Aviation roundup: AirAsia, Air Belgium and more

Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes, codeshare partnerships and aviation-related news.

AirAsia announces two new routes linking Thailand
AirAsia has announced two new routes, one between Kota Kinabalu and Bangkok, and the other between Chiang Mai and Yangon.

The thrice-weekly route between Chiang Mai and Yangon will begin on August 11, operating on an Airbus A320 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

FD802 will depart Chiang Mai at 13.15, and arrive at 13.45, while the return leg FD803 will depart Yangon at 14.45 and land in Chiang Mai at 16.30.

The Kota Kinabalu-Bangkok service will begin on August 16, and will be operated thrice-weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

FD471 will depart Kota Kinabalu at 15.00 and arrive at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport at 17.05. The return flight FD470 will depart Bangkok at 09.30 and arrive in Kota Kinabalu at 13.35.

Air Belgium’s first Hong Kong flight finally takes off
Air Belgium’s inaugural flight from Brussels South Charleroi Airport touched down at 07.40 on June 7, 2018, at Hong Kong International Airport, marking the start of its international operations.

The launch of this four-times weekly service to Brussels South Airport was initially announced for April 30, but it was postponed to June.

Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, flights leave at 14.00 for arrival in Hong Kong at 07.30. For the return sector, flights depart Hong Kong on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11.30 and arrive in Brussels South by 18.30. The route will be operated on the Airbus A340 with 257 seats – 32 business class, 21 premium and 212 economy.

Air Belgium will operate two flights per week to Hong Kong departing from Brussels Charleroi, three per week as from July and four flights per week from October onwards.

Finnair begins codeshare with Cathay Dragon
Finnair and Cathay Pacific Airlines have entered into a new codeshare partnership on the routes operated by Cathay Dragon – Cathay Pacific Airline’s affiliate – between Hong Kong and selected destinations in Asia.

The new codeshare agreement adds four new destinations to Finnair’s network in Asia. Starting June 15, Finnair customers can connect with Cathay Dragon’s flights from Hong Kong to Hanoi, Danang, Yangon, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

In addition, subject to regulatory approval, from July 11, Finnair customers can connect from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur. Flights to Kuala Lumpur can be booked from June 28 onwards.

Finnair customers can also enjoy oneworld privileges, and earn and redeem frequent flyer points also on Cathay Dragon’s flights.

Air China launches new service to London; signs JV with Air Canada
Air China has started a new, non-stop service between Chengdu and London operated by an Airbus 330-200.

The Chengdu-London route is operated under flight numbers CA423/4 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays every week. Outbound flights depart from Chengdu at 15.45 and arrive in London at 20.00; return flights depart from London at 22.00 and arrive in Chengdu at 15.40 the following day.

The airline has also signed a joint venture agreement with Air Canada that will be implemented in phases over the next six months. It promises flexible flight choices, optimised flight schedules, aligned frequent flyer privileges, reciprocal lounge access, and joint sales including corporate and marketing programmes.

The carriers’ recently expanded codeshare increases the number of Canada-China connecting flight opportunities for customers by 564 each day. The two carriers now operate up to a total of 52 trans-Pacific flights per week between Canada and China from Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to and from Beijing and Shanghai.

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