Biman Bangladesh Airlines launches Dreamliner flight to Medina on 28 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Biman Bangladesh Airlines launches 787-8 Dreamliner flight from Dhaka to Medina on 28 October 2019, hence becoming the first South Asia airline to commence scheduled flights to the Muslim pilgrimage city. 

On 28 October 2019, Biman Dreamliner flight BG37 departs from Dhaka for Medina at 1.15 pm, touches down in Medina at 5.30 pm before leaving Medina for Dhaka at 7.15 pm and arriving in Dhaka at 4.25 am under flight BG38 on 29 October 2019.

Biman flies to Medina on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. It touches down in Dhaka from Medina on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Further in the winter season ahead, Biman plans to launch non-stop Dreamliner flights to Manchester under flight BG07 on 5 January 2020 with flights on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from Dhaka. In 2020, it also plans to launch commercial flights to Guangzhou from Dhaka to compete with US-Bangla Airlines.

Kunming Airlines has launched flights to Yangon and Mandalay

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Kunming Airlines, the subsidiary of Shenzhen Airlines with headquarters in Kunming, launches direct flights from Kunming to Yangon on 15 October 2019 and to Mandalay using its B737-800 aircraft on 16 October 2019.

The outbound flights of Kunming Airlines for Yangon and Mandalay leave Kunming at 7.40 pm, arrive in both Myanmar cities at 8.10 pm before leaving the cities for Kunming at 9.30 pm and touching down in Kunming at 1.05 am (flight from Yangon) and 1 am local time (flight from Mandalay).

Kunming Airlines flight KY8361 flies to Yangon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends while flight KY8362 returns to Kunming from Yangon on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.

Flight KY8367 departs for Mandalay from Kunming on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and returns to Kunming on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays under flight KY8368.

Air Busan launches international flights from Incheon from 27 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

27 October 2019 is a memorable day for Air Busan as it begins international flights from Incheon to Ningbo, Kota Kinabalu and Chengdu. On 28 October 2019, it launches flight from Incheon to Kaohsiung and on 30 October 2019, it takes off for Cebu from Incheon. Listed below are the detailed flight schedules:

Routes effective 27 October 2019

Flight                Route                                    Timing                          Frequency            

BX369        Incheon - Ningbo                   8.35 am - 9.50 am                Tue, Fri, Sun

BX370        Ningbo - Incheon                   10.50 am - 1.50 pm              Tue, Fri, Sun

BX767        Incheon - Kota Kinabalu         9 am - 1.30 pm                     Daily

BX768        Kota Kinabalu - Incheon         2.30 pm - 8.40 pm                Daily

BX359        Incheon - Chengdu                 11 pm - 2.10 am +1              Tue, Fri, Sun

BX360        Chengdu - Incheon                  3.10 am - 8 am                    Wed, Sat, Mon

Routes effective 28 October 2019

Flight                 Route                           Timing                                 Frequency

BX781        Incheon - Kaohsiung          10.40 am - 12.40 pm           Tue, Fri, Sun

BX782        Kaohsiung - Incheon           2.15 pm - 6 pm                     Tue, Fri, Sun

Routes effective 30 October 2019

Flight                 Route                           Timing                                 Frequency

BX715        Incheon - Cebu          9.35 pm - 1.10 am +1                   Wed, Sat

BX716        Cebu - Incheon           2.05 am - 7 am                               Thu, Sun

The above flights are served by Air Busan's A321 jets.

Air Busan continues to operate commercial passenger flights from Busan to Kota Kinabalu, Cebu, Kaohsiung and plans to introduce flights to Haikou*, Chengdu and Ningbo from Busan in due course. It also flies to Hong Kong and Ulaanbaatar and operates domestic flights from Seoul (Gimpo).

* Ref : Air Busan launches flight to Haikou from Busan on 27 November 2019
https://kucinta-setia.blogspot.com/2019/10/air-busan-launches-flight-to-haikou.html

Vistara has taken over the first of four Hainan Airlines' 787-9 Dreamliners

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Holden Riley, Twitter

Vistara has taken over the first 787 Dreamliner with production line number ZB809 from Hainan Airlines. According to Boeing data, the aircraft was originally planned to be delivered to Hainan Airlines.

According to data from the Boeing 787 aircraft production line, the four Boeing 787-9 aircraft originally planned to be delivered to Hainan Airlines have been changed to Vistara TATA SIA Airlines. The production lines of the four aircraft are 887, 893, 905, and 913 respectively. At present, Vistara's first Dreamliner has completed the first test flight and is undergoing production testing.

In addition, Hainan Airlines has four Boeing 787-9 aircraft to be delivered. The data shows that aircraft production line numbers 891, 911 are leased from GECAS, but the airlines that the aircraft to be delivered to are not certain. The current status of the two Boeing 787-9 aircraft in 924 and 936 is still shown as Hainan Airlines, which is currently in the final assembly stage.

At present, Hainan Airlines has 10 Boeing 787-8 aircraft and 30 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

In 2018, Vistara ordered 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, including 6 confirmed orders and 4 optional orders.

Tibet Airlines launches non-stop flight to Hong Kong from Lhasa on 1 November 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Tibet Airlines launches Lhasa's first international direct flight to a city outside mainland China, Hong Kong, on 1 November 2019.

On 1 November 2019, Tibet Airlines' flight TV9911 departs from Lhasa for Hong Kong at 7.35 am, touches down in Hong Kong at 11.35 am before leaving Hong Kong for Lhasa at 1.20 pm and arriving in Lhasa at 5.30 pm under flight TV9912. These timings are effective for travel on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

On Wednesdays, flight TV9912 departs from Hong Kong for Lhasa at 2 pm and touches down in Lhasa at 6.10 pm.

Tibet Airlines flies to Hong Kong in 3 hours 50 minutes using its Airbus A319 aircraft.

With the launch of the Lhasa - Hong Kong route, tourists from Hong Kong and the world can fly to Lhasa quickly without stopovers in Chengdu, Jinan or Beijing.

Korean Air's new international routes on 27 and 28 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Korean Air launches the following routes, Incheon - Nanjing and Incheon - Clark on 27 October 2019 and Incheon - Zhangjiajie and Incheon - Hangzhou on 28 October 2019. Listed below are the detailed flight schedules:

Routes effective 27 October 2019
Flight                Route                    Timing                                  Frequency            
KE157        Incheon - Nanjing     10.40 am - 12.10 pm          Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
KE158        Nanjing - Incheon      1.15 pm - 4.45 pm             Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
KE635        Incheon - Clark         7.55 am - 11.05 am             Daily
KE636        Clark - Incheon         1.10 pm - 6.10 pm              Daily


Routes effective 28 October 2019
Flight                 Route                           Timing                                 Frequency
KE159        Incheon - Hangzhou          12.15 pm - 1.30 pm           Mon, Fri
KE160        Hangzhou - Incheon           2.40 pm - 6 pm                 Mon, Fri
KE163        Incheon - Zhangjiajie         7.20 pm - 10.20 pm           Mon, Wed, Sat
KE164        Zhangjiajie - Incheon         11.30 pm - 3.40 am +1      Mon, Wed, Sat

Korean Air flies to Nanjing and Zhangjiajie using its B737-900 aircraft while the Incheon - Hangzhou and Incheon - Clark routes are served by its Airbus A330-300 and A330-200 jets.

Air Busan launches flight to Haikou from Busan on 27 November 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

According to Routes Online, Air Busan plans to launch scheduled flight from Busan to Haikou on 27 November 2019. It flies to Haikou on Wednesdays and Saturdays and lands in Busan from Haikou on Thursdays and Sundays.

On 27 November 2019, Air Busan flight BX379 departs from Busan for Haikou at 10.05 pm, touches down in Haikou at 2.05 am before leaving Haikou for Busan at 3.10 am and arriving in Busan at 7.30 am under flight BX380.

Air Busan flies to Haikou using Airbus A321 aircraft.

Haikou is known for tourist destinations such as Five Lords' Temple, Tomb of Hairui, Shishan volcano geopark, Golden Bull Park and aircraft-spotting activities at the environs of Haikou Meilan International Airport.

T'way Air launches flight to Zhangjiajie on 13 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA

T'way Air launches non-stop scheduled flight to Zhangjiajie from Daegu on 13 October 2019.

On 13 October 2019, T'way Air flight TW681 departs from Zhangjiajie for Daegu at 7 am, arrives in Zhangjiajie at 10.05 am before leaving Zhangjiajie for Daegu at 11.05 am and touching down in Daegu at 1.50 pm under flight TW682.

T'way Air flies between Daegu and Zhangjiajie on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Jeju Air launches flight to Harbin on 11 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Jeju Air launches direct flight from Incheon to Harbin on 11 October 2019 using B737-800.

On 11 October 2019, Jeju Air flight 7C8905 departs from Incheon for Harbin at 6.35 am, arrives in Harbin at 7.50 am before leaving Harbin for Incheon at 9.50 am and touching down in Incheon at 1.40 pm under flight 7C8906. These timings are effective for flights on Fridays.

On Wednesdays and Sundays, flight 7C8905 leaves Incheon for Harbin at 6.55 am, lands in Harbin at 8.30 am before departing from Harbin for Incheon at 9.50 am and arriving in Incheon at 1.40 pm under flight 7C8906.

Ruili Airlines launches flight from Mangshi to Yangon on 27 October 2019

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Ruili Airlines launches non-stop scheduled flight from Mangshi to Yangon on 27 October 2019 using B737-800 aircraft.

On 27 October 2019, Ruili Airlines flight DR5039 departs from Mangshi for Yangon at 9.25 am, arrives in Yangon 1 hour 30 minutes later at local time 9.40 am before leaving Yangon for Mangshi at 10.30 am and touching down in Mangshi at 1.45 pm under flight DR5040.

Ruili Airlines flies to Yangon from Mangshi on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.