SalamAir launches flight to Sphinx on 15 June 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Oman low-cost airline SalamAir launches thrice-weekly scheduled flght from Muscat to Sphinx, the airport of the city of Giza on the west of Cairo, on 15 June 2024 with its Airbus A321neo aircraft.

On 15 June 2024, SalamAir flight OV315 departs from Muscat for Sphinx at 1 pm, touches down in Sphinx at 4.15 pm before leaving Sphinx for Muscat at 5 pm and arriving in Muscat at 10 pm under flight OV316.

SalamAir flies to Sphinx on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Sphinx is the airline's second destination in Egypt after Alexandria. In Africa, it also flies to Khartoum, Sudan.

SalamAir is not selling Muscat-outbound tickets to Islamabad, Lahore and Chennai, contrary to AeroRoutes' announcement on the airline's planned flights to Islambad, Lahore and Chennai on 2 June, 4 June and 6 June 2024 respectively.

As of 29 May 2024, SalamAir flies to more than 50 cities' airports including Tirana, Prague, Munich and Sarajevo in Europe, Almaty in Central Asia and Suvarnabhumi, Phuket and KLIA in Southeast Asia with its fleet of A321neo and A320neo aircraft. It is the fastest-growing airline of Oman.

Starlux Airlines launches flight to Cengkareng on 1 September 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Starlux Airlines launches twice-weekly scheduled flight to Cengkareng, the affectinate name of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and international gateway to Jakarta, on 1 September 2024.

On 1 September 2024, Starlux flight JX761 departs from Taoyuan for Cengkareng at 8.10 am, touches down in Cengkareng at 12.30 pm before leaving Cengkareng for Taoyuan at 1.30 pm and arriving in Taoyuan at 8.10 pm under flight JX762.

Starlux flies to Cengkareng on Mondays and Thursdays with its Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Starlux Airlines launches flight to Hong Kong on 16 July 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Starlux Airlines launches ten scheduled flights a week to Hong Kong from Taoyuan, with effect from 16 July 2024.

On 16 July 2024, Starlux daily flight JX231 departs from Taoyuan for Hong Kong at 8 am, touches down in Hong Kong at 9.40 am before leaving Hong Kong for Taoyuan at 10.55 am and arriving in Taoyuan at 12.30 pm under flight JX232.

The above flights are operated by Starlux's A330-900 aircraft.

According to AeroRoutes, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flight JX235 leaves Taoyuan for Hong Kong at 4.50 pm, lands in Hong Kong at 6.30 pm before taking off from Hong Kong for Taoyuan at 7.45 pm and arriving in Taoyuan at 9.30 pm under flight JX236. These flights are operated by either the A330-900 or A350-900 jet of Starlux Airlines.

Starlux plans to introduce "third daily flight" to Hong Kong from Taoyuan on 29 September 2024.

WestJet launches flight to Incheon from Calgary on 17 May 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Canadian airline WestJet launches non-stop scheduled flight from Calgary to Incheon on 17 May 2024 with its 787-9 Dreamliner.

On 17 May 2024, according to schedules, WestJet flight WS86 departs from Calgary for Incheon at 5.55 pm, touches down in Incheon at 8.43 pm before leaving Incheon for Calgary at 10.45 pm and landing in Calgary at 6.15 pm under flight WS87.

WestJet flies to Incheon from Calgary on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It leaves Incheon for Calgary on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays.

According to FlightRadar24, flight WS86 actually takes off from Calgary for Incheon at 6.35 pm and touches down in Incheon at 8.57 pm on 17 May and leaves Incheon for Calgary at 11.39 pm on 18 May and arrives in Calgary at 6.33 pm under flight WS87.

WIth the launch of WestJet's flight to Incheon, it is code-sharing with Korean Air on outbound flights from Incheon to Changi, Suvarnabhumi, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang while Korean Air is code-sharing with WestJet on the route to Calgary.

Incheon is the second Asian online destination airport of WestJet after Narita, Japan. It is also the international gateway to Seoul.

Calgary is the largest city of Alberta Province, Canada. Named after Calgary Castle on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, its tourist attractions include Calgary Tower, Calgary Zoo, National Music Centre, Telus Convention Centre, Chinatown, St. Patrick's Island, Olympic Plaza, the Art Gallery of Calgar, Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Stampede grounds and military museums, Heritage Park Heritage Village and national parks.

Air Premia launches flight to San Francisco on 17 May 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Air Premia launches flight from Incheon to San Francisco on 17 May 2024 with its 787-9 Dreamliner.

According to schedules, Air Premia flight YP111 departs from Incheon for San Francisco on 17 May 2024 at  5.30 pm, touches down in San Francisco at 12.30 pm before leaving San Francisco for Incheon at 3 pm and arriving in Incheon the next day at 7.50 pm under flight YP112.

Air Premia flies to San Francisco on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays and lands in Incheon on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays.

Inflight Pictures : Garuda Indonesia 74th Anniversary livery jet

 Photos copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Sriwijaya Air lays off one B737-800 jet, parks two B737-800 jets

 Report, photographs copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Sriwijaya Air, reeling from the impact of the covid pandemic and competition with other Indonesian airlines for business, has laid off its one B737-800 jet and parked its two Boeing B737-800 jets at Terminal 2.

One of the B737-800 jets of Sriwijaya Air was seen operating its final flight from Cengkareng airport, the international gateway to Jakarta, to Pontianak on 12 May 2024. After the return flight, the aircraft is seen stored on the space (see below) near in front of PLTechnics, an aircraft maintenance company in Cengkareng, next to the B737 aircraft of BlueBird Nordic (BBN), on 15 May 2024.

Along with the B737-800 of Sriwijaya Air and BBN aircraft are scores of other airlines' aircraft including an A320 of Super Air Jet, the sole A320 of Lanmei Airlines from Phnom Penh, an A320 of Vietjet Air and the A321 and A321neo aircraft (see above) of Bamboo Airways from Hanoi. These aircraft were withdrawn from commercial services. In particular, Bamboo Airways has stored its three Airbus aircraft under its operations restructure plan.

Remaining active in the fleet of Sriwijaya Air is its sole B737-500 jet operating on the routes from Cengkareng to Pontianak and Tanjung Pinang.

Sriwijaya Air's route network has thus been reduced to its above domestic routes. Flights to the Chinese cities Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Wenzhou and to KLIA and Penang in Malaysia have been terminated months ago.

More pictures of Sriwijaya Air's planes

Lion Air resumes 737 MAX 9 flight

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 15 May 2024, Lion Air resumes its 737 MAX 9 commercial flight. The airline has three such aircraft and has an order of 10 737 MAX 10 jets. 

Other types of aircraft in its fleet include eight Airbus A330-800, eight A330-900, 27 B737-800 and 63 B737-900ER jets.

Cambodia Airways launches flight to Nantong on 15 June 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Cambodia Airways, the fastest-growing Cambodian airline, launches direct scheduled flight from Phnom Penh to Nantong on 15 June 2024. It is the first airline from Southeast Asia to fly to Nantong.

On 15 June 2024, according to schedules, Cambodia Airways flight KR915 departs from Phnom Penh for Nantong at 7.05 am, touches down in Nantong at 12.05 pm before leaving Nantong for Phnom Penh at 1.05 pm and landing in Phnom Penh at 4.30 pm under flight KR916.

Cambodia Airways flies to Nantong on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with its A320 aircraft.

Scoot launches flight to Sibu on 5 June 2024

Report, photographs copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Scoot, operated by Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd, launches thrice-weekly scheduled flight from Changi to Sibu on 5 June 2024 with its Embraer E190-R2 aircraft. The aircraft flies on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to Sibu.

On 5 June 2024, Scoot Tigerair flight TR410 departs from Changi for Sibu at 12.35 pm, touches down in Sibu at 2.25 pm before leaving Sibu for Changi at 3 pm and landing in Changi at 4.40 pm under flight TR411. These timings are effective for travel on Wednesdays.

On Fridays and Sundays, flight TR410 leaves Changi for Sibu at 5.25 am, lands in Sibu at 7.15 am before taking off from Sibu for Changi at 7.50 am and arriving in Changi at 9.40 am under flight TR411.

Scoot launches flight to Samui on 13 May 2024

 Report, photographs copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Scoot, operated by Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd, launches daily scheduled flight from Changi to Samui Airport, Koh Samui, on 13 May 2024.

On 13 May 2024,  Scoot Tigerair flight TR642 departs from Changi for Samui at 10.40 am and touches down in Samui at 11.10 am. The scheduled time of Scoot's departure from Changi for Samui is 10.10 am and that of arrival in Samui is 11.15 am.

At 12.36 pm on 13 May 2024, flight TR643 takes off from Samui for Changi and arrives in Changi at 3.22 pm. According to schedule, flight TR643 leaves Samui for Changi at 12.10 pm and touches down in Changi at 3.05 pm.

The flight duration on both legs of the return trip is around 1 hour 45 minutes.

Scoot flies to Samui with its newly-acquired Embraer E190-E2 aircraft.

Pictures of E190-E2 in Changi

Inflight Pictures : Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd's A321neo "Wings of Change"

 Photos copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Myanmar Airways International launches flight to Doha on 1 June 2024

Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) launches A319 flight to Doha from Yangon on 1 June 2024, subject to bilateral approval.

On 1 June 2024, MAI flight 8M120 takes off from Yangon for Doha at 2.30 pm, touches down in Doha at 5.50 pm before leaving Doha for Yangon at 6.50 pm and landing in Yangon at 4.30 am under flight 8M121 on 2 June 2024.

MAI flies to Doha on Tuesdays and Saturdays and touches down in Yangon from Doha on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

Spring Airlines launches flight to Ho Chi Minh City on 6 July 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Chinese private low-cost airline Spring Airlines launches direct scheduled flight from Pudong to Ho Chi Minh City on 6 July 2024.

On 6 July 2024, Spring Airlines flight 9C7757 departs from Pudong for Ho Chi Minh City at 2.35 pm, touches down in Ho Chi Minh City at 5.55 pm before leaving Ho Chi Minh City for Pudong at 6.55 pm and landing in Pudong at 11.55 pm under flight 9C7758.

Spring Airlines flies to Ho Chi Minh City on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with its A320 aircraft.

Bhutan Airlines launches non-stop flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to Paro in September 2024

 Report,  photos copyright by (otherwise stated) : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to AeroRoutes, Bhutan Airlines launches regular scheduled flights to Mumbai and Bengaluru via Kolkata in September 2024 while the flights from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Paro will proceed non-stop. The airline is the first international flight operator on the non-stop flights from Bengaluru to Paro with effect from 25 September 2024.

On Tuesdays (beginning 24 September 2024) and Mondays (beginning 30 September 2024), Bhutan Airlines flights B3738 and B3717 depart from Paro for Bengaluru and Mumbai respectively via Kolkata at the following timings:-

Flight B3738 departs from Paro for Bengaluru via Kolkata at 3.15 pm, stops over in Kolkata at 3.55 pm before leaving Kolkata at 4.25 pm and touching down in Bengaluru at 7.05 pm on Tuesdays.

Flight B3717 leaves Paro for Mumbai via Kolkata at 3.15 pm, transits in Kolkata at 3.55 pm before departing from Kolkata at 4.25 pm and landing in Mumbai at 7.05 pm on Mondays.

B3738 and B3717 also operate flights to Bengaluru and Mumbai on Fridays and Thursdays.

On Fridays (first Friday flight on 27 September 2024), flight B3738 leaves Paro for Bengaluru via Kolkata at 10.30 am, transits in Kolkata at 11.10 am before taking off from Kolkata for Bengaluru at 11.40 am and arriving in Bengaluru at 2.20 pm.

On Thursdays (first Thursday flight on 26 September 2024), flight B3717 departs from Paro for Mumbai via Kolkata at 10.30 am, stops over in Kolkata at 11.10 am before taking off from Kolkata for Mumbai at 11.40 am and touching down in Mumbai at 2.20 pm.

On Wednesdays (beginning 25 September 2024) and Saturdays (beginning 28 September 2024), flight B3739 takes off from Bengaluru for Paro at 4 am and touches down in Paro at 7.40 am. 25 September 2024 is the direct inaugural flight date of the Bengaluru-Paro route.

On Fridays (first flight 27 September 2024), Bhutan Airlines' flight from Mumbai B3718 departs for Paro at 4 am and arrives in Paro at 7.40 am. On Tuesdays (maiden flight 24 September 2024), flight B3718 takes off from Mumbai for Paro at 8.35 am and touches down in Paro at 12.20 pm.

All the above regular flights, subject to changes without prior notice, are operated by Bhutan Airlines' A319 aircraft until November 2024 and will resume in April 2025, according to the Bhutan Airlines Facebook post below.

Image : Bhutan Airlines Facebook

According to Bhutan Airlines Facebook, the airline holds its ceremonial inaugural flight to Mumbai on 12 May 2024 and has carried out charter flights to Bengaluru since 27 April 2024 respectively.

Qanot Sharq launches flight to Pudong on 23 June 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Qanot Sharq launches direct scheduled flight from Tashkent to Pudong with its Airbus A321neo aircraft on 23 June 2024.

On 23 June 2024, Qanot Sharq flight HH3311 departs from Tashkent for Pudong at 2 pm, tocuhes down in Pudong at 11.55 pm before leaving Pudong for Tashkent at 1.30 am on 24 June 2024 under flight HH3322.

Qanot Sharq flies to Pudong on Sundays and returns to Tashkent on Mondays.

Korean Air launches scheduled charter flight to Lisbon on 11 September 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Korean Air launches its scheduled charter flight to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on 11 September 2024. The direct flights will be operated by its 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft until 25 October 2024. 

The airline will operate three weekly flights between Incheon and Lisbon on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. These flights will make a total of 20 round trips during the two months.

 he scheduled charter flights are the only nonstop flights between Northeast Asia and Lisbon. Previously, travellers had to transfer in neighbouring countries such as France and Spain, or switch to land transport upon arrival in Europe. The new direct flights will streamline the journey, making trips to Lisbon and its adjacent cities more accessible.

Korean Air Flight Schedule for Incheon = Lisbon routes

Flight	Flight No.	Flight Days	Departure Time	Arrival Time
Incheon - Lisbon	KE921	Wed	13:10	20:10
		Fri	13:10	20:25
		Sun	13:20	20:30
Lisbon - Incheon	KE922	Wed	22:10	19:10(+1)
		Fri	22:25	19:20(+1)
		Sun	21:55	19:05(+1)

US-Bangla Airlines launches flight to Jeddah on 1 August 2024

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 8 May 2024, US-Bangla Airlines announces that it is launching daily scheduled flight from Dhaka to Jeddah with effect from 1 August 2024. The usual B737-800 aircraft and the newly-inducted Airbus A330-300 jet of the airline will be used to operate the flights.

On 1 August 2024 (Thursday), US-Bangla Airlines flight BS361 departs from Dhaka for Jeddah at 2.45 pm, touches down in Jeddah at 6.40 pm before leaving Jeddah for Dhaka at 8.40 pm and arriving in Dhaka at 6.25 am on 2 August 2024 under flight BS362. These timings are effective for travel on its A330-300 on Thursdays.

US-Bangla Airlines is also utilizing its A330-300 on the route to Jeddah on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at different timings. On Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, B737-800 jet will operate the flights.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, flight BS361 leaves Dhaka for Jeddah at 5.15 pm, arrives in Jeddah at 9.10 pm before taking off from Jeddah for Dhaka at 11.10 pm and landing in Dhaka on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8.55 am under flight BS362.

On Tuesdays, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS361 takes off from Dhaka for Jeddah at 6.05 pm, lands in Jeddah at 10 pm before departing from Jeddah for Dhaka at 11.59 pm and arriving in Dhaka at 9.45 am under flight BS362 on Wednesdays.

On Sundays, BS361 departs from Dhaka for Jeddah at 6.10 pm, touches down in Jeddah at 10.05 pm before taking off from Jeddah for Dhaka at 11.59 pm and landing in Dhaka at 9.45 am on Mondays under flight BS362. 

With the addition of Jeddah to its route network, US-Bangla Airlines flies from Dhaka to 13 foreign airports including Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Sharjah, Male, Chennai, Kolkata, KLIA, Changi, Suvarnabhumi and Guangzhou, and 7 domestic airports in Bangladesh.