New routes of 9air including Guangzhou=Lanzhou=Jinchang on 13 November 2021

Research, Reports, Image by: Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

News (1)

9air launches flight to Suvarnabhumi from Guangzhou once every four weeks

Regarding international routes, as of the end of December 2021, 9air provides direct flights between Guangzhou and Bangkok every four weeks. The specific flight information is: On Sundays starting 31 October 2021 every four weeks, 9air flight AQ1007 departs from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 10 pm, arrives in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 12 am of 1 November 2021. The return flight on Mondays, AQ1008, leaves Suvarnabhumi at 1 am and arrives in Guangzhou at 5 am.

News (2)

9air launches daily flight to Huai'an on 31 October 2021

With the change in schedules from summer to winter on 31 October 2021, 9air launches daily flight from Guangzhou to Huai'an starting 31 October 2021. On this day, 9air flight AQ1539 takes off from Guangzhou for Huai'an at 9.55 am, touches down in Huai'an at 12.30 pm before leaving Huai'an for Guangzhou at 7 pm and landing in Guangzhou at 10 pm under flight AQ1540.

News (3)

9air launches Guangzhou - Lanzhou - Jinchang routes on 13 November 2021

On 13 November 2021, 9air launches scheduled flights to Jinchang from Guangzhou via Lanzhou.

On 13 November 2021, 9air flight AQ1537 departs from Guangzhou for Jinchang via Lanzhou at 6.35 am, transits in Lanzhou at 9.40 am before leaving Lanzhou for Jinchang at 10.30 am and arriving in Jinchang at 11.20 am.

The reverse flight, AQ1538, leaves Jinchang for Guangzhou via Lanzhou at 12.10 pm, transits in Lanzhou at 1 pm before taking off from Lanzhou for Guangzhou at 1.55 pm and touching down in Guangzhou at 5.15 pm.

9air flies to Lanzhou and Jinchang from Guangzhou on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All the above flights are operated with 9air's B737-800 jets.

Changi Airport welcomes the first Embraer E190LR on 31 October 2021

Research, Report, Images by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 31 October 2021, Changi Airport welcomes the first Embraer E190LR aircraft (XY-ALP) to ever land in Singapore. The E190LR belongs to Myanmar Airways International (MAI). 

The E190 flight 8M231 departs from Yangon at 10.48 am, lands in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 3.15 pm and takes off for Yangon at 4.22 pm under flight 8M232 before arriving in Yangon at 5.35 pm. This flight pair are special flights to announce MAI's return to Changi Airport.

                                      

On the same day, when asked if there are scheduled flights of 8M231/8M232 from 1 November, MAI replies that the airline will announce confirmed dates of the scheduled flights to Singapore on its Facebook page once they are finalized. 

During the past two Fridays, the two MAI's A319 jets in different liveries have operated charter flights to Singapore with flight 8M231 departing from Yangon at 8 am for Singapore, arriving in Singapore at 12.25 pm before taking off for Yangon at 1.25 pm under flight 8M232 and landing in Yangon at 2.50 pm.

MAI owns a fleet of 3 E190 aircraft, 4 Airbus A319 and 3 Airbus A320 jets.

MAI is the only private international airline of Myanmar.

Gulf Air new logo Dreamliner lands in Changi Airport on 31 October 2021

 Research, Report, Images by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

After five months of operating the retro livery from Bahrain to Suvarnabhumi via Singapore on Sundays, Gulf Air has started utilizing a Dreamliner 787-9 showing its new Arabian falcon logo on its tail on the Singapore route, starting 31 October 2021.

Gulf Air flight GF165, according to schedules, lands in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 12.40 pm and departs for Suvarnahumi at 2 pm. The jet returns later to Singapore in the evening on the same day from Suvarnabhumi for its outbound flight towards Bahrain under flight GF166.

Pacific Airlines operates two flights from Singapore to Van Don on 30 October 2021

 Research, Report, Image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Chang Airport flight status, Pacific Airlines is operating two relief charter flights from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 to Van Don, the gateway airport to Halong Bay and the alternative airport of Hanoi, on 30 October 2021.

The first Pacific Airlines flight, BL6868, leaves Singapore Changi for Van Don at 12.30 pm.

The second flight, BL6870, takes off from Singapore Changi for Van Don at 3.30 pm.

The inbound flights, BL6867 and BL6869, are expected to land in Changi Airport by 1.25 pm and 2.30 pm, subject to air traffic controls.

Congratulations to Bamboo Airways' first daytime charter flight to Hanoi from Singapore on 29 October 2021!

 Research, Report, Images by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 29 October 2021, Bamboo Airways operates its first morning charter flight from Hanoi to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 with its Airbus A321neo aircraft.

According to FlightRadar24 and Changi Airport, Bamboo Airways flight QH9301 departs from Hanoi for Singapore at 11 am and expects to arrive in Singapore at 3.30 pm. However, it landed at Changi Airport at 3.01 pm. Originally planning to leave Changi Airport Terminal 1 for Hanoi at 5 pm, flight QH9302 was pushed back to 6.05 pm. It is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi at 7.41 pm.

According to Changi Airport staff, QH9301/QH9302 is chartered by the Vietnam Embassy in Singapore to repatriate Vietnamese labour back to Hanoi.

This is the first time Bamboo Airways is performing charter flight during the day from Singapore to Hanoi.

Check-in scenario

Departure

Bamboo Airways delays relief flight launch from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City on 2 November 2021

According to ichangi app flight status, Bamboo Airways is expected to launch relief flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City on 2 November 2021. 

Bamboo Airways flight QH312 is expected to depart for Ho Chi Minh City at 2 pm from Changi Airport Terminal 1 Gate D46 but due to the sudden heavy rainstorm and busy outgoing traffic, the flight was delayed till 2.11 pm.

It is not known when the inbound flight QH311 actually arrived in Singapore from Ho Chi Minh City. There is no status reflected in ichangi app, FlightRadar24 and Changi Airport web-site. Relevant personnel of Changi Airport have been informed about the discrepancy.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines returns to Ulaanbaatar via Singapore and Hanoi on 28 October 2021

Research, Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Researcher's Picture

Image : MIAT Mongolian Airlines B737-800 (JU-1015)

MIAT Mongolian Airlines flight OM7186 leaves for Ulaanbaatar from Darwin via Singapore and Hanoi on 28 October 2021. According to Changi Airport flight status and FlightRadar24, flight OM7186 leaves Darwin at 12.33 pm local time and reaches Singapore Changi at 3.40 pm. It departs for Hanoi from Singapore at 4.40 pm.

The B737-800 used for OM7186 is registered JU-1015 and is named "Guyug Khaan", one of the Mongolian kings.

See also: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/10/miat-mongolian-airlines-b737-800.html

MIAT Mongolian Airlines B737-800 operates Ulaanbaatar-Singapore-Darwin-Brisbane flight on 25/26 October 2021

 Research, Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Researcher's Picture

                                 

Image : MIAT Mongolian Airlines B737-800

According to the flight status of FlightRadar24 and Changi Airport, MIAT Mongolian Airlines B737-800 (registered JU-1015) flight OM7185 operates its longest scheduled flight from Ulaanbaatar to Singapore, without the normal stopover in Hanoi, on 25 October 2021.

Flight OM7185 leaves the new Chinggis Khaan International Airport / New Ulaanbaatar International Airport (UBN) in Khoshig Valley, the current international gateway to Ulaanbaatar, for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 7.40 pm on 25 October 2021 and arrives in Singapore Changi at 2.45 am.

At 3.55 am on 26 October 2021, OM7185 takes off from Singapore for Darwin and touches down in Darwin at 10.03 am. The flight is currently in Darwin airport awaiting for the onward flight to Brisbane.

Changi Airport Customer Service staff said OM7185 is operating passenger/cargo flight to Singapore and she asked the researcher if any visitor from Ulaanbaatar is expected. When asked to comment when the reverse flight OM7186 will return to UBN from Australia via Singapore, the staff advised to monitor the flight status on the airport's web-site instead or contact MIAT.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines has not updated its flight status on its web-site for at least six months although it has been operating cargo flights to Ulaanbaatar carrying containers of Pfizer-BioNTech covi vaccine and has performed charter flights to Incheon, Narita and Frankfurt. It also did not reveal the flight schedules of OM7185/OM7186 although by now this flight pair has been operated once a month.

OM7185 leaves Ulaanbaatar for Singapore on Mondays monthly.

See also: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/10/miat-mongolian-airlines-returns-to.html

Zipair flies to Singapore thrice weekly from 1 December 2021

 Research, Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Zipair arrives in Singapore Changi on 7 September 2021. (Researcher's Picture)

On 22 October 2021, Zipair Tokyo announces on its official web-site that it is operating scheduled flights three times a week from Narita to Singapore from 1 December 2021 till 25 March 2022. Before 1 December, it only operates once weekly flight on Sundays to Singapore from 7 November to 28 November 2021.

From 7 November, Zipair flight ZG53 departs from Narita for Singapore at 3.30 pm, arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 10.10 pm before leaving Singapore Changi for Narita at 11.40 pm and touching down in Narita at 7.25 am on 8 November 2021 under flight ZG54 on Sundays.

From 1 December 2021, ZG53/ZG54 operates to and from Singapore at the above timings on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Before 7 November from 6 October, Zipair is operating chartered cargo/passenger flights to Singapore. That is why Changi Airport did not indicate flight status of ZG53/ZG54 during this period.

Zipair Tokyo is the long-haul low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines. It debuts its inaugural scheduled flight to Singapore from Narita on 7 September 2021 (Tuesday) with its Dreamliner 787-8 jet.

Screenshots : Air Belgium A330neo

 

Starlux Airlines to deploy A330neo on Singapore route in February 2022

 Research, Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Researcher's Picture

Starlux Airlines launches its first commercial flight to Singapore from Taoyuan on 23 September 2021 with its A321neo jet. On that day, a marketing officer of Starlux Airlines at Changi Airport was interviewed on Starlux's plans after commencing return flight to Singapore.

The marketing officer revealed that Starlux Airlines plans to deploy its first A330neo jet on the Taoyuan=Singapore routes by February 2021 before deploying the aircraft on its planned routes to the U.S. in mid-2022. There may also be A330neo flights to Suvarnabhumi. Familiarization and test flights of the aircraft in Taiwan are expected to start by December 2021.

Image courtesy : Twitter @Eurospot

On 20 October 2021, Starlux Airlines' first A330-900 jet was unveiled by Twitter netizen Europsot.  The dual-aisle A330neo aircraft will effectively complement the narrow-body aircraft fleet of Starlux Airlines' A321neo.

Starlux Airlines currently flies to 10 destinations in Asia including Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore from Taoyuan, and has about 28 flights per week. The financial performance of the airline in the third quarter of 2021 will be significantly improved. The U.S. flight is expected to start in mid-2022.

Image : Researcher's Picture

Starlux Airlines' branch office in Singapore is the airport station office at Changi Airport. Previously, the office unit 04-25 was occupied by Delta Airlines. Its GSA representative office in Singapore is located at Faber House and is not opened to the public due to the pandemic.

US-Bangla Airlines flies directly from Jashore to Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and from Chattogram to Saidpur

Research, reports by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : US-Bangla Airlines B737-800 seen departing from Singapore to Dhaka on 21 October 2021 under flight BS310. The B737-800 aircraft is also used on domestic routes from Dhaka. ATR72-600 turboprops are also utilized. (Researcher's Picture)

News (1)

US-Bangla Airlines flies directly from Jashore to Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and from Chattogram to Saidpur

US-Bangla Airlines flies directly from Jashore to Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and from Chattogram to Saidpur since 30 September 2021 with its ATR72-600 turboprops.

In 2021, after a year's delay, US-Bangla Airlines has finally launched non-stop domestic flights from Jashore to Cox's Bazar, Chattogram and from Chattogram to Saidpur on 30 September 2021 without any stopover in Dhaka, thus enabling community transfers in Bangladesh easier for Bangladeshis.

On 9 October 2021, US-Bangla Airlines announces on Facebook the flight schedules of Jashore to Cox's Bazar. StayGate has also done searches on the flight schedules of US-Bangla's Jasore=Chattogram and Chattogram=Saidpur routes.

Image  : ATR72-600 (Video Screenshot)

News (2)

Flight schedules of US-Bangla's Jashore=Cox's Bazar routes

US-Bangla flight BS591 departs from Jashore for Cox's Bazar at 1.45 pm, arrives in Cox's Bazar at 2.55 pm before leaving Cox's Bazar for Jashore at 3.25 pm and touching down in Jashore at 4.35 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays under flight BS592

News (3)

Flight schedules of US-Bangla's Jashore=Chattogram routes

US-Bangla flight BS582 departs from Jashore for Chattogram at 9.15 am, arrives in Cox's Bazar at 10.15 am before leaving Chattogram for Jashore at 5.10 pm and touching down in Jashore at 6.10 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays under flight BS587.

News (4)

Flight schedules of US-Bangla's Chattogram=Saidpur routes

US-Bangla flight BS583 takes off from Chattogram for Saidpur at 10.45 am, arrives in Saidpur at 12.05 pm before leaving Saidpur for Chattogram at 12.35 pm and touching down in Jashore at 1.55 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays under flight BS584.

News (5)

US-Bangla Airlines is disposing of its two Dash 8-Q400 turboprops, plans to introduce 737 MAX 8 in service

Image : Dash 8-Q400 turboprop (Researcher's Picture)

US-Bangla Airlines for its domestic network owns 7 ATR72-600 turboprops with a further order of three ATR72-600 turboprops. Out of its three Dash 8-Q400 turboprops, one Dash 8-Q400 turboprop (flight BS211) crashed as flight on 12 March 2018 on the way from Dhaka to Kathmandu.

US-Bangla Airlines is disposing the remaining two Dash 8-Q400 turboprops through remarketing agent ACC Aviation along with an extensive list of Dash 8-Q400 spares and components as a packaged transaction.

US-Bangla Airlines currently owns a fleet of 7 ATR72-600 turboprops, 2 Dash 8-Q400 turboprops and 4 Boeing B737-800 jets. It has plan to induct the 737 MAX 8 jet into its fleet once Bangladesh has approved the use of 737 MAX 8 in her borders.

See also : https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/10/us-bangla-airlines-introduces-lunchtime.html

Southwest Airlines makes concessions, cancels regulations that force unvaccinated employees to take unpaid leave

Reporter : Chen Beichen / Editor: Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/10/19/a103247196.html

Image : On 11 October 2021, two Southwest Airlines planes stopped at Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI). (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

                                            

After various disputes over compulsory vaccination of employees, Southwest Airlines recently made concessions to allow unvaccinated employees who apply for religious or medical exemptions to be exempted from taking unpaid leave before 8 December. 

The news was widely reported by the American media on Tuesday (19 October). The day before, hundreds of Southwest Airlines employees just protested outside its company headquarters.

According to a CNBC report, Southwest Airlines’ senior vice president of operations and hospitality affairs Steve Goldberg and chief personnel officer Julie Weber stated on the 15th that they would cancel the compulsory concession. Employees who are exempted from vaccinations "take unpaid leave."

They stated that these employees can continue to work during the application period, but must abide by the company's mask and social distancing regulations. Its employees can apply for an exemption before 24 November, and the company will continue to pay wages during the review period. However, new employees must still show proof of vaccination.

In addition, if the employee's request for exemption is rejected, but "there is new information or circumstances that the company would like to consider", the application can still be resubmitted.

The statement read, "This is a change from the previous notice. Initially, we informed these employees that they would be given unpaid leave, but this is no longer the case."

A Southwest Airlines spokesperson told The Capitol, “Southwest Airlines encourages all employees to receive covi vaccination because the airline must work hard to meet federal requirements for government contractors.”

"The airline intends to approve all valid medical or religious exemption requests. If the request is not approved, the company will provide sufficient time for employees to continue to work and comply with safety protocols for full vaccination."

According to the executive order signed by Biden, employees of the federal government and federal contractors must be vaccinated, and cannot be replaced by "regular testing."

Last week, Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Gary Kelly said that he believes that private companies should not force their employees to vaccinate, but because the federal government requires all government personnel and federal contractors to implement compulsory vaccination orders, the company had to complete the requirements before 8 December 2021.

But the move triggered hundreds of employees to protest outside the Texas headquarters on Monday. They held various placards, including "Freedom Not Force", "Acupuncture or work: what kind of choice is this", " Support (Texas) Governor Abbott’s ban on vaccine injunctions" etc.

US-Bangla Airlines introduces lunchtime flight from Singapore to Dhaka on 21 October 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

US-Bangla Airlines, Bangladesh's largest private airline, is introducing daytime flight from Singapore to Dhaka on 21 October 2021, however for the late October only.

On 21 October 2021, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS309 departs from Dhaka for Singapore at 3.45 am and arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 10 am before leaving Singapore Changi for Dhaka at 1 pm and touching down in Dhaka at 3.15 pm under flight BS310.

On that day, there are two US-Bangla return flights to Dhaka. The other return flight is the pair BS307/BS308.

Checks on US-Bangla Airlines' official web-site show that on 25, 27 and 29 October 2021, BS308 and BS310 depart from Singapore for Dhaka between 12 pm and 2 pm as follows:-

Flight BS308 departs from Singapore for Dhaka at 12 pm, arrives in Dhaka at 2.15 pm local time on 25 October 2021 and on 27 October 2021, flight BS308 leaves Singapore for Dhaka at 1.30 pm and touches down in Dhaka at 3.45 pm.

On 29 October 2021 when there are two US-Bangla return flights to Dhaka, flight BS310 takes off from Singapore for Dhaka at 2 pm and lands in Dhaka at 4.15 pm.

Bangladesh has restarted commercial passenger flights to overseas recently with new airlines planning to enter the Dhaka market such as Egyptair (from Cairo starting 1 November 2021) and Garuda Indonesia.

It is unusual that US-Bangla Airlines, Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SriLankan Airlines are still operating with US-Bangla Airlines and IndiGo increasing passenger flights to Singapore from Dhaka and India when Singapore is banning South Asians' entry to Singapore from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan due to the covid wave.

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines is conducting cargo flights to Singapore from Paro twice a month with its Airbus A319.

ITA doing business as ITA Airways from 15 October 2021 with planned new livery

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image courtesy : ITA

On 15 October 2021, ITA launches operations as ITA Airways with its own brand, logo and planned new livery.

Officially the new airline is Italia Trasporto Aereo S.p.A., doing business as ITA Airways.

ITA Airways is operating with 18 Airbus A319-100s, 27 Airbus A320-200s and seven Airbus A330-200s.

ITA Airways will fly gradually with a new blue livery comprising symbols of Italy's unity and pride, sport and the Italian national team. On the rudder is the Italian tricolor; on the blue background, the red and white gold ITA Airways logo and stylized icons are inspired by Italy's artistic heritage. The Alitalia brand was acquired with the aim of managing the transition to the new livery and reserving the right to future uses of the brand.

ITA Airways will focus its activity on the Rome Fiumicino hub and the Milan Linate airport, where it will position itself as the reference airline for business and leisure traffic. It will start with a fleet of 52 aircraft (7 wide-body, 45 narrow-body) to grow to 78 in 2022, with the gradual inclusion of new-generation aircraft that will reach 75% by 2025, with 105 new aircraft. The agreement with Air Lease Corporation will provide for the leasing of an additional 31 new-generation Airbus aircraft – long-, medium- and short-haul.

The airline will operate with a network of 44 destinations and 59 routes – 191 flights in total (24 domestic and 56 international) – which will increase to 58 destinations and 74 routes in 2022 and 74 destinations and 89 routes in 2025.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxrdZRGWMA

IndiGo resumes scheduled flight from Chennai to Singapore on 17 October 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Changi Airport flight status, IndiGo is resuming scheduled flight from Chennai to Singapore on 17 October 2021.

On 17 October 2021, IndiGo flight 6E8614 departs from Chennai for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 7.10 pm, arrives in Singapore at 2 am before leaving Singapore for Chennai at 3.15 am and landing in Chennai at 4.45 am local time on 18 October 2021 under flight 6E8615.

IndiGo flies from Chennai to Singapore on Sundays and Wednesdays and takes off for Chennai from Singapore on Mondays and Thursdays.

The above flights are operated with IndiGo's A320neo / A320 aircraft.

IndiGo resumes scheduled flight to Singapore, landing in Terminal 4 on 16 October 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Changi Airport flight status on 16 October 2021, IndiGo's Airbus A320neo flight 6E8967 from Bengaluru touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 at 2.06 am, becoming the first passenger flight to land in Terminal 4 and marking IndiGo's resumption of scheduled flights to Singapore.

Previously, Changi Airport revealed to the media that Terminal 4 will be used to allow passengers from high-risk countries such as India and the U.S. to land in the airport for PCR test and subsequent quarantine.

It is understood flights from high-risk countries are still landing in Terminals 1 and 3.

According to FlightRadar24, IndiGo is operating flights from Bengaluru to Singapore again.

According to schedules, flight 6E8967 leaves Bengaluru for Singapore  at 6.50 pm and arrives in Singapore at 2 am before taking off from Singapore for Bengaluru at 3.15 am and landing in Bengaluru at 4.55 am under flight 6E8968.

IndiGo flies to Singapore from Bengaluru on Fridays and Tuesdays. It leaves for Bengaluru on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Official inauguration of Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines A320neo on 12 October 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image courtesy : Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines formally inaugurates its new Airbus A320neo on 12 October 2021 in Paro and introduces new onboard meals, meal service equipment, food packaging, comfort items and amenities with an innovative and sustainable inflight service concept.

The artworks and designs donning all inflight service products in the A320neo proudly represent the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan and the traditional patterns and colours of Bhutanese textiles.

Drukair has managed to reduce or in many cases eliminate single use plastics by introducing biodegradable and recyclable wood and paper alternatives that are inline with Drukair’s vision and commitment to transit into an eco-friendly airline.

Bhutan Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema grace the aircraft inaugural ceremony on 12 October 2021 at Paro airport.

Myanmar National Airlines launches return charter flight to Dubai on 4 November 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) launches direct charter flight from Yangon to Dubai on 4 November 2021 with its B737-800 aircraft.

On 4 November 2021, the outbound MNA flight leaves Yangon for Dubai ay 5 pm, touches down in Dubai at 9 pm local time before taking off from Dubai for Yangon at 10.30 pm and arriving in Yangon at 6.30 am.

MNA flies to Dubai on 4, 11, 18 and 25 November 2021. It is the second Myanmar airline to carry out flights to Dubai after Myanmar Airways International (MAI).

On a separate note, MNA operates a one-way charter flight to KLIA from Yangon on 31 October 2021.

The VTL flights of Air France to Singapore operational from 21 October 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Air France, its Vaccinated Travel Lane(VTL) flights to Singapore are on Thursdays and Saturdays from 21 to 31 October 2021, and on Fridays and Sundays from 1 November 2021 to 26 March 2022.

On 21 October 2021, Air France VTL flight AF256 leaves Paris for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 9.05 pm and arrives in Singapore on 22 October 2021 at 3.55 am.

From 1 November 2021, flight AF256 leaves Paris for Singapore at 9 pm and touches down in Singapore at 4.35 am on 2 November 2021.

Passengers on AF256 do not need to undergo quarantine after they arrive in Singapore.

Flight AF208 on Tuesdays are for non-vaccinated travelers at the same timings and must undergo quarantine in Singapore upon arrival.

The above flights are operated using Air France's Dreamliner 787-9 which has a configuration of 30 Business Class, 21 Premium Economy and 225 Economy Class seats.

ITA takes off for Bari on 15 October 2021, ITA wins the Alitalia brand

Reports by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : ItaliaViola & Travel

News (1)

ITA takes off for Bari on 15 October 2021

15 October 2021 is the launch day of Italy's new national airline Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA), meaning Italy Air Transport. ITA's first return flight is Milan=Bari with planned flight AZ1637 departing from Milan at 6.20 am for Bari and arriving in Bari at 7.45 am.

According to ItaliaVola & Travel, its first aircraft Airbus A320 registered EI-EIB arrived in Milan from Shannon on 11 October at 7.43 pm under flight AZ8012.

News (2)

ITA wins the Alitalia brand

According to Alitalia which ceases operation on 14 October 2021, the public offer procedure concerning the Alitalia Spa brand and the domain www.Alitalia.com was concluded on 14 October.

ITA was awarded the object of the competitive procedure at a value of 90 million Euros. 

Tentatively, Alitalia's brand will not appear on EI-EIB but ITA will continue to operate flights using this aircraft and Alitalia brand aircraft since it has won the bid for the Alitalia brand. Alitalia crew will continue to work at ITA.

News (3)

ITA's international flight begins on 4 November 2021

Image courtesy : Daily Mail

ITA's first international route is Rome-New York. It will begin on 4 November 2021 with 6 weekly frequencies increasing to 10 flights per week in early December 2021.

The ITA Rome Fiumicino - New York JFK service will operate every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday with departures at 10 am local time from Rome. The flights from New York JFK will leave every Monday, Friday and Sunday at 4.55 pm.

The first ITA flight from JFK airport to Rome, scheduled for 5 November 2021, will depart at 5:55 pm due to the daylight saving time in the U.S.

Flights will be operated with Alitalia branded 250-seat Airbus A330 configured in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Classes.

Other future destinations that ITA plans to operate long-haul flights to include Los Angeles, Boston, Narita and Tel Aviv.

Thai Smile plans to launch flight from Phuket to Singapore on 1 February 2022

 Reports by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

News (1)

Thai Smile Air plans to launch flight from Phuket to Singapore on 3 February 2022

Thai Smile, the low-cost subsidiary of Thai Airways International, is planning to launch scheduled flight from Phuket to Singapore from 1 February 2022 with its B737-800 aircraft.

According to schedules, Thai Smile flight WE497 departs from Phuket for Singapore at 10.10 am, arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 1.10 pm before leaving Singapore for Phuket at 2.10 pm and landing in Phuket at 3.10 pm under flight WE498.

Thai Smile plans to fly to Phuket from Singapore on Tuesdays. Actual flight schedule is subject to change without notice.

News (2)

Thai Vietjet Air launches flights to Singapore from Suvarnabhumi and Phuket in  2022

According to the press release of Thai Vietjet Air, the Bangkok-based subsidiary of Vietjet Air, Thai Vietjet Air planned  launch of scheduled flights from Suvarnabhumi and Phuket to Singapore on 21 October 2021 is deferred until further notice. Its flights from Phuket to Singapore are operational on Thursdays and Sundays while it flies from Suvarnabhumi to Singapore on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Besides, Thai Vietjet Air launches its first international flight to Taoyuan from Phuket on 20 October 2021.

The flight schedules are, however, not available on Vietjet Air web-site for booking. Changi Airport also has no record of Thai Vietjet Air's planned flight on 21 October and in December 2021. Thai Vietjet Air may start flight to Singapore later in 2022.

News (3)

Thai Airways International resumes flight to Singapore from 31 October 2021

Thai Airways International resumes flights to Singapore from Suvarnabhumi from 31 October 2021. It departs for Singapore on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines on the brink of business suspension

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to the Mongolian Ministry of Transport Development, Minister of Transport Development Lu Haltar, Director of the State Property Policy and Supervision Bureau Bei Qingle and others met recently to exchange views and comments on the financial situation of MIAT Mongolian Airlines and the measures to be taken in the future. 

Affected by the covid epidemic, MIAT’s international flights have been grounded, and passenger revenue has declined. In the past 20 months, the company has mobilized resources to cover fixed expenses such as aircraft leasing, maintenance, and insurance, and has maintained its business by reducing salaries, investment, and indirect flight costs and other savings rules.

In 2019, MIAT carried a total of 788,500 passengers, an increase of 21,500 compared with the plan, an increase of 69,700 compared with the previous year; the volume of freight decreased by 759.7 tons compared with the plan, and a decrease of 59.8 tons compared with the previous year. Affected by the global epidemic, MIAT has suspended international flights from February 2020, resulting in a loss of 58 billion tugriks in 2020 and a loss of 35.2 billion tugriks in the first half of 2021. 

Farewell, Alitalia!

Poem by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Arrow emerged after Korean Air departed,

Next after I moved behind;

A lid on the pathway lifted

Lining up on the tarmac prepared is the bird

Iris opened her orbs to follow

Touching the tarmac going along in sequence

Apple thinking of the green horizons as her mission ends today

Leading the hordes to behold her shell the last time:

I4 October the last day to wave at Rome's pride

As Alitalia ascended towards the heavens never to return.

See also: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/08/alitalia-ceases-operations-on-14.html, Italy's bankrupt national airline makes last flight after 74 turbulent years  | Daily Mail Online