News for Asia

Bamboo Airways announced (09-Nov-2022) cooperation with Air Canada for the optimisation of passenger benefits. The cooperation will allow passengers to earn reward points when travelling with Bamboo Airways and Air Canada. [more - original PR]

flydubai announced (04-Nov-2022) plans to launch the following services:

• Dubai-Pattaya: Daily from 20-Jan-2023; 
• Dubai-Krabi: Daily from 20-Jan-2023;
• Dubai-Milan Bergamo: Five times weekly from 10-Mar-2023;
• Dubai-Cagliari: Three times weekly from 22-Jun-2023 (seasonal service);
• Dubai-Corfu: Twice weekly from 24-Jun-2023 (seasonal service).

Emirates Airline is set to codeshare on each service. The services will expand flydubai's network to 113 destinations in 53 countries. According to OAG, no other carriers are scheduled to operate the routes. [more - original PR]

Jetstar Airways launched (03-Nov-2022) Sydney-Seoul service on 03-Nov-2022. Jetstar will operate three times weekly with Boeing 787 equipment, carrying up to 100,000 travellers p/a between the two cities. The service has been made possible with the support of NSW Government and Destination NSW. [more - original PR]

Air Mauritius resumed (01-Nov-2022) twice weekly Mauritius-Kuala Lumpur service with 288 seat A330-900 equipment on 01-Nov-2022. The airline last served the route in Mar-2019. Air Mauritius CCO Laurent Recoura stated the airline is "in the process of reactivating its collaboration with Malaysia Airlines" to offer connections to destinations in Asia and Australia. [more - original PR]

Air India signed (02-Nov-2022) an agreement with AirAsia Group to acquire the entire equity share capital of AirAsia India through the purchase of the latter's remaining 16.33% stake in AirAsia India, increasing Air India's stake in the LCC from 83.67% to 100%. Air India plans to integrate AirAsia India with fellow TATA Group LCC subsidiary Air India Express into a single low cost carrier under the Air India Express brand. The airline expects the integration and merger process to "take approximately 12 months, with network and other synergies to be realised progressively during that period", likely concluding by the end of 2023. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson stated: "We are excited to initiate the creation of a single Air India Group low cost carrier", adding: "This is a key step in the rationalisation and transformation of the Group". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Vietnam Airlines received (01-Nov-2022) approval from US TSA to operate scheduled, commercial, nonstop US services, becoming the first Vietnamese airlines to obtain the approval. The carrier is to operate Ho Chi Minh-San Francisco. Vietnam Airlines will become the first airline in Vietnam to operate a scheduled nonstop US service. [more - original PR - Vietnamese]

Bamboo Airways confirmed (01-Nov-2022) the launch of weekly Hanoi-London Gatwick service on 30-Oct-2022, operating with Boeing 787-9. The carrier plans to inaugurate Ho Chi Minh City-London Gatwick from 07-Dec-2022. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways stated (01-Nov-2022) Qantas Frequent Flyers can now book Classic Flight Reward seats to more than 20 destinations across Thailand and South East Asia as a new partnership with Bangkok Airways launched on 01-Nov-2022. Travellers can access Bangkok Airways services via Bangkok, Phuket and Singapore. The Qantas Group operates more than 50 return weekly frequencies between these cities and Australia. The partnership expands on a codeshare agreement that was introduced in 2014 allowing Qantas customers to book commercial seats on Bangkok Airways flights. [more - original PR]

Qatar Airways announced (31-Oct-2022) the following frequency adjustments for the winter 2022/2023 season:

• Doha-Abu Dhabi: Increase from three to four times daily from 21-Dec-2022;
• Doha-Adelaide-Auckland: Increase from five times weekly to daily from 22-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Almaty: increase from four times weekly to daily from 01-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Amsterdam: Increase from daily to 10 times weekly from 21-Dec-2022;
• Doha-Bali: Increase from daily to twice daily from 06-Dec-2022;
• Doha-Cape Town: Increase from 10 times weekly to twice daily from 06-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Dublin: Increase from 11 to 12 times weekly from 03-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Hanoi: Increase from daily to 10 times weekly from 20-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Ho Chi Minh City: Increase from daily to 10 times weekly from 20-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Hong Kong: Increase from daily to 11 times weekly from 16-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Lusaka-Harare: Increase from five times weekly to daily from 17-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Singapore: Increase from twice to three times daily from 30-Oct-2022.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker stated: "This increase will provide even greater choice to our business and leisure passengers, who can connect seamlessly [via Doha] to more than 150 global destinations". [more - original PR]

STARLUX Airlines received (29-Oct-2022) its first A350-900 (B-58501) on 29-Oct-2022. The A350-900 is configured with 306 seats across four classes, comprising four first class, 26 business class, 36 premium economy and 240 economy seats. It is the first of 18 A350-900s to be delivered to the airline, with the second scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2022. STARLUX Airlines chairman K W Chang stated: "The A350-900 is our first large widebody aircraft, which will allow STARLUX to open markets for longer routes", adding "With the addition of the A350-900, the STARLUX fleet now can cover short, mid, and long range flights, providing service to passengers outside Asia". [more - original PR]