Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
On 27 January 2018, XiamenAir has received its first pro-UN livery aircraft, a B787-900 Dreamliner. It took delivery of the aircraft at the Boeing Seattle plant on 26 January 2018. The Dreamliner aircraft will operate on routes from Xiamen to long-haul destinations such as Amsterdam, Seattle and Melbourne.
XiamenAir's next pro-UN livery aircraft, a B737 MAX, will be deployed on intra-Asian routes from either Xiamen or Fuzhou, later this year.
XiamenAir is the first scheduled airline to support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. It signed the agreement with the UN on 15 January 2017*. The multi-media programming in the aircraft inflight entertainment, XiamenAir's VIP lounges and XiamenAir Inflight Magazine will convey the message of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to all passengers.
* Ref : http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2017/02/xiamen-airlines-becomes-first-airline-to-support-the-un-sustainable-development-agenda/
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Colorful Guizhou Airlines launches new flights from Guiyang to Changsha and Nanjing via Yibin on 1 February and 2 February 2018 using its Embraer E190 aircraft.
On 1 February 2018, Colorful Guizhou Airlines flight GY7157 departs from Guiyang for Yibin at 3.45 pm, transits in Yibin at 4.30 pm before taking off for Changsha at 5.10 pm and arriving in Changsha at 7.05 pm.
At 8.05 pm, flight GY7158 leaves Changsha for Yibin at 8.05 pm, arrives in Yibin at 9.50 pm before departing for Guiyang at 10.30 pm and arriving in Guiyang at 11.15 pm.
Flights are carried out on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
On 2 February 2018, flight GY7163 departs from Guiyang for Yibin at 2.05 pm, transits in Yibin at 2.50 pm before taking off for Nanjing at 3.30 pm and arriving in Nanjing at 5.55 pm.
At 7 pm, flight GY7164 departs from Nanjing for Yibin at 7 pm, arrives in Yibin at 10.10 pm before departing for Guiyang at 10.50 pm and touching down in Guiyang at 11.35 pm.
Flights to Nanjing via Yibin are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines is the only airline to operate flights from Yibin to Changsha and Nanjing. The airline operated its first commercial flight on 31 December 2015. Now, it has a fleet of 8 Embraer E190 regional jets and a route network of 25 domestic destinations in China.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Suparna Airlines (金鹏航空), the Shanghai-based subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, has introduced B787 Dreamliner flights since late December 2017. Its first flight in December was operated to Sanya from Shanghai-Pudong before its onward journey to Zhengzhou.
The picture above shot on 2 January 2018 shows the B787 Dreamliner at an aerobridge of Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Sky Angkor Airlines plans to launch scheduled flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by end of March 2018. The airline has its headquarters-cum-administrative office in Phnom Penh but till now it does not have flights to Phnom Penh. It operates domestic scheduled flights to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap, international scheduled flights to Incheon, Busan, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and many regular charter flights to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Gaya, Bangkok and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Sky Angkor Airlines has moved its Siem Reap Office to a new building address since the beginning of January 2018. The new address is:
No. 206, Road Krovatkong,
Group 10, Kruos Village,
Sangkat Svaydangkum, Siem Reap
Tel : +855 63 967 300. Fax : +855 63 967 400
However, emails to the new office address at info@skyangkorair.com were unaddressed.
The new Siem Reap office building as above is taller and larger than its former Angkor Shopping Arcade address. All ticketing, sales and marketing matters in relation to Sky Angkor Airlines' flights are carried out in the new address. Its web-site at www.skyangkorair.com is not updated.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Hainan Airlines launches twice-weekly scheduled flight to Vancouver from Shenzhen via Tianjin on 25 May 2018 using its Airbus A330 aircraft.
On 25 May 2018, Hainan Airlines flight HU7959 departs from Shenzhen for Vancouver via Tianjin at 7.25 am, transits in Tianjin at 10.25 am before departing for Vancouver at 1.25 pm and touching down in Vancouver at 9.30 am on 26 May 2018.
At 11.30 am on 26 May 2018, flight HU7960 leaves Vancouver for Tianjin, transits in Tianjin at 2.15 pm before taking off for Shenzhen at 4.45 pm and arriving in Shenzhen at 7.15 pm.
Flights to Vancouver from Shenzhen and Tianjin are on Mondays and Fridays while the outbound flights from Vancouver are on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Hainan Airlines' flights to Vancouver appear to compete with Hong Kong Airlines' direct flights to Vancouver from Hong Kong as mainland Chinese travellers from Shenzhen need not transit in Hong Kong for flights to Vancouver.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Hongtu Airlines launches new scheduled flights from Kunming to Qingdao, Hailaer and Lijiang as well as from Nanchang to Shenyang in February 2018 using its A321 aircraft.
On 1 February 2018, Hongtu Airlines launches flights to Qingdao and Hailaer from Kunming while its Kunming - Lijiang flight takes off on 5 January 2018. The flight schedules are as follows:-
Hongtu Airlines flight A6 7107 departs from Kunming for Hailaer via Qingdao at 7.10 am, arrives in Qingdao at 10.40 am before departing from Qingdao for Hailaer at 11.40 am and touching down in Hailaer at 2.25 pm.
The outbound flight A6 7108 takes off from Hailaer for Qingdao at 3.15 pm, transits in Qingdao for passengers to alight at 6 pm before continuing its onward journey for Kunming at 7 pm and arriving in Kunming at 10.45 pm on 1 February 2018.
Hongtu Airlines' flights on the Kunming - Qingdao- Hailaer routes are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and face no competition from other domestic Chinese airlines.
On 5 February 2018, flight A6 7115 leaves Kunming for Lijiang at 6.45 am, arrives in Lijiang at 7.50 am before departing from Lijiang for Kunming at 8.35 am and touching down in Kunming at 9.40 am under flight A6 7116. The return flight is operated daily and faces competition from China Eastern and Lucky Air.
On 1 February 2018, Hongtu Airlines extends its current Kunming - Nanchang route to Shenyang with flight A6 7129 leaving Nanchang at 7 am, arriving in Shenyang at 9 am before departing from Shenyang for Nanchang at 10.40 am and touching down in Nanchang at 1.50 pm under flight A6 7130.
As a result, Hongtu Airlines' Kunming - Nanchang return flight service has been re-scheduled from 31 January 2018 with flight A6 7105 departing from Kunming for Nanchang at 11.45 pm and arriving in Nanchang at 1.55 am for the inaugural flight to Shenyang on 1 February 2018. It leaves Nanchang for Kunming at 2.35 pm and touches down in Kunming at 5.05 pm on 1 February 2018 under flight A6 7106.
Full meals are served complimentary on all Hongtu Airlines' flights including its other flights to Lanzhou, Hohhot, Nanjing, Wuxi, Nantong and Changchun with its fleet of 2 A320 and 2 A321 aircraft.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
LongJiang Airlines (or LJ Air in short), the private full-service airline of Harbin, launches its first scheduled flight from Harbin to Nanchang on 22 January 2018 using its Airbus A321 aircraft.
On 22 January 2018, LJ Air flight LT4303 departs from Harbin for Nanchang at 10.20 am, arrives in Nanchang at 2 pm before leaving Nanchang for Harbin at 2.50 pm and touching down in Harbin at 6.20 pm under flight LT4304.
LJ Air flies between Harbin and Nanchang on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
LJ Air first launched its commercial flights to Hefei and Zhuhai on 10 February 2017 from Harbin. It plans to open new routes to other domestic airports of cities such as Shijiazhuang, Xi'an and Chengdu in the months to come.
LJ Air web-site : www.longjianghk.com
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Qingdao Airlines launches daily scheduled flight from Hailaer to Lanzhou via Tianjin on 27 January 2018 using one of its 14 Airbus A320 jets.
On 27 January 2018, Qingdao Airlines flight QW9837 departs from Hailaer for Tianjin at 2.30 pm, arrives in Tianjin at 5.20 pm to pick up more passengers for Lanzhou, departs from Tianjin for Lanzhou at 6.25 pm and arrives in Lanzhou at 8.50 pm.
The A320 aircraft will station in Lanzhou overnight before leaving Lanzhou for Hailaer via Tianjin at 7 am, arriving in Tianjin at 8.55 am before taking off for Hailaer at 9.55 am and touching down in Hailaer at 12.30 pm on 28 January 2018 under flight QW9838.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Hainan Airlines launches twice-weekly scheduled flight from Shenzhen to Madrid on 22 March 2018 using its B787 Dreamliner aircraft.
On 22 March 2018, Hainan Airlines flight HU7983 departs from Shenzhen to Madrid at 2.35 pm, arrives in Madrid at 9.50 pm before departing from Madrid for Shenzhen at 12 am on 23 March 2018 and touching down in Shenzhen at 7.55 pm on the same day under flight HU7984.
Flights are operated from Shenzhen to Madrid on Thursdays and Sundays while flights to Shenzhen from Madrid are on Fridays and Mondays.
Madrid is the fourth long-haul destination of Hainan Airlines from its Shenzhen base after Auckland, Brisbane and Cairns, flights of which are also recently launched.
With the convenient flights, passengers from Shenzhen no longer need to transit in Hong Kong or Guangzhou for onward flights to the above destinations.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
According to the website of China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), China Express Airlines has successfully passed the audit on the 17th working meeting of the 17th Commission of the Securities and Futures Commission on 17 January 2018. This will be the first China's regional airline and the seventh Chinese airline that holds A-shares.
Headquartered in Chongqing, China Express Airlines focuses on regional air passenger and freight services with air hubs in Guiyang, Chongqing, Dalian, Hohhot and Xi'an Xianyang. As of the end of June 2017, the airline flies to more than 80 destinations, of which 96 per cent of the routes are feeder routes and two international routes to Don Mueang and Phnom Penh from Zhanjiang.
According to the documents submitted by China Express Airlines to CSRC, from 2014 to 2016, its operating revenues were RMB1.287 billion, RMB1.792 billion and RMB2.551 billion respectively, with net profits of RMB124 million, RMB260 million and RMB337 million respectively. Revenue and net profit for the first half of 2017 were RMB1,534 million and RMB172 million respectively. The number of aircraft has increased from 14 at the end of 2014 to 31 at the end of June 2017. China Express Airlines has 355 pilots.
In 2017, China Express Airlines' safe operation steadily improved. It has 35 aircraft, and more than 70,000 aircraft movements, of which 77.15 per cent are punctual flights.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
XiamenAir has launched Beijing Capital International Airport's first daily scheduled flight to east Malaysia.
On 16 January 2018, XiamenAir flight MF8001 departs from Beijing Capital for Kota Kinabalu at 6.25 am, arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 12.15 pm before leaving Kota Kinabalu for Beijing at 7 pm and touching down in Beijing Capital at 12.20 am on 17 January 2018 under flight MF8002.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
MIAT Mongolian Airlines has decided to suspend flights from Ulaanbaatar to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi after 21 March 2018 due to insufficient passenger numbers on this route.
Currently MIAT flight OM701 departs from Ulaanbaatar to Suvarnabhumi at 4.20 pm, arrives in Suvarnabhumi at 9.40 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays before leaving Suvarnabhumi for Ulaanbaatar at 10.40 pm and touching down in Ulaanbaatar at 5.50 am the next days under flight OM702.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines continues to operate flights to Busan and its traditional destinations Beijing, Incheon, Narita, Hong Kong, Moscow, Berlin and Frankfurt during summer.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Vistara, Singapore Airlines' Indian subsidiary, is launching daily flight from Delhi to Chennai on 15 February 2018 and this route extends to reach Port Blair in the Andaman Sea on 1 March 2018. Services are operated by Vistara's A320 aircraft.
On 15 February 2018, Vistara flight UK835 departs from Delhi for Chennai at 7.45 pm, arrives in Chennai at 10.40 pm where it will remain in Chennai airport overnight before leaving Chennai for Delhi at 7.50 am and touching down in Delhi at 10.30 am under flight UK832 on 16 February 2018.
On 1 March 2018, flight UK833 departs from Delhi for Chennai at 7.20 am, reaches Chennai at 10.10 am before leaving Chennai for Port Blair at 11.10 am and arriving in Port Blair at 1.35 pm. At 2.20 pm, flight UK834 takes off from Port Blair for Chennai, transits in Chennai at 4.40 pm before departing from Chennai for Delhi at 5.30 pm and arriving in Delhi at 8.20 pm.
Vistara currently flies to Port Blair directly from Delhi and Kolkata.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Scoot launches non-stop scheduled flight from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 to Berlin Tegel Airport on 20 June 2018 with its B787-800 Dreamliner aircraft. It will operate the flight four times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.
On 20 June 2018, Scoot flight TR734 departs from Singapore for Berlin Tegel at 12.20 am, arrives in Berlin Tegel at 7.25 am before leaving Berlin for Singapore at 9.25 am and touching down in Singapore at 3.35 am on 21 June 2018 under TR735.
One-way fare to Berlin Tegel starts from 339 Singapore Dollars at press time.
Berlin is Scoot's second European destination after Athens. Scoot is the only Asian low-cost airline to fly to Berlin and the second Asian airline to fly to Berlin Tegel after MIAT Mongolian Airlines from Ulaanbaatar.
Prior to the inaugural flight, travellers from Singapore need to transit in Hong Kong, Beijing or Suvarnabhumi, and Ulaanbaatar for the onward MIAT flight to Berlin Tegel.
Scoot will move over its flight service to Berlin Brandenburg Airport when the new Berlin international airport replacing Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schonefeld Airports opens to commercial traffic by 2021 after years of construction completion delays.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
JC International Airlines postponed its inaugural daily flight to Singapore from Phnom Penh from 29 August 2017 to 25 January 2018 using its A320 aircraft.
On 25 January 2018, JC flight QD675 departs from Phnom Penh for Singapore Changi Airport T4 at 9.15 am, arrives in Singapore at 12.15 pm before leaving Singapore for Phnom Penh at 12.55 pm and touching down in Phnom Penh at 1.55 pm under QD676.
Alternative names of JC International Airlines include JC International Airline, Cambodia JC International Airlines and JC (Cambodia) International Airlines.
Tickets are on sale at JC International Airlines web-site at www.jcairlines.com only and issued by its Phnom Penh Ticketing Office at Canadia Tower. JC International Airlines has no commercial representative and sales office in Singapore.
After launching flight to Singapore, JC International Airlines plans to open new scheduled flights to more cities in China such as Guiyang, Hangzhou, Kunming, Ningbo, Sanya, Osaka-Kansai and Sapporo in Japan and Incheon in South Korea. It currently has regular flights to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Chongqing, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh and charter flights to Huai' An.
Earlier Report Refs : http://kucinta-setia.blogspot.sg/2017/08/jc-international-airlines-has-postponed.html;
http://kucinta-setia.blogspot.sg/2017/08/jc-international-airlines-launches-non.html
Inflight Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone
Airline : Lanmei Airlines
Routes under Review : Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Macau - Phnom Penh - Hanoi - Phnom Penh
Departure Dates : 4 January 2018 to 5 January 2018
Aircraft Operation Service : ***
Lanmei Airlines has returned its sole Airbus A320 leased from Myanmar Airways International to the Myanmar airline and uses its only wholly-owned A321 in its own livery on its international routes from Sihanoukville to Macau, Koror and Hong Kong.
As a result, in late December 2017, Lanmei Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A319-100 (registered XU-983; see subject picture) leased from an unidentified European aircraft leasing firm and deployed the aircraft immediately on its routes, Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Macau - Phnom Penh - Hanoi - Phnom Penh on 4 and 5 January 2018. It has no time to re-paint the aircraft, which remains unmarked without the name and logo of Lanmei Airlines. The aircraft is 11.6 years old, which previously operated in TAM Airlines Brasil's livery. Flight following standard safety demonstration procedures is safe.
On 7 January 2018, XU-983 is scheduled to launch Lanmei Airlines' first return scheduled flight from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville under LQ970/LQ971. LQ970 departs from Phnom Penh for Sihanoukville at 6.30 am, arrives in Sihanoukville at 7.20 am before LQ971 leaves Sihanoukville for Phnom Penh at 5.30 pm and touches down in Phnom Penh at 6.10 pm on Sundays.
Lanmei Airlines schedules to operate flights between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh using its A321 on Mondays and Wednesdays at different timings under LQ976/LQ977.
On Mondays, flight LQ976 departs from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh at 1.55 pm, arrives in Phnom Penh at 2.35 pm before leaving Phnom Penh for Sihanoukville at 11.40 pm and touching down in Sihanoukville at 12.20 am on Tuesdays under LQ977.
On Wednesdays, flight LQ976 departs from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh at 7.05 am, arrives in Phnom Penh at 7.45 am pm before leaving Phnom Penh for Sihanoukville at 5.35 pm and touching down in Sihanoukville at 6.15 pm on the same day under LQ977.
On days not operating to Phnom Penh, the A319 aircraft XU-983 operates on its route to Ho Chi Minh City from Siem Reap.
Lanmei Airlines plans to operate thrice-weekly scheduled flights from Phnom Penh to Singapore and daily flights to Bangkok from Phnom Penh later in 2018. It is currently advertising for a Commercial Representative from an experienced General Sales Agency (GSA) in Singapore.
For further detailed information, please contact Lanmei Airlines on Facebook.
Inflight Service : ***
Inflight announcements on domestic flights are in Mandarin and English. Air crew can translate into Khmer if the need arises. There are no free beverages or water to drink on Lanmei Airlines' flights. Passengers have to pay for water, beverages and hot meals on the flights to Macau and Hong Kong. Inflight magazines are entitled Khmer (in Khmer and Chinese) and SkyHigh (in English). SkyHigh is the Official Inflight Magazine of Lanmei Airlines. Printed copies of SkyHigh are available onboard from 7 January 2018 onwards.
Lanmei Airlines sells its A320 aircraft models onboard the flights. These can be omitted from its duty-free shopping catalogue.
Ground Service in response to passengers' requests and enquiries : ***
Inflight magazines are provided at the Phnom Penh ticketing office free-of-charge for customers to plan their Lanmei travel itineraries. This factor enabled me to give an attempt in booking this airline.
Stationery : **
Write on Lanmei Airlines' barf bags only. The airline may issue aircraft postcards in the late future.
Ticketing : ***
One can book Lanmei Airlines tickets via PayPal, Alipay and Unionpay, on Ctrip platform and on Lanmei Airlines web-site. Payment directly to the airline via PayPal using credit cards including AMEX is successful. However, Lanmei Airlines needs to increase the number of payment channels. Ticketing reconfirmation is not required.
Overall Impression : Lanmei Airlines is a three-star airline within a short span of time despite inconsistent brand imagery on its aircraft bodies.
** Poor / two-star
*** Good / three-star
***** Very good / five-star
****** Excellent / six-star (the highest category)
