News for Asia

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. 

Hong Kong's Government announced (05-Jan-2023) "normal travel of persons" between Hong Kong and China will resume in phases from 08-Jan-2023 "in an orderly manner". The first phase requires all persons entering China from Hong Kong, or entering Hong Kong from China, to undergo a PCR COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to the scheduled time of flight departure. Hong Kong also requires all inbound persons to conduct daily RAT test between the day of arrival and day five after arrival in Hong Kong. [more - original PR]

T'way Air commenced (29-Dec-2022) four times weekly Seoul Incheon-Sydney service on 23-Dec-2022, operated with A330-300 equipment. This is the LCC's first long haul international service. Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways also operate the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR - Korean]

Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, via its official website, announced (04-Jan-2023) member states agreed on a coordinated precautionary approach in response to COVID-19 developments in China, covering the following:

• Recommendation for all passengers on services to and from China to wear a medical mask, or FFP2/N95/KN95 respirators;
• Advice to be issued to travellers coming from or destined for China, as well as to aircraft and airport personnel, regarding personal hygiene and health measures;
• Member states are strongly encouraged to introduce a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to be taken by passengers departing China to member states, within 48 hours prior to departure;
• Member states are encouraged to complement these measures with:
  
  • Random testing of passengers arriving from China upon arrival, and the sequencing of all positive results;
  • Testing and sequencing of wastewater from airports with international flights and aircraft arriving from China;
  • Continued promotion of vaccine sharing and the uptake of vaccines, including booster doses, particularly among vulnerable groups.

Member states will assess the situation and review the introduced measures by mid Jan-2023.