GX Airlines launches daily flight to Suvarnabhumi on 23 January 2019

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

GX Airlines, short for Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines, announced on 27 December 2018 that it is launching daily scheduled flight from Nanning to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport on 23 January 2019 using its Airbus A320 aircraft. This is the second international route of the Guangxi airline after its Singapore route.

On 23 January 2019, GX Airlines flight GX8907 departs from Nanning for Suvarnabhumi at 7 pm, arrives in Suvarnabhumi at 8.25 pm before leaving Suvarnabhumi at 9.25 pm for Nanning and touching down in Nanning at 12.50 am on 24 January 2019 under flight GX8908.

International destinations of GX Airlines within the next two years include Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Luang Prabang, Jakarta and Manila.

FlyBosnia receives its first A319 jet on 22 December 2018

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

Image courtesy : FlyBosnia

According to Bosnia and Herzegovina civil aviation media Klix.ba, FlyBosnia, based in Sarajevo, received its first aircraft on 22 December 2018. This aircraft which formerly belonged to Bulgaria's Balkan Holidays Air (BH Air) is a 16-year-old Airbus A319 aircraft capable of carrying 156 passengers. There are 12 Business Class seats. 

FlyBosnia, founded in November 2017 by Nudzejma Skenderovic and director Sulaiman Abdullah Al Shiddi who are named by the Al Shiddi Group the largest Saudi investor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is only waiting for the Aviation Operations Permit (AOC) of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Civil Aviation Authority. After the AOC is acquired, the A319 aircraft will start operating commercial service for the first time. In 2019, FlyBosnia will receive its second A319 aircraft.

FlyBosnia President Chris Gabriel said that FlyBosnia will mainly operate Middle East and Europe routes, and destinations include Riyadh, Jeddah, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome and Moscow. The first route is expected to be Sarajevo - Riyadh.

According to Chris, the Al Shiddi Group owns Sarajevo City Center, Hotel Bristol Sarajevo and luxury residential complex Poljine Hills.

Hongtu, branded as Air Travel, receives 2 Airbus A319 jets

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

Image courtesy : Yunnan Hongtu Airlines

Yunnan Hongtu Airlines or Hongtu, branded as Air Travel, has received its first two Airbus A319 aircraft. Its first A319 aircraft arrives in Kunming Changshui International Airport on 15 December 2018 at 12.45 am while its second A319 jet arrives in the same airport on 20 December 2018. Now, Air Travel has 8 jets including 6 Airbus A320 aircraft.

Air Travel operates scheduled flight services on the following routes : Kunming - Wuxi - Changchun. Kunming - Changzhi - Shenyang, Kunming - Nanchang - Hailar, Hunming - Nanjing, Kunming - Nanchang, Kunming - Chengdu, Nanchang - Lanzhou, Nanchang - Baotou, Nanjing - Qingdao - Mudanjiang, Nanjing - Yantai - Mudanjiang, Lijiang - Nanjing - Hohhot, Nanchang - Yantai - Yanji, Nanchang - Baishan - Daqing and Kunming - Xining - Zhengzhou.

Joy Air receives its first B737-800 aircraft on 21 December 2018

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

Image courtesy : Joy Air

At 3.35 pm on 21 December 2018, Joy Air's first Boeing B737-800 aircraft with the registration number B-208V arrived at Tianjin Binhai International Airport to join the Joy Air fleet. At this point, Joy Air's fleet consists of 26 aircraft including 25 Xian MA-60 aircraft.

Air Tanzania's A220 will enable it to launch flight to Mumbai and the Middle East

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

Image courtesy : Airbus

According to the Airbus official website, on 21 December 2018, local time at the Airbus Mirabel assembly line, Air Tanzania received its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft. It is the launch operator of the A220 in Africa and the fifth user of the A220 in the world.

The A220 aircraft will help Air Tanzania expand its domestic routes and launch flights to Mumbai and the Middle East.

Complementing the A320 family of aircraft, the A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft cover the 100- to 150-seat market and offer comfortable five-seat cabins per row. With state-of-the-art aerodynamic design, carbon fiber reinforced composites, and Pratt & Whitney's latest generation PW1500G geared engine and fly-by-wire control system, the A220 can reduce fuel consumption by 20 per cent compared to previous generation aircraft.

To date, the A220 has received more than 400 orders.

Chongqing Airlines launches A320neo flight to Colombo on 28 December 2018

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

Image courtesy : Eurospot / OQ Weibo                      

According to Chongqing Airlines in its Weibo statement, one of its three A320neo aircraft launches the airline's inaugural scheduled flight from Chongqing to Colombo on 28 December 2018 on behalf of China Southern. 

On 28 December 2018, flight CZ8193 operated by Chongqing Airlines departs from Chongqing for Colombo at 5.25 pm, touches down in Colombo at 9.10 pm before leaving Colombo for Chongqing at 10.10 pm and arriving in Chongqing at 6.10 am on 29 December 2018 under flight CZ8194.

Flight numbers of CZ that start with the prefix-numbers 81 and 80 are operated by Chongqing Airlines, the airline highlights.

Chongqing Airlines flies to Colombo from Chongqing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and touches down in Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Terminal 3 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Due to the introduction of the Colombo flight, Chongqing Airlines has re-scheduled its direct flights to Phuket for departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays instead. It has also increased its flight frequency on the Chongqing - Ho Chi Minh City route from three flights a week to four flights a week, departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 9.55 pm, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at 12.40 am, taking off from Ho Chi Minh City at 1.40 am and landing in Chongqing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays at 6.15 am.

On a final note, Chongqing Airlines is expecting to receive its fourth A320neo aircraft before the year ends.

Air Kiribati to be the first operator of Embraer E190-ED E-Jets in the Pacific

Report by : Bruce Drum

First Published on World Airline News

Image courtesy : Embraer

Embraer has announced the signing of a contract with the Government of Kiribati, in partnership with their national airline, Air Kiribati, for two firm orders for the E190-E2 E-Jets and two purchase rights for the same model.

With all purchase rights being exercised, the contract has a value of $243 million, based on current list prices. The order will be included in Embraer’s 2018 fourth-quarter backlog.

Scheduled for a 2019 delivery, the E190-E2 will enable the flag carrier for the Republic of Kiribati, located in the central Pacific, to fly longer domestic and international routes than it currently does with its turboprop fleet.

Air Kiribati will be the launch operator for the E190-E2 in the Asia Pacific region (excluding China). This order comes after a three-week Asia Pacific tour of the ‘Shark’ livery E190-E2 in October, which included a stop in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati.

Spanning four time zones and comprised of more than 30 islands, Kiribati is the only country in the world to be in all four hemispheres.

With a maximum range of up to 2,850 nautical miles, the E190-E2 can operate over the vast expanse of Kiribati, including from Tarawa directly to Kiritimati (Christmas) Island, one of the most challenging routes in the Pacific. The current domestic connection from Tarawa to Kiritimati includes an international stopover in Fiji.

The E190-E2 is part of Embraer’s new generation E-Jets E2 family of aircraft, which can seat between 70 to 150 passengers. The E190-E2 specifically, can seat up to 114 passengers, and is the first member of the E-Jets E2 family of aircraft to enter into service in April 2018.

Embraer has been present in the region since the first Bandeirante was delivered in 1978 in Australia and has been providing comprehensive support and services through the years to aircraft based in Australia and in the Pacific region.

Myanmar National Airlines launches scheduled flight to Chengdu on 28 December 2018

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

Myanmar National Airlines launches thrice-weekly scheduled flight from Yangon to Chengdu on 28 December 2018 using its B737-800 aircraft.

On 28 December 2018, Myanmar National Airlines flight UB803 departs from Yangon for Chengdu at 10.20 pm, arrives in Chengdu at 2.30 am local time before leaving Chengdu for Yangon at 3.35 am and touching down in Yangon at 5.05 am local time on 29 December 2018 under flight UB804.

Myanmar National Airlines flies to Chengdu on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and returns to Yangon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

XiamenAir launches Quanzhou - Davao route on 18 December 2018

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

XiamenAir launches Quanzhou - Davao route using B737-800 aircraft on 18 December 2018. Flights take off for and return from Davao on Tuesdays and Fridays under the flight pairs MF8679 and MF8680.


Flight MF8679 departs from Quanzhou for Davao at 9 am, arrives in Davao at 12.15 pm before leaving Davao for Quanzhou at 1.15 pm and landing in Quanzhou at 4.30 pm under flight MF8680. 


The Quanzhou - Davao route is the only China route for Davao airport. 

Air Astana receives its first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft nicknamed "Snow Leopard" in Astana

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

Image courtesy : Embraer

Kazakhstan’s national flag carrier, Air Astana Airlines, recently held the company’s first reception ceremony for the Embraer E190-E2 aircraft in Astana. In 2019, the airline will also receive four additional E190-E2 aircraft, the last of which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2019 and will be leased to AerCap El Cap Holdings. At the end of this month, Astana Airlines will begin to use this new aircraft on some domestic and CIS routes.


“Air Astana is proud to receive the company’s first Embraer E190-E2 jet, and expects it to be operational as soon as possible and pilots can easily complete the transition,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. "The Embraer E-Jet series is world-renowned. We are looking forward to the economics, environmental protection, comfort and convenience of the new E-Series E-Series E2."

Astana Air's first E190-E2 was painted with "Snow Leopard" and was designed and finished by the Embraer team, continuing the "revenue catcher" style. Air Astana  E190-E2 "Snow Leopard" painting has now become the most recognizable "revenue catcher" series of livery art together with "Eagle", "Tiger" and "Shark". This painting is also to remind the public that the wild animals of Kazakhstan are facing extinction. Snow Leopard is the official symbol of Kazakhstan and lives in the southern mountains of the country.


Foster added, "Our passengers and employees, and even Kazakhstan as a whole, really like the amazing image of the snow leopard on this new plane. The snow leopard reflects the tenacity and ambition of our nation, and we are all trying to save these beautiful The creature is free from extinction."


John Slattery, President and CEO of Embraer Industrial Commercial Aviation, said, "It is a great honor to deliver the most advanced commercial aircraft of the airline industry to our excellent partner, Air Astana. Manufacturers, nothing more exciting than seeing customers continue to grow their business by operating our products. Air Astana's choice of operating the E2 series demonstrates its reliance on the airline industry and the E-Jet family of aircraft."


The delivery of the aircraft marks the beginning of the update of the Air Astana fleet. Air Astana currently operates a fleet of E190 models, the first of which was delivered in 2011.


The E190-E2 is the first of the three models of the E-Jets E2 developed by the airline industry based on the first generation of E-Jet series aircraft. Compared to the E190, the E190-E2 fuel consumption is reduced by 17.3 per cent. Its fuel consumption is nearly 10% lower than that of its competitors, making it the most efficient single-aisle aircraft on the market. In addition, the E190-E2 has more flexible operational performance, with a maximum range of 5,300 kilometers, which is about 1000 kilometers more than the E190's range.


From the airline's point of view, E190-E2 maintenance costs have been greatly reduced, down by 25 per cent. The E190-E2 has a maintenance interval of 10,000 flight hours for basic inspections, making it the longest maintenance interval in a single-aisle aircraft worldwide.


The first generation E-Jet series pilots only need 2.5 days of training time, and can drive the E-Jets E2 series aircraft without a fully automatic simulator, greatly reducing operator time and cost. The cockpit of the E2 series is equipped with the advanced Honeywell Primus Epic 2 integrated onboard avionics. The system works in conjunction with closed-loop full-electricity maneuvers to give the aircraft higher performance, reduce pilot workload, and improve aircraft safety.


For passengers, the cabin of the E-Jets E2 series has a 2+2 seat layout and is very comfortable. The absence of an intermediate seat increases the passenger's leg movement and luggage storage space for a better flight experience.

Vanilla Air cancels flights to Hong Kong from 31 May 2019 and ceases operations by October 2019

Report by : David Casey
First published on Routes Online
Pictures by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Re-distribute to All Press & Travel Professionals

Vanilla Air will cease operations by the end of October 2019, owner ANA Holdings has confirmed, as part of its merger with sister low-cost carrier Peach.

ANA said that the number of Vanilla routes and flights would gradually be reduced during the summer schedule, with Peach taking over the network.

The transition will begin on 30 March 2019 when Vanilla ends its Tokyo Narita - Hakodate route. All of the carrier’s 13 routes will be transferred or cease by 26 October.

Peach will operate the first former Vanilla route - the once daily Tokyo Narita - Okinawa Naha service - from 1 June.

Vanilla Air routes to be transferred to Peach: 

Route	Flights per day	End of Vanilla Air operations	Date of Peach inaugural flight
Osaka Kansai - Taipei Taoyuan	1	7 May	29 June
Tokyo Narita - Okinawa Naha	1	31 May	1 June
Okinawa Naha - Taipei Taoyuan	1	31 May	28 June
Tokyo Narita - Sapporo New Chitose	6-8	31 Aug	1 Sept
Tokyo Narita - Amami Oshima	1	31 Aug	1 Oct
Osaka Kansai - Amami Oshima	1	6 May	From 27 Oct to 28 Mar 2020
Tokyo Narita - Kaohsiung	1	30 Sept
Tokyo Narita - Ishigaki	1	30 Sept
Tokyo Narita - Taipei Taoyuan	3	26 Oct
Fukuoka - Taipei Taoyuan	1	26 Oct
Tokyo Narita - Hakodate	1	30 Mar	Cancelled
Tokyo Narita - Hong Kong	1	31 May	Cancelled
Okinawa Naha - Ishigaki	2	31 May	Cancelled

A statement from ANA said: “Peach will strive to increase competitiveness in Asia, cultivate new demand, and secure the increase in demand to visit Japan by merging both airlines’ route networks and building on the brand strength that has accumulated.

“Peach will also use over 50 aircraft from 2020 to further enhance route network linkage between Japan and Asia, and will aim to proactively enter the medium-range LCC field to become the leading LCC representing Asia.”

Three Vanilla routes are to be cancelled as part of the changes. They are the once daily Tokyo Narita Hakodate from 30 March; the once daily Tokyo Narita - Hong Kong from 31 May; and the once daily Okinawa Naha - Ishigaki from 31 May.

However, Peach will relaunch service between Okinawa Naha and Hong Kong from 28 June, while it is also increasing its frequencies to Ishigaki from Narita and Osaka from 27 October.

Details of the planned merger between Peach and Vanilla were announced in March 2018 as ANA seeks to create the largest low-cost carrier in Japan.

Peach started its operations from Osaka Kansai Airport in March 2012 and Vanilla from Tokyo Narita Airport in December 2013. It is expected that the combined business will have 50 aircraft operating on more than 50 routes from 2020.

In addition to the news of the route network integration, Peach has announced the launch of a new daily service between Sapporo New Chitose and Seoul Incheon from 25 April 2019, becoming the airline’s second international route originating from New Chitose Airport.

It is also increasing flight frequencies from Sapporo to Taipei Taoyuan from three to seven flights per week from 26 April.

President and chief executive Shinichi Inoue said: “Peach will strive to become the bridge to Asia by creating a broad network that links the various regions of Japan, from the north to the south.”

Scoot's A320 launches new routes between 7 May and 3 December 2019

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

Scoot, short for Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd, is launching three new routes to Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram in India and resuming flight to Kota Kinabalu between 27 October 2019 and 3 December 2019 using its Airbus A320 aircraft, of which inaugural flights to Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam take off on 27 October 2019. Its inaugural flight for Thiruvananthapuram operates on 7 May 2019 while flights to Kota Kinabalu will resume on 3 December 2019.

On 7 May 2019, Scoot flight TR530 departs from Singapore Changi Airport for Thiruvananthapuram at 8.05 pm, arrives in Thiruvananthapuram at 9.45 pm local time before taking off from Thiruvananthapuram at 10.40 pm and arriving in Singapore at 5.35 am on 8 May 2019.

Scoot's flights depart for Thiruvananthapuram on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and touch down in Changi Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

On 27 October 2019, Scoot flight TR540 leaves Changi Airport for Coimbatore at 8.20 pm, arrives in Coimbatore at 10.10 pm before leaving Coimbatore for Singapore at 11 pm and touching down in Singapore at 6 am on 28 October 2019 under flight TR541. Flights depart for Coimbatore on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and land in Changi Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Scoot flight TR580 departs from Changi Airport for Visakhapatnam on 27 October 2019 at 8.25 pm, arrives in Visakhapatnam at 10.05 pm before leaving Visakhapatnam at 10.55 pm and touching down in Changi Airport at 5.55 am under flight TR581 on 28 October 2019. TR580 leaves for Visakhapatnam thrice per week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays while TR581 touches down in Changi Airport on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Scoot, previously operating in the name of Tiger Airways on the route to Kota Kinabalu until August 2009, resumes daily flight to Kota Kinabalu on 3 December 2019 when flight TR490 departs from Changi Airport for Kota Kinabalu at 8.45 am, arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 10.55 am before taking off from Kota Kinabalu at 11.45 am and arriving in Singapore at 2 pm under flight TR491. 

The above flights to be transferred over from SilkAir are now on sale at www.flyscoot.com while tickets are also available for sale on Ctrip and Trip on-line platforms.

Scoot will avail other new routes transferred over from SilkAir in due course in 2019 and 2020. SilkAir will be merged into Singapore Airlines from mid-2019.

Air Busan plans inaugural scheduled charter flight to Singapore from Busan on 4 January 2019

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

Air Busan, the Busan-based subsidiary of Asiana Airlines, plans to launch scheduled charter flight to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 from Busan on 4 January 2019 using its Airbus A321 aircraft, subject to bilateral regulatory approval. It plans to operate flights between both airports twice a week until 30 January 2019. Flights leave Busan for Singapore on Tuesdays and Fridays and depart from Singapore for Busan on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

According to the OAG flight listings, Air Busan flight BX7615 departs from Busan for Singapore Changi Airport on 4 January 2019 at 6.15 pm, touches down in Singapore at 11.15 pm before leaving Changi Airport for Busan at 12.15 am on 5 January 2019 and arriving in Busan at 7.20 am under flight BX7625.

According to Changi Airport, Air Busan A321 arrives at Terminal 4.

With the launch of the new route, Air Busan will be the first South Korean low-cost airline to launch flight to Singapore Changi Airport. 

Prior to Air Busan's scheduled charter flights, Scoot and SilkAir were operating group tour chartered flights between Singapore and Busan.

Thai AirAsia launches flights from Chiang Rai to Macau, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur by end of January 2019

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

Thai AirAsia announced on 17 December 2018 that it will launch international flights from Chiang Rai to Macau, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur by end of January 2019.

The first Thai AirAsia flight from Chiang Rai to Macau takes off on 30 January 2019 and will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

On 30 January 2019, Thai AirAsia flight FD290 departs from Chiang Rai for Macau at 8.15 am, touches down in Macau at 11.35 am before leaving Macau for Chiang Rai at 12.05 pm and arriving in Chiang Rai at 2.05 pm under flight FD291.

Thai AirAsia launches flights from Chiang Rai to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur on 31 January 2019. The respective flight schedules are as follows:-

Flight FD926 departs from Chiang Rai for Singapore at 7.10 am, arrives in Changi Airport Terminal 4 at 11.30 am before leaving Singapore for Chiang Rai at 12.30 pm and landing in Chiang Rai at 2.30 pm under flight FD927. Thai AirAsia operates thrice-weekly flights on this route, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

At 3.15 pm, the A320 aircraft of Thai AirAsia under flight FD830 leaves Chiang Rai for Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) at 3.15 pm and lands in KLIA2 at 7.20 pm before taking off for Chiang Rai at 7.50 pm and arriving in Chiang Rai at 9.40 pm under flight FD831. Flights between Chiang Rai and KLIA2 are carried out on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Hainan Airlines launches Chongqing - Paris flight on 19 December 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan

                   / KUCINTA SETIA

Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

According to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Hainan Airlines in the above check-in announcement screen advertisement, Hainan Airlines launches direct Chongqing - Paris flight on 19 December 2018 using its B787 Dreamliner aircraft.

On 19 December 2018, Hainan Airlines Dreamliner flight HU717 departs from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Terminal 3 for Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport at 1.30 am, touches down in Paris CDG at 6.20 am before leaving Paris CDG for Chongqing at 1 pm and arriving in Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Terminal 3 at 6.30 am on 20 December 2018 under flight HU718.

Hainan Airlines' Dreamliner leaves Chongqing for Paris on Wednesdays and Saturdays and lands in Chongqing on Thursdays and Sundays. Besides Paris, the Dreamliner also operates long-haul flights from Chongqing to Melbourne.

Hainan Airlines has opened many new flights since May 2018 to celebrate its 25th Anniversary including resuming non-stop flight to Singapore on 30 November 2018 and launching Xi'an - Los Angeles flight on 31 December 2018.

Fuzhou Airlines launches non-stop flight from Yichang to Nanchang on 26 December 2018

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

Fuzhou Airlines launches direct flight from Yichang to Nanchang four times a week from 26 December 2018. Flights are operated using B737-800 aircraft on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On 26 December 2018, Fuzhou Airlines flight FU6697 departs from Yichang for Nanchang at 5.20 pm, arrives in Nanchang at 6.40 pm before leaving Nanchang for Yichang at 7.30 pm and touching down in Yichang at 9 pm under flight FU6698.

Uzbekistan Airways launches flight to Phuket on 5 January 2019

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

Uzbekistan Airways launches once-weekly scheduled flight from Tashkent to Phuket between 5 January and 2 February 2019 using comfortable B767 aircraft on Saturdays and returns to Tashkent on Sundays.

On 5 January 2019, Uzbekistan Airways flight HY535 departs from Tashkent for Phuket at 9 pm, touches down in Phuket at 5.30 am before leaving Phuket for Tashkent at 7.05 am and arriving in Tashkent at 11.45 am under flight HY536.

Phuket is Uzbekistan Airways' second airport destination in Thailand after Suvarnabhumi.

Uzbekistan Airways announced plan to add Phuket to its network at JATA Tourism Expo 2018 in Tokyo.

flydubai launches flights to Shymkent and Chittagong

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

Dubai low-cost carrier flydubai launches non-stop scheduled flights from Dubai for Shymkent in Uzbekistan and Chittagong in Bangladesh. Its first flight departs for Shymkent on 28 December 2018 while its first flight to Chittagong takes off on 20 January 2019. All flights are operated using B737-800 aircraft.

On 28 December 2018, flydubai flgiht FZ737 departs from Dubai for Shymkent at 8.35 pm, arrives in Shymkent at 2.10 am on 29 December 2018 before taking off for Dubai at 3.10 am and arriving in Dubai at 4.55 am under flight FZ738. The outbound flight from Dubai to Shymkent operates on Fridays and Tuesdays and returns to Dubai on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Daily flights between Dubai and Chittagong start with flight FZ0589 taking off from Dubai for Chittagong at 3.20 am, lands in Chittagong at 10.05 am before leaving Chittagong for Dubai at 11.05 am and touching down in Dubai at 3.05 pm under flight FZ0590.

flydubai is the fastest-growing low-cost airline of the Middle East.

SCAT Airlines launches flight from Astana to Dushanbe on 14 December 2018

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

Image courtesy : Airlines Inform

SCAT Airlines, one of Kazakhstan's private airlines, launches twice-weekly flight from Astana to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on 14 December 2018.

On 14 December 2018, SCAT flight DV847 departs from Astana for Dushanbe at 12.10 am, arrives in Dushanbe at 12.40 am before leaving Dushanbe for Astana at 2.20 am and landing in Astana at 5.20 am under flight DV848.

Flights operate on Fridays and Sundays using Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.

Belavia Belarusian Airlines introduces "World of Tanks" livery on its E195

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

Image courtesy : Belavia Belarusian Airlines

 

Belavia Belarusian Airlines and Wargaming, the game developer of "World of Tanks", have launched a special "Tank World" themed livery on Belavia's Embraer E195 regional jet. Twenty-two workers spent 11 days completing the spraying of the aircraft.

The aircraft is painted black in its entirety, with a bright orange tank pattern and a bison in the centre of the Belarusian flag. The engine is printed with “TANKOLET” and the rear of the aircraft fuselage is printed with “WORLD OF TANKS MADE IN BELARUS”. 

In addition to the unique spray of the fuselage, the small table and seat cover inside the cabin are also printed with the symbol "World of Tanks". At the same time, Belavia also created a cabin dubbing theme of "World of Tanks".

Lufthansa's re-painted A380 on its Munich - Miami maiden flight is named "Tokyo"

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

Image courtesy : Lufthansa German Airlines

On 12 December 2018, Lufthansa German Airlines announced that its newly painted Airbus A380 (registration number: D-AIMD) named "Tokyo" will conduct its first commercial flight from Munich to Miami on 13 December 2018. 

The newly-painted A380 passenger plane with Lufthansa is one of the first 30 aircraft to be refurbished by Lufthansa.

Lufthansa has long been known as a commercial airline, and the logo is a swan flying high. The original livery has been used for 100 years.

New livery designer Ronald Wild said, "Lufthansa's new paintings represent high quality, clarity and timelessness. The fuselage, wings and engines are all bright white, bright white and clearer, and also reflect the safety of the aircraft. The beauty is perfectly displayed against the white background, and the dark blue tail makes the swan logo more conspicuous. The 'Lufthansa' in the uppercase letters and the logo on the rear wing make the Lufthansa brand more popular."

Lufthansa marketing director Alexander Schlaubitz also said that the new livery painting is mainly blue because blue represents "quality" and the white swan is clearer and more beautiful under the blue background. Hence, it looks simple and clear. 

Lufthansa's traditional golden yellow will be used in the interaction of aircraft, airport or mobile application. 

By 2021, 80 per cent of the Lufthansa fleet will be repainted with the new livery, and the new livery  is expected to appear on all its aircraft by 2025.

HNA Group to sell Capital Airlines to BTG Group

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

HNA Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as HNA Group) has determined the new development tone of “focusing on aviation as its main business” under the pressure of huge debt repayment. This includes the disposal of many local aviation enterprises, and the sale of these enterprises to obtain more money has become its only way of company survival.

After giving up the controlling stake in Urumqi Air to the Urumqi Municipal Government, it is said that Capital Airlines, short for Beijing Capital Airlines, is the next airline to be sold by HNA to Beijing Municipal Government.

On 12 December 2018, HNA Group announced that it has signed the "Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation of Beijing Capital Airlines Co., Ltd." with Beijing Capital Tourism Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as BTG Group). Capital Airlines said that according to the new cooperation agreement, the two parties will increase their support for Capital Airlines through equity transfer, capital increase and share expansion, etc., and BTG Group will become one of the major shareholders of Capital Airlines.

In fact, the news about the negotiation between the BTG Group and Capital Airlines on the equity transfer has already been circulated in the industry. Previously, people familiar with the matter disclosed to the China Times reporter that HNA Group intends to completely withdraw from Capital Airlines and transfer the entire equity to BTG Group. However, there have been no new developments in the future of Capital Airlines in the past few months.

Even if the cooperation framework agreement was officially signed, the changes in the final shareholding ratio of Capital Airlines were not disclosed. More interestingly, in the evening of 11 December 2018, the media received a notice that the signing of the signing conference had been cancelled, but the next day they were notified that the press conference would proceed as usual. It can be seen that even if the two sides shake hands and say that they will cooperate with each other, there is obviously still a lot of disagreement to be resolved in the course of this transaction. However, it is likely that the latest shareholding ratio is not finalized but it is urgent to pass this. A transaction conveys a gesture of expediency to the outside world.

In fact, Capital Airlines itself was restructured based on Deer Air, a subsidiary of HNA, by the Beijing Municipal Government in 2010. A number of local aviation enterprises have been quickly established, forming a “HNA” enterprise matrix, and even the industry has dubbed HNA the self-organized aviation alliance.

BTG Group is a company that participates in the formation of Capital Airlines on behalf of the Beijing Municipal Government. It holds a 30 per cent stake in Beijing Capital Airlines Holdings Co., Ltd., the controlling shareholder of Capital Airlines. It is estimated that the equity of Capital Airlines currently held by BTG Group should be less than 20 per cent.

According to relevant sources, after the capital increase and expansion, the BTG Group may eventually hold more than 40 per cent of the shares of Capital Airlines, thus surpassing HNA Group as the single largest shareholder.

Capital Airlines now owns 85 aircraft, operates more than 400 routes to more than 70 local and foreign cities. The routes it has implemented cover major cities in the first and second tiers of the country, and have market advantages in parts of Yunnan, Hainan and eastern China. The airline network covers medium-sized cities in Europe, North America, Oceania, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, with an annual passenger throughput of more than 15 million passengers. It has also obtained the qualification to operate at Beijing Daxing International Airport.

According to the new cooperation agreement, after the equity adjustment,  Capital Airlines still implements the professional management of air transportation, which is also crucial for the BTG Group, which has no experience in aviation industry operations. Previously, the local government introduced HNA Group to cooperate in the aviation industry. One important aspect is that it is a partner of the aviation industry and has its own advantages in professional operation and management.

According to people close to HNA Group, Capital Airlines is only one step of HNA Group's gradual removal of control of local aviation companies. Next, there will still be similar modes of operation, including Lucky Air of Yunnan and Nanning-headquartered Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines (GX Airlines, in short). 

"The HNA Group may eventually return to the state of operating Hainan Airlines only. The best result is for HNA to solely concentrate on developing Hainan Airlines as the local aviation company of Hainan Province," said a person close to HNA Group.

China Express plans scheduled flights to Mongolia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore in 2019

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

According to the flight permit notice of CAAC on 12 December 2018, China Express, short for China Express Airlines, plans to launch direct scheduled flights from different Chinese cities to Mongolia, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore in 2019. The proposed routes are listed below:

China Express plans up to thrice-weekly cargo/passenger flights from Hohhot to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, in January 2019.

Cargo/passenger flights from Tianjin to Ulaanbaatar are planned to be operated by China Express up to four times a week starting from January 2019. Aircraft is either Bombardier CRJ900 or Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

China Express plans daily flight from Chongqing to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, using Airbus A320 aircraft. Inaugural flight is planned to take off in January 2019. If there is no opposition from Lao Airlines, Vientiane will be the first airport outside China to welcome China Express' A320-200 aircraft. 

In February 2019, China Express plans to launch daily flight from Chongqing to Manila in February 2019 using A320-200 aircraft.

Finally, China Express plans to launch non-stop flight from Guiyang to Singapore Changi Airport in April 2019. Cargo/passenger flights using A320 aircraft will be operated on this route up to four times a week.

If the flight frequencies are not opposed by other air transport operators in China before 18 December 2018 and are approved by the respective airport authorities, China Express will avail the flight schedules and ticket prices on its web-site www.chinaexpressair.com and on-line ticketing platforms such as Ctrip and Trip in due course. 

Currently, China Express operates flights from the Guangxi port city of Zhanjiang to Phnom Penh and Don Mueang using Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.

China Express has a fleet of 6 A320-200 and 38 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.