Here’s our weekly roundup of new routes, flight frequency changes and partnerships.
Delta links Shanghai, Atlanta
Delta Air Lines will launch a new service between Shanghai and Atlanta in July 2018, the airline’s fourth US gateway to the Chinese city after existing services from Detroit, Seattle and Los Angeles.
Utilising a 291-seater Boeing 777-200LR, the service is scheduled to depart Atlanta at 15.00 and arrive in Shanghai at 18.50 the following day. The return flight will depart Shanghai at 11.40 and arrive in Atlanta at 14.55.
Thai Smile introduces Lucknow-Bangkok route
Thai Smile Airways has begun four-times weekly flights from Bangkok to Lucknow, the capital of the Indian state Uttar Pradesh.
WE333 will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, departing Bangkok at 20.00 and arriving in Lucknow at 00.20. The return flight operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Lucknow at 01.20 and arriving in Bangkok at 06.30.
The route will utilise an Airbus A320-200 offering 162 seats across two classes.
Jetstar Pacific goes from Vietnam’s Quang Binh to Chiang Mai
Vietnamese LCC Jetstar Pacific will begin a new international route between Quang Binh and Chiang Mai on August 11, the first airline to operate flights between the two cities.
On Mondays, flights will depart Dong Hoi at 14.35 and arrive in Chiang Mai at 16.15, while on Fridays flights will depart Dong Hoi at 15.05 and arrive in Chiang Mai at 16.45.
On Mondays, the return flight will depart Chiang Mai at 17.25 and arrive in Dong Hoi at 19.05, while on Fridays flights will depart Chiang Mai at 18.00 and arrive in Dong Hoi at 19.40.
The one hour 40 minutes route will be served by a 180-seater Airbus A320.
AirAsia opens Davao-Kuala Lumpur flights
On December 21, AirAsia will commence four-times weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Davao in the Philippines.
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, flight AK590 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 10.25 and arrive in Davao at 14.25, while the return flight AK591 will depart Davao at 14.55 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 18.45.
The new route is the fourth direct route from Malaysia to the Philippines after Manila, Cebu and Kalibo.
Air New Zealand doubles capacity to Bali
In 2018, Air New Zealand will double the capacity on its seasonal Auckland-Denpasar (Bali) route and extend the season by two months.
The airline currently operates twice-weekly services from Auckland to Denpasar between end-May and mid-October, increasing to three services per week during peak times.
Next year, the route will start at the beginning of April, with up to five-times weekly services using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, translating to more than 1,500 seats available per week each way.
SilkAir transfers two SE Asian routes to Scoot
SilkAir will transfer its services to Kuching in Malaysia and Palembang in Indonesia to Scoot, starting October 29 and November 23 respectively. Currently, SilkAir flies four-times weekly to Kuching and thrice weekly to Palembang.
Scoot targets to commence sales of its Kuching and Palembang services in August and October respectively.
Japan Airlines, Vietjet seal partnership agreement
Japan Airlines (JAL) and Vietjet have entered into a codeshare deal for all services between Japan and Vietnam, as well as the domestic flights of both airlines.
JAL currently operates daily non-stop services between Tokyo (Narita) and Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi respectively, as well as between Tokyo (Haneda) and Ho Chi Minh City.
Passenger clearing immigration using the AIG
Together with the addition of Tigerair’s network, the five new services will bring Scoot’s total destination count to 65 across 18 countries.
Anderson
Indonesia’s younger generation – including millennials and those aged 40 to 45 years old – and the rapidly growing middle-class are also a huge target market. “Cruise is new to young travellers who think that cruise is only for old people, and that is why we’re working with the government and travel agents to educate the market”, said Farriek.
