News for Asia

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced (26-Mar-2023) plans to commence a second phase of its schedule and terminal assignment rationalisation from Apr-2023. Under the programme, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 will become an all domestic facility and international flights will be reassigned to terminals 1 and 3 as follows: 

• Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Asia, Scoot, China Southern Airlines and STARLUX Airlines transferred to Terminal 3 from 16-Apr-2023;
• Philippine Airlines to relocate flights to and from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Phnom Penh to Terminal 1 from 16-Apr-2023;
• Ethiopian Airlines and JEJU air to move to Terminal 3 from 01-Jun-2023;
• Philippine Airlines to move all international flights to Terminal 1 from 16-Jun-2023;
• Philippines AirAsia to move all domestic flights to Terminal 2 from 01-Jul-2023;
• Cebu Pacific domestic flights to remain in Terminals 3 and 4 temporarily while MIAA works on expanding Terminal 2 capacity.

MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong said the company expects an increase in Terminal 2's capacity from 7.5 million to 10 million passengers per year, 20% to 25% more than its current rate. [more - original PR]

Tianjin Airlines plans to resume three times weekly Xian-London Heathrow service from 17-Apr-2023, operating with A330-300, according to OAG and the CAPA Route Changes Database. The carrier will be sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG.

China Southern Airlines plans to launch daily Beijing Daxing-London Heathrow service from 07-Jun-2023, operating with A350-900, as per a 29-Mar-2023 GDS inventory and timetable display.

Perth Airport announced (27-Mar-2023) Philippine Airlines commenced three times weekly Manila-Perth service with 168 seat A321neo aircraft on 27-Mar-2023. Perth Airport acting CEO Kate Holsgrove said: "We've been working closely with the State Government and Tourism Western Australia to secure this service, which will inject over 52,000 seats into the market each year'. It is Western Australia's first nonstop flight from Manila. [more - original PR]

Shenzhen Airlines, via its official WeChat account, announced (26-Mar-2023) the resumption of Shenzhen-London Heathrow service on 26-Mar-2023. The service will operated five times weekly, according to OAG.

Air Premia announced (24-Mar-2023) plans to launch four times weekly Seoul Incheon-Frankfurt service using Boeing 787-9 equipment from 27-Jun-2023. According to OAG, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air and Lufthansa are also scheduled to operate the route. [more - original PR - Korean]

Tianjin Airlines, via its official Weibo account, announced (24-Mar-2023) the resumption of weekly Tianjin-Zhengzhou-Sydney service on 24-Mar-2023, operated with A330 equipment. 

Virgin Atlantic Airways announced (24-Mar-2023) a new codeshare agreement with Korean Air, launching 25-Mar-2023. Under the first phase of the agreement, Virgin Atlantic will codeshare on Korean Air's Seoul Incheon-London Heathrow service. By Jun-2023, the agreement will be expanded to include further destinations throughout Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. According to OAG, Korean Air currently operates Seoul Incheon-London Heathrow service eight times weekly. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways commenced (26-Mar-2023) four times weekly Melbourne-Tokyo Haneda service on 26-Mar-2023 with A330 aircraft. The service is the first nonstop between Melbourne and Tokyo Haneda Airport by any airline, saving passengers around two hours travel to downtown Tokyo compared with Tokyo Narita Airport. The route will add to Qantas existing flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Tokyo Haneda, which together offer over 420,000 seats between Australia and Japan p/a. Qantas domestic and international CEO Andrew David stated: "We've seen the demand for our Tokyo flights bounce back very strongly, and our research shows that it is one of the top tourist destinations that Australians plan on visiting in the next 12 months". [more - original PR]

Shenzhen Airlines, via its official Weibo account, announced (23-Mar-2023) the following international schedules changes:

• Shenzhen-London: Resume five times weekly from 26-Mar-2023;
• Shenzhen-Seoul Incheon: Daily service from 26-Mar-2023 and increasing to 12 times weekly from 03-Apr-2023;
• Shenzhen-Taiwan Taoyuan: Resume on 26-Mar-2023, increasing to daily from 29-Mar-2023;
• Wuxi-Osaka Kansai: Resume weekly from 06-Apr-2023;
• Shenzhen-Tokyo Narita: Increasing from weekly to daily from 14-Apr-2023;
• Shenzhen-Phuket: Increase from three times weekly to daily from 19-Apr-2023;
• Shenzhen-Ho Chi Minh City: Resume daily service from 02-May-2023.