Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and aviation-related news.
China Airlines to launch Kaohsiung-Jakarta flights
China Airlines will soon begin a new route from Kaohsiung to Jakarta via Hong Kong on July 1.
CI671 will depart Kaohsiung at 14.10 and arrive in Hong Kong at 15.35. It will then depart Hong Kong at 16.35 and arrive in Jakarta at 20.20. The return leg will depart Jakarta at 06.25, and arrive in Hong Kong at 12.25. It will then depart Hong Kong at 13.25 and arrive back in Kaohsiung at 14.55. The route will be operated daily on a Boeing B737-800.
Berlin becomes Scoot’s third longhaul destination
Scoot has launched its third longhaul destination, Berlin, connecting Singapore with the German capital with four-times-weekly direct flights.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, flights will depart Singapore at 12.25 and arrive in Berlin at 07.20. The return flight will depart Berlin at 09.40 and arrive back in Singapore at 03.45 the following day. The route will be serviced with a 787 Dreamliner.
SAS moves Hong Kong route from Stockholm to Copenhagen
From October 28, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will shift its Hong Kong route from Stockholm, Arlanda to Copenhagen, Kastrup. The airline will ply the new route five days a week.
On October 28, SK965 will depart Copenhagen at 20.55 and arrive in Hong Kong at 14.45 the following day.
SAS has struggled with profitability on the Stockholm-Hong Kong route since launching it three years ago, but said the new slot would offer an improved timetable including night flights.
Passengers that have already booked a flight from Stockholm will be rebooked via Copenhagen to Hong Kong.
Delta announces destination updates
Delta Air Lines will launch two new routes between the US and Asia-Pacific next year as it pulls the plug on its Hong Kong-Seattle service later this year.
The American carrier will begin direct services between Minneapolis-Saint Paul in Minnesota, and Seoul, as well as non-stop flights between Seattle and Osaka-Kansai. The latter route will be included in Delta’s joint venture partnership with Korean Air, which serves 12 destinations in Japan.
Lastly, Delta will cease Seattle-Hong Kong service, with the last flight out of Hong Kong on October 4, 2018. Delta will continue to serve Hong Kong from Seattle via Seoul Incheon, with its joint venture partner Korean Air.
PAL now flying a tri-class A330 to Auckland
Since June 18, Philippine Airlines (PAL) started utilising its tri-class Airbus A330-343 on its non-stop flights from Manila to Auckland, increasing the capacity on this route by 22 per cent.
PAL replaced the original 414 economy seats with three new cabin sections, resulting in a more spacious cabin with only 309 seats. The refurbished A330 has 18 business class, 24 premium economy and 267 regular economy seats.
The thrice-weekly service leaves Manila on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The return flight, PR219, departs Auckland on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
