News from Asia 亚洲新闻

JetStar Asia cancels Kota Kinabalu

JetStar Asia is cancelling its 4 weekly Singapore – Kota Kinabalu service from the 16^th February 2011. The route is currently served by both Silk Air and Air Asia. Silk Air currently serve the route 6 weekly with A319/A320 equipment and Air Asia daily with an A320. Kota Kinabalu is the main city in the East Malaysia state of Sabah and is the second largest airport in Malaysia.

Garuda Resumes Taipei

Garuda Indonesia is planning to resume services to Taipei Taoyuan from 27^th March 2011. As per the Amadeus timetable display on 21DEC10 Garuda Indonesia will operate the service daily with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft . There are currently two airlines operating the route Eva Air and China Airlines (which operate via Hong Kong).

Jetstar to interline with Cathay and Dragonair

Jetstar Airways has signed an interline agreements with Cathay Pacific and Dragonair. It means that Cathay Pacific and Dragonair customers will be able to book Jetstar and Jetstar Pacific flights in one transaction. Jetstar does not currently serve Hong Kong, whilst Cathay Pacific serves a number of destinations in Australia: Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide.

AirAsia Philippines!

Air Asia has announced it is to launch a new joint venture carrier in the Philippines which is due to start operations in the third quarter of 2011. The new carrier will be 40% owned by Air Asia International and 60% by three Philippine investors Antonio O. Cojuangco Jr, Michael R. Romero and Marianne B. Hontiveros, each with a 20% stake.

The new airline will seek to serve existing Air Asia markets as well as targeting in more depth the strong markets out of the Philippines such as China, South Korea and Japan.

Air Asia’s Group CEO Tony Fernandes says: "We are proud to extend AirAsia's successful low-cost business model to the Philippines and make it affordable for the average Filipino to travel domestically and regionally. The low cost airline will also offer greater access to affordable travel to the Philippines which will help the economic growth of the country,"

AirAsia currently operates 14 weekly services into the Philippines to Clark Airport (Manila), two daily operations from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

The new carrier will compete against the existing carriers low cost carriers Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express, SEAir (whom also operates on behalf of Tiger Airways) and Zest Airways, as well as national carrier Philippine Airlines.

Jetstar launches Singapore Long Haul Flights with more to come

This week saw Jetstar launch long haul services from Singapore, with a new service to Melbourne. The carrier will also be launching Auckland from the 17^th March 2011. Jetstar is expecting three more A330s to be stationed in Singapore and the first of these will be allocated to Auckland. Jetstar are expecting to launch two new long haul routes from Singapore next year.

Pakistan International Airlines to launch Zahedan

Pakistan International Airlines is launching a new service to Zahedan which is located on the Iranian border. The service starts on the 15^th January 2011 and will be operated with an ATR42-500. The twice weekly service will route Karachi – Quetta – Zahedan.

Air Asia cancels second Indian service

Air Asia is cancelling a second Indian route to Hyderabad, shortly after cancelling Kuala Lumpur – Thiruvananthapuram. From the11th January 2011 Air Asia is cancelling the 4 weekly A320 service to Hyderabad.

According to Flightbase 6-12 December 2010 the Hyderabad service currently competes with Malaysia Airlines that operates the route 5 weekly with a 737-800.

The low-cost carrier previously also announced it will be canceling Kuala Lumpur – Thiruvananthapuram service from 11^th January 2011.

ETIHAD FY2011/12 Planned operation changes

Etihad Airways has made a number of changes to its schedule for 2011/12 according to the GDS timetable display (21^st December 2010), there are a number of new destinations that have not been uploaded:

Summer 2011 changes

• Abu Dhabi – Almaty 1 of 3 weekly Airbus A320 replace A319 in Summer season
• Abu Dhabi – Athens 30APR11 – 04JUN11 Day 26 A330-200 replace A320
• Abu Dhabi – Chicago 01AUG11 – 29OCT11 Boeing 777-300ER replace Airbus A340-600 (elimination of First Class service)
• Abu Dhabi – Dhaka Boeing 777-300ER replace Airbus A330-200 on following:

27MAR11 – 29JUL11 Day 135 (DAC Day 246)
02AUG11 – 29OCT11 Day x147 (DAC Day x125)

• Abu Dhabi – Jakarta

27MAR11 – 27MAY11 Boeing 777-300ER replace A330-200 on Day 46
eff 01OCT11 Boeing 777-300ER replace A330-200 on Daily service

• Abu Dhabi – Kathmandu Airbus A320 replace A330-200 for Summer season only
• Abu Dhabi – London Heathrow Peak season operates with mostly Airbus A340-500/-600
• Abu Dhabi – Manchester 01AUG11 – 30OCT11 Airbus A330-200 replace Boeing 777-300ER
• Abu Dhabi – Manila 07JUN11 – 29OCT11 EY424/423 Day 25 Airbus A330-200 replace Boeing 777-300ER
• Abu Dhabi – Tokyo Narita eff 01AUG11 Airbus A340-500 replace A330-200

Frequency increase planned for Brussels, Geneva, Milan Malpensa and Paris CDG, which appeared on the 16DEC10 post

Changes for Jakarta and Tokyo Narita is to be carried forward into Winter 2011/12 season.

Winter 2011/12 Changes, eff 30OCT11

• Abu Dhabi – Beijing – Nagoya Increase from 5 weekly to Daily
• Abu Dhabi – Casablanca Airbus A330-300 replace -200
• Abu Dhabi – Frankfurt All service operates with Airbus A330-300, replacing -200/-300mix
• Abu Dhabi – Paris CDG All service operates with Airbus A330-300, replacing A330-300/A340-600 mix
• Abu Dhabi – Seoul Incheon Airbus A330-300 replace -200

Middle East service currently showing all Airbus A320 service for Winter 2011 season.

Source: Airlineroute.net