Lanmei Airlines launches the first cross-border route to Dunhuang on 9 December 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA

According to Dunhuang Airport in Gansu Province, China, Lanmei Airlines launches the world's first cross-border scheduled flight to Dunhuang from Siem Reap on 9 December 2019. 

The Cambodian airline will operate scheduled flights to Dunhuang from 9 December 2019 to 24 February 2020 on Mondays.

On 9 December 2019, Lanmei Airlines flight LQ858 departs from Siem Reap for Dunhuang at 3 pm, touches down in Dunhuang at 9.35 pm before leaving Dunhuang for Siem Reap at 10.35 pm and arriving in Siem Reap at 3.30 am on 10 December 2019 under flight LQ859.

The flight duration to Dunhuang from Siem Reap is 5 hours 35 minutes whereas the duration of the reverse flight is 5 hours 55 minutes.

Dunhuang and Siem Reap are historic cultural cities where the UNESCO world heritage sites, Mogao Caves and Angkor Wat, are of proximity to the Dunhuang and Siem Reap Airports. 

Shenzhen Airlines introduces new flights in December 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                    / KUCINTA SETIA

Shenzhen Airlines is introducing new routes from Shenzhen to Jeju, Penang and increasing the flight frequency on the Shenzhen - Osaka Kansai route in December 2019. 

The inaugural flight to Jeju from Shenzhen begins on 15 December 2019 while the first flight to Penang from Shenzhen takes off on 18 December 2019.

On 15 December 2019, Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH9041 departs from Shenzhen for Jeju at 2.30 pm, arrives in Jeju at 5.50 pm before leaving Jeju for Shenzhen under flight ZH9042 at 7.25 pm and landing in Shenzhen at 10 pm. Flights between Shenzhen and Jeju are operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

On 18 December 2019, flight ZH8003 leaves Shenzhen for Penang at 2.10 pm, touches down in 5.50 pm before leaving Penang for Shenzhen at 6.50 pm and landing in Shenzhen at 10.25 pm under flight ZH8004.

Shenzhen Airlines' flights to Penang are operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends.

From 1 December 2019, Shenzhen Airlines is introducing a second daily flight frequency on the Shenzhen - Osaka Kansai route. The additional flights are  ZH8063 and ZH8064.

Flight ZH8063 takes off from Shenzhen for Kansai at 3.20 pm, lands in Kansai Airport at 7.55 pm before leaving Kansai at 9.50 pm under flight ZH8064 and arriving in Shenzhen at 1.05 am on the next day.

Jeju Air completes return Muan - Sanya flights on 10 November 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Jeju Air launches non-stop scheduled flight from Muan to Sanya on 9 November 2019. The flight leaves Sanya for Muan on 10 November 2019.

According to Jeju Air, its flight 7C8613 departs from Muan for Sanya at 9.40 pm, arrives in Sanya on 10 November 2019 at 2.20 am before leaving Sanya for Muan at 3.25 am and touching down in Muan at 7.10 am under flight 7C8614.

Jeju Air flies to Sanya on Wednesday and Saturday evenings and returns to Muan on Thursday and Sunday mornings.

The flights are operated using B737-800 aircraft. 

Joy Air flies daily to Wuhan from 7 November 2019 with extensions to Jieyang and Beihai

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Joy Air, that has been operating B737-800 passenger flights from Xi'an to Harbin since 30 August 2019, has added new routes to Wuhan, Shantou and Beihai. From 7 November 2019, it flies daily to Wuhan from Xi'an including thrice-weekly extension flights to Jieyang since 27 October 2019 and to Beihai four times a week.

Below are the new B737-800 flight schedules of Joy Air from 10 November 2019 until 27 March 2020:-

Flight                        Route                           Timing
JR1463           Xi'an - Wuhan               6.40 am to 8.15 am, Tues, Thus, Sats
JR1464          Wuhan - Xi'an                2.55 pm to 4.20 pm, Tues, Thus, Sats
JR1501          Xi'an - Wuhan                6.40 am to 8.20 am, Mons, Weds, Fris, Suns
JR1502          Wuhan - Xi'an                2.55 pm to 4.20 pm, Mons, Weds, Fris, Suns
JR1463          Wuhan - Jieyang           9.15 am to 11.10 am, Tues, Thus, Sats
JR1464          Jieyang - Wuhan          12 pm to 1.55 pm, Tues, Thus, Sats
JR1505          Wuhan - Beihai              9.20 am to 11.25 am, Mons, Weds, Fris, Suns
JR1506          Beihai - Wuhan             11.45 am to 1.40 pm, Mons, Weds, Fris, Suns
JR1475          Xi'an - Harbin                5.25 pm to 8.15 pm, Daily
JR1476          Harbin - Xi'an                9.15 pm to 12.45 am, Daily

Cathay Pacific's plans for 32 A321neo aircraft between 2020 and 2024

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

According to the Cathay Pacific Group aircraft fleet expansion and upgrade plan announcement on 8 November 2019, Cathay Pacific Group plans to receive a total of 32 Airbus A321neo jets between 2020 and 2024. 

Of the above aircraft orders, Cathay Pacific Group plans to transfer the first 16 A321neo jets from Cathay Pacific to its subsidiary Cathay Dragon between 2020 and 2022. 

From 2022 to 2024, the balance of 16 A321neo jets will be transferred to its low-cost subsidiary HK Express as part of the low-cost-carrier's fleet renewal plan.

HK Express has a fleet of 8 Airbus A320-200, 5 A320neo and 11 A321-200 aircraft while Cathay Dragon owns a fleet of 15 A320-200, 8 A321-200 and 25 A330-300 aircraft.

Besides the imports of A321neo, the first B777-9 out of 21 B777-9 aircraft orders and 12 A350-1000 jets will be delivered to Cathay Pacific by 2024 as part of Cathay Pacific's fleet upgrade plan.

Air New Zealand launches the fastest non-stop long-haul flight to Newark on 29 October 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Air New Zealand, that resumes commercial flights between Christchurch and Singapore from 1 December 2019, has confirmed that it is launching the world's fastest non-stop flight to Newark Liberty International Airport in New York metropolitan area from Auckland on 29 October 2020. Air tickets on this route are available for sale on Air New Zealand's official web-site www.airnewzealand.com from 20 November 2019.

On 29 October 2020, Air New Zealand flight NZ2 departs from Auckland for Newark at 7.55 pm, arrives in Newark Terminal B at US time 5.35 pm on 30 October 2020 before leaving Newark for Auckland at 7.05 pm and touching down in Auckland at 6.45 am on 1 November 2020 under flight NZ1.

With the non-stop flight from Auckland to Newark, tourists from New Zealand, Australia and the neighbouring Pacific countries no longer need to transit in Singapore for Singapore Airlines' flights to Newark, currently the world's longest route at 9,521 miles apart clocking flight time of 18 hours 30 minutes.

Auckland is 8,806 miles away from Newark.

According to Air New Zealand, the one-way trip to Newark from Auckland takes 17 hours 40 minutes while the return trip to Auckland from Newark takes only 15 hours 40 minutes.

Air New Zealand flies to Newark using its 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrives in Auckland on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays.

Congratulations to AirAsia X on its maiden passenger flight to Singapore on 10 November 2019!

Inflight Review by : Gan Yung Chyan
                               / KUCINTA SETIA

Congratulations to AirAsia X on its successful maiden passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 on 10 November 2019!

AirAsia X flight D7 762 departed from KLIA2 Gate P8 for Singapore Changi at 8.11 am,  an eleven-minutes delay but touched down in Changi Airport at 9 am five minutes ahead of schedule. It arrived in Gate 19 of Terminal 4.

According to normal schedule, the flight departs KLIA2 at 8.00 am and arrives in Singapore Changi at 9.05 am.

The aircraft Airbus A330-300 spotting the AirAsia X 9th Anniversary livery has a seat configuration of 3-4-3 (Seat alphabets A B C - D F F G - K J H) from Rows 6 to 43. From Rows 44 to 50 (Seat alphabets AC - D F F G - K H) , there are two seats by the windows on both sides of the aircraft. This seat configuration differs from the A330-300 utilized on its long-haul routes from KLIA to Xi'an, Beijing, Gold Coast and other long-haul destinations.

Above : The legroom of Seat 39A onboard AirAsia X's flight on the Xi'an - Kuala Lumpur route.

Above : The leg room of Seat 45H on AirAsia X's route to Singapore.

On the long-haul routes, the leg room of Rows 39 to 45 (Seat alphabets A, C, K, H) by the windows is wider and longer than the leg room of Rows 44 to 50 on the flight to Singapore.

AirAsia has expected the booking rate on the first AirAsia X flight to Singapore to be higher than its usual A320 flights to Singapore. In fact the passenger seat occupied rate for the inaugural flight is 98 per cent.

Hot meals for the short-haul flight are not served. However, passengers can still purchase cheesecakes, mineral water, fruit juice and hot cup noodles onboard.

To welcome the passengers of the first AirAsia X flight to Singapore, AirAsia and Changi Airport have given away to the passengers after alighting free Changi Airport universal power adaptors, AirAsia umbrellas, key chains and phone rings. The AirAsia collectibles are usually available for inflight duty-free sale.

AirAsia X flies twice daily between Singapore and KLIA2 in its effort to draw more passengers from AirAsia Singapore hub to Kuala Lumpur and its long haul flights from KLIA2.

Urumqi Air's international flight counter operating hours revised

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Urumqi Air has revised the international flight counter operating hours in Urumqi, Wuhan and Singapore recently. Its flight from Urumqi to Singapore via Wuhan is currently its only international flight service.

In Urumqi, Urumqi Air's international flight counter opens 2 hours before departure and closes 40 minutes before departure.

In Wuhan, the counter for Urumqi Air opens 2 hours 30 minutes before departure and closes 1 hour before departure.

At Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4, the counter for Urumqi Air opens 2 hours 30 minutes before departure and closes 40 minutes before departure, according to Urumqi Air.

After 27 October 2019, Urumqi Air has been operating red-eye B737-800 scheduled flights from Singapore to Wuhan at  3.40 am. Flights arrive in Wuhan at 8.45 am for Wuhan-bound passengers to alight before continuing the journey to Urumqi at 12.25 pm and arriving in Urumqi at 5 pm. Its counter in Changi Airport Terminal 4 is located at Row 1.

Singapore Airlines to take delivery of its first B777-9 in 2022

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

According to foreign media reports, at the Singapore Airlines 2019 financial report media conference, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong confirmed that its first Boeing 777-9 aircraft will be delivered in 2022.

Singapore Airlines has postponed the delivery reception of the first Boeing 777-9 aircraft to 2022, one year later than originally announced. The delay was due to a problem with the production plan of the 777-9 aircraft. Singapore Airlines has decided to order 20 Boeing 777-9s and another six options.

Boeing 777-9 orders can be traced back to October 2017, mainly to replace the Boeing 777-300ERs on Singapore Airlines long-haul flights.

At the time, Goh Choon Phong said: “Singapore Airlines has been a Boeing customer for decades. We are very happy to finalize this important wide-body aircraft order, which will enable us to continue to operate modern energy-efficient fleets. The new aircraft will also provide Singapore Airlines Group with new growth opportunities, expand our route network and provide our travellers with more travel options."

That aircraft order was significant. In the White House Rose Garden, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and US President Trump attended the signing ceremony.

Last year, Goh Choon Phong said that the First Class cabin of the 777-9 will set a new benchmark for the entire airline industry.

Like many airlines, Singapore Airlines has placed great emphasis on twin-engine dual-aisle aircraft in recent years. Orders such as the Boeing 777-9 have led to speculation about the near-term prospects of the airline's large aircraft such as the A380. Singapore Airlines currently has 19 operating A380s.

Vietjet Air begins scheduled flight between Singapore and Danang on 20 December 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

On 5 November 2019, Vietjet Air announced that it is introducing daily scheduled flight between Danang and Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 from 20 December 2019 using Airbus A321 aircraft. In order to introduce this service, it has adjusted its Ho Chi Minh City - Singapore flight schedule by adding a breakfast hour flight to it and amended its afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Vietjet's new flight schedules from Ho Chi Minh City and Danang to Singapore effective 20 December 2019 until further notice are run on a circular route basis. They are as follows:

New Flight                 Route                                                             Timing
VJ813                Ho Chi Minh City - Singapore                       6.50 am - 9.55 am, Daily
VJ970                Singapore - Danang                                    10.50 am - 12.30 pm, Daily
VJ973                Danang - Singapore                                    12.20 pm - 4 pm, Daily
VJ814                Singapore - Ho Chi Minh City                      4.55 pm - 6 pm, Daily

The existing Ho Chi Minh City - Singapore - Ho Chi Minh City schedules under VJ811 / VJ812 and the Hanoi -  Singapore flight frequency of Vietjet Air remain unchanged.

Existing Flight                   Route                                                     Timing
VJ811               Ho Chi Minh City - Singapore                   9 am - 12.05 pm, Daily
VJ812              Singapore - Ho Chi Minh City                   1.05 pm - 2.10 pm, Daily
VJ915              Hanoi - Singapore                                     9.35 am - 1.55 pm, Daily
VJ916              Singapore - Hanoi                                     2.55 pm - 5.25 pm, Daily


To celebrate the launch of its Danang service to Singapore, Vietjet has sold discounted promotion tickets from 0 Dollars on the route sectors to Singapore from Danang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during lunch hours from 5 November to 7 November 2019. Further low fares after 7 November are subject to availability.

Vietjet Air first started flight to Singapore from Danang on a charter basis on 10 December 2018.