Greater Bay Airlines has obtained AOC, its Air Transport License yet to be issued

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image courtesy : Greater Bay Airlines

Greater Bay Airlines, founded by Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines Chairman Huang Chubiao, applied for the "Air Operator Certificate" (AOC) from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department in  July 2020. When the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department responded to media inquiries on 8 October 2021, it stated that it had issued the AOC under the established mechanism to Greater Bay Airlines.

However, Greater Bay Airlines still needs to wait for the Air Transport License to be issued before it can set off to operate scheduled flights. As Cathay Pacific made representations to the Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority earlier, the Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority needs to hold a closed-door hearing, which is scheduled to be held at the end of December 2021.

The Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong stated that the Civil Aviation Department received application for air operation permit from Greater Bay Airlines in July 2020. After carefully and comprehensively assessing that the applicant's abilities in all aspects meet the requirements of the Civil Aviation Department, the Director of Civil Aviation has issued the AOC to Greater Bay Airlines in accordance with the established mechanism.

In addition, Greater Bay Airlines announced on its website that it has appointed Jardine Air Services as its ground handler at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Greater Bay Airlines announced earlier that the first passenger plane has arrived  in Hong Kong and the second passenger plane will be delivered in October. The airline has also hired several pilots and flight attendants. It aimed to launch flights to Singapore, Suvarnabhumi and Phuket in the fourth quarter of 2021 but since it has not yet obtained its Air Transport License, it cannot launch scheduled flights until 2022 unless these are charter flights.

Greater Bay Airlines has applied to operate flights to 104 destinations in mainland China, North Asia and Southeast Asia. It aims to own 10 B737-800 aircraft by 2022 and more than 30 B737-800 aircraft by 2026.

Singapore Airlines operates Incheon-Singapore VTL flight from 16 November 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 9 October 2021, Singapore Airlines announces that it is operating Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL)-flights from Rome, Copenhagen, Paris, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, London, New York, Los Angeles from 19 October 2021 and from Incheon from 16 November 2021.

The flight schedules of the VTL-flights are reproduced as follows:-

Travelers on VTL flights enjoy quarantine-free entry into Singapore. Flights from Singapore to the above destinations operated by Singapore Airlines are non-VTL flights and require PCR negative test results before departure.

Ref: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/vaccinated-travel-lanes/#Designated-Vaccinated-Travel-Lane-Flights

Scoot launches non-stop flight to Berlin on 19 October 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

News (1)

Scoot launches non-stop flight to Berlin on 19 October 2021

On 9 October 2021, Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd announces that Scoot is launching non-stop scheduled flight from Singapore to Berlin, the capital of Germany, on 19 October 2021.

On 19 October 2021, Scoot flight TR734 departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 for Berlin at 1.40 am, arrives in Berlin at 8.45 am before leaving Berlin on 20 October 2021 at 11.20 am and touching down in Singapore at 5.40 am on 21 October 2021 under flight TR735.

Scoot flies to Berlin non-stop on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with its Dreamliner 787-8.

News (2)

Scoot adjusts time schedules for its Singapore=Athens=Berlin flights for winter

In addition, Scoot flies to Berlin via Athens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends from 16 October 2021. The flight schedules until 30 October 2021 are as follows:-

Flight TR722 leaves Singapore for Berlin via Athens at 1 am, transits in Athens at 7.25 am before leaving Athens for Berlin at 8.50 am and arriving in Berlin at 10.50 am.

Flight TR723 departs from Berlin for Singapore via Athens at 11.50 am, transits in Athens at 3.50 pm before taking off from Athens for Singapore at 5.20 pm and landing in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 9.15 am the next day.

From 31 October 2021 to 26 March 2022, the adjusted flight schedules of the Singapore-Athens-Berlin-Athens-Singapore routes are as follows:-

Flight TR722 leaves Singapore for Berlin via Athens at 12.35 am, transits in Athens at 6.55 am before leaving Athens for Berlin at 8.20 am and arriving in Berlin at 10.20 am.

Flight TR723 departs from Berlin for Singapore via Athens at 11.20 am, transits in Athens at 3.05 pm before taking off from Athens for Singapore at 4.35 pm and landing in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 9.15 am the next day.

The above flights are non-Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights. Together with the non-stop flights to Berlin, Scoot operates daily flights to Berlin from 19 October 2021.

News (3)

TR735 is the VTL-flight for vaccinated travelers only, note requirements and eligibility before booking

Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd emphasizes that the non-stop Berlin-Singapore flight TR735 is the VTL-flight for vaccinated travelers only. Before booking this flight, consult the link to know more about vaccine passport requirements and eligibility. Customers, in particular, must be prepared to produce proof of PCR negative test result 48 hours before flight departure from Berlin.

Joining the VTL flight will entitle vaccinated travelers quarantine-free entry into Singapore.

News (4)

Scoot is planning Singapore=Incheon VTL-flight

Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd also announces on 9 October 2021 that Scoot is planning non-stop VTL-flight from Singapore to Incheon as Singapore and South Korea open VTL on 15 November 2021. Customers will not need to transit in Taoyuan for the onward flight to Incheon. Further details will be revealed in due course.

See also: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/vaccinated-travel-lanes/#Designated-Vaccinated-Travel-Lane-Flights

Egyptair flies twice weekly to Tel Aviv from 14 October 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image courtesy : Humans of JNF

                                  

On 4 October 2021, Egyptair operates its official ceremonial flight from Cairo to Tel Aviv, marking the Egyptian airline's entry into the Israeli travel market with its Horus logo. Since then, there were social media messages claiming that the airline will operate four times a week to Tel Aviv from Cairo.

However, a check on Egyptair's official web-site shows that Egyptair is not operating four times weekly to Tel Aviv. Instead, it is operating scheduled flights twice a week from 14 October 2021, on Thursdays and Sundays at different timings.

On 14 October 2021 (Thursday), Egyptair flight MS593 leaves Cairo for Tel Aviv at 4.30 pm, arrives in Tel Aviv at 6.50 pm before taking off from Tel Aviv for Cairo at 7.50 pm under flight MS594 and landing in Cairo at 8.15 pm. These timings are effective for flights on Thursdays. The flight journey takes 1 hour 25 minutes.

On Sundays starting from 17 October, Egyptair flight MS591 departs from Cairo to Tel Aviv on Sundays from 17 non-stop at 8.55 am, touches down in Tel Aviv at 11.15 am before leaving Tel Aviv for Cairo under flight MS592 at 12.15 pm and arriving in Cairo at 12.40 pm within 1 hour 20 minutes.

On other days of the week, passengers have to transfer via either Athens or Abu Dhabi for flights to Tel Aviv.

Egyptair flies from Cairo to Tel Aviv on Thursdays and Sundays with its Airbus A220-300 Horus jet. Previously before 4 October 2021, Egyptians and Israelis flew to Cairo with the logo-less aircraft of Air Sinai, Egyptair's former Cairo-Tel Aviv route operator subsidiary.

Egyptair has closed down Air Sinai.

Bamboo Airways begins its first non-scheduled flight to San Francisco on 23 September 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image courtesy : Bamboo Airways

                                             

Bamboo Airways operated its first demonstration/charter flight from Hanoi to San Francisco with its Dreamliner 787-9 on 23 September 2021. The flight is an important milestone in its international operations. In total, the Hanoi-based carrier will operate twelve demonstration/charter flights from Hanoi and Danang to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle through November 2021.

 

Bamboo Airways’ first flight to the U.S., QH9149, departed from Hanoi at 8.15 pm, touched down in San Francisco at 7.51 pm with a total flight time of 13 hours and 36 minutes according to FlightRadar24. On 24 September 2021, flight QH9150 took off from San Francisco at 2.55 pm and arrived in Hanoi at 8.25 pm.

Bamboo Airways has opened its representative office in San Francisco, marking its commitment towards flight service to the U.S. It has signed the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with San Francisco International Airport for flights to Vietnam and will sign another MOU with Los Angeles International Airport.

Tata Group takes over Air India

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Indian media The Economic Times on 8 October 2021, Tata Group has won the bid to take over Air India for Rs 18,000 crore, marking an end to the Indian government's bid to privatize the national flag carrier.

Out of the Rs 18,000 crore to acquire Air India from the government, 15% will go to the government and the rest will go in clearing debt. Tata Group will own 100% of the government stake in Air India.

Air India will be Tata Group's fully-owned airline subsidiary.

US-Bangla Airlines launches direct flight to Male on 19 November 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Bangladesh's second-largest international airline, US-Bangla Airlines, launches non-stop scheduled flight from Dhaka to Male, the capital of the Maldives, on 19 November 2021. It operates flights to Male on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays.

On 19 November 2021, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS337 departs from Dhaka for Male at 10.45 am, arrives in Male at 2.15 pm before leaving Male for Dhaka at 3.15 pm and touching down in Dhaka at 8.15 pm under flight BS338. These timings are effective for flights on Fridays.

On Sundays, flight BS337 leaves Dhaka for Male at 9.30 am, arrives in Male at 12.50 pm before taking off from Male for Dhaka at 1.55 pm and landing in Dhaka at 6.55 pm under flight BS338.

On Tuesdays, flight BS337 takes off from Dhaka for Male at 11.10 am, arrives in Male at 2.35 pm before leaving Male for Dhaka at 3.35 pm and arriving in Dhaka at 8.35 pm under flight BS338.

US-Bangla Airlines is the first airline to link Dhaka directly with Male. All the above flights are operated using B737-800 aircraft.

AirAsia reaffirms its commitment to convert the remaining A320 fleet orders into A321neo

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

AirAsia Group and Airbus signed an amended agreement, reiterating that it will transform the existing fleet mainly composed of A320 aircraft into a larger and more fuel-efficient A321neo fleet, in which AirAsia will convert its remaining A320 aircraft orders to A321neo.

The contract marks AirAsia’s commitment to purchase the largest model in the best-selling A320 series. The single-cabin layout of the A321neo can accommodate up to 236 passengers, which will allow the airline to increase capacity while benefiting from the lowest operating costs in the single-aisle category. A321neo is equipped with Airbus's Space-Flex cabin, which can configure cabin space more effectively and provide the best passenger comfort and efficiency.

With the remaining 13 undelivered A320 aircraft converted to A321neo, AirAsia has now ordered a total of 362 A321neo aircraft. These aircraft will be allocated according to the needs of the airlines in the group. According to the agreement between AirAsia and Airbus, the delivery time will be Continue until 2035. AirAsia received its first A321neo in November 2019, and there are currently 4 A321neos in service. At present, the total size of the group's fleet is 211 aircraft, including 169 A320, 38 A320neo and 4 A321neo.

Bangkok Airways launches relief flight to Singapore from Suvarnabhumi on 6 October 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to the Changi Airport flight status, Bangkok Airways has launched relief flight to Singapore from Suvarnabhumi on 6 October 2021.

The inbound Bangkok Airways flight arrives in Singapore from Suvarnabhumi at 10.58 am under flight PG4803 while the outbound flight PG4804 leaves Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 Gate D33 at 12.25 pm.

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines, which originally scheduled cargo flight KB500 to Singapore from Paro on 6 October 2021, has cancelled the flight.

Vietnam Airlines resumes flight to Taoyuan from Hanoi on 1 November 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Vietnam Airlines issued a statement on 4 October 2021 stating that it plans to resume scheduled flight from Hanoi to Taoyuan on 1 November 2021. It will fly once weekly on Tuesdays.  No further details are available.

The Vietnam national flag carrier has already resumed international commercial flights to Narita on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to Incheon on Thursdays and Sundays, and to Suvarnabhumi on Wednesdays.

On 3 and 5 October 2021, Vietnam Airlines resumes commercial flights to Sydney and Melbourne from Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam Airlines also operates relief flights to KLIA from Hanoi and to Incheon from Danang and Van Don.