News for Asia

China Eastern Airlines, via its official WeChat account, announced (10-Jan-2023) plans to increase Shanghai Pudong-Auckland frequency to three times weekly from 22-Jan-2023. 

Air China plans to resume three times weekly Beijing Capital-Melbourne service from 01-Feb-2023, followed by three times weekly Beijing Capital-Sydney service from 03-Feb-2023, as per a 11-Jan-2023 GDS display and inventory. Both services will operate with A330-300 equipment.

Xiamen Airlines, via its official WeChat account, announced (09-Jan-2023) plans to resume weekly Fuzhou-Sydney service from 27-Jan-2023, increasing to twice weekly from 04-Feb-2023 to 27-Feb-2023. 

Victoria's Government announced (11-Jan-2023) VietJet Air plans to launch three times weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne service from Apr-2023. The carrier will increase frequency to daily by Dec-2024. The flights are expected to add over 136,000 seats to Melbourne per year and deliver an AUD97 million (USD66.91 million) annual boost to the state's economy once fully operational. They will also add 3500 tonnes of air freight to Victoria per year. VietJet will be the second Vietnamese airline to establish services to Melbourne since the pandemic after Bamboo Airways commenced flights in Apr-2022. [more - original PR]

China Southern Airlines filed (09-Jan-2023) its China-US schedules with the US Department of Transportation, as follows:

• Guangzhou-Los Angeles: Daily with Boeing 787 from 30-Jan-2023;
• Guangzhou-New York JFK: Daily with a combination of 777-300ER and 787 from 02-Feb-2023;
• Guangzhou-San Francisco: Daily with 787 from 10-Feb-2023. [more - original PR]

Sichuan Airlines, via its official Weibo account, announced (09-Jan-2023) plans to resume Chengdu Shuangliu-Melbourne service from 31-Jan-2023. The service will operate once every two weeks, increasing to three times weekly from 21-Feb-2023. 

China Southern Airlines, via its official Weibo account, announced (09-Jan-2023) plans to increase Guangzhou-Sydney frequency to daily, effective 30-Jan-2023. The carrier currently operates weekly on the route, according to OAG. 

China Southern Airlines, via its official Weibo account, announced (08-Jan-2023) plans to resume four times weekly Guangzhou-Melbourne service from 24-Jan-2023, increasing to daily from 31-Jan-2023. 

China Southern Airlines, according to a FATIII Weibo post, plans (05-Jan-2023) to increase Guangzhou-Sydney frequency to daily from 30-Jan-2023.

China Eastern Airlines, according to a FATIII Weibo post, plans (05-Jan-2023) to increase Shanghai Pudong-Sydney frequency to three times weekly, operating with Boeing 777-300ER, from 19-Jan-2023. The carrier also plans to increase Shanghai Pudong-Melbourne frequency to three times weekly, operating with 787-9, from 23-Jan-2023.