Fuji Dream Airlines launches two new routes from Kobe on 27 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

The aircraft pictured above is based in Kobe. On 27 October 2019, Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA) launches two new routes from Kobe, which are Kobe - Izumo and Kobe - Matsumoto.

The first inaugural flight of FDA departs from Kobe for Izumo under flight JH811 at 7.10 am, touches down in Izumo at 8.05 am before leaving Izumo for Kobe at 8.35 am and arriving in Kobe at 9.25 am under flight JH812.

FDA flies to Izumo twice daily.

The second flight JH815 takes off from Kobe for Izumo at 2.10 pm, arrives in Izumo at 3.05 pm before leaving Izumo for Kobe at 2.45 pm for Kobe and arriving in Kobe at 3.35 pm under flight JH816.

From 20 December 2019, JH815 departs from Kobe for Izumo at 2.30 pm, arrives ib Izumo at 3.25 pm before leaving Izumo for Oobe at 3.55 pm and arriving in Kobe at 4.45 pm under flight JH815.

FDA's second route flight departs from Kobe for Matsumoto on 27 October 2019 at 9.55 am under flight JH232, arrives in Matsumoto at 10.55 am before taking off from Matsumoto for Kobe at 12.20 pm and arriving in Kobe at 1.25 pm under flight JH233.

The check-in counters at Kobe Airport for Fuji Dream Airlines are ready to serve passengers, who are free to pick up inaugural flight brochures at the counters.

The airport of Kobe is of a thirty-minutes ferry ride distance from Kansai.

Lao Airlines launches non-stop flight to Kumamoto on 18 March 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA

Lao Airlines, exhibiting at JATA Tourism Expo 2019 in Intex Osaka for the first time, has announced that it is launching Southeast Asia's first ever non-stop scheduled flight from Vientiane to Kumamoto on 18 March 2020.

On 18 March 2020, a Lao Airlines Airbus A320 outbound flight to Kumamoto departs from Vientiane at 1.30 am, touches down in Kumamoto at 8 am before the outbound flight leaves Kumamoto for Vientiane at 10.30 am and arrives in Vientiane at 1.30 pm.

Lao Airlines flies to Kumamoto from Vientiane on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The new route will enable passengers to transit in Vientiane without stopovers in Hong Kong and Fukuoka or Osaka airports.

To ensure the continuity of the new route, Lao Airlines is partnering with All Nippon Airways to allow its passengers to connect seamlessly to flights for Haneda, Nagoya Chubu, Osaka and Naha from Kumamoto.

Lao Airlines welcomes the world to enter Laos from Kumamoto.

New Airline Exhibitors of JATA Tourism Expo 2019 in Osaka

Pictures by : Gan Yung Chyan

                    / KUCINTA SETIA

IR Gaming Expo 2019 takes off at JATA Tourism Expo

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA

The first edition of IR Gaming Expo 2019 takes off at JATA Tourism Expo in Intex Osaka from 24 to 27 October 2019.

Exhibitors include Genting Singapore, Sun city Group, MGM Resorts, Melco and Sands Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Of note,  the Hong King-listed Suncity Group with headquarters in Macau as a travel and resort management group is expanding its portfolio including the development of integrated resorts in Hoi An and Wakayama, Kansai Region.

The site in Hoi An is Vietnam's largest gaming-led integrated resort. It is expected to be opened in the first half of 2020.

The integrated resort in Wakayama is under planning stage. The Wakayama Integrated Resort 2.0 Design Concept as shown above shows the scale of the resort.

JATA Tourism Expo 2019 is held in Osaka. Besides IR Gaming Expo, other Expo features include Inbound Business Tourism Expo, Visit Japan Travel Expo and the traditional international tourism mart known as Travel Showcase. While IR Gaming Expo and Inbound Business Tourism Expo are opened at 10 am, the Travel Showcase opens its doors on the first day at 12 pm with seminars during lunch hours.

Cambodia Airways launches Phnom Penh - Wenzhou flight on 8 November 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Cambodia Airways has announced on Facebook that it is launching twice-weekly scheduled flight from Phnom Penh to Wenzhou on 8 November 2019. 

On 8 November 2019, Cambodia Airways flight KR8903 departs from Phnom Penh for Wenzhou at 12.40 pm, touches down in Wenzhou at 5.05 pm before leaving Wenzhou for Phnom Penh at 6.05 pm and arriving in Phnom Penh at 9.05 pm under flight KR8904.

Cambodia Airways uses Airbus A319 for the flights to Wenzhou on Fridays and Mondays.

To mark the launch of the new route, Cambodia Airways is marketing one-way fare to Wenzhou from Phnom Penh at 115 US Dollars only for travel on 8 November. Fares after this date start from 190.99 US Dollars.

Cambodia Airways is the second Southeast Asia airline to launch scheduled flights to Wenzhou after Lao Airlines. 

Jetstar Asia launches non-stop flight from Hefei on 28 November 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Picture : A Jetstar Asia flight approaching Singapore Changi.

According to an announcement by Anhui Airports Group, Jetstar Asia Airways is launching direct scheduled flight to Hefei Xinqiao International Airport from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 on 28 November 2019 using Airbus A320 aircraft.

The approved flight schedules are as follows:-

On 28 November 2019, Jetstar Asia flight 3K885 departs from Changi Airport for Hefei at 5.05 am, touches down in Hefei at 10 am before leaving Hefei for Singapore at 11.05 am and touching down in Changi at 4.20 pm on the same day under flight 3K886.

Jetstar Asia Airways, the pioneer of direct routes from Singapore to Xuzhou and Sanya, flies to Hefei on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays non-stop from Singapore. Lasting about 5 to 5 hours 15 minutes, it will be the budget airline's longest route.

Update : According to Jetstar Asia's press release, the scheduled flight to Hefei is on a charter partnership arrangement with Shanghai Xihao Aviation Service. It operates up to three times a week only when the aircraft is full.

Starlux Airlines' first A321neo to arrive in Taoyuan on 28 October 2019

Report : Gan Yung Chyan
              / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : AIB Family Flights

According to Starlux Airlines Facebook, the new Taiwan airline's first A321neo will arrive in Taoyuan on 28 October 2019. It will be piloted by the airline's founder Zhang Guowei.

Flight arrival time is not confirmed.

Eastar Jet launches non-stop flight to Haikou on 20 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Eastar Jet, that is exhibiting at JATA Tourism Expo 2020 in Osaka from 24 to 27 October 2019, has launched its first non-stop scheduled flight to Haikou from Cheongju on 20 October 2019.

On 20 October 2019, Eastar Jet flight ZE731 departs from Cheongju for Haikou at 9.40 pm, touches down in Haikou on 21 October 2019 at 2.05 am before leaving Haikou for Cheongju at 3.05 am under flight ZE732 and arriving in Cheongju at 8.05 am.

EastarJet uses B737-800 and B737-900 aircraft on the route to Haikou. It flies to Haikou on Wednesdays and Saturdays and returns to Cheongju on Thursdays and Sundays.

Cheongju, located in central South Korea, is 128 kilometres away from Seoul. It is well-known for its mountains, waterfalls and springs.

Air Macau launches daily flight to Jieyang on 27 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Air Macau, that will exhibit at JATA Tourism Expo 2020 in Osaka from 24 to 27 October 2019, is launching daily flight from Macau to Shantou Jieyang International Airport on 27 October 2019.

According to schedules, Air Macau flight NX52 departs from Macau for Jieyang at 7.55 am, touches down in Jieyang at 9 am before leaving Jieyang for Macau at 9.50 am and arriving in Macau at 10.55 am under flight NX51.

Air Macau uses Airbus A319 for the Jieyang flights.

Hainan Airlines launches flights to Osaka Kansai and Narita in late October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Hainan Airlines launches the following routes, Beijing Capital - Osaka Kansai and Beijing Capital - Narita on 29 October 2019 and 31 October 2019 respectively using its B737-800 aircraft. Listed below are the detailed flight schedules:

Routes effective 29 October 2019
Flight                Route                    Timing                                  Frequency            
HU473        Beijing  - Kansai     12.10 pm - 3.55 pm          Tue, Fri, Sun
HU473        Beijing - Kansai      3.10 pm - 7 pm                Thu, Sat
HU474        Kansai - Beijing        8.55 pm - 11.25 pm             Fri
HU474        Kansai - Beijing         9 pm - 11.30 pm             Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun


Routes effective 31 October 2019
Flight                 Route                           Timing                                 Frequency
HU439        Beijing - Narita          7.20 am - 11.55 am              Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat
HU440        Narita - Beijing          1.55 pm - 4.55 pm                 Mon, Sat
HU440        Narita - Beijing          1.55 pm - 5.05 pm                   Tue, Thu


With the launch of the Beijing Capital - Narita route, Hainan Airlines will stop operating flights to Haneda from Beijing after 26 October 2019. It currently has flights to Kansai from Haikou, Shenzhen and Xi'an Xianyang.