Suparna Airlines B787 new flight schedules for Summer 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Below are Suparna Airlines' B787 Dreamliner flight schedules for the summer season of 2018:-

Suparna Airlines flight Y87501 departs from Shanghai Pudong for Sanya at 3.30 pm, arrives in Sanya at 6.40 pm before leaving Sanya for Pudong at 7.50 pm and touching down in Pudong at 11.10 pm under flight Y87502. Flights are operated daily since 25 March 2018.

Flight Y87505 leaves Pudong for Guilin at 7.35 am, arrives in Guilin at 10.05 am before departing from Guilin at 11.55 am for Pudong and landing in Pudong at 2.15 pm under flight Y87506. Flights are operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays since 25 March 2018.

Suparna Airlines' first flight to Harbin from Pudong departs under Y87507 at 7.20 am, touches down in Harbin at 10.15 am before leaving Harbin for Pudong at 11.10 am and touching down in Pudong at 2.15 pm under flight Y87508 on 27 March 2018. Flights to Harbin depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Jiangxi Air launches flights to Hohhot and Manzhouli on 27 March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
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Jiangxi Air, the Nanchang-based subsidiary of XiamenAir, launches flights to Hohhot and Manzhouli from Nanchang on 27 March 2018 using one of its 4 Boeing B737-800 aircraft.

On 27 March 2018, Jiangxi Air flight RY8885 departs from Nanchang for Manzhouli via Hohhot at 11.10 am, transits in Hohhot at 1.35 pm before leaving Hohhot for Manzhouli at 2.20 pm and touching down in Manzhouli at 4.35 pm.

At 5.20 pm, flight RY8886 leaves Manzhouli for Hohhot, arrives in Hohhot at 7.30 pm before departing from Hohhot for Nanchang at 8.15 pm and arriving in Nanchang at 10.35 pm.

Jiangxi Air flies to Hohhot and Manzhouli from Nanchang on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Malaysia grants AirAsia X air traffic rights on routes to Singapore, Hong Kong and China

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Malaysia Aviation Commission has granted AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of AirAsia, to launch short-haul flights from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, according to its Air Traffic Rights Bulletin February 2018 published at https://www.mavcom.my/en/2018/03/14/air-traffic-rights-bulletin-february-2018/.

The air traffic rights granted to AirAsia will take effect only in May 2018 for flights to Guangzhou, in June 2018 for flights to Singapore and Hong Kong and in July 2018 for flights to Shenzhen from Kuala Lumpur. 

AirAsia X is also granted air traffic rights to Changsha from Kuala Lumpur effective September 2018 and may operate daily medium-haul flights to the Hunan city.

Other cities are also listed in the Air Traffic Rights Bulletin.

As the relevant airports in China, Hong Kong and Singapore have yet to approve AirAsia X's flight applications to start services to these airports, AirAsia X will announce its inaugural flight dates and sell tickets online in due course. 

AirAsia X plans to operate daily flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Changsha so that passengers from these destinations do not require to fly with AirAsia to Kuala Lumpur and transfer to an AirAsia X flight for an onward long-haul destination from KLIA2. These will hopefully reduce ticket prices for the passenger and increase passenger numbers to Kuala Lumpur.

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shenzhen are around 3 hours while a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore lasts from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Flight to Changsha from Kuala Lumpur is estimated 5 hours.

Drukair operates charter flights to Hong Kong between 26 July and 5 October 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
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According to OAG Schedules, Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines has proposed to provide the once-off non-stop charter flight from Paro to Hong Kong on 30 September 2018. Other charter flights to Hong Kong from Paro involve either technical stopovers in Gaya or Kolkata while the outgoing flight from Hong Kong to Paro on the specified dates will be non-stop.

On 30 September 2018, Drukair Airbus A319 flight KB800 departs from Paro for Hong Kong at 4.10 pm and arrives in Hong Kong at 10.10 pm.

The first inaugural charter flight to Hong Kong via Gaya operates on 26 July 2018 at 4.10 pm under KB800, arrives in Gaya at 4.35 pm before leaving Gaya for Hong Kong at 5.15 pm and touching down in Hong Kong at 11.15 pm.

The first inaugural charter flight from Paro via Kolkata to Hong Kong takes off  under KB800 on 5 August 2018 at 4.10 pm, transits in Kolkata at 5 pm before leaving Kolkata for Paro at 5.40 pm and touching down in Hong Kong at 11.45 pm.

On 27 July 2018, the first non-stop flight from Hong Kong to Paro departs at 4.20 am under flight KB801 and arrives in Paro at 7 am local time. KB801 operates 5 non-stop flights to Paro from Hong Kong on 1 August, 6 August, 1 October and 6 October 2018.

Travel agencies may contact directly with Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines Head Office on possibilities to charter the A319 aircraft for flights from Hong Kong and other destinations.

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines' current scheduled flight destinations include Singapore, Suvarnabhumi, Dhaka, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Mumbai, Gaya, Bagdogra, Delhi and Guwahati. The airline has been conducting feasibility studies on the Hong Kong and China travel markets for years. According to Drukair, the Bhutanese national flag carrier has plans to operate on a scheduled basis to Hong Kong if any new route to Hong Kong, direct or indirect, proves commercially viable.

Buddha Air to add jets and new international destinations from 2018 to 2022

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Buddha Air,  Nepal's leading private airline, plans to purchase jets from either Boeing or Airbus and open new international destinations from Kathmandu and the tourism capital Pokhara.

According to Mr Brendra Nahadur Basnet, Managing Director of Buddha Air, the airline is studying the possibility of importing a Boeing MAX 8. It is also evaluating the Airbus A319 as proposed by Airbus. It hopes to import 2 narrow body jets by 2020 and adds 2 more jets by 2021 to station in the international airport of Pokhara in order to initiate international flights from Pokhara.

Buddha Air plans to open a new route linking Kathmandu with Kolkata by September 2018. It is studying possibilities to launch jet flights from Kathmandu to Bangkok, Guangzhou, Dhaka and other major Indian cities by 2020 to compete with Nepal Airlines.

By 2022, Buddha Air aims to launch direct flights from Kathmandu to Moscow, Incheon and Osaka Kansai to compete with Nepal Airlines, that will receive its first wide-body A330-200 aircraft in the first week of June 2018 to launch non-stop flights to Incheon, Osaka Kansai and Moscow.

Currently, Buddha Air operates a charter flight service to Paro, the gateway to Bhutan, a seasonal route to Varanasi and by 14 April 2018 domestic flights to 12 destinations in Nepal including the town of Surkhet using ATR turboprop and Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.

The days when two Singapore major travel fairs are held together

Pictures by : Gan Yung Chyan
                    / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

NATAS Travel Fair 2018 and Travel Revolution Fair 2018 are held on 23 to 25 March 2018 in Singapore at two different venues. NATAS Travel Far 2018 is held at Singapore Expo Halls 4 and 5A while Travel Revolution is held at the usual Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre Basement.

Both travel fairs have shrinked in size. There are two few travel agencies at Travel Revolution this year while thirty-over travel agencies are at NATAS Travel Fair 2018. 

The airline exhibitors LOT Polish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and the booth Welcome to Uzbekistan! showcasing Uzbekistan Tourism Organization, Uzbekistan Airways and the Embassy of Uzbekistan to Singapore at NATAS Travel Fair 2018 have stolen the limelight, as seen in the above pictures.

Air India and Air India Express handed out new local flight schedules to the public at NATAS Travel Fair as usual.

Plan your trips wisely to both travel fairs on the last day for the best group travel bargain.

The first direct flight from Singapore to Broome chartered by Singapore travel agency

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
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The first direct flight chartered by Singapore travel agency Chan Brothers Travel to Broome takes off from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 on 29 May 2018.

According to Chan Brothers Travel, there are only two SilkAir charter flights to Broome. The first service is chartered by an Australia-based travel agency, which operates on 22 May 2018. The slot allocated to Chan Brothers Travel is of the flight on 29 May 2018. The last charter flight to Singapore from Broome is on 2 June 2018.

Based on the travel itinerary details, SilkAir departs from Singapore on behalf of Chan Brothers Travel on 29 May 2018 at 10.30 am, touches down in Broome at 3 pm local time and it departs for Singapore from Broome on 2 June 2018 at 4 pm and arrives in Singapore at 8.30 pm.

Chan Brothers Travel's five days-4 nights package to Broome costs from 1458 Singapore Dollars. It covers return airport transfers, four nights-accommodation, hovercraft sunset tour, half-day Broome town tour and Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour. Tourist destinations in Broome include Chinatown, Sun Pictures (the world's oldest open air picture garden), Matsos Broome Brewery. the Japanese Cemetery and Broome Port. Gantheaume Point known for dinosaur footprints and Cable Beach. 

Enquire Chan Brothers Travel on the Broome tour package from 1288 Singapore Dollars.

Chan Brothers Travel is marketing SilkAir charter flight tour packages to Broome at Travel Revolution 2018 held at Sands Expo & Convention Centre from 23 to 25 March 2018.

Further charter flights of SilkAir to Broome may be organized depending on the market response for Broome flights.

LOT Polish Airlines' plans for 2018 to 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

LOT Polish Airlines exhibits at NATAS Travel Fair for the first time under the booth of Polish Tourism Organization from 23 to 25 March 2018 in Singapore Expo Halls 4, 5A. At the travel fair, LOT announces its plans for 2018 to 2020.

According to its trade marketing specialist Tomasz Snopkiewicz, LOT Polish Airlines has registered with the Singapore authorities to open a branch office in Singapore to market its flights and sell its round trip tickets to Warsaw and beyond. The branch office will be opened in time for its launch flight to Warsaw from Singapore on 16 May 2018 using one of its 8 B787-800 Dreamliner. Monitor on www.lot.com for the Singapore office address.

To celebrate the commencement of direct flight between Singapore and Warsaw, LOT Polish Airlines is selling each round trip ticket to Warsaw from Singapore with registered baggage from 789 Singapore Dollars and each round trip ticket to other European cities on LOT's network from Singapore with registered baggage from 749 Singapore Dollars. For these promotions, LOT specially designed, published and distributed aircraft advertisement cards at NATAS Travel Fair 2018. Printed copies of LOT Polish Airlines Official Inflight Magazine Kaleidoscope are also distributed to the public.

With the addition of Singapore to its Asia network, LOT Polish Airlines flies to five cities in Asia including Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Astana. 

LOT plans to launch non-stop flights from Budapest to New York on 3 May 2018 and to Chicago on 5 May 2018. It has flights linking Warsaw with Panama City and Oslo since 25 March 2018.

New destinations to open in Europe from Warsaw include Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on 1 June 2018 and Billund in Denmark on 2 July 2018. Tickets are now on sale.

LOT Polish Airlines is inducting new aircraft to its fleet from February 2018 to May 2019. Its first B787-900 Dreamliner  has just joined its fleet. Two more B787-900 Dreamliner aircraft will be received by June 2018. 

By the end of October 2018, the Polish airline will take delivery of four Boeing B737 MAX 8 for operations on middle-haul and short-haul routes, reaching a total of 6 B737 MAX 8.

6 Embraer 195 regional jets will join the fleet in April 2018.

Other than the above aircraft types mentioned, LOT has 4 B737-800, 3 B737-400, 12 Embraer 175, 6 Embraer 170 and 10 Bombardier DHC-8 Q400 aircraft.

In 2020, LOT plans to achieve sustainable viability and become the leading airline of  Poland, Central and Eastern Europe, serving over 10 million passengers per year, gradually increasing its fleet, launching more new flights and improving quality of the customer journey process. Its business growth is driven by development of a hub and spoke model based on efficient transfers in Warsaw with emphasis on long-haul flights to North America and Asia.

LOT wants to be at least twice as large as it was in 2015 by increasing the number of routes from 41 to more than 88, increasing number of jets from 45 to 70, for instance. Its scale of operations by 2020 will be comparable with today's Finnair.

First international flight to Hua Hin begins on 18 May 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The first international flight to Hua Hin, Thailand, begins on 18 May 2018 when AirAsia flight AK830 departs from Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) for Hua Hin at 10 am and touches down in Hua Hin at 11 am (12 pm Singapore time) before flight AK831 leaves Hua Hin for KLIA2 at 11.30 am and arrives in KLIA2 at 2.35 pm using A320 aircraft.

Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Hua Hin are on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

There are no fly-through KLIA2 connections to Hua Hin from Singapore and other major cities on AirAsia flights at the meantime.

Hua Hin is the gateway to Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand's largest national park and in the neighbouring district of Cha-am is the beachfront summer palace of King Rama VI built in the 1920s featuring buildings on stilts connected by verandahs. Tourist destinations in Hua Hin include themepark Vana Nava Hua Hin Water Jungle, Sam Phan Nam Floating Market, Hua Hin Safari, Pa La-U Waterfall, Wat Khao Takiap with sweeping views of the coastline, Kanesha Gallery and beaches.

Air Belgium delays launch date of Hong Kong flight to the second half of April 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Air Belgium has delayed the launch date of its Hong Kong flight to the second half of April 2018 as its ticket pricing policies for Economy, Premium and Business Class categories and details of its services are yet to be finalized. The exact date of the inaugural flight to Hong Kong will be announced in due course.

Air Belgium plans to operate with a fleet of 4 Airbus A340-300 aircraft, two of which are present at its base at Brussels South Charleroi to serve the Hong Kong travel market. The other two will be added in the next few months to serve 6 China city airports including Beijing - Capital, Shanghai Pudong and Xi'an Xianyang.

Air Belgium concentrates on serving the travel markets of Hong Kong and China within the first three years of service before considering to add other Asian cities such as Singapore, Tokyo and Bangkok to its route network.

9air launches new flights to Lanzhou, Korla and Shihezi on 25 and 26 March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Guangzhou's very-own low-cost airline, 9air, launches new flights to Lanzhou and Korla on 25 March 2018 and to Shihezi via Lanzhou on 26 March 2018 using its newest B737-800 aircraft.

On 25 March 2018 (Sunday), 9air flight AQ1101 departs from Guangzhou for Lanzhou at 6.05 am, transits in Lanzhou at 9.35 am before leaving at 1.10 pm for Korla and arriving in Korla at 3.50 pm. At 4.40 pm, flight AQ1102 leaves Korla for Lanzhou, arrives in Lanzhou at 7.10 pm for Lanzhou-bound passengers to alight before departing from Lanzhou for Guangzhou at 10.20 pm and touching down in Guangzhou at 1.30 am on 26 March 2018.

Flights to Korla via Lanzhou are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

On 26 March 2018 (Monday), the same aircraft operating under flight AQ1103 leaves for Shihezi via Lanzhou and returns to Guangzhou via Lanzhou under flight AQ1104 at the same timings as flight AQ1101/AQ1102.

Flights to Shihezi via Lanzhou take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Shihezi is a Xinjiang sub-prefecture level city known for its exports of sugar beets, cotton, textiles and farm produce.

The flights to Lanzhou and Xinjiang cities of Korla and Shihezi will enable tourists to embark on affordable budget trips to Gansu and Xinjiang without the requirement to transit in other cities such as Urumqi, Beijing and Zhengzhou.

Urumqi Air launches five new routes in Xinjiang in late March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Urumqi Air, member airline of the U-Fly Alliance and sister airline of HK Express in Xinjiang, launches five new routes in Xinjiang on 25 and 27 March 2018 using its first Embraer E190 regional jet, which it received on 17 March 2018 in Urumqi.

The five new Xinjiang autonomous regional routes are Urumqi - Kuche, Kuche - Yarkant, Urumqi - Karamay, Karamay - Turpan and Karamay - Korla.

On 25 March 2018 (Sunday), Urumqi Air's first E190 regional jet launches its first flight from Urumqi for Karamay at 10.05 am and arrives in Karamay at 11.05 am under flight UQ2571. It leaves Karamay for Urumqi at 7.25 pm under flight UQ2572 and lands in Urumqi at 8.15 pm.

Before returning to Urumqi from Karamay, the E190 flight changes code to UQ2667 in order to operate the new flight service to Turpan. 

Flight UQ2667 departs from Karamay for Turpan at 11.50 am, arrives in Turpan at 12.55 pm before leaving Turpan for Karamay at 1.40 pm and touching down in Karamay at 2.55 pm under flight UQ2668 on 25 March 2018.

In Karamay at 3.40 pm on 25 March 2018, the E190 flight UQ2649 departs from Karamay for Korla at 3.40 pm, touches down in Korla at 4.45 pm before leaving Korla for Karamay at 5.30 pm and landing in Karamay at 6.40 pm to pick-up Urumqi-bound passengers.

Urumqi Air's flights to Karamay, Turpan and Korla are operated on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On 27 March 2018 (Tuesday), Urumqi Air flight UQ2599 departs from Urumqi for Yarkant via Kuche at 10.05 am, arrives in Kuche at 11.20 am before leaving Kuche for Yarkant at 12.10 pm and touching down in Yarkant at 1.40 pm.

At 4.45 pm, flight UQ2600 leaves Yarkant for Urumqi via Kuche at 4.45 pm, transits in Kuche at 6.10 pm before Kuche for Urumqi at 7 pm and arriving in Urumqi at 8.15 pm. 

Flights from Urumqi to Kuche and Yarkant are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Yarkant, in Uyghur language, is also known as Shache in Chinese, a city reknown for its corn, pomegranates, walnuts and other agricultural produce while Kuche is reknown for its ancient Buddhist history as a town along the Silk Road.

Urumqi Air has a fleet of 12 B737-800 aircraft besides its only E190 regional aircraft. It plans to add 10 more aircraft to its fleet in 2018 and will launch its first international route later this year. It plans to link Urumqi with cities in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South Asia in the long-run.

As the low-cost airline of Xinjiang, Urumqi Air flies from Urumqi to Aksu, Changsha, Chengdu, Haikou, Hefei, Hotan, Kashgar, Lanzhou, Lianyungang, Mianyang, Xi'an, Yining and Zhengzhou. From 25 March 2018 onwards, it also flies to Chinese destinations outside Xinjiang including Jiayuguan, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiangyang and Boao, the third airport in Hainan, using its B737-800 jets.

Lao Airlines suspends flights to Singapore again from 25 March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Lao Airlines is suspending all its flights to Singapore from Vientiane from 25 March 2018 onwards due to operational reasons.

There will be no Lao Airlines flights from Luang Prabang via Vientiane to Singapore during summer.

This is the second time Lao Airlines is suspending flights to Singapore after winter.

Lao Airlines will announce when it will resume flights to Singapore in due course.

Passengers can fly to Vientiane with SilkAir via Luang Prabang. SilkAir is Lao Airlines code-sharing partner on the Singapore - Laos routes.

Lanmei Airlines launches non-stop flight from Siem Reap to Shijiazhuang on 2 April 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Rapidly-expanding Lanmei Airlines launches direct scheduled flight from Siem Reap to Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province, China on 2 April 2018 using its Airbus A321 aircraft. It flies to Shijiazhuang on Mondays and Wednesdays.

On 2 April 2018, Lanmei Airlines flight LQ916 departs from Siem Reap for Shijiazhuang at 9.55 am, arrives in Shijiazhuang at 3.50 pm before leaving Shijiazhuang for Siem Reap at 4.35 pm and touching down in Siem Reap at 8.50 pm under flight LQ917.

One-way flight ticket to Shijiazhuang from Siem Reap costs less than 300 Singapore Dollars at press time.

No other airline flies on a scheduled basis from Siem Reap to Shijiazhuang except Lanmei Airlines. The other route to Hebei Province is the Siem Reap - Beijing route of Cambodia Angkor Air on a regular basis.


Lanmei Airlines plans to add Changsha and Incheon to its route network within the next few months. It launches scheduled flight to Singapore from Phnom Penh on 22 April 2018 six times weekly using its A319 aircraft.

Lanmei Airlines' tickets are available for sale at Lanmei Airlines' web-site and on the Ctrip platform.

US-Bangla Airlines delays inaugural scheduled flight to Guangzhou to 26 April 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The first airline of Bangladesh to land in China is US-Bangla Airlines, a full-service private airline. It has delayed its inaugural scheduled flight to Guangzhou from 3 April 2018 to 26 April 2018.

On 26 April 2018, US-Bangla Airlines launches its maiden flight to China BS325 from Dhaka for Guangzhou at 9.50 pm, touches down in Guangzhou at 3.50 am before leaving Guangzhou for Dhaka on 27 April 2018 at 5 am and arriving in Dhaka at 7 am local time under flight BS326.

US-Bangla Airlines flies to Guangzhou from Dhaka on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and returns to Dhaka from Guangzhou on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

With the opening of the Dhaka - Guangzhou route, passengers from Dhaka no longer require to transit in Suvarnabhumi, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for onward flights to Guangzhou.

US-Bangla Airlines faces direct competition on the route from China Southern Airlines.

Ruili Airlines launches direct flights to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in April 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Ruili Airlines launches direct flights from Xishuangbanna to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in April 2018 using its B737-700 aircraft.

The first Ruili Airlines' direct flight to Chiang Mai from Xishuangbanna takes off on 4 April 2018. 

On 4 April 2018, flight DR5359 departs from Xishuangbanna for Chiang Mai at 5.30 pm, touches down in Chiang Mai at 7.30 pm before leaving Chiang Mai for Xishuangbanna at 8 pm and arriving in Xishuangbanna at 9.30 pm under flight DR5360.

Flights between Xishuangbanna and Chiang Mai are operated four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Ruili Airlines inaugurates flight from Xishuangbanna to Chiang Rai on 10 April 2018. Its B737-700 aircraft operates on this route three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

On 10 April 2018, Ruili Airlines flight DR5357 departs from Xishuangbanna for Chiang Rai at 5.30 pm, arrives in Chiang Rai at 7.10 pm before leaving Chiang Rai for Xishuangbanna at 8.25 pm and touching down in Xishuangbanna at 9.30 pm under flight DR5358.

Lanmei Airlines launches its first regular flight to Singapore on 22 April 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Lanmei Airlines, Cambodia's newest private airline, launches its first scheduled regular flight to Singapore from Phnom Penh on 22 April 2018 using its Airbus A319 aircraft, according to Lanmei Airlines Head Office and Hong Kong branch office.

On 22 April 2018 (Sunday), Lanmei Airlines flight LQ780 departs from Phnom Penh for Singapore at 8.35 am, arrives in Singapore at 11.40 am before leaving Singapore for Phnom Penh at 12.35 pm and touching down in Phnom Penh at 1.45 pm under flight LQ781.

Lanmei Airlines flies to Singapore on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

To mark the official entry of Lanmei Airlines to Changi Airport, Lanmei Airlines is selling one-way Phnom Penh - Singapore ticket from 67 US Dollars (89 Singapore Dollars) and round trip ticket from 108 US Dollars (139 Singapore Dollars), inclusive of taxes, through its web-site www.lanmeiairlines.com and on Ctrip. It is effective for travel with Lanmei Airlines from 22 April 2018 to 27 October 2018, both dates inclusive.

Air Kiribati launches its first regular flight to Tuvalu on 21 March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Air Kiribati has announced through its Facebook that its newly-acquired Dash 8 aircraft has inaugurated Kiribati's ceremonial flight to Funafuti, the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu in Central Pacific, in the morning of 14 March 2018.

Regular flights from Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati, to Funafuti, begin on 21 March 2018 every Wednesday. Flight schedules may subject to change without notice, however.

Air Kiribati flies to more than five domestic points in Kiribati such as Beru, Tabnorth, Nonouti, Makin and Onotoa with 1 De-Havilland DHC6-300 Twin Otter and 3 Harbin Y-12 IV aircraft, and operates code-sharing flights with Solomon Airlines to Brisbane.

Air Belgium obtains its AOC, launches flight to Hong Kong by 16 April 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Air Belgium has received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from DGTA, the Belgian Civil Aviation Administration, on 13 March 2018. It is on course to start selling its tickets to Hong Kong on its web-site and its offices by 17 March 2018. Its inaugural scheduled flight from Brussels South Charleroi to Hong Kong is expected by Belgium observers to take off by 16 April 2018.

Detailed schedules of Air Belgium's four times weekly flights to Hong Kong will be released once the tickets are available for sale.

Air Belgium currently has a fleet of 2 Airbus A340-300 aircraft which it has received on 1 and 2 March 2018. Its first A340-300 aircraft registered OO-ABB, received on 1 March 2018, will operate the first flight from Brussels South Charleroi to Hong Kong. Its second A340-300 aircraft, registered OO-ABA, is received on 2 March 2018.

Air Belgium aims to receive its third and fourth A340-300 aircraft by May 2018 to start flights to Beijing Capital, Shanghai-Pudong and to Xi'an Xianyang and three other-unidentified China cities by end of 2018.

Destinations in Asia under consideration and feasibility study to open from 2019 onwards include Suvarnabhumi, Singapore and Tokyo.

Air Belgium will open a ticketing branch office in Hong Kong to market and sell its air tickets. It intends to employ 280 workers this year including for positions in its Hong Kong office. 

Air Belgium is a hybrid budget airline following the successful model of Lion Air, meaning that though its fares will be lower than full-service airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines since it operates from the less-congested Brussels South Charleroi Airport, certain inflight services will be free-of-charge.

Founded by former TNT Airways CEO and businessman Niky Terzakis with a 45 per cent stake in 2016 to link Belgium with Asia, Air Belgium's other investors include Federal Holding and Investment Company and Walloon Investment Company with a 25 per cent stake each. 

CAAC opens Longnan Chengxian Airport to domestic air traffic on 25 March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is opening Longnan Chengxian Airport to domestic air traffic on 25 March 2018. On this day, China Express Airlines and Shandong Airlines will operate scheduled flights. The airport's flight schedules are as follows:-

China Express Airlines is the first carrier to land in Longnan Chengxian Airport.

On 25 March 2018, China Express CRJ900 flight G52783 departs from Chongqing for Longnan at 10.05 am, arrives in Longnan at 11.20 am before leaving Longnan for Lanzhou at 12.10 pm and touching down n Lanzhou at 1.05 pm.

At 7.40 pm, flight G52784 leaves Lanzhou for Longnan, touches down in Longnan at 8.25 pm before leaving Longnan for Chongqing at 9.15 pm and arriving in Chongqing at 10.35 pm.

Flights to Longnan and Lanzhou from Chongqing are operated daily.

Shandong Airlines departs from Qingdao for Longnan via Xi'an Xianyang at 1.05pm, transits in Xi'an Xianyang at 3.15 pm before departing from Xi'an Xianyang for Longnan at 4.15 pm and arriving in Longnan at 5.50 pm under flight SC8819.

At 7.10 pm, flight SC8820 leaves Longnan at 7.10 pm for Xi'an Xianyang, arrives in Xi'an Xianyang at 8.30 pm before departing for Qingdao at 9.35 pm and arriving in Qingdao at 11.50 pm.

The return flights to Longnan from Qingdao are operated everyday.

At 9.09 am on 27 March 2018, GX Airlines flight GX8983 departs from Haikou for Longnan, arrives in Longnan at 11.45 am before leaving Longnan for Lanzhou at 12.40 pm and touching down in Lanzhou at 1.35 pm.

Flight GX8984 leaves Lanzhou for Longnan at 2.30 pm, arrives in Longnan at 3.20 pm before taking off from Longnan at 4.10 pm and arriving in Haikou at 7 pm.  

Flights among Haikou, Longnan and Lanzhou are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

On 1 April 2018, China United Airlines launches its inaugural flight between Beijing Nanyuan and Longnan. Its flight KN5621 departs from Beijing Nanyuan for Longnan at 9.35 am, arrives in Longnan at 12.10 pm before leaving Longnan for Beijing Nanyuan at 1.10 pm and touching down in Nanyuan at 3.40 pm under flight KN5622. Flights are operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Longnan Chengxian Airport is located in Gansu Province, China while Longnan is a prefecture-level city rich in Qin artifacts such as pottery, bronzes and coins. It is the homeland of Emperor Qin Shi Huang that united China at the end of the Warring States period.

Yuvajet to engage in VTOL business in 2022 plans to start with 3 ERJ 145 aircraft

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Yuvajet, the Ranchi-based India start-up airline, has signed a deal to purchase and import 50 Vertical Take-Off Landing (VTOL) aircraft or "fly cars" from VerdeGo Aero, the American manufacturer of the Personal Air Taxi (PAT) 200, a fast, clean, quiet and efficient urban form of short range aircraft transport, according to its founder Kumar Kinshuk. 

Kumar has informed Sayacinta - Airpost that Yuvajet plans to sell or lease out the 50 PAT 200 in 2022 to state governments, hospitals in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives and other Asian countries for the purposes of medical air evacuation, broader security to supply in defense and for urban commercial use as air taxis.

The piloted PAT 200 "fly car" can sit up to 3 passengers only, depending on weight. The cost of utilizing the aircraft will be lower than chartering a helicopter but a bit higher than travelling by a land taxi. Currently the world's first VTOL aircraft is under development in the US. Once it has been developed, it will undergo FAA and EASA certification tests for safety before commercial mass-production and export.

Yuvajet, that plans to unveil the prototype of the PAT 200 to the public in India initially in 2019, currently plans to lease 3 ERJ 145 aircraft, initially for test flying. It plans to add five to seven more ERJ 145 to its fleet within another 18 months after commercial flight starts.  It is currently waiting to receive its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).  

When the lease of each ERJ 145 ends, it hopes to have imported and utilized the Sukhoi SSJ 100 in 115 to 140 seat segment for its passenger flights in India.

Yuvajet now plans to launch its first passenger flight after July 2018.

Planned destinations on Yuvajet's route map include Ranchi, Tirupati, Shidiri, Chennai, Salem, Bhubneshwar, Pune, Raipur, Allahabad, Delhi, Surat, Mangalore and Coimbatore. 

Ranchi, the capital and "City of Waterfalls" of the Indian State of Jharkhand, and Surat the capital of the Gujarat State, will be its air hubs.

For further information on VerdeGo Aero, the manufacturer of the PAT 200, visit www.verdegoaero.com.

Another new Cambodian Chinese airline launches domestic flight on 31 March 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

KC International Airlines (or KC Air, in short), another new Cambodian Chinese airline, plans to launch its first domestic flight to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh on 31 March 2018 using Airbus A321 aircraft. Further destinations include Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taoyuan.

Further details on KC Air's flight schedules are not available at press time. KC Air inherits the flight code "3Q", previously for China Yunnan Airlines.