Air India launches non-stop flight between Hyderabad and Chicago on 15 January 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA 

Air India began the first-ever non-stop service between Hyderabad and Chicago on 15 January 2021.  

Air India flight AI107 departs from Hyderabad on Fridays at 12.50 pm, touches down in Chicago at 6.05 pm local time. AI108 leaves Chicago on Wednesdays at 9.30 pm and arrives in Hyderabad two days later at 12.40 am.  

The 13,299-kilometre service is operated once-weekly using 238-seat B777-200LRs.  It is bookable until the end of the summer season.

Spring Airlines Japan launches scheduled flight to Nanjing on 22 January 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Spring Airlines Japan (Spring Japan, for short) launches scheduled flight to Nanjing from Narita with effect from 22 January 2021.

On 22 January 2021, Spring Japan flight IJ125 departs from Narita for Nanjing at 10.35 am, touches down in Nanjing at 1.40 pm before leaving Nanjing for Narita at 2.40 pm and arriving in Narita at 6.30 pm under flight IJ126.

Spring Japan flies to Nanjing with B737-800 aircraft on Fridays. Its other current destinations in China include Tianjin, Pudong and Harbin as well as Saga and Hiroshima in Japan.

Spring Airlines launches flight to Changzhou from Lanzhou on 1 February 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Spring Airlines launches direct flight from Lanzhou to Changzhou on 1 February 2021 with its A320 aircraft.

On 1 February 2021, Spring Airlines flight 9C6361 departs from Lanzhou for Changzhou at 12 pm, arrives in Changzhou at 2.30 pm before leaving Changzhou for Lanzhou at 3.15 pm and touching down in Lanzhou at 6.15 pm under flight 9C6362.

Spring Airlines flies between Lanzhou and Changzhou daily.

China Southern launches flights to Ganzhou from Daxing and Shenzhen on 21 and 28 January 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

China Southern launches scheduled flights to Ganzhou from Daxing and Shenzhen on 21 and 28 January 2021 respectively.

On 21 January 2021, China Southern flight CZ8857 departs from Daxing for Ganzhou at 8.30 am, arrives in Ganzhou at 11.05 am before leaving Ganzhou for Daxing at 12.05 pm and landing in Daxing at 2.40 pm under flight CZ8858.

On 28 January 2021, China Southern flight CZ6687 leaves Shenzhen for Ganzhou at 8.15 pm, touches down in Ganzhou at 9.30 pm before taking off from Ganzhou for Shenzhen at 10.50 pm and arriving in Shenzhen at 12.20 am under flight CZ6688 on 29 January 2021.

China Southern flies to Ganzhou daily.

Cathay Pacific 777-9 first-class dual design exposed

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Images courtesy : Cathay Pacific

Prior to the reorganization in October, Cathay Pacific had revealed that its Boeing 777-9 orders would be postponed until after 2025. In other words, Cathay Pacific will not launch the 777-9 model in the next four years.

Although the launch was delayed, Cathay Pacific did not stop the concept design of the cabin. According to ExecutiveTraveller, two designs by European design studio Yellow Window were shortlisted for Cathay Pacific’s 777-9 new first-class design candidates.

The first concept: 1-1-1 luxurious cocoon-like suite

According to the studio, the materials and colours of this design concept are inspired by contemporary Asian styles and provide the standards of first-class hotels. The cabin design is based on the concept of ‘deformation’. First-class cabin suites can be transformed into lounges, dining rooms, bedrooms and offices, creating a comfortable office space in the cloud.

The bottom of the seat module can be folded into a leg rest, and small luggage can be placed under the seat. Another ingenious feature is that the shelf where the folding dining table is placed is also equipped with LED lighting (brightness and color adjustable), a smart phone charger and a groove for a cup.

The belt in the picture hides a foldable surface, forming a long, completely flat bed.

In this design, a suite is set on both sides of the cabin, and a suite is set in the middle. Each suite has a "shading window" to protect passengers' privacy.

The second concept: 1-1 seat and sleep separation

According to the studio, this design concept utilizes the width of the 777's fuselage, is arranged horizontally in a 1-1 layout, and adopts a design that separates the seat and the bed. However, the studio did not elaborate on how passengers transition from sitting to sleep under this design. From the picture, the sleeping place is a bit narrow.

Directly in front of each passenger is a large flat-screen TV panel and a newspaper and magazine rack. There is a small base on the armrest, you can put your smartphone on hand, and there is a mirror on the corner shelf.

The curved panelling around each suite provides a degree of privacy, similar to Cathay Pacific’s current Boeing 777-300ER first class, but without sliding doors.

Joy Air launches flight to Dongying on 1 February 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Joy Air adds another new MA60 route to its network on 1 February 2021. On this day, its MA60 aircraft launches daily flight from Dalian to Dongying at 1.15 pm under flight JR1651, arrives in Dongying at 2.20 pm before leaving Dongying for Dalian at 2.50 pm and touching down in Dalian at 3.55 pm under flight JR1652.

According to schedules, flight JR1652 arrives in Dalian at 3.55 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays while it touches down in Dalian at 4 pm on other days.

With the launch of the Dalian - Dongying route, Joy Air has a total of three routes from Dalian. The other routes are Dalian - Yantai and Dalian - Weihai.

Joy Air launches flight to Quanzhou on 1 February 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 20 January 2021, Joy Air announces that it is launching daily scheduled flight to Quanzhou from Xi'an Xianyang with effect from 1 February 2021.

On 1 February 2021, Joy Air flight JR1519 departs from Xi'an Xianyang for Quanzhou at 6.20 am, arrives in Quanzhou at 8.55 am before leaving Quanzhou for Xi'an at 9.40 am and touching down in Xi'an Xianyang at 12.40 pm under flight JR1520.

The above flights are operated using Joy Air's B737-800 aircraft.

US-Bangla Airlines' new timing flight to Muscat from Sylhet from 22 January 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

US-Bangla Airlines, Bangladesh's largest private airline, has launched non-stop scheduled flights from Sylhet to Muscat. Sylhet is Bangladesh's tea capital while Muscat is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. From 22 January 2021, the airline is operating flights to Muscat from Sylhet at a different timing.

According to schedules, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS327 departs from Sylhet for Muscat at 7.45 pm on 22 January 2021 and touches down in Muscat at 10.30 pm before leaving Muscat on 23 January 2021 at 1.30 am and landing in Sylhet at 8 am under flight BS328. These timings are effective on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Flights BS327/BS328 started operating on the new route on 17 November 2020 at the timings 7.30 pm - 10.30 pm / 11.30 pm - 7.15 am.

Besides the Sylhet - Muscat route, Sylhet Osmani International Airport has scheduled flights to London and Manchester by Biman Bangladesh Airlines while US-Bangla Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Regent Airways operates domestic flights to Sylhet from Dhaka.

With the new flights to Muscat, US-Bangla Airlines has reduced flight frequency to Singapore from Dhaka to Saturday flights from daily, meaning the outbound flight from Singapore departs for Dhaka at 5.30 am and touches down in Dhaka at 7.45 am local time, ensuring connectivity to the flights to Sylhet and Muscat. The inbound flight from Dhaka leaves Dhaka at 10.10 pm and lands in Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 4.25 am.

US-Bangla Airlines flies daily to Dubai from 1 February 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA 

On 19 January 2021, US-Bangla Airlines of Bangladesh has announced that it is launching scheduled flight from Dhaka to Dubai on 1 February 2021 with its B737-800 aircraft. It flies daily to Dubai.

On 1 February 2021, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS341 departs from Dhaka for Dubai at 6.30 pm, arrives in Dubai at 10 pm before leaving Dubai for Dhaka at 11.30 pm and touching down in Dhaka at 6 am on 2 February 2021 under flight BS342.

The above timings are effective on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

On Tuesdays, flight BS341 leaves Dhaka for Dubai at 5.30 pm, arrives in Dubai at 9 pm before taking off from Dubai for Dhaka at 10.30 pm and landing in Dhaka at 5 am on Wednesdays under flight BS342.

On Wednesdays, flight BS341 leaves Dhaka for Dubai at 3.55 pm, arrives in Dubai at 7.25 pm before taking off from Dubai for Dhaka at 8.55 pm and landing in Dhaka at 3.25 am on Thursdays under flight BS342.

Lastly, on Saturdays, flight BS341 departs from Dhaka for Dubai at 5 pm, lands in Dubai at 8.30 pm before taking off from Dubai for Dhaka at 9.55 pm and landing in Dhaka at 4.25 am on Sundays under flight BS342.

Ruili Airlines launches Shenyang - Lanzhou - Chengdu daily flight on 19 January 2021

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

Ruili Airlines launches daily scheduled flight linking Shenyang with Lanzhou and Chengdu on 19 January 2021.

On 19 January 2021, Ruili Airlines flight DR5349 departs from Shenyang for Chengdu via Lanzhou at 7.05 am, transits in Lanzhou at 10.25 am before leaving Lanzhou for Chengdu at 12.30 pm and arriving in Chengdu at 2.10 pm.

At 3.15 pm, flight DR5350 leaves Chengdu for Lanzhou, transits in Lanzhou at 4.40 pm before taking off from Lanzhou for Shenyang at 6.20 pm and arriving in Shenyang at 9.10 pm.