West Air departs from Changi Airport T4 at 15 May 2018 night

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

West Air, the low-cost airline of Chongqing, is moving its Singapore flight operations to Changi Airport T4 in the late afternoon of 15 May 2018. Its last flight to Changi Airport Terminal 1 from Urumqi via Chongqing touches down at 11.35 pm on 14 May 2018. In the event of the delayed flight, the flight will land in Terminal 1 after midnight on 15 May 2018 still.

Passengers departing from Singapore for Chongqing and Urumqi by West Air in the evening of 15 May 2018 onwards should check-in at T4 instead.

JC International Airlines launches direct flight to Guiyang from Phnom Penh on 27 May 2018

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

JC International Airlines launches Cambodia's first scheduled flight from Phnom Penh to Guiyang on 27 May 2018 using one of its 5 Airbus A320 aircraft.

On 27 May 2018, JC International Airlines flight QD740 departs from Phnom Penh for Guiyang at 2.10 pm, arrives in Guiyang at 6.30 pm before leaving Guiyang for Phnom Penh at 7.30 pm and touching down in Siem Reap under flight QD741 at 9.45 pm.

Flights depart from Phnom Penh for Guiyang on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

JC International Airlines has started selling the tickets online at www.jcairlines.com. 

Besides the new Phnom Penh - Guiyang route, JC International Airlines plans to open new routes from Siem Reap to Xuzhou and Xi'an Xianyang on 8 June and 10 June 2018.

Singapore Airlines to deploy A350-900ULR on the world's longest flight

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

The longest flight in the world is coming - Singapore Airlines will fly direct flights from Singapore Changi Airport to New York at the end of 2018 and will fly nearly 20 hours without landing.

According to U.S. media reports, Singapore Airlines has ordered seven new passenger jets from Airbus, the ultra-long-haul A350-900ULR, which is capable of flying 11,160 miles (approximately 17,960 kilometers), an increase of over 1,800 miles (approximately 2,896 km over the standard A350). The first flight is expected to be operational by the end of this year.

In fact, Singapore Airlines had direct flights to New York, but it used a high fuel-consuming four-engine A340-500 passenger aircraft with only 100 business class seats on top, resulting in inefficient services and allowing Singapore Airlines to close the route in 2013.

The biggest problem with re-starting a route today is how to make passengers feel comfortable during a full day of flight. Florent Petteni, director of interior marketing for Airbus aircraft, said that the aircraft was designed specifically for long-haul flights. The aircraft cabin would be more like a room than a long tube, with high ceilings. There are noise reduction facilities.

The fuselage of the A350-900ULR is made of composite materials such as carbon fiber. Instead of using traditional aluminum, this allows the aircraft to have more panoramic windows. If passengers want to sleep, they can also use traditional pull-out blinds or push-button double blinds. At the same time, the air circulation inside the passenger aircraft is also designed to be quiet and windless, so that passengers are not disturbed.

Citilink launches non-stop flight to Inner Mongolia on 28 April 2018

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

Citilink, the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, has launched its first non-stop scheduled flight to the Inner Mongolia city of Ordos from Batam on 28 April 2018 using its Airbus A320 aircraft.

On 28 April 2018, Citilink flight QG5900 departs from Batam for Ordos (airport code DSN, derived from Dongsheng district of Ordos) at 1.30 am, arrives in Ordos at 9 am before leaving Ordos for Batam at 10 am and touching down in Batam at 3.30 pm local time under flight QG5901.

Citilink said the Batam-Ordos flight is a seasonal scheduled route. Service operates on Saturdays until 7 July 2018. Since there are no flights from Jakarta or Singapore to Inner Mongolia, the airline has chosen to open this route for the benefit of passengers who would like to see the grasslands and experience the lifestyle of Mongolian nomads without paying for exorbitant tickets to Mongolia. 

Batam is the second city in Southeast Asia to open a scheduled flight link to Inner Mongolia and this will follow by a third flight connection between Ordos and Phnom Penh later this year. 

The first Southeast Asia airport to have a non-stop flight to Ordos is Suvarnabhumi, one of two gateways to Bangkok besides Don Mueang. There are weekly scheduled flights by Ural Airlines to Suvarnabhumi from Ordos, replacing MIAT Mongolian Airlines' suspended flights to Suvarnabhumi from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

Citilink also operates flights from Denpasar to Nantong, near Shanghai. Other Chinese cities that have flight connections to Citilink's route network include Nanjing and Kunming.

Updates on the official opening of Harbin Airport Terminal 2 on 30 April 2018

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

On 30 April 2018, Harbin Taiping International Airport Terminal 2 officially begins operations while Terminal 1 for domestic flights will stop operations for terminal building closure on 1 May 2018. All domestic passenger flights will take off from Terminal 2 while international flights will still be operating in the separate smaller international terminal until the Terminal 1 reconstruction for international flights and integration with Terminal 2 is completed.

Harbin Taiping International Airport Terminal 2 is adjacent to the former old terminal building. Passengers can travel directly along the airport expressway and Yingbin Road to the drop-off area of ​​the new terminal building viaduct. Check-in is conducted according to the check-in status of the check-in terminal airline's check-in zone.

The departure and arrival halls in the new terminal building are on different floors and passengers do not have to worry about arriving at the wrong place.

Check-in: 80 check-in counters

According to Heilongjiang Airport Group, the new terminal of Harbin Airport currently has a total of four check-in zones around ABCD, a total of 80 check-in counters, an increase of nearly 30 from the original terminal building. A Zone is a special check-in zone for China Southern Airlines flights. The flights of China United Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Air, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Grand China Air, Tianjin Airlines, Capital Airlines, Fuzhou Airlines, Suparna Airlines, Lucky Air, West Air, Air Changan and GX Airlines are handled at B Zone while flights of  Hongtu Airlines, Donghai Airlines, Ruili Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, Air China, Shandong Airlines, LJ Air LongJiang Airlines, and Tibet Airlines are handled at C Zone. Flights of China Express Airlines, Kunming Airlines, Loong Air, Qingdao Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, OKAir, Joy Air, Jiangxi Air, Hebei Airlines, Spring Airlines and 9Air are handled at E Zone.

Security check: 22 security check channels

The reporter learned that there are currently 22 security checkpoints in Terminal 2, which is 8 more than the old terminal building. The inspection process of passengers is not significantly different from the current inspection process. The differences in facilities and equipment are mainly reflected in the use of security information systems and the setting up of security doors. 

The first is the addition of the systematic use function of the back-end open package procedure and the site setting for travel inspection. 

After the new terminal is put into use, only the passenger boarding pass can be scanned when the temporary deposit order for baggage is opened, and the name of the temporary stock can be generated within the system. Temporary deposit slips will shorten the time for opening temporary baggage receipts, and will also reduce human errors. 

Second, the traveler verification system will be different. Though the number of interception and opening inspections will increase, the facial identification technology is further upgraded, integrated with the verification system so that identification accuracy will be higher. 

Third, the travel inspection channel is set up as a dual channel by a single channel merger. Two security doors are set in the channel, and three personal inspectors stand as a “product” structure pair. Passengers have to undergo physical examinations, saving human resources for security and improving work efficiency. Fourth, X-ray machines use dual-view displays and can be different from each other. Observing the bag image from the angle to reduce the frequency of the second pass will effectively increase the over-check rate.

Tips:

Harbin Airport Terminal 2 will bring new experiences to visitors. Due to the increase in the size of the terminal building, the time it takes for passengers to reach the waiting area after security inspection will increase. To this end, it is suggested that the majority of outbound passengers should arrive at the airport 2 hours in advance and reserve more security and waiting time. The check-in counter will stop check-in 45 minutes before scheduled flight departure time. The boarding gate will be closed 15 minutes before the planned flight departure time. The passengers are requested to prepare in advance to avoid delays.

Hainan Airlines opens Guangzhou - Tel Aviv route on 2 August 2018

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

Hainan Airlines launches non-stop scheduled flight from Guangzhou to Tel Aviv, the largest commercial city of Israel, on 2 August 2018. It flies every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to Tel Aviv from Guangzhou using one of its B787 Dreamliner aircraft.

On 2 August 2018, Hainan Airlines flight HU465 departs from Guangzhou for Tel Aviv at 1.35 am, arrives in Tel Aviv at 8.50 am before leaving Tel Aviv for Guangzhou at 12.45 pm and touching down in Guangzhou at 4.40 am the next day under flight HU466.

According to Hainan Airlines, its Israel flights begin in 2016 with the direct flight from Beijing Capital to Tel Aviv, followed by its Shanghai Pudong - Tel Aviv route.

Air Belgium postpones inaugural Hong Kong flight to 3 June 2018

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

Air Belgium has postponed its inaugural flight to Hong Kong from 30 April 2018 to 3 June 2018, citing the Russian permit to fly over Russian air space towards Hong Kong has not been granted as the main reason. It also mentions its GDS reservation system is not easily accessed by Chinese tour operators. 

Meanwhile, it relies on its Chinese tour agent partner Utour to attract Chinese passengers to book the flights from Hong Kong.

Air Belgium has notified affected passengers on ticket refunds and possible passenger transfers to Cathay Pacific Airways, which operates flights from Hong Kong to Brussels.

Guangzhou New Baiyun Terminal 2 opens to commercial air traffic on 26 April 2018

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

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport opens its Terminal 2 to commercial air traffic on 26 April 2018. The first flight of this terminal is operated by XiamenAir.

Airlines landing at Terminal 2 include XiamenAir, SAUDIA Saudi Arabian Airlines (from Jeddah), Kenya Airways (from Nairobi) and Garuda Indonesia (from Jakarta).

Passengers can board Guangzhou Metro Line 3 and disembark at "Airport North" to reach Terminal 2. For passengers in transit who need to move between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, a free Shuttle Bus service is available every 5 minutes. The shuttle bus service operates between Terminal 2 at Gate 42 and Terminal 1 at Gate 10.

Lanmei Airlines launches flights to Changsha and Guangzhou on 15 May 2018

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

Lanmei Airlines launches scheduled flights to Changsha and Guangzhou using its 2 Airbus A321-200 aircraft on 15 May 2018.

From 15 May 2018, Lanmei Airlines flight LQ910 departs from Siem Reap for Changsha at 7.45 pm / 8 pm, arrives in Changsha at 12.45 am on 16 May 2018. It leaves Changsha for Siem Reap at 1.45 am under flight LQ911 and touches down in Siem Reap at 4.10 am.

Flights to Changsha from Siem Reap are on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays while flights from Changsha land in Siem Reap on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Lanmei Airlines is the first Cambodian scheduled airline on the Siem Reap - Changsha route.

On 15 May 2018, flight LQ908 leaves Phnom Penh for Guangzhou at 10.20 pm, arrives in Guangzhou at 2.20 am on 16 May 2018 before leaving Guangzhou at 5.10 am under flight LQ909 and arriving in Phnom Penh at 7.05 am / 7.10 am. 

Lanmei Airlines flies to Guangzhou daily.

Pakistan International Airlines rebrands its logo and introduces new livery

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

Advisor to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Aviation Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has inaugurated a new livery of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on 6 April 2018 in Islamabad, according to Pakistan International Airlines on Facebook this week.

PIA's new livery with its logo and design includes a painting of the markhor, the national animal of Pakistan that inhabits the mountainous regions of Pakistan. The markhor will be visible on the aircraft tail of its B777 aircraft first, the full image of the markhor will appear on the engines while the cockpit of PIA planes integrates the Pakistan’s flag, accompanied by the refreshed PIA English and Urdu script logo and name. The new livery will be introduced gradually on remaining aircraft in its fleet in due course. 

Symbolizing resilience in hardship and steadfastness in clemency, the markhor, inspired by Qatar Airways' oryx logo, represents the ethos of both PIA and the people it represents across a global diaspora of patriots. The markhor, tastefully illustrated in hues of electric blues, grass greens and lime-yellows, showcases a brand that is re-positioning itself towards the youth and the youthful. The iconic representation is shown “leaping” in full into the future as its horns spiral upwards towards the tip of the aircraft’s tail fin.  The leaping markhor as the secondary logo of PIA appears in full on the engines.

Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan said, "Markhor is a national animal which is a fighter and does not lose heart in the hard time as he has courage to climb the mountain regardless of the difficulties. PIA will also touch the heights in the same manner”.

The national flag of Pakistan is brought forward towards the front door, where passengers will be greeted by the star and the crescent as they make their way inside. Visual wit is used in the manner that the flag appears on the fuselage -- suggesting that it is being held by a corner by the captain in the cockpit letting it flutter outside with carefree abandon. The Urdu script in the PIA logo is now in shades of green emphasizing PIA's service quality continues and the PIA lettering is now a trio of letters with both Arabesque and Latinesque cues. The name Pakistan International Airlines in shades of blue takes on a different font suggesting delivery of world-class service quality, Pakistan's civil aviation heritage and ts forward thinking policy. 

Aviation Sardar Mahtab Khan said that PIA has taken a progressive step to rebuild its image in the world and it is a gradient endeavor to rebrand PIA which highlights its commitment to protecting the threatened species, the markhor.

The next few months will see a series of developments that will bring the new brand livery to life across the PIA offices and gradually across its fleet. Collectively, these efforts will result in living up to PIA’s new brand proposition – articulating the spirit of ‘Great People to Fly With’ with the new slogan “We Fly At The Right Attitude.”

As part of the developments, PIA has just announced its first commercial flight service to the New Islamabad International Airport will take off on 20 April 2018 under PK300.

Harbin Taiping International Airport Terminal 1 to suspend operations from 1 May 2018

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

According to a press release by Chinese civil aviation medium CARNOC, the premier international airport of Heilongjiang Province and the largest airport of northeast China, Harbin Taiping International Airport, will start transit operations on 29 April 2018 and end the last commercial flight from the airport on 30 April 2018. The original current Terminal 1 for flights including LJ Air (LongJiang Airlines, see above) and Loong Air flights will be closed after the completion of the night’s operations on 30 April. Terminal 1 will be temporarily suspended from use from 1 May 2018 and will be re-constructed to integrate with the newly-opened Terminal 2.

On the official opening of Harbin's airport Terminal 2 on 30 April 2018, domestic passenger flights will all be transferred to the Terminal 2 first. Airlines such as Harbin-based LJ Air and Air China have started to notify their passengers about the terminal move. 

The Harbin airport authority has yet to notify international airlines about the closure of Terminal 1 from 1 May 2018. It will notify the airlines when international flights may begin at Terminal 1.

According to Wikipedia, in order to build Terminal 2, the international departure and arrival area was moved to the former terminal building of the airport on 22 May 2013.

Harbin's airport has no web-site to track flight departures, arrivals and status and on distances between the terminals.

Harbin's airport Terminal 2 is about 162,500 square metres. After the completion of the terminal building, the total area of the airport will be 227,000 square metres, and the total number of aircraft parking bays will reach 76. Following the opening of T2, T1 will be temporaily closed to be transformed into the wholly international flight service operation area and integrate with T2 in due course. The resultant terminal roof will appear like a snow flake.

Scoot flies non-stop from Singapore to Harbin Taiping International Airport on Tuesdays and Sundays only. It will post Harbin travel advisory on its web-site if it were notified by the airport authority on the terminal move. 

Besides Singapore, Harbin has international flights to Suvarnabhumi, Macau, Narita and Russia.

Donghai Airlines opens Shenzhen - Darwin route on 30 May 2018

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

Donghai Airlines launches non-stop scheduled flight from Shenzhen to Darwin on 30 May 2018 using its B737-800 aircraft. It will fly to Darwin on Wednesdays and Sundays.

On 30 May 2018, Donghai Airlines flight DZ6223 departs from Shenzhen for Darwin at 1.30 am, arrives in Darwin at 8.40 am before leaving Darwin for Shenzhen at 5.25 pm and touching down in Shenzhen at 9.35 pm under flight DZ6224.

FREE rides on Phnom Penh airport train until 31 July 2018

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

Phnom Penh airport train's inaugural passenger service debuts on 10 April 2018, according to The Phnom Penh Post. Operating 24-hours and catering to flight arrivals, the airport train ride is operated by Royal Railway, a private subsidiary of Royal Group owned by Cambodian tycoon Kith Meng.

The waiting time for each airport train ride is between 20 to 30 minutes and it takes 45 minutes to reach Phnom Penh central railway station from Phnom Penh airport and vice versa. In contrast, it takes about an hour to reach the central railway station in the commercial business district by tuk-tuk.

Travel from Phnom Penh airport to the central railway station by Royal Railway is free-of-charge until 31 July 2018. Fares will be announced in due course by Royal Railway.

Royal Railway says it plans to receive three new trains from Mexico in June 2018. These trains have 2,400-horsepower engines at cruising speed of 80 kilometres per hour. The new trains are set to have WiFi, TVs and a video intercom system, according to a press release.

Jiuzhaigou airport re-opens to air traffic on 18 April 2018

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

Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport of Jiuzhaigou re-opens to air traffic on 18 April 2018 when Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8199 resumes flight between Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu.

On 18 April 2018, flight 3U8199 departs from Jiuzhaigou for Chengdu at 10.05 pm, arrives in Chengdu at 11.05 pm before leaving Chengdu for Jiuzhaigou at 11.50 pm and touching down in Jiuzhaigou at 12.55 am on 19 April 2018 under flight 3U8200.

Services are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport was closed to air traffic after the devastating earthquake of 8 August 2018.

Sichuan Airlines' two new routes with effect from 17 and 18 April 2018

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

Sichuan Airlines resumes scheduled flight to Singapore from Nanning on 17 April 2018 using its A320 aircraft. On 18 April 2018, it launches non-stop flight from Sanya to Taichung, the first airline to do so on the new route.

On 17 April 2018, Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8591 departs from Nanning to Singapore at 11.30 am, touches down in Singapore at 3.15 pm before leaving Singapore for Nanning at 4.15 pm and arriving in Nanning at 7.45 pm under flight 3U8592. It flies on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to Singapore from Nanning.

On 18 April 2018, flight 3U8279 leaves Sanya for Taichung at 2.40 pm, arrives in Taichung at 5.20 pm before leaving Taichung for Sanya under flight 3U8280 at 6.25 pm and touching down in Sanya at 9.05 pm. Services between Sanya and Taichung are operated on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Urumqi Air plans international flights

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

U-Fly Alliance low-cost airline member Urumqi Air has applied to CAAC to open international flights to Central Asia and Siberia. It plans to launch its first international flight to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan by June 2018, to Irkutsk and Yekaterinburg by July 2018 and to Novosirbirsk in Siberia by August 2018.

The B737-800 or E190 aircraft will be used to operate on the route from Urumqi to Novosibirsk while the flagship B737-800 aircraft will serve other international routes of Urumqi Air from Urumqi. All flights will operate twice weekly.

Urumqi Air will announce inaugural flight dates in due course if the plans were approved by CAAC.

Air Seoul launches flight to Danang on 18 May 2018

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

Air Seoul launches daily scheduled flight from Incheon to Danang on 18 May 2018 using its A321 aircraft.

On 18 May 2018, Air Seoul flight RS551 departs from Incheon for Danang at 10.20 pm, arrives in Danang on 19 May 2018 at 1.20 am. It leaves Danang for Incheon under flight RS552 at 2.20 am and touches down in Incheon at 8.40 am. These timings apply to Thursday, Friday and Sunday flights departing from Incheon.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, RS553/RS554 departs from Incheon for Danang and leaves Danang for Incheon at the same timings as RS551/RS552 but arrives in Incheon at 9.15 am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Air Seoul starts selling its on-line Danang tickets on 9 April 2018 at www.flyairseoul.com.

Air Belgium launches non-stop flight from Brussels Charleroi to Hong Kong on 30 April 2018

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

Air Belgium launches its first scheduled flight to Hong Kong from Brussels South Charleroi, or simply known as Brussels Charleroi, on 30 April 2018 using its A340-300 aircraft.

On 30 April 2018, Air Belgium flight KF851 departs from Brussels Charleroi for Hong Kong at 2.10 pm, arrives in Hong Kong at 7.40 pm before leaving Hong Kong for Brussels Charleroi at 10.30 am on 1 May 2018 and touching down in Brussels Charleroi at 5.15 pm under flight KF852.

Flights departing for Hong Kong from Brussels Charleroi are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays while flights leaving Hong Kong for Brussels Charleroi take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays.

Air Belgium starts selling its Hong Kong tickets on 3 April 2018. The lowest Economy one-way fare starts from 210 Euro and from 449 Euro for a round trip. Fares are divided into Economy, Premium and Business Class categories. For further information, ticketing and enquiry, bookmark ab.bigbadwolf.be/en, the new booking and company web-site of Air Belgium for future reference.