Aviation roundup: Korean Air, Air Canada and more

Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes, updated frequencies and codeshare news.

Korean Air launches flights to Croatian capital
From September 1, Korean Air will commence thrice-weekly services between Seoul and Zagreb, Croatia on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, operating the service on an A330-200 with 218 seats.

KE919 will depart Incheon Airport at 11.05 and arrive in Zagreb at 15.45 the same day. Return flight KE920 will depart Zagreb at 17.20 and arrive in Seoul at 11.30 the following day.

This is the first regular service that connects Asia and Croatia.

Air Canada begins Montreal-Tokyo service; flies year-round to Melbourne
Air Canada has started its first scheduled service between Montreal and Japan, marking the carrier’s third direct connection between Montreal and Asia launched in the past three years, following two direct flights from Montreal to Beijing and Shanghai.

Flights will operate all year-round to Tokyo with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, daily during summer peak travel and three times a week during the winter.

AC005 departs Montreal at 14.05, and arrives in Tokyo Narita at 15.50 the following day. The return leg AC006 will depart Tokyo Narita at 17.30, and arrive back in Montreal at 16.30.

In addition, the airline now flies year-round to Melbourne from Vancouver.

The outbound flight will depart Melbourne thrice weekly at 09.40 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and arrive in Vancouver at 07.35 on the same day. The inbound service will depart Vancouver at 22.45 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrive into Melbourne two days later at 08.00.

The Melbourne-Vancouver service will be operated with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline has plans to introduce a fourth frequency at the end of the year.

Vietjet goes to Japan
Vietjet will launch a direct route from Hanoi to Osaka on November 8, 2018, marking the LCC’s first service to the Japan.

The Hanoi-Osaka route will operate on a daily basis with a flight of around four hours per leg. Flights will depart Hanoi at 01.45 and arrive in Osaka at 07.50. The return leg will take off from Osaka at 09.20, and arrive back in Hanoi at 13.10.

New codeshare partnership between Bangkok Airways and Lao Airlines
Bangkok Airways and Lao Airlines have announced a new codeshare partnership to strengthen their respective route networks between Thailand and Laos.

Under the agreement, Lao Airlines will put its “QV” designator code on Bangkok Airways’ flights, serving round-trip routes on Bangkok-Vientiane and Bangkok-Luang Prabang. Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways will put its “PG” designator code on Lao Airlines’ flights, serving round-trip routes on Vientiane-Bangkok, Luang Prabang-Bangkok, Pakse-Bangkok and Luang Prabang-Chiang Mai.

Emirates to up Osaka capacity with A380 service
Emirates will introduce Airbus A380 services to Osaka beginning October 28, replacing the 777-300ER aircraft currently operating on this route.

The Airbus A380 aircraft serving Emirates’ Dubai-Osaka route will offer a total of 489 seats in a three-class configuration, with 399 seats in Economy Class, 76 fully flat-bed seats in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites. The deployment of the double-decker aircraft represents a capacity increase of 38 per cent.

EK316 will leave Dubai every day at 03.05 and arrive in Osaka at 16.55. The return flight, EK317, departs Osaka at 23.35 and lands in Dubai at 05.45hrs the next morning.

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