On Bamboo Airways' "Launch of Vietnam - Singapore services"

 Commentary, images by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Researcher's Picture

Changi Airport finally advocates Bamboo Airways as the airport's newly registered scheduled flight operator on 28 April 2022 with the above advertisement appearing at all check-in counters of the airport's Terminals 1 and 3 from that day.

The "Vietnam - Singapore services" not only refer to Bamboo Airways' inaugural commercial passenger flight services from Ho Chi Minh City (on 29 April 2022) and Hanoi (on 4 May 2022) but also refers to the airline's first mid-night charter flights on 1 April 2021 and first relief scheduled flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on 29 October 2021 and November 2021.

Images : Researcher's Pictures

In those months, Bamboo Airways' A321neo (The Airline of Hospitality-livery) and 787-8 (conventional livery, 787 livery) conducted relief flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.

Images : Researcher's Pictures

So the A321neo aircraft (Thank You 1 Million Passengers-livery) on 29 April 2022 is only the second A321neo jet of Bamboo Airways to operate scheduled flights to Singapore in Bamboo Airways' history.

According to the GSA of Bamboo Airways in Singapore, the inaugural flight was fully-booked. Due to overwhelming demand, the A321neo was deployed in service rather than the A320.

In Bamboo Airways' booking web-site, the A320 was stated as the aircraft-type in use on the routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.

Refs: https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/03/bamboo-airways-launches-charter-flights.html, https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/10/congratulations-to-bamboo-airways-first.html

Hawaiian Airlines selects SpaceX as its inflight WiFi service provider

 Report, image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image :of Hawaiian Airlines' A330 : Researcher's Picture

Tesla CEO and the world's richest man, Elon Musk, has finalized big business with an international airline. SpaceX, its space exploration technology company, recently signed an agreement with Hawaiian Airlines to provide it with in-flight WiFi service named "Starlink".

Hawaiian Airlines announced on 25 April 2022 that it will offer free "Starlink" internet service on planes including the Airbus A330 and A321neo and the upcoming Dreamliner 787-9 from 2023. It does not have any plan to deploy Starlink on its Boeing 717 jets that operate short-haul flights among the Hawaiian Islands.

Under the agreement, Hawaiian Airlines will be the first major airline to offer passengers free Starlink high-speed, low-latency broadband network service on flights between the Hawaiian Islands and the continental U.S., Asia and Oceania.

Hawaiian Airlines offers approximately 130 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands and daily nonstop flights between Hawaii and 16 U.S. gateway cities, as well as from Honolulu ro American Samoa, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and French Polynesia islands of Tahiti.

The agreement between Hawaiian Airlines and Starlink is in the initial stages, with installations of the service expected to begin on select aircraft next year.

"We're going to have to wait until the technology meets our high standards for the guest experience, but it's worth the wait," Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram said on 25 April 2022.

SpaceX has sought regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission to test Starlink on planes and transport ships, after testing the internet network on a handful of Gulfstream jets and military aircraft.

Hawaiian Airlines has not yet tested Starlink on its aircraft, Avi Mannis, Hawaiian's chief marketing and communications officer, told CNBC. She added that there are still "certification issues" that need to be resolved before Hawaiian Airlines can begin operating the service.

In addition to its partnership with Hawaiian Airlines, last week, SpaceX signed its first air network agreement with JSX, a U.S. semi-private charter company, to equip up to 100 aircraft with Starlink service. Later this year, JSX customers will enjoy free WiFi service. .

The total number of satellites authorized by SpaceX is 4,408, and the company has so far put more than 2,000 Starlink satellites into orbit. Starlink's satellites are designed to rapidly transmit vast amounts of information to anywhere on Earth, including oceans and other places hard-to-reach by fiber-optic cables.

China Southern operates Zhaosu airport's first flight on 22 April 2022

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : CARNOC

Image credit : CARNOC

With the strong support of higher-level units such as the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the autonomous region, Zhaosu Tianma Airport is officially opened to traffic on 22 April 2022, realizing the dream of Tianma taking off. The Urumqi-Zhaosu round-trip route is opened in the early stage, and later, according to the needs of the tourism market, tourist routes such as Kashgar, Yining, and Altay will be opened one after another. 

On 22 April 2022, China Southern operates the first scheduled flight of Zhaosu's airport with its B737-700. The return flight number is CZ6881 (to Zhaosu) / CZ6882 (to Urumqi) and there is a round-trip flight every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flight CZ6881 leaves Urumqi for Zhaosu at 9.15 am and arrives at Zhaosu Tianma Airport at 10.55 am whereas CZ6882 takes off from Zhaosu Tianma Airport at 11.40 am and touches down in Urumqi Diwopu at 1.10 pm.

Zhaosu Tianma Airport is the third airport in the Ili River Valley after Yining and Xinyuan Nalati Airport. It is also the 23rd airport that has been put into operation in Xinjiang. It is the first plateau airport in Xinjiang, and will definitely be the first airport in Ili Prefecture. Zhaosu's social stability and other undertakings will make important contributions to the development of Tianma Airport.

To mark the airport inaugural operation, with the care and support of the Yili Prefecture People's Government, the Jiangsu Aid Xinjiang Front Headquarters, Zhaosu County and other units, and within one year of the official opening of Zhaosu Airport, all passengers who come to Yili from Zhaosu Airport can present their boarding pass and personal ID card for free tickets to Nalati, Kalajun 5A-level scenic spots and scenic spots within the whole county of Zhaosu.

Batik Air resumes scheduled flight to Singapore on 20 April 2022

 Report, Image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Researcher's Picture

Batik Air is resuming daily scheduled flight from Jakarta to Singapore on 20 April 2022. Besides, from 29 April 2022, it flies twice daily to Singapore.

On 20 April 2022, Batik Air flight ID7153 leaves Jakarta's international airport in Cengkareng for Singapore at 8 am, touches down in Singapore at 10.45 am before leaving Singapore for Cengkareng at 11.25 am and arriving in Cengkareng at 12.15 pm under flight ID7154.

From 29 April 2022, the additional return flight ID7151 departs from Cengkareng for Singapore at 1.45 pm, arrives in Singapore at 4.30 pm before leaving Singapore for Cengkareng at 5.35 pm and landing in Cengkareng at 6.25 pm under flight ID7152.

Cengkareng is the affectionate Indonesian name for Soeharno-Hatta International Airport, the international airport of Jakarta.

Vietnam Airlines postpones inaugural flights to Singapore from Danang, Phu Quoc and Cam Ranh

 Report, images by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Vietnam Airlines has postponed its inaugural scheduled resumption flights from Danang, Phu Quoc and inaugural scheduled flight from Cam Ranh to Singapore. Each route sector is served by an A321 jet.

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Vietnam Airlines resumes scheduled flight from Danang to Singapore on 1 June 2022. Previously, it planned to resume flight on this route on 15 April 2022.

On 1 June 2022, Vietnam Airlines flight VN672 leaves Singapore for Danang at 11.30 am and arrives in Danang at 1.10 pm. Flight VN673 takes off from Danang for Singapore at 11.10 am and lands in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 2.50 pm under flight VN673.

Flights leave Danang for Singapore on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays.

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Vietnam Airlines resumes scheduled flight from Phu Quoc to Singapore on 2 June 2022. Previously, it planned to resume flight on this route on 21 April 2022.

On 2 June 2022, Vietnam Airlines flight VN694 leaves Singapore for Phu Quoc at 11.30 am and arrives in Phu Quoc at 2.50 pm. Flight VN695 takes off from Phu Quoc for Singapore at 12.05 pm and lands in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 2.50 pm.

Flights leave Phu Quoc for Singapore on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Image : Researcher's Picture

Vietnam Airlines launches scheduled flight from Cam Ranh to Singapore on 5 June 2022. Previously, it planned to resume flight on this route on 17 April 2022.

According to schedules, on 5 June 2022, Vietnam Airlines flight VN692 leaves Singapore for Cam Ranh, the airport of Nha Trang at 11.30 am and arrives in Cam Ranh at 2.50 pm. Flight VN693 takes off from Cam Ranh for Singapore at 11.30 am and touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 2.50 pm under flight VN693.

Flights take off from Cam Ranh for Singapore on Sundays and Tuesdays.

MAI operates regular scheduled flight to Dubai from 23 April 2022

 Report, image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Researcher's Picture

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is converting its charter and relief flights to Dubai to a year-round scheduled flight. From 23 April 2022, it operates Sunday flights to Dubai from Yangon.

According to schedules, MAI flight 8M1100 take off from Yangon for Dubai at 8.55 am, touches down in Dubai at 2.20 pm local time before leaving Dubai for Yangon at 3.20 pm and arriving in Yangon at 11.35 pm local time under flight 8M1101.

Flights are operated using A320 aircraft.

MAI first operated its charter flight to Dubai on 7 August 2020.

MAI resumes commercial flights to Narita and Delhi on 20 and 22 April 2022

 Report, image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Researcher's Picture

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is resuming commercial flights from Yangon to Narita and Delhi on 20 and 22 April 2022.

According to MAI, scheduled flights to Narita from Yangon depart on Wednesdays from 20 April 2022. Previously, its first scheduled flight to Narita took place in 2014.

On 22 April 2022, MAI resumes scheduled flight to Delhi from Yangon and from 2 May 2022, it carries out twice-weekly scheduled flights to Delhi on Mondays and Fridays. Previously, its first scheduled flight to Delhi is in March 2004.

MAI resumes commercial flights to Singapore and Kolkata on 24 and 29 April 2022

 Report, image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Researcher's Picture

On 17 April 2022, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) updates its flight plans following the resumption approval of Myanmar international commercial flights. Among the commercial flights, MAI resumes daily commercial flights from Yangon to Singapore on 24 April 2022 while it resumes commercial flight to Kolkata on 29 April 2022.

On 24 April 2022, MAI flight 8M231 takes off for Singapore from Yangon at 8.20 am, touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 12.50 pm before leaving Changi for Yangon at 1.50 pm and landing in Yangon at expected timing 3.20 pm local time under flight 8M232.

Daily flights are operated using either A319 or A320 aircraft.

On 29 April 2022, MAI resumes commercial flight from Yangon to Kolkata and from 5 May 2022, it flies twice weekly to Kolkata on Thursdays and Sundays. The flights are also operated using either A319 or A320 jets.

Fly Gangwon can fly to Beijing, Changchun, Pudong and Chengdu

 Report, image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image of Fly Gangwon arriving in Taoyuan in February 2020 before the rainstorm : Researcher's Picture

Fly Gangwon, a South Korean airline, announced on 15 April 2022 that it has recently obtained permission from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to operate scheduled flights from Yangyang to Pudong and Chengdu, with two flights per week on each route. 

As a result, including the Beijing and Changchun flight licenses obtained in May 2020, Fly Gangwon can fly to 4 major city airports in China, excluding Taiwan.

An official of Fly Gangwon said that currently only Incheon Airport has a flight to Chengdu, and international direct flights from Yangyang will greatly facilitate the travel of local residents.

Fly Gangwon currently flies from Yangyang to Jeju, Daegu and Yeosu, Due to the covid epidemic restrictions of South Korea and Taiwan, it has suspended scheduled flights to Taoyuan and Kaohsiung since April 2020.

South Korea's international routes return to normal in stages

Report, Image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image of different Korean airlines in Seoul. Only EastarJet has yet to express its intention to resume flights : Researcher's Picture

Korea International Radio reported that Korean Air will expand international flight operations from May 2022 in accordance with the government's policy of resuming international routes in stages. The specific dates of the new route operations are not known.

Jeju Air said it plans to operate 174 flights on 14 international routes including Incheon-Cebu in the Philippines and Incheon-Clark in the Philippines in May 2022. It will also launch new routes to Danang and Cam Ranh in Vietnam, Bohol in the Philippines and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.

Air Seoul will restart flights to Danang and Cam Ranh from Incheon on 28 May 2022 and 18 June 2022, operating four times a week.

T'way Air will re-launch new route between Incheon and Suvarnabhumi, launch cargo/passenger routes from Incheon to Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Singapore in May 2022, and the number of flights between Incheon and Guam and Saipan will also be increased to three times a week.

Jin Air will resume flights from Incheon to Kansai, Suvarnabhumi, Clark, Kota Kinabalu and from Busan to Guam, Danang and Suvarnabhumi in May 2022.

Korean Air said it will increase flights to Los Angeles, Paris and London, and Asiana Airlines will increase flights to Los Angeles, Frankfurt and London.

Aircalin plans scheduled flight launch to Singapore on 1 July 2022

 Report, Image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image of Aircalin A330 in Narita in 2018. Aircalin still flies to Narita and the new flight to Changi from July 2022 is the "complementary alternative" to the route to Japan: Researcher's Picture

On 12 April 2022, the national airline of New Caledonia, Aircalin, announces its intention to launch its first long-haul scheduled flight to Singapore Changi Airport from New Caledonia's capital Noumea with its Airbus A330-900 aircraft.

Initially, Aircalin plans to operate twice-weekly flights to Singapore. Depending on the market demand, it will later increase its flight frequency to thrice a week. At the meantime, the specific flight schedules for the new routes are not available.

According to French media Air Journal's report, Aircalin may release the confirmed flight frequency online and start selling the air tickets at the end of May 2022 or the beginning of June 2022.

Aircalin explains that the Noumea-Changi route is the complementary alternative route to its Noumea-Narita route. As airlines departing from Japan are not allowed to overfly Siberia due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, flights from and to Changi Airport will allow a reduction in travel time to Asia from Noumea by two to three hours to 8 hours 30 minutes.

Once Aircalin starts operating on the Noumea-Changi route three times week, there will be daily flights to Asia from Noumea including four flights a week to Narita from Noumea. These flights can be adjusted according to the seasons and demand of the different travel markets.

After the planned launch of the Noumea-Changi-Noumea flights, Aircalin is considering extension of the Changi-Noumea route to Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, thus enabling European and Singaporean passengers an option to travel to Noumea and Papeete in a single trip. One of its flights from Singapore is said to continue onwards to Papeete via Noumea on Friday and takeoff from Papeete to Singapore via Noumea on Sunday.

Didier Tappero, CEO of Aircalin, said, “We are very happy and proud to add Singapore to our network. Opening a route is always a highlight in the life of an airline, especially since we are emerging from an unprecedented crisis and we are now in a position to react and bring projects to fruition. structuring. We can't wait to operate our first flight”. 

Lim Ching Kiat, Managing Director of Air Platform Development at Changi Airport Group (CAG), added, “We are delighted with the launch of Aircalin's Noumea-Singapore route at Changi Airport. With more than 650 weekly flights to more than 30 cities in Southeast Asia and Europe, Changi is a very convenient access point for travelers wishing to visit New Caledonia. CAG looks forward to working closely with Aircalin to help promote New Caledonia as the newest vacation destination for Singapore residents.”

The new Noumea-Changi route comes after Aircalin's flight resumptions to Sydney and Brisbane and on 8 May 2022 to Auckland. It no longer flies to Osaka Kansai.

Aircalin is not the only New Caledonian airline to have started a flight to Singapore. In early March 2022, New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Caledonie operated a technical flight to Seletar, Singapore's second international airport, from Noumea via Denpasar.

LOT Polish Airlines resumes direct flight to Singapore on 31 October 2022

 Report, Image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

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LOT Polish Airlines is resuming scheduled non-stop flight to Singapore from Warsaw on 31 October 2022 with its Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft.

According to schedules, flight LO67 leaves Warsaw for Singapore at 11 pm, touches down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 5.40 pm on 1 November 2022 before taking off from Singapore for Warsaw at 12.20 am of 2 November 2022 and arriving in Warsaw at 5.55 am of 3 November 2022 under flight LO68.

LOT flies to Singapore on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and leaves Singapore on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for Warsaw.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines launches scheduled flight to Istanbul on 6 April 2022

 Report, image by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image of MIAT B767-300ER in Buyant-Ukhaa, Ulaanbaatar : Researcher's Picture

MIAT Mongolian Airlines has announced on 6 April 2022 that it has launched its first scheduled flight from the new Ulaanbaatar international airport (UBN) in Khushig Valley to Istanbul on 6 April with its B767-300ER aircraft.

MIAT's first flight to Istanbul during the pandemic left Khushig Valley at 8.10 am.

According to schedules, MIAT flight OM161 leaves UBN for Istanbul at 8 am, touches down in Istanbul at 12.30 pm before leaving Istanbul for UBN at 2.10 pm and arriving in UBN at 3.30 am on 7 April 2022 under flight OM162.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines flies to Istanbul every Wednesday.

The Mongolian national flag carrier has resumed regular international flights to Incheon, Moscow, Frankfurt and Narita.