Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and codeshare partnerships
Malaysia Airlines, China Southern widen codeshare
Malaysia Airlines and China Southern Airlines will expand their codeshare partnership to five more Malaysia-China routes from October 25, 2026.
The additions cover Kuala Lumpur-Shenzhen, Kuala Lumpur-Changsha, Kuala Lumpur-Xiamen, Kuala Lumpur-Chengdu Tianfu and Zhengzhou-Kuala Lumpur.
The expansion means all routes linking Kuala Lumpur with Guangzhou, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Changsha, Xiamen, Chengdu Tianfu and Zhengzhou that are operated by the two carriers will be covered by the codeshare agreement.
Under the arrangement, the airlines will place their respective flight codes on eligible services operated by either carrier.
Malaysia Airlines and China Southern began their codeshare partnership on the Kuala Lumpur-Guangzhou route in July 2023. It was extended in July 2024 to Kuala Lumpur-Beijing Daxing, Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai Pudong and Penang-Guangzhou.
Malaysia Airlines has also added services from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, Shenzhen and Changsha in 2026, while China Southern has increased capacity on its Kuala Lumpur-Guangzhou and Kuala Lumpur-Shenzhen routes.
Fiji Airways restores Nouméa-Nadi flights
Fiji Airways has reinstated direct flights between Nouméa, New Caledonia, and Nadi, Fiji, restoring a link between the two Pacific destinations.
The service resumed on September 22, 2026 and operates twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays using Fiji Link’s ATR 72-600 aircraft, adding more than 10,000 seats annually between New Caledonia and Fiji.
The route also provides connections via Nadi to Singapore and other destinations across the Fiji Airways network, including Australia, New Zealand and North America.
Air Astana grows South-east Asia network
Air Astana is adding two South-east Asian services to its network, with flights from Almaty to Langkawi and Astana to Bangkok starting in December 2026.
The seasonal Almaty-Langkawi service will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from December 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027, using an Airbus A321LR.
The carrier will also begin non-stop flights between Astana and Bangkok on December 11, operating twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays with an Airbus A321LR.
The Astana-Bangkok route will complement Air Astana’s existing daily flights between Almaty and Bangkok.
Philippine Airlines adds Delhi, Mumbai routes
Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to begin non-stop services from Manila to Delhi and Mumbai in December 2026, subject to Indian government approval.
The Manila-Delhi service will operate three times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with return flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
PAL will serve Manila-Mumbai four times weekly, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with return services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Both routes will be operated with 168-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft, configured with 12 Business Class and 156 Economy Class seats.
