Aeroflot takes delivery of its first A350-900 on 28 February 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Airbus

According to Airbus, Aeroflot Russian Airlines has taken delivery of its first A350-900 jet on 28 February 2020. The aircraft left Toulouse and arrived in Moscow on the same day.

The newly-purchased A350-900 has 316 seats with new generation inflight entertainment and WiFi connection facilities. It launches non-stop scheduled flights to Osaka Kansai on 1 June 2020 and to Singapore Changi on 25 October 2020 from Moscow Sheremetyevo. 

Before those dates, Aeroflot will deploy the aircraft on flights to London, Dubai, Miami and Beijing Capital.


Ref : Aeroflot launches non-stop A350 flight to Singapore on 25 October 2020
https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2020/02/aeroflot-launches-non-stop-a350-flight.html

JC Airlines launches flight to Chiang Mai from Phnom Penh on 10 March 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

JC Airlines, short for JC International Airlines and JC (Cambodia) International Airlines, launches twice-weekly scheduled flight to Chiang Mai from Phnom Penh on 10 March 2020 using its Airbus A320 jet.

On 10 March 2020, JC Airlines flight QD634 departs from Phnom Penh for Chiang Mai at 3.10 pm, touches down in Chiang Mai at 4.50 pm before leaving Chiang Mai for Phnom Penh at 5.50 pm and touching down in Phnom Penh at 7.30 pm under flight QD635.

JC Airlines flies to Chiang Mai on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Lao Airlines launches Luang Prabang - Xiengkhuang flight on 3 March 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA

Lao Airlines launches scheduled flight from Luang Prabang to Xiengkhuang with its ATR turboprop on 3 March 2020.

On 3 March 2020, Lao Airlines flight QV405 departs from Luang Prabang to Xiengkhuang at 2 pm, arrives in Xiengkhuang ar 2.30 pm before leaving Xiengkhuang for Luang Prabang at 3 pm and arriving in Luang Prabang at 3.30 pm under flight QV406.

Xiengkhuang is well-known for its proposed UNESCO heritage site of the Plain of the Jars.

Lao Airlines flies between Luang Prabang and Xiengkhuang on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It also  operates flights from Vientiane to Xiengkhuang daily.

Passengers from Singapore can fly to Luang Prabang with Scoot and connect to Lao Airlines' flight to Xiengkhuang without transit in Vientiane from 5 March 2020. 

Scoot flies to Luang Prabang on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Jetstar Asia launches non-stop flight to Colombo on 1 July 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Jetstar Asia Airways has started to sell online tickets for its planned service to Colombo from Singapore, which will be launched on 1 July 2020. The cheapest one-way air fare starts from 66 Singapore Dollars, subject to availability.

On 1 July 2020, Jetstar Asia flight 3K331 departs from Singapore for Colombo at 9 pm, arrives in Colombo at local time 10.40 pm before taking off from Colombo for Singapore at 11.40 pm and touching down in Singapore at 6.20 am on 2 July 2020 under flight 3K332.

The above timings are effective for travel on Wednesdays and Fridays. Jetstar Asia flies four times a week to Colombo. The other flight operational days are Mondays and Saturdays when Jetstar Asia flies to Colombo in the mornings.

Jetstar Asia's first morning flight to Colombo takes place on 6 July 2020. On this day, flight 3K333 leaves Singapore for Colombo at 10 am, touches down in Colombo at 11.30 am local time before departing from Colombo for Singapore at 12.10 pm and arriving in Singapore at 6.40 pm under flight 3K334.

The decision to launch flight to Colombo is due to the increasing demand for affordable fares to Sri Lanka's capital and it comes after Colombo's only covid patient, a Chinese tourist, was discharged from a Colombo hospital "after being fully cured". 

On 19 February 2020, Xinhua News Agency reported the Chinese tourist that was discharged was infected with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) "while touring in Sri Lanka" (Ref : http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/19/c_138799480.htm).

Sri Lanka Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi commented "no other individual has been infected with the virus in Sri Lanka".

Starlux Airlines' Cebu flight launch postponed to 1 July 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

The latest flight status of Starlux Airlines shows that it has cancelled its flights to Macau until end of March 2020. It has also postponed its Cebu flight launch from 3 April 2020 to 1 July 2020.

As a result, Starlux's plans to introduce scheduled flights to Japan, Singapore and the US have been deferred.

Starlux Airlines currently operates scheduled flights to Danang and Penang daily. It has no plans to operate domestic flights in Taiwan.

PNG Air orders three ATR42-600S aircraft

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

PNG Air is pleased to announce that it has placed an order for three ATR42-600S aircraft with ATR on 11 February 2020, becoming one of the launch customers of the ATR42 short-range take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft. The ATR42-600S aircraft can take off and land on runways as short as 800m and can carry 40 passengers under standard flight conditions.

Since operating the ATR-600 fleet in 2015, PNG Air has occupied 40 per cent of the domestic market and currently owns seven ATR72-600s. These three ATR42-600S aircraft will replace PNG Air's existing STOL turboprop fleet. 

PNG Air CEO Paul Abbot commented, "The ATR72-600 consumes 40% less fuel and carbon dioxide than other regional jets, and since its inclusion in our fleet, PNG Air has benefited from its unparalleled efficiency.Our market share in Papua New Guinea is constantly expanding. When looking for a solution to replace the existing STOL fleet, the maintenance cost and versatility of the ATR-600 series is very attractive. The versatility of the aircraft will bring aviation spare parts and pilot training Higher efficiency. We look forward to recommending comfortable and modern ATR-600 series cabins to passengers traveling to and from short-runway airports. "

PNG Air has provided air services to Papua New Guinea for more than 25 years and has been listed on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange since 2008. 

Owned by Nasfund, Papua New Guinea's main agency, the largest superannuity provider, and mineral resource development companies on behalf of landowners, PNG Air operates a large scheduled passenger and freight network. It also provides instant access (FIFO) and temporary charter services to some of the world's leading resource companies. It operates more than 22,000 flight hours per year, with 15 aircraft flying to 24 domestic destinations, which meets and exceeds customer expectations.

PNG Air has operated ATR72-600 flights to remote and challenging airports in Papua New Guinea since 2015, thus  facilitating domestic economic development.

The first aircraft purchase order record of Singapore Airshow 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

The first aircraft purchase order ever recorded at Singapore Airshow 2020 is Green Africa Airways' order for 50 Airbus A220-300 narrow-body aircraft. It is the first ever purchase order from an African airline in the air show's history.

Green Africa Airways signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus at Singapore Airshow 2020 on 13 February for the 50 A220 jets at Changi Exhibition Centre. 

With its headquarters based in Lagos, Green Africa Airways is a planned start-up airline of Nigeria formed by two former American Airlines executives, Chairman / CEO Tom Horton, CCO BoVirasb Vahdi, Nigerian Babawande Afolabi and founder and former CEO of VivaColombia, William Shaw.

Babawande signed the MoU on behalf of Green Africa Airways at Singapore Airshow 2020. On the same day, the livery of Green Africa Airways is revealed. 

Green Africa Airways, that has no aircraft on lease, plans to launch regional flights in Africa from Lagos as early as 2022 with the A220, subject to any decision change by the management. The 50 A220 aircraft purchase order replaces the airline's previous order for 50 737 MAX 8 jets.

Singapore Airshow 2020, where Scoot is the only airline exhibitor, is opened to the public on 15 and 16 February.

Air Busan launches flight to Ho Chi Minh City on 23 April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Air Busan has postponed its intended Ho Chi Minh City flight launch from 29 March 2020 to 23 April 2020.

On 23 April 2020, Air Busan flight BX755 departs from Busan for Ho Chi Minh City at 9 am, touches down in Ho Chi Minh City at 12.05 pm before leaving Ho Chi Minh City for Busan at 1 pm and arriving in Busan at 9.05 pm under flight BX756, according to Air Busan web-site.

Air Busan flies to Ho Chi Minh City daily with its A321 aircraft. It is the first new South Korean flight to Southeast Asia since the covid* (formerly, Wuhan virus, novel coronavirus) outbreak.

* from "COVID-19" (named by World Health Organization on 11 February 2020 in reference to Wuhan virus, novel coronavirus, novel coronavirus pneumonia or NCP)

South African exits from 11 travel markets on 29 February 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

As part of its business restructuring plans, South African Airways has announced that all its international services from Johannesburg to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Luanda, Munich, Ndola, Entebbe, Sao Paulo and from Johannesburg to Abidjan via Accra will be withdrawn on 29 February 2020. The airline will not resume scheduled flights to these cities anymore, citing poor air traffic performance on the routes, especially due to the Hong Kong protests and novel coronavirus pandemic.

However, South African Airways' flights between Johannesburg and Frankfurt, London Heathrow, New York and Perth as well as flights from Johannesburg to Washington via Accra will continue.

Regional services to be retained include from Johannesburg to Blantyre, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls, Livingston and Windhoek.

On the domestic route network, South African Airways will continue to serve Cape Town on a reduced basis.

All other domestic destinations, including Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, will cease to be operated by South African Airways on 29 February 2020. Domestic routes operated by its low-cost subsidiary Mango will not be affected by the changes.

All customers booked on any cancelled international and regional routes will receive a full refund. Customers booked on cancelled domestic flights will be re-accommodated on services operated by Mango.

South African Airways does not intend to make any further significant route network changes. Passengers and travel agents can therefore feel confident about booking future travel with the airline.

Aeroflot launches non-stop A350 flight to Singapore on 25 October 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Aeroflot Russian Airlines

Aeroflot Russian Airlines launches non-stop A350-900 scheduled flight from Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport on 25 October 2020, according to Changi Airport Group's latest press release dated 7 February 2020.

On 25 October 2020, Aeroflot flight SU280 departs from Moscow for Singapore Changi at 7.40 pm, touches down in Singapore at 10.55 am on 26 October 2020 before leaving Changi Airport for Moscow at 12.30 pm on the same day and arriving in Moscow Sheremetyevo at 6.30 pm local time under flight SU281.

With 316 seats in a three-class configuration including 28 Business Class seats, Aeroflot's A350-900 flies non-stop to Singapore five-times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It arrives in Moscow Sheremetyevo on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

Passengers flying with Aeroflot from Singapore non-stop can connect to more than 30 western Russia cities on Aeroflot's route network from Sheremetyevo.

Bamboo Airways launches non-stop flight to Prague on 29 March 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Bamboo Airways

Bamboo Airways, that currently operates scheduled flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc with its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner named Ha Long Bay, launches its first long-haul commercial flight to Prague from Hanoi on 29 March 2020 as part of its ambitious plans to expand its route network to Europe, North America and to the rest of Asia by 2021 and 2022.

On 29 March 2020, Bamboo Airways flight QH602 departs from Hanoi for Prague at 8.20 am, arrives in Prague at 4 pm before leaving Prague for Hanoi at 6.05 pm and touching down in Hanoi at 10.40 am on 30 March 2020 under flight QH601.

Bamboo Airways flies to Prague on Wednesdays and Sundays and touches down in Hanoi from Prague on Thursdays and Mondays with its 787-9 Dreamliner.  The Hanoi - Prague flight lasts for 11 hours 20 minutes while it takes about 10 hours 20 minutes to complete the Prague - Hanoi flight. 

Bamboo Airways' 787-9 has the configuration of 26 Business Class, 21 Premium Economy and 247 Economy Class seats. Bamboo Airways has started to sell the Hanoi - Prague - Hanoi tickets on its official web-site and Trip. One-way fare from Hanoi to Prague or vice versa starts from 450 US Dollars.

The Hanoi - Prague route is Bamboo Airways' third international route from Hanoi. The Vietnam private airline commenced its first international route from Hanoi to Taoyuan on a scheduled charter flight basis in mid-2019 with its Airbus A320 jet. In early January 2020, it commenced a return charter flight to Kaohsiung from Hanoi.

Bamboo Airways also operates international flights from Danang and Cam Ranh to Incheon currently.

Based on its route map, Bamboo Airways has ambitious plans to launch commercial flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Narita from Hanoi besides the Hanoi - Prague route as well as international flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Suvarnabhumi, Jakarta, Denpasar, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Sydney and Kuwait by 2021 and  2022. Currently, most of Bamboo Airways' routes are domestic routes in Vietnam.

Bamboo Airways' Hanoi - Prague route is inaugurated to mark 70 years of friendly diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Czech Republic in 2020. 

Bamboo Airways is the only Southeast Asia airline to commence non-stop scheduled flight to Prague. With the launch of  the Hanoi - Prague route, tourists from Southeast Asia no longer need to transit in Incheon for Czech Airlines' weekly scheduled flights to Prague.



SEE ALSO: A year-end letter to Bamboo Airways' valued guests, by Dang Tat Thang, Vice Chairman, CEO of Bamboo Airways, 24 January 2020, https://www.bambooairways.com/vn-en/company/press-and-news/press-release/a-year-end-letter-to-bamboo-airways-valued-guests/

Korean Air launches non-stop flight to Budapest on 23 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

According to the announcement on Korean Air Facebook, Korean Air launches non-stop scheduled passenger flight from Incheon to Budapest on  23 May 2020.

On 23 May 2020, Korean Air flight KE971 departs from Incheon for Budapest at 12 pm, touches down in Budapest at 4.25 pm before leaving Budapest for Incheon at 6.30 pm and arriving in Incheon at 12.30 pm on 24 May 2020 under flight KE972.

Korean Air flies to Budapest with an Airbus A330-200 jet on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It lands in Incheon on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Nepal Airlines launches scheduled flight to Narita on 2 March 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Nepal Airlines, that has operated regular flights from Kathmandu to Kansai since 29 August 2019, will operate the final service on the route on 29 February 2020. From 2 March 2020, it launches non-stop scheduled flight to Narita.

According to schedules, Nepal Airlines flight RA433 departs from Kathmandu for Kansai at 1.25 am, arrives in Narita at 11 am before leaving Narita for Kathmandu at 1 pm and touching down in Kathmandu at 6.25 pm under flight RA434.

Nepal Airlines flies to Narita on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with its Airbus A330-200 jet.  After the Narita route is launched, the Nepal national flag carrier will focus on its plan to launch direct flight to Guangzhou by late summer this year, subject to bilateral regulatory approval.

Starlux Airlines inaugural flight JX202 touches down in Taoyuan from Macau

Starlux Airlines official inaugural Macau - Taoyuan flight JX202 on 23 January 2020