to Don Mueang Airport of Bangkok from Zhanjiang, and on 30 March 2017 it launches its first scheduled flight to Phnom Penh from Zhanjiang using its Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.
On 28 March 2017, China Express flight G5 4319 departs from Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province for Don Mueang at 3.25 pm, arrives in Don Mueang at 5.35 pm before leaving Don Mueang for Zhanjiang at 6.40 pm and touching down in Zhanjiang at 8.50 pm under flight G5 4320. Flights between Zhanjiang and Don Mueang are operated on Sundays and Tuesdays.
On 30 March 2017, China Express Airlines' first scheduled flight to Phnom Penh, flight G5 4321 takes off from Zhanjiang at 3.25 pm, touches down in Phnom Penh at 5.45 pm before departing from Phnom Penh for Zhanjiang at 6.35 pm and arriving in Zhanjiang at 8.50 pm under flight G5 4322. Services between Phnom Penh and Zhanjiang are operated on Thursdays and Saturdays.
From its first headquarters registered in Guiyang in April 2006 through its first scheduled domestic flight to Liping from Guiyang on 26 September 2006 to its headquarters and largest main operations hub move to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in October 2014, China Express Airlines has five air bases in Dalian, Hohhot, Xianyang, Guiyang and Chongqing. As of 7 March 2017, it operates scheduled services to 70 towns and perfecture-level cities in China from these bases using its fleet of 28 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. Besides, it has code-sharing flight arrangements with Air China and China Southern to extend their flight networks from Beijing and Guangzhou to the remote area of China via its bases.
With the opening of international routes to Southeast Asia in 2017, China Express Airlines hopes to increase its number of aircraft to 66 by 2020 to meet the Chinese second-and-third-tier cities' demands for more international flights.
China Express Airlines is not the only small Chinese airline that is opening new routes to Southeast Asia. Domestic airlines like Ruili Airlines, Shijiazhuang-headquartered Hebei Airlines and Shenzhen-headquartered Donghai Airlines are said to have applied with CAAC recently for rights to convert and extend their service coverage to include international services to Southeast Asian cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh and Bangkok this year.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Vistara, the commercial name of TATA-SIA Airlines Limited, the two-year-old Indian joint-venture subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is launching scheduled flight from Mumbai to Amritsar on 8 March 2017 and inaugural scheduled flight from Delhi to Leh on 25 March 2017 using one of its 13 Airbus A320 aircraft.
On 8 March 2017, Vistara flight UK735 departs from Mumbai for Amritsar at 1.25 pm, arrives in Amritsar at 3.50 pm before leaving Amritsar for Mumbai at 4.25 pm and touching down in Mumbai at 6.45 pm. Flights are operated from Tuesdays to Sundays.
Vistara earlier commences its inaugural flight to Amritsar from Delhi with the same frequency as its Mumbai-Amritsar-Mumbai flights on 1 March 2017 under flight codes UK957/UK958 with UK957 leaving Delhi for Amritsar at 1.20 pm, arriving in Amritsar at 2.35 pm before taking off from Amritsar for Delhi at 3.15 pm and arriving in Delhi at 4.30 pm under flight UK958.
On 25 March 2017, Vistara flight UK965 departs from Delhi for Leh, the multi-religious city located in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir at 7 am, arrives in Leh at 8.30 am before commencing its return journey to Delhi at 9.05 am from Leh and touching down in Delhi at 10.25 am under flight UK966. Flights are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays before the frequency is operated on a daily basis at the same timings on 10 May 2017.
Vistara's fleet of CAT III-B certified A320 aircraft connect 20 cities across India. The A320 pilots are able to operate flights to airports with Runway Visibility Range (RVR) of as low as 75 metres. The airline celebrates two years of successful operations on 9 January 2017. It also currently has code-sharing arrangements with Singapore Airlines on all flights originating from Delhi.
