New route announcements and returning services from across the Asia-Pacific region
Qantas is opening a new nonstop link between Melbourne (MEL) and Jakarta (CGK) in April, becoming the airline’s third new international route out of the Australian airport since borders reopened. Flights on the 5,208-km (2,812-nm) sector will be offered three times per week from April 16 using Airbus A330s. The service will become the carrier’s second to the Indonesian capital alongside its long-standing daily operations from Sydney. The launch will see Qantas increase seats to and from Jakarta by more than 6,600 per month, which it said would support growing trade and tourism links between Australia and Indonesia. During 2018-19, two-way trade in goods and services was worth A$17.8 billion ($12.7 billion), making Indonesia Australia’s 13th largest trading partner.
Indian LCC IndiGo has introduced a new domestic route between Jaipur (JAI) and Jodhpur (JDH). Flights are 4X-weekly every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. “IndiGo has been at the forefront of enhancing regional connectivity and these flights will connect Jodhpur to many destinations across the country via Jaipur,” head of global sales Vinay Malhotra said. Meanwhile, Nasik (ISK) is to become the 77th domestic destination in the carrier’s network. Three routes are being launched, connecting the destination with Ahmedabad (AMD), Goa Mopa (GOX) and Nagpur (NAG). Each sector will be served daily from March 15.
Air New Zealand has enhanced its schedule to mainland China amid “very strong demand” following the country’s reopening to international travel. After adding a third weekly flight in early January, service between Auckland (AKL) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) rose to 4X-weekly from Feb. 4 using 787-9 aircraft. The move increased capacity on the route from around 1,800 two-way weekly seats to more than 2,400.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) unveiled plans to resume three international routes and is switching two North American routes from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Haneda (HND). The carrier will resume service between NRT and Brussels (BRU) from March 11 with 2X-weekly flights. ANA will reopen service between HND and Munich (MUC) with 3X-weekly flights, alongside a 3X-weekly service between NRT and Perth (PER). For the northern summer 2023 season schedule, ANA will switch routes from NRT to both Seattle (SEA) and Vancouver (YVR) to HND. Both routes will be operated 7X-weekly.
ROB FINLAYSON
AirAsia X has returned to Osaka (KIX) for the first time since April 2020. Service from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) will operate three times per week using Airbus A330-300s. The LCC said it expects to carry more than 116,000 travelers per month between Malaysia and Japan, providing a boost to both countries’ tourism sectors. AirAsia X has also resumed flights from KUL to Busan (BUS) in South Korea. Busan becomes the airline’s 15th destination and second in South Korea. Flights will be 3X-weekly.
UK carriers British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic have each confirmed their return to mainland China. BA’s flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) will resume on April 23, operating daily using Boeing 787-9s. A second route from Heathrow to Beijing Daxing (PKX) will recommence on June 3, running four times per week using 777-200ERs. Virgin Atlantic will also return to the Chinese market from May 1 with daily service between Heathrow and Shanghai using 787-9s.
SalamAir is launching a new route to Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur during the northern summer season. The route will be the Oman-based LCC's first destination in the southeast Asian country. Nonstop flights between Muscat (MCT) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) will operate twice a week from July 3 on Mondays and Fridays.
AirAsia Philippines has announced plans to resume Manila (MNL)-Macau (MFM) flights on March 2. The route will operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. “Now that China is opening its borders to the world, a new era of tourism, trade and commerce is set to emerge,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said.
From March 18, Air Astana’s flights from Astana (NQZ) to Beijing Capital (PEK) will resume with two round trips per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Airbus A321LRs. The airline said frequency increases are planned during the summer season. In addition, service between Almaty (ALA) and Beijing will double to 4X-weekly from March 2 using A321LRs and A321neos. Air Astana restarted flights to Beijing in November 2022 following a suspension of more than two and a half years.
