Gulf Air launches direct scheduled flight to Singapore at 3 April 2021 night

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Gulf Air the Bahraini national flag carrier has become the first foreign national airline to launch regular passenger scheduled flight to Singapore. At night of 3 April 2021 Bahrain time, it launches its first non-stop direct scheduled flight to Singapore from Bahrain.

On 3 April 2021, Gulf Air flight GF165 departs from Bahrain for Singapore, touches down in Singapore Changi Airport at 12.40 pm on 4 April 2021 (Sunday) before leaving Changi Airport for Bahrain at 9.20 pm and arriving in Bahrain on 5 April 2021 at 12.15 am under flight GF166.

The Bahrain-Singapore one-way flight lasts for 7 hours 50 minutes while the Singapore-Bahrain flight lasts 7 hours 55 minutes.

Gulf Air flies to Singapore with its 787-9 Dreamliner. It arrives in Singapore and leaves Singapore for Bahrain on Sundays. Interested travellers can book the tickets on Gulf Air's official web-site www.gulfair.com.

Singapore is the airline's third destination in Southeast Asia after Manila and Suvarnahbumi. Gulf Air which operated flights to Singapore from Bahrian via Bangkok Don Mueang withdrew from the Singapore travel market in 2007.

Gulf Air will be the first new airline from the Middle East to operate passenger flights to Singapore during the pandemic.

See also : https://kucinta-air.blogspot.com/2021/04/gulf-airs-singapore-flight-extends-to.html

Korean Air: Merger with Asiana Airlines postponed until 2024

Research and compiled by : Rose, Quality Orange Tourism / http://www.minhangshi.com/m/h5/detail/9322149 / Direct translation

The post-merger integration (PMI) plan submitted to Korea Development Bank (KDB) shows that Korean Air has postponed its merger with Asiana Airlines until 2024. However, Korean Air still plans to acquire Asiana Airlines in 2022, but the two airlines will not be fully integrated until 2024. It is understood that the delay is related to the antitrust approval of multiple agencies around the world.

Korean Air’s PMI plan expresses its vision to establish a single integrated Korean Air in 2024. Korean Air plans to acquire Asiana Airlines before the end of 2022, but the two airlines will still operate as separate entities and will not be fully merged until 2024. Korean Air originally planned to acquire Asiana Airlines before 30 June 2021.

Korean Air plans to operate Asiana Airlines as a subsidiary before the full merger. Korean Air itself is also a subsidiary of the holding company Hanjin Group. After Asiana Airlines becomes a subsidiary of Korean Air, its own subsidiaries including Air Busan (44.2%), Air Seoul (100%) and Asiana Sabre (80%) will become 'son companies' of "Kaljin KAL". 

According to Korean law, a subsidiary of a holding company must have a 100% controlling interest in its subsidiary. Otherwise, they are forced to sell their shares within two years after the acquisition by a holding company. However, if Asiana Airlines is fully integrated into Korean Air, it will not be bound by this legal provision.

During the two years of transition to full integration, Korean Air will evaluate staffing, business operations and routes to maximize efficiency. In early March, Korean Air raised 3.3 trillion won (approximately US$2.92 billion) through the issuance of new shares, of which 1.5 trillion won (approximately US$1.35 billion) will be used to support the acquisition of Asiana Airlines, and the Korea Development Bank also will provide 730 million US dollars for this transaction.

The factor causing the delay in the merger is a potential antitrust issue. Korean Air’s 63.9% stake in Asiana Airlines is being reviewed by antitrust agencies from eight different countries. So far, only Turkey has approved it, but other countries or organizations, including South Korea, the European Union, the United States, and China, have yet to announce their decisions.

In order for the merger to proceed, Korean Air will need the approval of at least four antitrust agencies outside South Korea. If Korean Air does not obtain sufficient approvals, it may be banned from flying in certain countries or regions. The merger may disrupt the code sharing of Star Alliance on several US airlines, and the US antitrust authorities may include it in the decision-making scope.

As international travel has fallen sharply compared to before the epidemic, Korean Air has been hit hard by its reliance on international routes. Although many airlines around the world have been able to rely on domestic aviation as a source of income, South Korea's relatively small domestic market has not brought hope to South Korean airlines.

Professor Hurr Hee-young of Korea University of Aeronautics and Astronautics said, "Unlike China, the United States, and Japan, South Korea’s domestic aviation market only accounts for less than 10% of the revenue of major airlines. Therefore, Korean airlines must resume international travel to maintain aviation. With the development of the industry, under the current circumstances, South Korea’s aviation industry may continue to struggle.” (Compilation: Pin Orange Tourism Rose)

Bamboo Airways launches charter flights to Singapore on 1 April 2021

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Bamboo Airways launches charter flight from Hanoi to Singapore on 1 April 2021

According to Changi Airport and Bamboo Airways on 31 March 2021, the latter is launching its first charter flight from Hanoi to Singapore on 1 April 2021.

On 1 April 2021, Bamboo Airways flight QH301 departs from Hanoi for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 12.30 am, touches down in Changi Airport at 5 am before leaving Singapore for Hanoi at 6 am and arriving in Hanoi at 8.15 am under flight QH302.

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Bamboo Airways launches charter flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore on 1 April 2021

In addition, Bamboo Airways plans to launch its first charter flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore on 1 April 2021.

On 1 April 2021, Bamboo Airways flight QH305 leaves Ho Chi Minh City for Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 2.50 am, arrives in Changi Airport at 5.55 am before taking off from Singapore for Ho Chi Minh City at 6.55 am and touching down in Ho Chi Minh City at 8.05 am under flight QH306.

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Demand for scheduled flights to Vietnam from Singapore

With the addition of Bamboo Airways' charter flights to Singapore, the demand for scheduled flights to Vietnam from Singapore has warmed up. Recently, MIAT Mongolian Airlines has initiated scheduled flights to Singapore via Hanoi from Ulaanbaatar. Intermittently, Pacific Airlines and VietJet Air have relief flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.

Vietnam Airlines only operates intermittent cargo flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.

It is everyone's hope that there would soon be 'bubble travel' flights between the two countries.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines organizes third Ulaanbaatar-Hanoi-Singapore flight on 30 March 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Changi Airport, MIAT Mongolian Airlines has performed its third relief flight to Singapore from Ulaanbaatar via Hanoi on 30 March 2021. 

Flight OM7185 leaves Ulaanbaatar on 30 March 2021 and arrives in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 via Hanoi at 1.50 am on 31 March 2021 after leaving Hanoi at 9.30 pm on 30 March 2021. 

Flight OM7186 leaves for Ulaanbaatar via Hanoi from Singapore at 2.55 am and transits in Hanoi at 5.15 am on 31 March before its onward journey towards Ulaanbaatar.

China Eastern launches flights to Chongqing and Xiamen from Zhengzhou on 28 March 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

China Eastern launches new routes to Chongqing and Xiamen from Zhengzhou on 28 March 2021 with its Airbus A320 aircraft.

The newly opened Zhengzhou-Chongqing route of China Eastern is on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Saturday, flight number MU5253/MJ5254, Zhengzhou departure time 4.15 pm, arrival Chongqing time 6.10 pm, Chongqing departure time, 7.20 pm, arrival Zhengzhou time 9.05 pm.

Zhengzhou-Xiamen route runs once a day, flight number MU6377/MU6378, Zhengzhou departure time is 10.40 pm, Xiamen departure time is 7.25 pm.

Urumqi Air launches flights to Jinan and Qiqihaer on 28 March 2021

 Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 28 March 2021, Urumqi Air flight UQ2579 departs from Urumqi for Qiqihaer via Jinan at 7 am, transits in Jinan at 11.20 am before leaving Jinan for Qiqihaer at 12.20 pm and arriving in Qiqihaer at 3 pm.

At 4.40 pm, flight UQ2580 leaves Qiqihaer for Urumqi via Jinan, transits in Jinan at 7.20 pm before taking off for Urumqi at 9 pm and landing in Urumqi at 1.45 am on 29 March 2021.

Urumqi Air flies to Jinan and Qiqihaer on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Tibet Airlines launches flights to Guizhou and Sanya from Lhasa on 30 March 2021

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 30 March 2021, Tibet Airlines launches scheduled flights from Lhasa to the Guizhou city of Zunyi and Sanya, Hainan with its Airbus A319 aircraft.

At 9 am of 30 March, Tibet Airlines flight TV9919 leaves Lhasa for Sanya via Zunyi, touches down in Zunyi Maotai Airport at 11.40 am before leaving Maotai for Sanya at 12.30 pm and arriving in Sanya at 2.25 pm.

At  4.52 pm (1 hour 22 minutes behind scheduled time 3.30 pm) on 30 March, flight TV9920 takes off finally for Zunyi Maotai Airport, is expected to land in Zunyi at 7.01 pm before departing from Maotai for Lhasa after 6.30 pm and touching down in Lhasa after 9.35 pm.

According to normal schedules, flight TV9920 arrives in Zunyi at 5.40 pm before leaving Maotai for Lhasa at 6.30 pm and landing in Lhasa at 9.35 pm.

Tibet Airlines flies to Zunyi and Sanya on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The airline plans to increase the number of flights to Sanya via Dazhou on Mondays and Fridays, and via Wanzhou on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Besides, Tibet Airlines operates scheduled flights between Sanya and Chengdu.

Hunan Airlines (Air Travel) completes fleet repainting

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

On 29 March 2021, at the beginning of the summer flight season, as the Hunan Airlines (Air Travel) painted aircraft numbered B-8432 took off from Rizhao Shanzihe Airport, Hunan Airlines' entire fleet of 14 aircraft officially ended. So far, as the first local airline in Hunan, Hunan Airlines will set sail with neat red and gray main colours  and a "Honghu" logo design, with a fleet image of the Chinese name "Hunan Airlines" and the English name Air Travel.

It is reported that after the official Chinese name change to Hunan Airlines at the end of 2020, it has started the refurbishment of its fleet, and completed the paint change of the first A319 model on December 8 and put it into operation at the Changsha base. In the following four months, the refitting work of Hunan Airlines' fleet was advanced efficiently. Without affecting the company's daily production and operation, the overall refitting and spraying of the fleet was completed in an orderly manner, three months ahead of the original plan.

At present, Hunan Airlines has 14 all-Airbus A320 series models, including 5 NEO advanced models, with an average age of about 3 years. They have been opened to 33 cities across the country, including Kunming, Nanjing, Harbin, Chengdu, Turpan, and Urumqi. After relocating to Hunan, Air Travel will continue to focus on increasing the capacity of its main base, Changsha, to promote the construction of Changsha's "four-hour aviation economic circle". At the same time, it has 5 overnight planes at Changsha Huanghua International Airport. In the summer season, it also opened Changsha=Wuxi=Harbin, Changsha=Yantai, Changsha=Turpan and other routes, enriching and perfecting the route network in Changsha.

The spraying work was completed ahead of schedule by Hunan Airlines within the time limit set by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which provided sufficient capacity for the summer flight season. As Hunan's own airline, many passengers stop to take pictures when taking Hunan Airlines planes and send them to the circle of friends. Hunan Airlines has gradually become the new name card of Xiaoxiang that Hunanese are proud of.

2021 is the first year of the "14th Five-Year Plan". Hunan Airlines will focus on the construction of smart civil aviation, adhere to the bottom line of aviation safety, and strive to transform development momentum, optimize development structure, transform development mode, and achieve deep integration and efficient linkage of reform and development. Ensure the implementation of the overall work ideas of the "One Two Three Three Four" civil aviation during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, and continue to provide passengers with high-quality and convenient air travel services.

9air and Air Travel launch new routes on 28 March 2021

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9air launches daily flight to Pudong on 28 March 2021

On 28 March 2021, 9air launches its first new route of the year, Guangzhou=Pudong. On this day, 9air flight AQ1299 leaves Guangzhou for Pudong at 5.25 pm, touches down in  Pudong at 7.55 pm before leaving Pudong for Guangzhou at 10.35 pm and arriving in Guangzhou at 1 am on 29 March 2021.

News (2)

Air Travel launches flight to Turpan from Changsha on 28 March 2021

On 28 March 2021 the first scheduled flight from Changsha, A67185, at 9.30 am arrives in Turpan at 2.05 pm. The new route will be operated by Air Travel's A319/A320 aircraft.

Air Travel (Hunan Airlines) operating flights to Turpan on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays has also opened Wuxi=Urumqi flights.

Ruili Airlines acquired by Wuxi Transportation Industry Group

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Ruili Airlines officially announced on 28 March 2021 it has been acquired by Wuxi Transportation Industry Group and now it is Wuxi's local airline.

Mainland Chinese media The Paper noted that Ruili Airlines is a holding subsidiary of Wuxi Transportation Industry Group, a "Top 500 Chinese Service Industry Enterprise". This means that the previous equity acquisition process has been completed.

The current controlling shareholder of Ruili Airlines is Wuxi Transportation Industry Group with a background of state-owned assets, which holds 57% of the shares. The original major shareholder, Yunnan Jingcheng Group, has dropped from 70% to 13%. Dong Lecheng, President of Jingcheng Group and Chairman of Ruili Aviation, personally holds 30% of the shares.

Regarding the follow-up strategic development, Ruili Airlines exclusively stated to The Paper that under the premise of in-depth cooperation between Wuxi Transportation Industry Group and Yunnan Jingcheng Group, Ruili Airlines will make full use of Yunnan to launch new routes to West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. Relying on the Group's resources, it will continue to introduce aircraft and expand the fleet size.

This time, Ruili Airlines will use the opportunity of the summer and autumn seasons of 2021 to spread the East China route, promote the construction of dual bases in Wuxi and Kunming, and strengthen the development of overnight bases in Shenyang, Lanzhou and Mangshi. 

The 14th Five-Year Plan of Ruili Airlines was formulated in conjunction with the 14th Five-Year Plan to continue to expand and strengthen the aviation sector.

Since 28 March 2021, Ruili Airlines has continued to launch new routes such as  Wuxi=Kunming=Mangshi, Wuxi=Chongqing, Wuxi=Xi'an, Wuxi=Shenyang, Kunming=Baotou=Tianjin, Kunming=Baotou, Bazhong=Qingdao, Kunming=Weifang, Kunming=Wushan=Yantai, Kunming=Zhuhai=Fuzhou, Kunming=Jinan=Dalian, Shenyang=Huolinhe=Hohhot, Shenyang=Taiyuan.

There are 15 domestic routes such as Nantong=Mangshi=Xishuangbanna, Xishuangxishuangbanna=Nanning=Nantong and Hohhot=Dalian. All flights are operated by Boeing 737 aircraft.

Ruili Airlines launched its flight on 18 May 2014. Its main operating base is located at Kunming Changshui International Airport. It has a fleet of 20 aircraft and has been in safe operation for nearly 7 years. So far, the number of flights has exceeded 133,000, and nearly 20 million passengers have been transported.

Before the equity change, Ruili Airlines was the first local airline in Yunnan Province and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yunnan Jingcheng Group. It was wholly-owned by Dong Lecheng, a minority entrepreneur in Yunnan Province, with a registered capital of 1 billion RMB.

On 4 August 2020, according to the official WeChat account of Wuxi Transportation Group, the signing ceremony of the framework agreement on the equity transfer of Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd. between Wuxi Transportation Group and Yunnan Jingcheng Group was held at Wuxi Hubin Hotel. Wuxi Municipal Party Committee Secretary Huang Qin met with Jingcheng Group Chairman Dong Lecheng and his party attended the signing ceremony.

The framework agreement for the equity transfer of Ruili Airlines signed at that time was the first step for Wuxi Transportation Group to officially launch the acquisition of a controlling stake in Ruili Airlines.

Wuxi Transportation Industry Group Co., Ltd., formerly Wuxi Transportation Assets Management Co., Ltd., was established on November 5, 2001. In March 2003, with the approval of the Wuxi Municipal People's Government, it was renamed and established as Wuxi Transportation Industry Group Co., Ltd. The Wuxi Municipal People's Government directly authorized the operation and management of state-owned assets within the authorized scope. The company has a registered capital of 5.745 billion yuan.

According to the official disclosure of Wuxi Transportation Industry Group, the acquisition of the shares of Ruili Airlines is one of the important measures of Wuxi Transportation Industry Group to implement the Wuxi Municipal Party Committee and Government’s efforts to accelerate the high-quality development of the “three major economies” such as the headquarters economy, hub economy and digital economy. 

As a national transportation hub city, having a local airline is of special significance for Wuxi to accelerate the development of an aviation hub and achieve high-quality development of the hub economy. It will not only fill the gaps in Jiangsu's air transportation enterprises, but also help Wuxi to open up to the outside world.