Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Thai Lion Air launches daily flights from Don Mueang to Changzhou and Jinan on 23 March 2018. It is the first Southeast Asian low-cost airline to fly to Changzhou, in Jiangsu Province, and the second Southeast Asian low-cost airline to fly to Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, after Scoot.
On 23 March 2018, Thai Lion Air flight SL8048 departs from Don Mueang for Changzhou at 12.10 pm, arrives in Changzhou at 5.05 pm before leaving Changzhou for Don Mueang at 6.05 pm and touching down in Don Mueang at 9.55 pm under flight SL8049 on the same day.
On 23 March 2018, Thai Lion Air flight SL8022 departs from Don Mueang for Jinan at 2.45 pm, arrives in Jinan at 8.10 pm before leaving Jinan for Don Mueang at 9.10 pm and arriving in Don Mueang at 1.15 am under flight SL8023 on 24 March 2018.
Thai Lion Air did not specify the aircraft type to be used on these new routes. It recently received its first Airbus A330 aircraft.
For further route updates, visit Thai Lion Air's web-site at www.lionairthai.com.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Myanmar National Airlines launches its first scheduled flight from Yangon to Phuket on 25 March 2018 using one of its two Embraer E190 regional aircraft.
On 25 March 2018, Myanmar National Airlines flight UB031 departs from Yangon for Phuket at 5.55 pm, arrives in Phuket at 8.15 pm before leaving Phuket for Yangon under flight UB032 at 9.15 pm and touching down in Yangon at 11.35 pm.
Myanmar National Airlines said a B737-800 NG aircraft may be utilized on the new route later if there is a higher demand for a larger aircraft. Its flights departing to and from Phuket are on Sundays and Fridays.
The Myanmar national flag carrier's Embraer E190 aircraft also operates on routes from Yangon to Chiang Mai, Gaya and on its domestic routes.
Myanmar National Airlines plans to add B737 MAX 8 to its fleet in 2019.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Cathay Pacific Airways announced that it will receive the first of its 20 Airbus A350-1000 jets in the spring season of 2018 for test flights. The Hong Kong airline is the second Asian airline to receive the new A350-1000 jet after Qatar Airways.
In the second half of 2018, subject to any technical delay, Cathay Pacific's A350-1000 aircraft will replace its A330 aircraft on its regular long-haul route to Sydney, among other destinations, from Hong Kong, namely flights CX110 and CX111. Besides, on 15 September 2018, its A350-1000 will launch the city's first non-stop service to Washington, the capital city of the United States.
On 15 September 2018, flight CX860 departs from Hong Kong for Washington at 6.35 pm, arrives in Washington at 12.20 am before leaving Washington for Hong Kong at 1.15 am on 16 September 2018 and touching down in Hong Kong at 5.10 am on 17 September 2018 under flight CX861.
Flights from Hong Kong to Washington are operated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays while flights from Washington to Hong Kong take off on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
For updated flight information, visit Cathay Pacific's web-site.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
According to Hainan Airlines, it is launching thrice-weekly scheduled flight from Beijing to Tijuana and Mexico City, two cities in Mexico, on 21 March 2018 using its B787 Dreamliner aircraft.
On 21 March 2018, Hainan Airlines flight HU7925 departs from Beijing for Tijuana at 6.30 pm, transits in Tijuana at 3.55 pm local time before leaving Tijuana for Mexico City at 5.55 pm and arriving in Mexico City at 10 pm.
On 22 March 2018, flight HU7926 leaves Mexico City for Beijing via Tijuana at 12 am, transits in Tijuana at 2.15 am local time before departing from Tijuana for Beijing at 4.15 am and touching down in Beijing at 8.35 am on 23 March 2018.
Flights departing for Tijuana and Mexico City from Beijing are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while the outbound flights for Beijing are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Hainan Airlines' new Mexico flights will bring impact to Aeromexico's China passenger traffic growth and the Mexican national flag carrier will need to evaluate its China flight network strategy.
Aeromexico has plan to launch flight to Beijing from Mexico City but the launch date is not confirmed yet. Currently, its only China link is its route connecting Mexico City and Tijuana with Shanghai-Pudong.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
On 27 January 2018, XiamenAir has received its first pro-UN livery aircraft, a B787-900 Dreamliner. It took delivery of the aircraft at the Boeing Seattle plant on 26 January 2018. The Dreamliner aircraft will operate on routes from Xiamen to long-haul destinations such as Amsterdam, Seattle and Melbourne.
XiamenAir's next pro-UN livery aircraft, a B737 MAX, will be deployed on intra-Asian routes from either Xiamen or Fuzhou, later this year.
XiamenAir is the first scheduled airline to support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. It signed the agreement with the UN on 15 January 2017*. The multi-media programming in the aircraft inflight entertainment, XiamenAir's VIP lounges and XiamenAir Inflight Magazine will convey the message of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to all passengers.
* Ref : http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2017/02/xiamen-airlines-becomes-first-airline-to-support-the-un-sustainable-development-agenda/
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Colorful Guizhou Airlines launches new flights from Guiyang to Changsha and Nanjing via Yibin on 1 February and 2 February 2018 using its Embraer E190 aircraft.
On 1 February 2018, Colorful Guizhou Airlines flight GY7157 departs from Guiyang for Yibin at 3.45 pm, transits in Yibin at 4.30 pm before taking off for Changsha at 5.10 pm and arriving in Changsha at 7.05 pm.
At 8.05 pm, flight GY7158 leaves Changsha for Yibin at 8.05 pm, arrives in Yibin at 9.50 pm before departing for Guiyang at 10.30 pm and arriving in Guiyang at 11.15 pm.
Flights are carried out on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
On 2 February 2018, flight GY7163 departs from Guiyang for Yibin at 2.05 pm, transits in Yibin at 2.50 pm before taking off for Nanjing at 3.30 pm and arriving in Nanjing at 5.55 pm.
At 7 pm, flight GY7164 departs from Nanjing for Yibin at 7 pm, arrives in Yibin at 10.10 pm before departing for Guiyang at 10.50 pm and touching down in Guiyang at 11.35 pm.
Flights to Nanjing via Yibin are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines is the only airline to operate flights from Yibin to Changsha and Nanjing. The airline operated its first commercial flight on 31 December 2015. Now, it has a fleet of 8 Embraer E190 regional jets and a route network of 25 domestic destinations in China.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Suparna Airlines (金鹏航空), the Shanghai-based subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, has introduced B787 Dreamliner flights since late December 2017. Its first flight in December was operated to Sanya from Shanghai-Pudong before its onward journey to Zhengzhou.
The picture above shot on 2 January 2018 shows the B787 Dreamliner at an aerobridge of Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Sky Angkor Airlines plans to launch scheduled flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by end of March 2018. The airline has its headquarters-cum-administrative office in Phnom Penh but till now it does not have flights to Phnom Penh. It operates domestic scheduled flights to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap, international scheduled flights to Incheon, Busan, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and many regular charter flights to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Gaya, Bangkok and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Sky Angkor Airlines has moved its Siem Reap Office to a new building address since the beginning of January 2018. The new address is:
No. 206, Road Krovatkong,
Group 10, Kruos Village,
Sangkat Svaydangkum, Siem Reap
Tel : +855 63 967 300. Fax : +855 63 967 400
However, emails to the new office address at info@skyangkorair.com were unaddressed.
The new Siem Reap office building as above is taller and larger than its former Angkor Shopping Arcade address. All ticketing, sales and marketing matters in relation to Sky Angkor Airlines' flights are carried out in the new address. Its web-site at www.skyangkorair.com is not updated.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Hainan Airlines launches twice-weekly scheduled flight to Vancouver from Shenzhen via Tianjin on 25 May 2018 using its Airbus A330 aircraft.
On 25 May 2018, Hainan Airlines flight HU7959 departs from Shenzhen for Vancouver via Tianjin at 7.25 am, transits in Tianjin at 10.25 am before departing for Vancouver at 1.25 pm and touching down in Vancouver at 9.30 am on 26 May 2018.
At 11.30 am on 26 May 2018, flight HU7960 leaves Vancouver for Tianjin, transits in Tianjin at 2.15 pm before taking off for Shenzhen at 4.45 pm and arriving in Shenzhen at 7.15 pm.
Flights to Vancouver from Shenzhen and Tianjin are on Mondays and Fridays while the outbound flights from Vancouver are on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Hainan Airlines' flights to Vancouver appear to compete with Hong Kong Airlines' direct flights to Vancouver from Hong Kong as mainland Chinese travellers from Shenzhen need not transit in Hong Kong for flights to Vancouver.
Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Hongtu Airlines launches new scheduled flights from Kunming to Qingdao, Hailaer and Lijiang as well as from Nanchang to Shenyang in February 2018 using its A321 aircraft.
On 1 February 2018, Hongtu Airlines launches flights to Qingdao and Hailaer from Kunming while its Kunming - Lijiang flight takes off on 5 January 2018. The flight schedules are as follows:-
Hongtu Airlines flight A6 7107 departs from Kunming for Hailaer via Qingdao at 7.10 am, arrives in Qingdao at 10.40 am before departing from Qingdao for Hailaer at 11.40 am and touching down in Hailaer at 2.25 pm.
The outbound flight A6 7108 takes off from Hailaer for Qingdao at 3.15 pm, transits in Qingdao for passengers to alight at 6 pm before continuing its onward journey for Kunming at 7 pm and arriving in Kunming at 10.45 pm on 1 February 2018.
Hongtu Airlines' flights on the Kunming - Qingdao- Hailaer routes are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and face no competition from other domestic Chinese airlines.
On 5 February 2018, flight A6 7115 leaves Kunming for Lijiang at 6.45 am, arrives in Lijiang at 7.50 am before departing from Lijiang for Kunming at 8.35 am and touching down in Kunming at 9.40 am under flight A6 7116. The return flight is operated daily and faces competition from China Eastern and Lucky Air.
On 1 February 2018, Hongtu Airlines extends its current Kunming - Nanchang route to Shenyang with flight A6 7129 leaving Nanchang at 7 am, arriving in Shenyang at 9 am before departing from Shenyang for Nanchang at 10.40 am and touching down in Nanchang at 1.50 pm under flight A6 7130.
As a result, Hongtu Airlines' Kunming - Nanchang return flight service has been re-scheduled from 31 January 2018 with flight A6 7105 departing from Kunming for Nanchang at 11.45 pm and arriving in Nanchang at 1.55 am for the inaugural flight to Shenyang on 1 February 2018. It leaves Nanchang for Kunming at 2.35 pm and touches down in Kunming at 5.05 pm on 1 February 2018 under flight A6 7106.
Full meals are served complimentary on all Hongtu Airlines' flights including its other flights to Lanzhou, Hohhot, Nanjing, Wuxi, Nantong and Changchun with its fleet of 2 A320 and 2 A321 aircraft.
