GoAir launches non-stop flight from Delhi to Male on 17 October 2018

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

On 31 August 2018, GoAir released the details of its A320neo flight services to Male from Mumbai and Delhi. Flight from Delhi to Male begins on 17 October 2018 while the inaugural flight to Male from Mumbai takes off on 14 October 2018.

On 17 October 2018, GoAir flight G8033 departs from Delhi for Male at 12.45 pm, arrives in Male at 4.20 pm before leaving Male for Delhi at 5.20 pm and arriving in Delhi at 10.10 pm under flight G8034. Flights leave for Male from Delhi on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

On 14 October 2018, flight G8023 takes off from Mumbai for Male at 1.30 pm, touches down in Male at 3.50 pm before leaving Male for Mumbai at 4.50 pm and landing in Mumbai at 8 pm under flight G8024. Flights depart from Mumbai for Male on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

GoAir does not face any competition on the routes from Mumbai and Delhi to Male.

9air launches daily flight from Hefei to Huizhou on 6 September 2018

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

9air launches non-stop flight from Hefei to Huizhou, a Guangdong city of at least a two-hours  intercity bus ride from Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2, on 6 September 2018. As the low-cost airline subsidiary of Juneyao Air, 9air does not face any competition on the Hefei - Huizhou route.

The new route is operated daily by 9air's new B737-800 aircraft, which has a full Economy Class cabin layout of 189 seats. 

From 6 September 2018, 9air flight AQ1080 departs from Hefei at 10.45 am for Huizhou, arrives in Huizhou at 1 pm before leaving Huizhou on 7 September 2018 at 7.40 am and touching down in Hefei at 9.55 am under flight AQ1079.

In terms of fare, the current fare from Hefei to Huizhou, 639 Yuan, entails 15 kilograms of free baggage allowance while the return price is only 259 Yuan, equivalent to 2 per cent off the full-price ticket, and the direct flight ticket price is 35 per cent cheaper than other transit flights. 

Passengers need not worry about flight cancellations. 9air grasps the abnormal weather flight delays, claims and other passenger travel pain points and issues the first China domestic "aeronautical cumulative delay insurance", that is, once a flight is delayed for more than 2 hours, passengers do not need to go through any cumbersome form of refund appeal at the airline counters. The system automatically compensates for the payment, and the mobile phone SMS interacts in real time, which effectively simplifies the claims process, and the passengers can get up to 500 Yuan in compensation.

Huizhou is rated as the ideal city for sightseeing and relaxation in southern China as crimes targeting tourists are unheard of here. The city and its airport Huizhou Pingtan Airport have convenient transportation links to Shenzhen East, Shantou and Heyuan. The opening of the route provides convenience for passengers travelling between Hefei and Huizhou.

GoAir launches flights to Phuket and Male on 11 and 14 October 2018 respectively

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

Barely eight hours ago as of press time on 30 August 2018, GoAir CEO Cornelis Vrieswijk announced in Mumbai that its A320neo first international flight will take off from Delhi for Phuket on 11 October 2018 (Thursday) while its first flight from Mumbai for Phuket will depart on 13 October 2018 (Saturday). From 14 October 2018, GoAir plans to depart from Mumbai and Delhi for Male, the capital of Maldives.

GoAir's Delhi - Phuket flights are planned to operate on Thursdays and Sundays with each flight leaving Delhi for Phuket at 1.10 am and arriving in Phuket at 7.25 am. Its Mumbai - Phuket flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with flight taking off from Mumbai at 1.25 am and touching down in Phuket at 7.25 am.

GoAir's Maldives services from Mumbai and Delhi will also operate thrice-weekly (from Mumbai) and twice-weekly (from Delhi).

The detailed schedules are not available at press time and may be subject to change without notice. GoAir advises customers and media to check its web-site www.goair.in for flight updates and availability of fares on these international routes which will be available in due course.

According to GoAir, the DGCA has approved GoAir to begin flights from India to China, Kazakhstan, Thailand, the Maldives, Vietnam, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. GoAir was authorized by Thailand since 10 August 2018 to begin flights to Phuket.

GoAir as one of the new airline exhibitors of ITB Asia will announce the same flights to the international media at ITB Asia 2018 in Singapore on 17 to 19 October.

HK Express suspends flights to Hualien from 27 October 2018

Press Release by : HK Express
Distributed to Everyone

With effect from 27 October 2018, HK Express will suspend flight services between Hong Kong and Hualien to better optimise utilisation of the airline’s resources. Flights between Hong Kong and Hualien departing from now until 26 October 2018 will operate as normal.

Healthier inflight meals coming onboard Singapore Airlines' long-haul non-stop flights

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

Singapore Airlines has partnered with Canyon Ranch, the world's leading health care brand, to enhance passengers'  travel experience on its long-haul direct flights, in particular raising the standards of passengers' healthy meals on the longest route in the world, Singapore - New York (Newark), thereby bringing passengers more relaxation and improving their onboard travel experience. 

A team of Canyon Ranch farm experts from integrated medicine, kinematics, nutrition and other disciplines, including the 17th Director of the US Department of Health, known as the “Canyon Ranch Health Builder”, has developed improved sleep and inflight exercises as well as scientific programs for stretching, dieting and new nutritional diet recipes. The recipe will be first applied to Singapore Airlines' 18-hour, 45-minute direct flight to Newark on 11 October 2018, before introducing it onboard Singapore's direct flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Management at Singapore Airlines (SIA), said, “Singapore Airlines is committed to continuously improving the passenger experience and leading the industry. This time, Singapore Airlines and Canyon Ranch have entered into a partnership. Building on this commitment, our strong service system, through the deep expertise of the Canyon Ranch expert team and scientific advice and strategies, will provide our passengers with a more comfortable journey experience."

The content of the cooperation will focus on the following aspects:

Healthy Meals - Healthy meals developed by the team of Canyon Ranch chefs and nutritionists pay more attention to body nutrition and hydration by taking into account of longer flight times and less exercise, and food taste. The healthy meals developed by Canyon Ranch and the healthy meals prepared by a team of chefs from the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Advisory Group will be served onboard the long-haul non-stop flights. (See Appendix A for a healthy meal menu.)

Relaxation - This includes sleep strategies designed to help all cabin passengers improve rest time and quality, as well as better special lighting for passengers' rest in the cabin environment.

Stretching Guidance - Guided by the Canyon Ranch Sports Physiologist, it assists the passengers to relax under the entertainment system on the back of each seat.

Ms. Susan E. Docherty, CEO of Canyon Ranch, said, “Canyon Ranch has been a pioneer in the comprehensive health field for 40 years and has partnered with Singapore Airlines, which has been committed to providing quality services to passengers worldwide for more than 70 years. Traditional brands are constantly innovating. We are fortunate to be able to provide transformative health services to our customers on land and in the ocean – now in the air. Just like Singapore Airlines, we are committed to continuously improving the customer experience.”

Singapore Airlines is the world's first customer of the A350-900ULR aircraft and has seven confirmed orders with Airbus. This ultra-long-range passenger aircraft will be in a two-cabin layout with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats. Singapore Airlines' current A350-900 aircraft is available in three cabins, including 42 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats and 187 Economy Class seats.

The Singapore Airlines fleet currently includes 21 A350-900 aircraft, with 46 additional orders, including seven A350-900ULR aircraft. Singapore Airlines' first A350-900ULR aircraft will be delivered in September and will be deployed on the Singapore-Newark route in October. Singapore's direct flight to Los Angeles takes off on 2 November 2018. As Singapore's direct flights to San Francisco increase, by the end of 2018, Singapore Airlines will operate 27 direct flights from Singapore to the United States each week, and the frequency of flights to the United States will increase to 53 flights per week.

Appendix A - Canyon Ranch meal menu onboard Singapore Airlines' long-haul non-stop flights

Appetizer : Wild shrimp, ceviche (originated in Peru) and Armenian shortbread, fresh oranges, cucumbers, grapefruits, loquat leaves, shallots and bell pepper.

Main Course : Grilled organic chicken, gourd spaghetti with zucchini powder, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, lemon oil, vinegar and basil.

Dessert : Lemon Angel Cake with blueberries.

Breakfast : Smoked salmon with Benedict egg
Consisting of whole wheat English muffin, Double onion cheese, smoked salmon, organic egg rolls and Dutch sour cream.

Kenya Airways' official inaugural non-stop flight to New York is on 28 October 2018

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

Marking 15 years of long-haul flight services to Bangkok since 1 April 2013, Kenya Airways has announced that its B787 Dreamliner commences its official non-stop flight to New York John F Kennedy International Airport from Nairobi on 28 October 2018.

On 28 October 2018, Kenya Airways flight KQ002 departs from Nairobi for New York at 10.55 pm, arrives in New York at 6.55 am on 29 October 2018 before leaving New York at 1 pm for Nairobi and touching down in Nairobi at 10.30 am on 30 October 2018 under flight KQ003.

Kenya Airways is selling Nairobi - New York one-way ticket fare from 385 US Dollars and the New York - Nairobi air fare from 354 US Dollars, excluding taxes and surcharges, on its web-site. Each journey lasts 14 hours 30 minutes. The route is reputed to be the longest air route from East Africa.

The non-stop flights to New York are operated daily. Kenya Airways has a fleet of 8 B787-8 aircraft.

Qatar Airways deploys A350-1000 on its Singapore route from 1 November 2018

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

According to Qatar Airways on 28 August 2018, two of its Singapore’s triple-daily A350-900 services will gradually be replaced by its A350-1000 aircraft from 1 November 2018. The Doha - Singapore route is expected to be served entirely with the A350-1000 by April 2019 and Singapore is the first city in Asia to welcome A350-1000, for which Qatar Airways is the launch customer.

The A350-1000 flights to Singapore from Doha are operated according to the following schedules:-

From 1 November 2018, flight QR944 leaves Doha for Singapore at 8.15 am, touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 9.15 pm before leaving Singapore at 2 am on 2 November 2018 for Doha and arriving in Doha at 5.35 am local time under flight QR945.

From 1 December 2018 till end of March 2019, flight QR946 departs from Doha for Singapore at 1.55 am, lands in Singapore at 2.55 pm before leaving Singapore for Doha at 8.45 pm and touching down in Doha at 12.20 am on 2 December 2018 under flight QR947.

The A350-1000 aircraft offers 327 seats across two cabins – 46 Qatar Airways' Qsuite Business Class seats and 281 extra-wide 18-inch seats in Economy Class. Similar to the A350-900, for which Qatar Airways is also the global launch customer, the high-performance A350-1000 boasts an advanced airframe with extensive use of composite materials. Coupled with a fuselage innovatively built with carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, the jetliner burns lesser fuel, reducing harmful effects to the environment. In the cabin, LED mood lighting mimics the sunrise and sunset to reduce the effects of jet lag.

Business Class passengers on A350-1000 will enjoy Qatar Airways' Qsuite experience, featuring the industry’s first-ever double-bed in Business Class. Sliding panels allow passengers in adjoining seats to transform their space into private cabins so that office colleagues, families and friends can work, socialise and dine together during the flight. These revolutionary features enable Qatar Airways to win the ‘Best Business Class Seat’ and ‘Best Business Class’ awards at the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

OKAir opens Ningbo - Zunyi - Xingyi routes on 28 August 2018

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

OKAir opens Ningbo - Zunyi - Xingyi routes on 28 August 2018 using a B737 aircraft. On this day, flight BK3005 departs from Ningbo for Zunyi at 10 am, arrives in Zunyi at 12.30 pm before leaving for Xingyi at 1.30 pm and arriving in Xingyi at 2.40 pm.

At 3.40 pm, flight BK3006 takes off from Xingyi for Zunyi, transits in Zunyi at 4.50 pm before departing from Zunyi for Ningbo at 5.50 pm and touching down in Ningbo at 8.10 pm.

Flights depart for Zunyi and Xingyi from Ningbo daily.

Passengers from Singapore can connect to OKAir flights in Ningbo by direct Scoot flights and from Hong Kong by HK Express flights.

Zunyi is the second largest city of Guizhou after Guiyang known for its Communist route tourist destinations. Xingyi is a county-level city in Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou.

Changi Airport Jewel will be linked to all 4 terminals by six new Skytrains

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

In order to cope with the increasing demand for air traffic, and with the opening of Changi Airport Jewel, which will be opened in early 2019, Changi Airport has purchased six new Skytrains, which are expected to be put into operation at the same time as the official opening of Changi Airport Jewel during the first quarter of 2019. By then, the number of passengers on Skytrains will increase by nearly 40 per cent. 

Deng Qiang, Manager of the Changi Airport Group Engineering and Special System (passenger transportation system), revealed in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that as passenger air traffic in and out of Changi Airport continues to grow, the use of elevated passenger trains (Skytrain) also increases. The Skytrain service between the transit halls of Terminal 3 (T3) is expected to reach the ceiling next year. Changi Airport Group has purchased new elevated passenger transport vehicles from Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries a few years ago to meet demand.

Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was awarded Changi Airport's contract in 2016 to upgrade the Changi Airport Group's driverless transportation system. Among them, the Group purchased six new high-profile passenger transport vehicles and increased the number of such transport vehicles from 16 to 22. The total length of the elevated passenger transport vehicle track is about 6.4 kilometers. There are seven routes. Among them, in order to build the Jewel, the service connecting T3 and Terminal 2 (T2) was suspended from 24 February 2015.

The Skytrain service starts at 5 am every day and ends at 2:30 am the next day. The waiting time between trains is between two minutes and four minutes, depending on the route. Six new elevated passenger transport vehicles arrived in China from Japan at the end of last month and were sent to Changi Airport in three batches on the 11 August, 20 August and 23 August 2018. The new trains are expected to be operational in the first quarter of next year, and until then, the staff will test the system to make sure everything is ready.

According to earlier reports, Changi Airport Jewel, which was built at the original site of the old parking lot of Terminal 1, would be opened at the beginning of 2019. The date of operation of the new Skytains linking Changi Airport Jewel and the four terminals is expected to coincide with the opening of Changi Airport Jewel to cope with the visitor crowd. Deng Qiang said that after the new trains are operational, they will help to increase the number of passengers per train service on some routes.

For example, trains that travel through the T3 and T2 routes will increase from two to three. In other words, the number of passengers that can be carried per train will increase from 96 to 144; the trains in the T3 transit corridor will increase from one car to two. He also mentioned, "At present, 16 trains are operating every day. We do not have a backup train. However, after the new train is put into operation, two of the trains will be reserved. In this way, the train maintenance schedule can be more flexible and the train service is reliable overall."

Asked if the new train has updated equipment and facilities, Deng Qiang said that in addition to upgrading the camera inside the train and expanding the shooting angle, other devices and designs are the same as existing trains. He added that the signal and communication systems for the elevated passenger transport vehicles were also upgraded, including the conversion of analog systems and equipment to digital versions. As for whether the elevated passenger transport vehicle system can carry more pressure on train operation, Deng Qiang said that the system is built according to the final capacity. "Even if we add six new trains, we only reach about 75% of the maximum capacity. It will not affect the track and power supply, etc."

Original Text :

樟宜机场四个航站楼添加轻轨

微信大城小狮2018-08-27 15:55:11

为应付航空交通量日益增加的需求，加上明年初将开幕的星耀樟宜，樟宜机场添购六列新高架旅客运送车，料明年第一季和星耀樟宜同时投入运作。届时，高架旅客运送车的乘客量将增加近四成。樟宜机场集团工程与特别系统（乘客运送系统）经理邓强喜接受联合早报访问时说，航空交通流量日益增加，樟宜机场未来接待的旅客人次将继续增长，高架旅客运送车（skytrain）的使用量也会随之提高。“若按照现状继续运作，有两条路线，而穿行于第三搭客大厦（简称T3）过境厅之间的服务预计到明年，一碰上巅峰时段，载客量就会达到顶限。为此，集团约几年前已添购新高架旅客运送车，应付需求。”

樟宜机场去年整体的乘客人次首次突破6000万大关，全年达6220万人次。机场今年6月接待的乘客量达557万人次，年比增加6.9％。日本三菱商事和三菱重工（Mitsubishi Heavy Industries）是在2016年获颁合约，提升樟宜机场集团的无人驾驶交通系统。其中，集团添购了六列新高架旅客运送车，将这类运送车从16列增至22列。高架旅客运送车轨道全长约6.4公里，共有七条路线，其中，为了兴建星耀樟宜（Jewel），连接T3和第二搭客大厦（简称T2）的服务自2015年2月24日起暂停。

列车服务每天清晨5时开始，隔天凌晨2时30分结束，每趟列车之间的等候时间介于两分钟至四分钟，依不同路线而异。六列新的高架旅客运送车上个月底从日本运抵我国，本月11日、20日和23日分三批送往樟宜机场。新列车预计明年第一季投入运作，在那之前，工作人员将测试系统，确保一切就绪。

配合星耀樟宜开幕访客潮

据早前报道，斥资17亿元、在第一搭客大厦旧停车场原址建造的星耀樟宜明年初开幕。新列车投入运作的日期预料会配合星耀樟宜开幕，以应付访客人潮。邓强喜说，新列车启用后，将有助于提高部分路线每趟列车服务的载客量。

例如，穿行于T3和T2路线的列车将从两个车厢增至三个，换言之，每趟列车服务可承载的乘客将从现有的96人增至144人；在T3过境厅路线的列车也会从一个车厢增至两个。他也提到：“目前，16列列车每天都在运作，我们没有后备列车。但新列车投入运作后，其中两列将作为后备。这么一来，列车维修排期可以更灵活，列车整体可靠度将提升。”

问及新列车是否有更新装置和设施，邓强喜说，除了提升列车内的摄像机，扩大拍摄角度以外，其他的装置与设计同现有列车一样。他补充，高架旅客运送车的信号和通讯系统也同时获得提升，包括把类比（analogue）系统和设备转换到数码版。至于高架旅客运送车系统是否可以承载更多列车运行的压力，邓强喜说，系统是依照最终可达的容量来建设，“即使加了六列新列车，我们只达到最高容量的约75％，因此，不会对轨道或电源等造成影响。”

Hainan Airlines launches flight from Shenzhen to Zurich on 27 August 2018

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

Hainan Airlines has launched non-stop B787 scheduled flight from Shenzhen to Zurich on 27 August 2018. 

On 27 August 2018, flight HU741 departs from Shenzhen for Zurich at 1.20 am, arrives in Zurich at 7.55 am local time before leaving Zurich for Shenzhen at 11.40 am and touching down in Shenzhen at 5 am on 28 August 2018 under flight HU742. Flight departs for Zurich on Mondays and Fridays and touches down in Shenzhen on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Zurich is one of Hainan Airlines' new destinations on its Shenzhen hub network. Other destinations on its Shenzhen route network include Brisbane, Brussels, Madrid, Vancouver (via Tianjin), Cairns, Auckland, Sihanoukville, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Danang and Cam Ranh. It plans to launch B787 flight to Vienna from Shenzhen on 20 October 2018.

Urumqi Air launches daily flight to Guiyang from Boao on 2 September 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
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Urumqi Air launches daily scheduled flight from Boao to Guiyang on 2 September 2018 using its B737-800 aircraft.

On 2 September 2018, Urumqi Air flight UQ3583 departs from Boao for Guiyang at 6.10 am, arrives in Guiyang at 7.50 am before leaving Guiyang for Boao at 8.50 am and touching down in Boao at 10.45 am under flight UQ3584.

The Boao - Guiyang route is Urumqi Air's third route after its Boao - Zhengzhou and Boao - Hefei routes. Boao is the third domestic airport of Hainan after Haikou and Sanya.

Air Mandalay unveils new logo livery

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

Air Mandalay has unveiled its new logo and livery on its Embraer ERJ145 aircraft which it received in early January 2018 for re-commencement of domestic flights to Myitkyina on 29 May 2018 and to Tachileik on 4 June 2018 from Yangon. The new logo and livery reflects a more modern and vibrant look of Myanmar's first private airline. 

Air Mandalay's new logo reshapes its iconic and mythological Royal Hintha Bird, which symbolizes loyalty, respect for traditional values, stability, good luck and prosperity.

The colours in the new logo echo Air Mandalay's corporate values. Red represents youthful, high energy passion, dedication and good fortune while white represents peace, unity, cleanliness and simplicity. They sum up the airline's commitment to passengers.

Current Flight Schedules of Air Mandalay's daily domestic flights until further notice:-

Flight 6T801   Yangon - Myitkyina   7.50 am to 8.50 am
Flight 6T802   Myitkyina - Yangon    9.10 am to 10.45 am
Flight 6T805   Yangon - Tachileik      11.15 am to 12.25 pm
Flight 6T806   Tachileik - Yangon      12.45 pm to 1.55 pm

Air Mandalay plans to resume scheduled flight to Sittwe from Yangon in due course.

KC Air commences domestic flight to Siem Reap on 27 August 2018

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

KC Air, short for KC International Airlines, commences its first domestic scheduled flight to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh on 27 August 2018. This will be followed by the direct flight to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh on the same day. Tickets till 30 August 2018 are available for sale at KC Air Head Office opposite Phnom Penh International Airport and through phone ticketing.

On 27 August 2018, KC Air's A320 flight 3Q100 departs from Phnom Penh for Siem Reap at 9.45 am, arrives in Siem Reap at 10.40 am before leaving Siem Reap for Phnom Penh at 12.40 pm and touching down in Phnom Penh at 1.20 pm under flight 3Q101.

At 3.05 pm, flight 3Q111 leaves Phnom Penh for Sihanoukville at 3.05 pm, touches down in Sihanouk International Airport at 3.55 pm before taking off from Sihanouk for Phnom Penh at 4.55 pm and arriving in Phnom Penh at 5.40 pm under flight 3Q112.

For updated flight schedules, visit KC Air on Facebook as online booking on KC Air website www.kcairlines.com is not available for the time being.

Jeju Air launches non-stop flight to Haikou on 19 September 2018

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

Jeju Air launches direct scheduled flight from Incheon to Haikou on 19 September 2018. It flies twice-weekly to Haikou on Wednesdays and Saturdays before returning to Incheon on Thursdays and Sundays.

On 19 September 2018, Jeju Air flight 7C8607 departs from Incheon for Haikou at 9.45 pm, touches down in Haikou at 1.25 am on 20 September 2018 before leaving Haikou for Incheon at 2.25 am and arriving in Incheon at 8.15 am.

All flights are operated by Jeju Air's B737-800 aircraft.

With the opening of Jeju Air's Incheon - Haikou route, passengers  from Incheon do not need to transit in Hong Kong for onward flights to Haikou with Hong Kong Airlines.

IndiGo launches daily flight to Kuwait on 15 October 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
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IndiGo's A320 aircraft launches daily flight from Chennai to Kuwait on 15 October 2018. On this day, flight 6E1751 departs from Chennai for Kuwait at 1.05 am, lands in Kuwait at 4.10 am before leaving Kuwait for Chennai at 5.10 am and arriving in Chennai at 12.25 am on 16 October 2018 under flight 6E1752.

Ethiopian Airlines launches Chadian Airlines and Zambia Airways soon

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

In line with its Vision 2025 Multiple Hubs Strategy in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines is on track to launch Chadian Airlines, the new national airline of Chad, on 1 October 2018, and relaunch Zambia Airways on 1 January 2019.

Mr Temolde Gebremariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, commented that Chadian Airlines is Ethiopian Airlines' Central Africa subsidiary which will operate flights from N'djamena to Addis Ababa, Lome, Nairobi and other regional African destinations.  Passengers of Chadian Airlines can connect to Ethiopian Airlines' international flights in Addis Ababa seamlessly.

Ethiopian Airlines owns a 49 per cent stake in Chadian Airlines while the stake balance is held by the Chad Government.

The relaunched Zambia Airways is a joint-venture with the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of Zambia. While IDC owns a stake of 55 per cent in Zambia Airways, Ethiopian Airlines holds the balance of 45 per cent stake in the Zambian national flag carrier.

Zambia Airways will own a fleet of 12 aircraft. Initially, Embraer E195 and Bombardier Inc's C Series aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines will be selected and deployed on domestic and regional routes from Lusaka before commencing non-stop intercontinental flights to London, New York, Brussels, Rome, Dubai and Mumbai using Boeing aircraft. The inaugural flight on 1 January 2019 is domestic.

Chadian Airlines and Zambia Airways are not only the African airlines to be established by Ethiopian Airlines and local partners. 

Ethiopian Airlines already owns Malawian Airlines and Asky Airlines of Togo in partnership with the respective Governments. It has a 49 per cent stake in Guinea Airlines and manages CEIBA Intercontinental Airlines of Equatorial Guinea. It is also in talks with the Zimbabwe Government to revive Air Zimbabwe, besides leasing aircraft to Congo Airways and cementing business ties with Air Cote d'Ivoire.

Congo Airways has passed IOSA audit and launched flight to Moanda

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

Congo Airways, the "Flying Leopard" and the national airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo, announced on 22 August 2018 that it has completed its inaugural return flight to Moanda in Central Congo on 17 August 2018 using its Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft.

The debut flight arrived in Moanda from Kinshasa at 4.45 pm on 17 August and returned to Kinshasa on 18 August 2018.

Congo Airways, owning a fleet of 2 Airbus A320-200, 2 Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 and 1 B737-800 aircraft, is formed on 15 August 2014 to succeed Lignes Aeriennes Congolaises / Congolese Airlines (formerly Air Zaire). It conducts its first domestic flight on 20 October 2015 and flies to seven domestic destinations in Congo as well as to Douala, the capital of Cameroon, and Johannesburg. On 11 July 2018 it is awarded the certificate for passing IOSA safety operations audit.

Myanmar National Airlines launches scheduled flight to Gaya on 24 September 2018

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

Myanmar National Airlines, which marks its 70th Anniversary of flight operations on 15 September 2018, launches its first scheduled passenger flight from Yangon for Gaya on 24 September 2018 (Monday).  

Twice-weekly regular flights to Gaya from Yangon begin on 1 October 2018, operating on Mondays and Fridays. 

From 20 October 2018, Myanmar National Airlines flies to Gaya on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The flight schedules for the above days are as follows:-

Flight UB7001 departs from Yangon for Gaya at 11 am, arrives in Gaya at 12.30 pm before leaving Gaya for Yangon at 1.30 pm and touching down in Yangon at 5 pm under flight UB7002. 

Before 24 September, Myanmar National Airlines operates charter pilgrimage flights to Gaya using its ATR 72-600 aircraft. 

Beside Gaya, Myanmar National Airlines plans to open a future route to Chennai from Yangon on a scheduled basis in response to a rising number of Indian tourists to Myanmar. 

New Gen Airways opens new routes to China and Japan

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

New Gen Airways, the only scheduled international charter airline of Thailand, has opened new routes linking Don Mueang with Tongren and Hiroshima using its state-of-the-art B737-800 aircraft.

The first international route of Tongren Fenghuang Airport, Don Mueang - Tongren, was opened by New Gen Airways on 21 August 2018. It takes three hours by air to reach Tongren, Guizhou's third largest city, from Don Mueang.

With the addition of Tongren to its route network, New Gen Airways flies to 18 Chinese cities from Don Mueang including Baotou, Changsha, Dayong, Fuzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Hefei, Huai'an, Huangshan, Jinan, Nanchang, Nanning, Quanzhou, Wenzhou, Wuxi, Xuzhou and Zhengzhou.

New Gen Airways operates charter flights to China from Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Krabi, Utapao and Phuket and domestic scheduled flights from Nakhon Ratchasima to Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Krabi with a fleet of B737-400 and B737-800 aircraft. It launched its first international charter flight to Hiroshima, Japan, from Don Mueang on 11 August 2018.

VietJet Air opens two new routes to Japan in December 2018 and January 2019

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

VietJet Air, the fastest-growing airline of Vietnam, is opening two new routes to Japan in December 2018 and January 2019. These new routes are Ho Chi Minh City - Osaka Kansai and Hanoi - Narita.

On 14 December 2018, Vietjet flight VJ828 departs from Ho Chi Minh City for Osaka Kansai at 1.40 am, arrives in Kansai at 8.30 am before taking off from Kansai for Ho Chi Minh City at 9.30 am and landing in Ho Chi Minh at 1.30 pm under flight VJ829.

On 11 January 2019, flight VJ932 takes off from Hanoi for Narita at 12.55 am, touches down in Narita at 8 am before leaving Narita for Hanoi at 9.30 am and touching down in Hanoi at 2 pm under flight VJ931.

VietJet Air operates services to Kansai and Narita daily. With these new flights, Vietjet operates 21 weekly flights to Japan including the Hanoi - Kansai route operational from 8 November 2018.

Air Niugini opens Micronesia's first route to Asia on 1 September 2018

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

Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, opens Micronesia's first route to Asia on 1 September from Port Moresby using its B737-800 aircraft. It flies every Wednesday and Saturday from Port Moresby via Chuuk to Narita, Japan from 1 September 2018.

According to Air Niugini, its flight PX56 departs from Port Moresby for Narita via Chuuk at 12.35 pm, arrives in Chuuk at 3.35 pm before leaving Chuuk for Narita at 4.35 pm and touching down in Narita at 8.25 pm on 1 September 2018.

Air Niugini's outbound flight from Narita, PX57, leaves Narita for Chuuk at 9.35 pm on 1 September 2018, transits in Chuuk at 3.25 am before departing from Chuuk for Port Moresby at 4.25 am and arriving in Port Moresby at 7.25 am on 2 September 2018.  There are convenient flight connections to Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Honiara and other Air Niugini's Pacific destinations including five flights a week to Manila from  Port Moresby from 1 September 2018.

Chuuk is the largest city of the Federated States of Micronesia, an independent sovereign nation of atolls in the Pacific.

The other future destination of Air Niugini is Shanghai-Pudong, which the Papua New Guinean airline has yet to announce its flight schedules.

GoAir authorized to launch international flight from Kannur to Dammam from 31 October 2018

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

According to the Times of India, ITB Asia 2018 airline exhibitor GoAir is authorized to launch its first international scheduled flight from Kannur, an under-construction airport of the State of Kerala, to Dammam, Saudi Arabia from 31 October 2018.

GoAir, that first started domestic flight on 4 November 2005 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, is eligible to launch international flights from 2016 when it inducted its twentieth aircraft to its fleet in June 2016. Its current fleet consists of 18 Airbus A320s and 7 A320neos and operates flights from its hubs in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kochi.

GoAir's other planned routes include Mumbai - Phuket, Mumbai - Male, Kochi - Doha and Kochi - Dammam. It is not known when GoAir will open these routes.

It is not known when Kannur International Airport, built in Mattanur and 25 km from Kannur,  will allow commercial scheduled flights to land in the fourth-largest international airport after Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Calicut.

For up-to-date flight information on GoAir, visit www.goair.in.

Shenzhen Airlines launches its first long-haul flight on 30 October 2018

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

Shenzhen Airlines launches its first long-haul scheduled flight on 30 October 2018 using its A330 aircraft. 

On 30 October 2018, Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH9067 departs from Shenzhen for London Heathrow at 2.10 pm, arrives in Heathrow at 7.40 pm before leaving Heathrow at 9.40 pm and touching down in Shenzhen at 5.40 pm  on 31 October 2018 under flight ZH9068.

Flights depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Shenzhen for London Heathrow.

Shenzhen Airlines is selling round-trip tickets from 3500 Chinese Yuan (around 700 Singapore Dollars) on its web-site until they are sold out.

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines links Guwahati with Singapore from 29 September 2018

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

According to the latest Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines ticketing schedules as of 17 August 2018, the Bhutanese national flag carrier launches regular scheduled flights linking Guwahati with Paro and Singapore from Paro from 29 September 2018 onwards with its A319 aircraft. 

According to Drukair's ticketing web-site, Drukair first scheduled flight KB540 departs from Paro on 29 September 2018 for Singapore via Guwahati at 7.30 am, arrives in Guwahati at 7.55 am to pick up Singapore-bound Assam passengers, leaves Guwahati for Singapore at 8.35 am and touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 3.35 pm. 

The first outbound scheduled flight from Singapore to Guwahati, KB541, takes off from Singapore on 30 September 2018 at 6.30 am, transits in Guwahati at 8.30 am local time before leaving Guwahati for Paro at 9.10 am and arriving in Paro at 10.30 am on the same day.

Drukair flies from Paro to Guwahati and Singapore on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 29 September to end of November 2018. From 1 December 2018, the airline has adjusted the flight timings to Singapore from Paro as follows:-

Flight KB540 departs from Paro for Guwahati at 8.05 am, arrives in Guwahati at 8.30 am local time before leaving Guwahati for Singapore at 9.10 am and touching down in Singapore at 4.10 pm. There are no changes to the outbound flights from Singapore to Guwahati and Paro. However, Drukair operates flights from December 2018 onwards to Guwahati and Singapore on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and leave for Guwahati and Paro on Thursdays and Sundays only.

With the introduction of the Paro-Guwahati-Singapore flights, Drukair has delisted the Paro-Kolkata-Singapore-Kolkata-Paro flights (KB500/KB501) from ticketing for the last days of KB500 and KB501 are on 26 and 27 September 2019 respectively. Drukair's Guwahati-Suvarnabhumi route will close and Guwahati-Singapore route will be the Assam airport's only international route while Changi Airport adds Guwahati as its latest international destination on its route network.

Customers can now book Drukair's flights to Guwahati and Paro from Singapore on Drukair's web-site and at its sales offices.

Customers who have booked Drukair's flights to Kolkata from Singapore and Guwahati from Bangkok on the affected routes and dates should contact Drukair sales offices in Singapore and Bangkok, and relevant Little India travel agents on refunds if they have not done so. The Singapore passenger sales office of Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines is Drukasia.

Guwahati is the largest city of the State of Assam in northeast India bordering Bhutan that sells and exports the famous Assam tea and Assam silk and engages in petroleum manufacturing and export. It is known also as the City of Temples. Other than plenty of temples, it is home to India professional football team NorthEast United FC of Indian Super League, India's largest cricket stadium and national parks where tigers, gaurs, one-horn rhinoceros, Asian elephants and endangered birds can be seen and orchids bloom. Foxtail orchid is the state flower of Assam.

For updated flight information, visit Drukair at www.drukair.com.bt.