Donghai Airlines launches its first international passenger flight on 15 December 2017

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan 
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Donghai Airlines, the private airline of Shenzhen, announced on 15 November 2017 that it is launching its first international scheduled passenger flight from Shenzhen to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, on 15 December 2017. It flies between Shenzhen and Phu Quoc on Mondays and Fridays.

On 15 December 2017, Donghai Airlines flight DZ6227 is scheduled to depart from Shenzhen for Phu Quoc at 9.30 am and arrives in Phu Quoc at 11.45 am (Vietnam time). It will stay in Phu Quoc airport for half a day before it leaves Phu Quoc for Shenzhen at 6.10 pm local time and touching down in Shenzhen at 9.10 pm under flight DZ6228.

The announcement came shortly after Donghai Airlines B737-800 completed its test flight to Phu Quoc from Shenzhen on 13 November 2017.

Future international destinations of Donghai Airlines include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Sriwijaya Air Group's Tanjung Pandan - Singapore return Charter Flight Schedules

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Sriwijaya Air Group Belitung office in Tanjung Pandan has confirmed to Sayacinta - Airpost on 15 November 2017 that Sriwijaya Air's first B737 charter flight between Tanjung Pandan and Singapore is carried out on 15 December 2017. 

Subsequent charter flights to Singapore by Belitung travel agencies are planned on 17 December, 20 December, 22 December, 24 December, 27 December, 29 December, 31 December 2017, 4 and 5 January 2018.

On 15 December 2017, Sriwijaya Air departs from Tanjung Pandan for Singapore at 8.30 am Indonesia time (9.30 am Singapore time) under flight SJ5002, arrives at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 10.20 am before leaving Singapore for Tanjung Pandan at 11.20 am and touching down in Tanjung Pandan at 12 pm (1.20 pm Singapore time) under flight SJ5003, subject to flight delays due to air traffic conditions. 

The exact type of B737 jet deployed on the new route at press time, however, is not confirmed. 

Aircraft spotters should monitor Changi Airport web-site for the flight status of Sriwijaya Air on the relevant dates.

Samoa Airways launches scheduled flight to Sydney on 15 November 2017

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Samoa Airways, the national airline of Samoa in the Central Pacific near Fiji, launches its first scheduled flight to Sydney on 15 November 2017 using its new B737-800 aircraft wet-leased from Neos. Its first international flight is to Auckland, which started on 14 November 2017 using the same aircraft. 

Prior to the inaugural flights, the official ceremony to launch Samoa Airways operations at Apia's Faleolo International Airport was held, besides to welcome the new B737 aircraft which arrived in Faleolo after flying over America Samoa from Milan via city airports including Singapore and Cairns. 

On 15 November 2017, Samoa Airways flight OL855 departs from Apia for Sydney at 5.05 pm, arrives in Sydney at 8.40 pm before leaving Sydney for Apia at 9.40 pm and touching down in Apia at 6.15 am under flight OL856 on 16 November 2017 Apia time.

Samoa Airways operates flights to Sydney on Thursdays and Saturdays and lands in Apia on Fridays and Sundays.

Samoa Airways' first international flight OL731 departs from Apia for Auckland on 14 November 2017 at 7 am, touches down in Auckland at 10.15 am before leaving Auckland for Apia at 11.10 am under flight OL732 and arriving in Apia at 4.05 pm. These schedules are valid for the Auckland flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

On Fridays and Sundays beginning 16 November 2017, flight OL731 leaves Apia for Auckland at 7.15 am, arrives in Auckland at 10.30 am before leaving Auckland for Apia at 11.25 am and touching down in Apia at 4.20 pm under flight OL732.

Samoa Airways, formerly Polynesian Airlines, was rebranded in early 2017 to replace Virgin Samoa on all international flights from Apia and it also has flights from Fagalili to Pago Pago in America Samoa using one De Haviland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft showing Polynesian Airlines' classic logo. Virgin Samoa has ceased operations on 12 November 2017.

Samoa Airways continues with domestic flights to Ofu and Fitiuta in Samoa using its two other DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft showing Polynesian Airlines' logo. It has code-share flights with Fiji Airways on the latter Nadi - Honolulu route under the two airlines' Pacific Partnership Alliance.

Samoa Airways plans to acquire or lease a B737 MAX by 2019 to operate scheduled flights to Melbourne, Brisbane and other potential destinations in the Pacific from Apia.

The logo of Samoa Airways is an adapted version of Polynesian Airlines' iconic coconut tree symbol, which represents Samoans' traditional culture and lifestyle, their resilience and versatility in meeting the challenges in today's changing world. The airline's new livery also incorporates meaningful Samoan cultural motifs that suggest the heritage and history of Samoa.

Thai Vietjet Air launches Da Lat's first international flight on 18 December 2017

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Thai Vietjet Air, also known as Vietjet Air Thailand and Thai Vietjet, launches Da Lat's first scheduled international flight on 18 December 2017 using its Airbus A320 aircraft.

On 18 December 2017, Thai Vietjet flight VZ940 departs from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi for Da Lat at 10.20 am, arrives in Da Lat at 12.05 pm before taking off from Da Lat for Suvarnabhumi at 12.45 pm and touching down in Suvarnabhumi at 2.30 pm under flight VZ941.

Thai Vietjet Air's international flights to Da Lat operate on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Thai Vietjet Air flies from Suvarnabhumi to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Can Tho, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Taichung on a scheduled basis according to its web-site at www.vietjetair.com.

Solaseed Air marks 15th Anniversary in 2017 with the world's only open check-in lounge

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Updated 31/10/20

Solaseed Air, the Japanese low-cost airline headquartered in Miyazaki, marks 15th Anniversary of foundation in 2017. It was formed in 1997 as Pan Asia Airlines, adopted the name Skynet Asia Airways in August 1998 and started operations in July 2002. In July 2011, it changed its commercial identity to the current name of Solaseed Air. 

Solaseed Air operates scheduled flights between Haneda and cities in Kyushu such as Kumamoto and Nasagaki. It also operates flights to Naha. It is a subsidiary of All Nippon Airways which has a 17.03 per cent stake in the airline. The balance investment are taken up by Development Bank of Japan with a 22.41 per cent stake and Miyasaki Kotsu Co. Ltd with the stake of 17.03 per cent.

To celebrate 15th Anniversary, Solaseed Air expanded its check-in corner at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. It now has the world's only open public check-in lounge in an airport. The lounge not only recounts the history of Solaseed Air, it also has a showcase of its aircraft models, marketing and sales information in the form of complimentary copies of Solaseed Air Inflight Magazine Solatane, Timetables and travel packages. A TV screen broadcasts the history of Solaseed Air daily.

Solaseed Air marks 15th Anniversary in 2017. It is the only low-cost airline in the world to operate the open check-in lounge. Access to the lounge is free. The lounge provides a comprehensive range of Solaseed Air information in Haneda, indeed a factor which enables Haneda Airport to clinch a Skytrax Five-Star Airport Award in 2017. In front of the lounge there is a neat corner of wheelchairs for disabled passengers' use. It shows how considerate Solaseed Air's frontline staff are towards the disadvantaged people in Japan.

It is easy to see the Solaseed Air jets departing and arriving in Haneda at the observation deck.

Solaseed Air is headquartered in Miyazaki, Japan with a hub in Haneda. It flies from Haneda to Kobe, Miyazaki, Nagoya Chubu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita, Ishigaki and Naha.

Vietjet Air signed significant new engine deal on 13 November 2017

Press Release by : Vietjet Air

                               c/o Media Services HK

Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan

                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

On 13 November 2017, Vietjet Air and Pratt & Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units, announced Vietjet's selection of the PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine to power the airline’s order of 10 new aircraft on the occasion of the APEC 2017 and first official state visit to Vietnam by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The deal, valued at 600 million US Dollars at list price, includes a 12-year EngineWise Fleet Management Program for Vietjet’s 10 new-age aircraft. The two companies have so far reached a trade turnover of 3.7 billion US Dollars.

The signing ceremony took place in Hanoi and was attended by President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Trần Đại Quang and U.S. President Donald Trump, along with officials from Vietjet Air and Pratt & Whitney.

“We are delighted to add 10 additional GTF-powered new aircraft to our fleet. We look forward to the proven performance and environmental benefits that they deliver,” said Dinh Viet Phuong, Vietjet Air Vice President.

Since entering into service in early 2016, the GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 percent, regulated emissions by 50 percent and noise footprint by 75 percent.

  

Since commencing operations in 2011, Vietjet Air, Vietnam’s largest domestic airline, has become Asia Pacific’s fastest growing low-cost carrier. It has operated profitably since its second year of operation with over 73 domestic and international routes and technical reliability rate of 99.6%, the highest rate among airlines in the region that operate with the same aircraft model.

Drukair launched new domestic route on 11 November 2017

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines has launched new domestic route connecting Gelephu with Yongphula in Bhutan on 11 November 2017. Tickets can only be booked at sales offices of Drukair.

XiamenAir launches scheduled flight to Phnom Penh on 28 January 2018

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

XiamenAir launches inaugural scheduled flight to Phnom Penh from Xiamen on 28 January 2018 using its Boeing B737-800 aircraft.

On 28 January 2018, XiamenAir flight MF8691 departs from Xiamen for Phnom Penh at 8.45 am, arrives in Phnom Penh at 11.05 am before leaving Phnom Penh for Xiamen at 12.25 pm and touching down in Xiamen at 4.25 pm under flight MF8692.

Searches at www.xiamenair.com at the meantime show that flights from Xiamen to Phnom Penh depart on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 28 January 2018. From 3 February 2018, XiamenAir operates on the route daily, subject to flight plan changes by the airline. There are no scheduled flights to Phnom Penh from Xiamen in December 2017, contrary to a report by Routesonline.

With the opening of the Xiamen - Phnom Penh route, tourists from Xiamen no longer need to transit in Guangzhou, Hong Kong or Taoyuan for onward flights to Phnom Penh.

With the addition of XiamenAir as one of the latest Chinese airlines to serve the Phnom Penh travel market on 28 January 2018, the Cambodian capital will be served by 10 China-based airlines including Capital Airlines, China Express Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Spring Airlines and XiamenAir. 

Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are competing with Singapore and Suvarnabhumi to be air hubs of Chinese airlines in Southeast Asia.

Shenzhen Airlines opens Shenzhen - Phnom Penh route on 20 December 2017

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Shenzhen Airlines launches daily scheduled flight from Shenzhen to Phnom Penh on 20 December 2017 using its Boeing B737-800 aircraft.

On 20 December 2017, Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH9045 departs from Terminal 3 of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport at 12.15 pm for Phnom Penh, arrives in Phnom Penh at 1.45 pm before leaving Phnom Penh for Shenzhen at 2.50 pm and touching down in Shenzhen at 6.35 pm under flight ZH9046.

Tickets are now on sale at www.shenzhenair.com.

The opening of the Shenzhen - Phnom Penh route will divert traffic flow to Phnom Penh from Hong Kong.

Sriwijaya Air Group opens its shortest air route to Singapore on 15 December 2017

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Sriwijaya Air, that operated its last scheduled flight from Jakarta to Singapore on 8 November 2013, is returning to Singapore on 15 December 2017 with its shortest air route, the first weekly charter flight between Tanjung Pandan, the capital and largest town of  Belitung Island in the Indonesian province of Bangka-Belitung near Bintan, and Changi Airport.

The flight is operated commercially by Sriwijaya Air Group.

Sriwijaya Air Group comprises of member airlines Sriwijaya Air and its feeder subsidiary NAM Air. The Group has no city ticketing branch office in Singapore.

The detailed flight schedules of Sriwijaya Air Group's charter flights to Singapore from Tanjung Pandan and aircraft to be used are not fixed but Antara News Agency mentioned that the flights for this test market will run thrice weekly from 15 December 2017 to 5 January 2018.

Due to Tanjung Pandan's geographical proximity to Singapore, many Sriwijaya Air Group flights between these cities may likely utilize NAM Air's B737-500 or ATR 72-600 aircraft in order to remain commercially viable, although the first flight is planned to be operated by Sriwijaya Air's larger aircraft on behalf of NAM Air.

Each Boeing flight between Tanjung Pandan and Singapore will last for about 40 minutes, and about 1 hour if utilizing an ATR 72-600 turboprop, disregarding the one hour time difference between Singapore and Indonesia. The new route is the shortest air route of Changi Airport and Tanjung Pandan Airport's second international route after Sriwijaya Air's Tanjung Pandan - Kuala Lumpur charter service.

Sriwijaya Air Group's NAM Air Commercial Director Franky Gan said a return ticket for travel from Singapore to Tanjung Pandan with Sriwijaya Air Group from 15 December to 22 December 2017 costs 125 Singapore Dollars while a one-way ticket costs 101 Singapore Dollars. From 24 December to 5 January 2018, the return ticket costs 150 Singapore Dollars and a one-way ticket costs 111 Singapore Dollars. 

The tickets are sold at travel agencies in Belitung and offices of Sriwijaya Air Group in Indonesia. They are being marketed to travel agencies in Singapore through the Indonesia Ministry of Tourism.

Subject to market demand, the thrice-weekly charter flights may become scheduled after six months if Sriwijaya Air Group and travel agencies are able to generate sufficient traffic flows between Tanjung Pandan and Singapore, so that passengers from Tanjung Pandan need not travel to Batam, Bintan and Jakarta for outbound journeys to Singapore. 

The inaugural return flight from Tanjung Pandan to Singapore is chartered with an investment of 50 per cent by the Belitung District Government on Belitung Island and the balance by tourism stake holders of Belitung including hotels and travel agencies. 

The new flights are the second pair of Indonesia tourism charter air routes to be opened after Garuda Indonesia's Silangit-Singapore-Silangit routes.

The Belitung District Government is prepared to welcome ten per cent of Indonesia's tourist arrivals from Singapore through Sriwijaya Air Group's flights.