Asia and Oceania route updates – February 2024
The Asian market added a new airline in February with the launch of Air Japan, a low cost airline owned by the ANA group. The carrier, which operates one Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, is based at Tokyo’s Narita airport, where it currently operates three regular routes. A new route is already scheduled to start in April.
Highlights in this edition
Air India Limited’s 40th Airbus A320neo.
China Eastern adds a new connection to Moscow.
China Southern Airlines brings another Boeing 737 MAX online.
Delta Air Lines to launch flights between Los Angeles and Brisbane.
Fly91 introduces its first ATR 72-600.
IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd) takes delivery of a new Airbus A320neo.
IrAero starts a new route on February 29th.
Korean Air adds a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Qantas Freight to begin operations to Hong Kong with Airbus A330(P2F).
United Airlines to launch services between Guam and Tokyo Haneda.
In addition to Air Japan’s debut, the Singapore Airshow had major announcements by various Asian airlines. There were important news at the event, including orders from Airbus, Boeingand COMAC, the latter making its first international appearance at an airshow.
Some highlights from the Singapore Airshow:
Royal Brunei orders the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
STARLUX and Airbus A330neo and Airbus A350(F) order.
Thai and the 787-9, A350-900 and A321neo.
COMAC C919 makes its first appearance outside China.
VietJet and its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for a purchase of 20 Airbus A330neo.
Air India
VT-RTX, Air India’s new Airbus A320neo.
The plane arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, serving New Delhi, on February 16th. According to our database, the Airbus A320 remains grounded, and will shortly enter service.
Air Japan
The low-cost company, owned by the ANA group, inaugurated its regular operations last February 9th. The first flight departed Tokyo Narita at 18:48 local time for Bangkok, where it arrived 6 hours and 46 minutes later.
At the moment, Air Japan has 1 aircraft in its fleet, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (JA803A), and two routes to/from Tokyo NRT.
Bangkok · 6 weekly
Daily (except Tuesday)
NQ 1 Tokyo NRT 17:55 · 23:15 BKK Bangkok
Daily (except Wednesday)
NQ 2 Bangkok BKK 00:15 · 08:10 NRT Tokyo
Air Japan began service between Tokyo and Seoul on February 24th. It was scheduled to start on the 22nd, but that flight was canceled.
Seoul · 5 weekly
Daily except Monday and Friday
Additionally, continuing with the expansion of its network, the company will launch operations to Singapore from the Japanese capital as of April 26th, with the following schedule:
Daily except Tuesday and Wednesday
NQ 3 Tokyo NRT 17:35 · 23:55 SIN Singapore
Daily except Wednesday and Thursday
NQ 4 Singapore SIN 00:55 · 09:10 NRT Tokyo
Air New Zealand
Beginning April 3rd, the carrier will boost its services to Tahiti (Papeete). Air New Zealand currently has two weekly flights, which will be increased to three.
Monday and Friday
NZ 902 Auckland AKL 19:35 · 01:30 PPT Papeete
NZ 903 Papeete PPT 04:00 · 07:45+1 AKL Auckland
New flight on Wednesdays.
Apart from Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui operates this route as follows:
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
TN 101 Papeete PPT 09:10 · 13:40+1 AKL Auckland
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
TN 102 Auckland AKL 16:15 · 22:00 PPT Papeete
Biman
Biman Bangladesh plans to expand its services between Dhaka and Chennai effective March 31st. The airline, which operates with Boeing 737-800 jets, schedules to reach a daily flight on this route.
Daily
BG 363 Dhaka DAC 11:15 · 13:35 MAA Chennai
BG 364 Chennai MAA 14:40 · 17:50 DAC Dhaka
Biman routes between Bangladesh and India.
Chennai (MAA): 3 weekly · Boeing 737 (currently)
Kolkata (CCU): 14 weekly · 738/Dash 8
New Delhi (DEL): 7 weekly · Boeing 737-800
China Eastern
Shenyang, China Eastern Airlines’ new destination from Moscow Sheremetyevo.
The company will operate once a week on Airbus A330-200s seating 234 passengers starting February 28th. It will be China Eastern’s fourth destination in the Russian capital.
Wednesday
MU 841 Shenyang SHE 12:50 · 16:20 SVO Moscow
MU 842 Moscow SVO 18:15 · 07:00+1 SHE Shenyang
Connections from SVO:
Beijing (PKX): 3 weekly · Airbus A330-300
Shanghai (PVG): 7 weekly · Airbus A330-300
Shenyang (SHE): 1 weekly · Airbus A330-200
Xi’an (XIY): 2 weekly · Airbus A330-300
China Southern Airlines
On February 16th, China Southern incorporated the Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as B-20CS. The airline now has 209 Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet, including 737-700s, 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s.
In addition, it has 23 Boeing 737 MAX 8s on order, which will be added shortly.
The China Southern fleet
Airbus A319-100: 9
Airbus A319neo: 4
Airbus A320-200: 100
Airbus A320neo: 49
Airbus A321-200: 97
Airbus A321neo: 59
Airbus A330-200: 6
Airbus A330-300: 26
Airbus A350-900: 20
Boeing 737-700: 22
Boeing 737-800: 160
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 27
Boeing 777-300(ER): 15
Boeing 777(F): 17
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner: 10
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: 17
COMAC ARJ21-700: 25
Delta Air Lines
The company will begin flying between Los Angeles and Brisbane beginning December 4th. Delta schedules three services per week with Airbus A350-900 airplanes.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
DL 93 Los Angeles LAX 23:10 · 07:45+2 BNE Brisbane
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
DL 92 Brisbane BNE 10:45 · 06:15 LAX Los Angeles
Sydney is Delta’s only current destination in Australia:
Daily
DL 43 Los Angeles LAX 20:35 · 06:50+2 SYD Sydney
DL 42 Sydney SYD 14:15 · 09:10 LAX Los Angeles
Daily
DL 41 Los Angeles LAX 22:15 · 08:35+2 SYD Sydney
DL 40 Sydney SYD 11:05 · 06:00 LAX Los Angeles
Fly91
India’s newest airline, Fly91.in, introduced its first ATR 72-600 already with the new livery, which has the registration VT-FIB. The aircraft has 70 seats in single class and is 7 years old.
Furthermore, the company began the Singapore Airshow by signing an agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC). The agreement was formalized at the event in the presence of FLY91 Managing Director and CEO Manoj Chacko and Director of Global Sales (P&WC) Martin Letarte.
Greater Bay Airlines
The Hong Kong-based carrier will increase its operations to Thailand and Japan starting in March.
These will be the new developments:
IndiGo
The Indian carrier added a new Airbus A320neo fresh from the factory on Saturday (24). It is the 221st Airbus A320 in its fleet, between 190 neos and 31 A320-200s.
Registered as VT-IQT, the aircraft departed Toulouse on Friday at 17:55 local time, arriving in New Delhi 8 hours and 21 minutes later (06:46 local time).
IrAero
The airline will launch services between Irkutsk, Shijiazhuang and Nha Trang on February 29th. According to its website, IrAero will offer weekly flight on this route, which will be operated by Sukhoi Superjet 100-95LRs.
Thursday
IO 875 Irkutsk IKT 22:30 · 01:20+1 SJW Shijiazhuang
Friday
IO 875 Shijiazhuang SJW 02:20 · 05:20 CXR Nha Trang
876 Nha Trang CXR 06:20 · 11:20 SJW Shijiazhuang
IO 876 Shijiazhuang SJW 12:20 · 15:00 IKT Irkutsk
Korean Air
A new Korean Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arrived at Seoul’s Incheon Airport at 19:43 local time on Saturday (24). The aircraft, registered HL8393, had taken off from Everett at 15:07 local time on Friday.
Korean Air now has 13 787-9s in its fleet, and is already scheduled to add the 14th, with registration HL8392.
Fleet
Airbus A220-300: 10
Airbus A321neo: 9
Airbus A330-200: 5
Airbus A330-300: 20
Airbus A380-800: 10
Boeing 737-800: 2
Boeing 737-900: 9
Boeing 737-900(ER): 6
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 5
Boeing 747-400: 4
Boeing 747-8: 16
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner: 1
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: 13
Nok Air
As of March 31st, Nok Air is scheduled to increase frequencies between Bangkok and Hyderabad, a route it currently operates three times a week with 189-seat Boeing 737-800 jets.
Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
DD 958 Bangkok Don Mueang DMK 21:30 · 23:45 HYD Hyderabad
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
DD 959 Hyderabad HYD 00:45 · 06:05 DMK Bangkok Don Mueang
New flight on Wednesdays from Bangkok, and on Thursdays from Hyderabad.
Nok Air is the only carrier operating between the two airports, and Hyderabad is its only destination in India.
Qantas Freight
Qantas Freight, which handles the airline’s cargo flights, expects to begin services between Sydney and Hong Kong with Airbus A330-202(P2F) aircraft effective June 2nd. Currently, operations are carried out on Boeing 767-300s.
Friday and Sunday
QF 7525 Sydney SYD 12:15 · 19:15 HKG Hong Kong
QF 7526 Hong Kong HKG 21:15 · 08:35+1 SYD Sydney
Qantas Freight fleet
VH-ULD · Airbus A321-231(P2F)
VH-ULW · Airbus A321-231(P2F)
VH-ULY · Airbus A321-231(P2F)
VH-EBE · Airbus A330-202(P2F)
VH-EBF · Airbus A330-202(P2F)
VH-XML · Boeing 737-376(BDSF)
VH-XMR · Boeing 737-376(BDSF)
VH-XNH · Boeing 737-4S3(SF)
VH-EFR · Boeing 767-381(F)
Royal Brunei
At the Singapore Airshow, Royal Brunei placed an order for four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The company currently has 5 787-8s, which it uses to serve Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Current fleet
Airbus A320-200: 1
Airbus A320neo: 7
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner: 5
“The forthcoming arrival of the Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft symbolizes a bold step forward in our ongoing journey towards innovation and excellence. RB had been operating the Dreamliner 787-8 for the last 10 years, and with this order, it will ensure we continue with a product that our customer come to enjoy. In our constant effort to offer unparalleled service matched with the highest safety standards to our guests, the new fleet will allow us the potential to tap into new growth areas, strengthening RB’s market appeal and provide a superior travel experience to our guests,” said RB Chief Executive Officer, Sabirin bin Haji Abdul Hamid.
Sichuan Airlines
Starting in March, the carrier will inaugurate three routes between China and South Korea. Sichuan Airlines will have these new additions:
Dayong (DYG) – Muan (MWX): 2 weekly · March 15thSingapore Airlines
The airline plans to boost its flights to Turkey from July 4th. Singapore Airlines operates the Singapore – Istanbul route four weekly with Airbus A350-900 jets.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
SQ 392 Singapore SIN 01:50 · 08:25 IST Istanbul
SQ 391 Istanbul IST 13:25 · 04:45+1 SIN Singapore
Current schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).
STARLUX
The Taiwan-based company announced, during the Singapore Airshow, the order of Airbus A330neos and Airbus A350(F)s.
This includes 3 A330neo, and 5 A350(F) in the freighter sector.
With this order, STARLUX Airlines enters the air cargo market and is the first Taiwanese carrier to operate these aircraft.
Current fleet
Airbus A321neo: 13
Airbus A330neo: 4
Airbus A350-900: 4
The STARLUX fleet has an average age of just 2 years.
Thai
The airline placed major orders at the Singapore Airshow.
On the first day, Thai confirmed the order for 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which will begin to be delivered from 2027.
As reported by Chai Eamsiri, Thai Airways CEO, “To accomplish the Company’s carbon neutral goals by 2050, the 45 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be equipped with GEnx engines which are known for their cutting-edge technology and reduced environmental impact. Furthermore, we are confident that the acquisition of the 787 Dreamliners will ultimately benefit our customers and support the growth of our country’s economy.”
In addition, on day 2 of the airshow, the company signed a lease agreement with AerCap for 4 A350-900s, 3 787-9s and 10 A321neos.
Tibet Airlines
In the C919’s first international Airshow appearance, COMAC finalized an order by Tibet Airlines for 40 COMAC C919s, as well as 10 ARJ21s.
Tibet becomes a new Chinese airline to order Chinese-made aircraft. Its current fleet is composed as follows, averaging 7 years old:
Airbus A319: 27
Airbus A319neo: 6
Airbus A320-200: 6
Airbus A330-200: 5
United Airlines
Effective May 1st, United will inaugurate regular service between Guam and Tokyo Haneda. According to its website, the company will operate a daily flight on 166-seat Boeing 737-800s.
Daily
United Airlines routes from/to Guam:
Japan
Fukuoka (FUK): 7 weekly · Boeing 737-800
Nagoya (NGO): 11 weekly · 738/739
Osaka (KIX): 10 weekly · 738/739
Tokyo (NRT): 25 weekly · 738/739
Micronesia
Northern Mariana Islands
Saipan (SPN): 7 weekly · Boeing 737-800
Palau
Airai (ROR): 6 weekly · Boeing 737-800
Philippines
Manila (MNL): 7 weekly · Boeing 737-800
United States
Honolulu (HNL): 7 weekly · Boeing 777-300(ER)
Uzbekistan Airways
The airline will resume flights between Tashkent (TAS) and Mumbai (BOM) from April 1st. In accordance with its website, Uzbekistan Airways schedules two services a week on Airbus A320neo aircraft.
VietJet
The carrier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of 20 Airbus A330-900s during the third day of the Singapore Airshow.
This is VietJet’s first order for wide-body aircraft.
The Vietnamese airline currently has 86 planes in its fleet:
Airbus A320-200: 18
Airbus A321-200: 36
Airbus A321neo: 25
Airbus A330-300: 7
Vietnam Airlines
Beginning May 15th, Vietnam Airlines will increase its capacity on the Hanoi – New Delhi route.
The carrier currently operates between the two cities with Airbus A321-200 aircraft, and plans to upgrade to the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
VN 971 Hanoi HAN 18:30 · 22:05 DEL New Delhi
VN 972 New Delhi DEL 23:10 · 05:30+1 HAN Hanoi
Seats
Airbus A321-200: 178/184
Airbus A350-900: 305
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner: 274/311
Xiamen Air
At 11:56 local time on Monday (26), Xiamen Air’s new Boeing 737 MAX 8, registration B-20EK, arrived in Xiamen.
The plane had taken off from Everett on Sunday, with stops in Honolulu and Guam.
Xiamen Air reaches 11 Boeing 737 MAX and now has over 160 aircraft in its fleet.
Very good