After the European edition, we continue with the global aviation report, focusing this time on the market summary for Asia and Oceania during November. For previous posts, here are the links:

Two important highlights of the month are related to new aircraft from two of the region’s leading airlines, Air India and Qantas.

Air India’s A350, which will have the registration VT-JRE, made a ferry flight from Singapore to Toulouse after receiving the airline’s new livery at Changi Airport. On the other hand, Qantas unveiled its first Airbus A220, to be incorporated to QantasLink, its regional subsidiary, in the first quarter of 2024.

The plane has a special livery and the registration VH-X4A.

In terms of routes, the resumption of Air China’s Beijing-Washington connection, discontinued since early 2020 as a result of the pandemic, can be noted.

Although almost four years have passed, some markets still have routes that remain suspended, either due to certain restrictions or insufficient demand.

Aeroflot

Starting December 28th, Aeroflot plans to resume operations between Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City. In accordance with its reservation system, the company will offer twice-weekly services with 402-seat Boeing 777-300(ER) aircraft.

Thursday and Sunday

SU 292 Moscow Sheremetyevo SVO 19:40 · 09:30+1 SGN Ho Chi Minh City
SU 293 Ho Chi Minh City SGN 11:10 · 18:10 SVO Moscow Sheremetyevo

Aero Mongolia

After discontinuing flights on August 10th, the airline will resume operations between Ulaanbaatar and Hanoi from December 14th. As happened three months ago, services will be once a week:

Thursday (Airbus A319)

M0 535 Ulaanbaatar UBN 09:30 · 14:05 HAN Hanoi
M0 536 Hanoi HAN 14:55 · 19:30 UBN Ulaanbaatar

At the time of publication, flights are available for sale until March 28th of next year.

Air China

Last November 21st, Air China resumed services between Beijing and Washington, DC. Flights returned after a three and a half year hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The carrier will operate twice-weekly on Boeing 777-300(ER) jets.

Tuesday and Saturday

CA 817 Beijing PEK 12:30 · 14:10 IAD Washington
CA 818 Washington IAD 16:35 · 19:05 LAX Los Angeles
CA 818 Los Angeles LAX 21:05 · 04:10+2 PEK Beijing

Air China’s routes in the China-US market

Beijing (PEK) – New York (JFK) – Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK)
Beijing (PEK) – Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK)
Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX) – Los Angeles (LAX) – Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX)
Beijing (PEK) – San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK)
Beijing (PEK) – Washington (IAD) – Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK)

Both capitals recover their connection due to the start-up of Air China.

Air India

Air India’s Airbus A350, currently registered F-WHUG, which will later become VT-JRE, made a ferry flight from Singapore to Toulouse on November 17th after receiving the airline’s new livery.

In Toulouse, the A350 will undergo final preparations before the start of regular operations with the carrier, scheduled for the end of the year.

Air India has more than 470 aircraft on order, of which 70 are widebody. Forty of these will be Airbus A350s.

The company’s current fleet consists of the following:

Airbus A319-100: 18
Airbus A320-200: 9
Airbus A320neo: 31
Airbus A321-200: 13
Airbus A321neo: 4
Boeing 777-200: 8
Boeing 777-300(ER): 15
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner: 27

AirJapan

The low cost carrier, part of the ANA group, will start two new routes from Tokyo Narita effective February 2024. Bangkok and Seoul, in Thailand and South Korea respectively, will be the new additions, which will have the following schedule:

Bangkok (Boeing 787-8)

Daily except Tuesday

NQ 001 Tokyo Narita NRT 17:55 · 23:15 BKK Bangkok

Daily except Wednesday

NQ 002 Bangkok BKK 00:15 · 08:10 NRT Tokyo Narita

Seoul (Boeing 787-8)

Daily except Monday and Friday

NQ 021 Tokyo Narita NRT 10:55 · 13:30 ICN Seoul Incheon
NQ 022 Seoul Incheon ICN 14:40 · 16:45 NRT Tokyo Narita

No images of AirJapan aircraft yet, as it will start services in 2024

Beijing Capital Airlines

The airline will launch flights between Hangzhou Xiaoshan and Jeju from December 15th. In line with its website, Beijing Capital will operate twice weekly on Airbus A320-200s seating 174 passengers in single class.

Monday and Friday

JD 359 Hangzhou HGH 18:50 · 21:10 CJU Jeju
JD 360 Jeju CJU 22:10 · 23:00 HGH Hangzhou

Capital Airlines network in Hangzhou

China

Ankang (AKA): 4 weekly
Beijing Daxing (PKX): 7 weekly
Chengdu Tianfu (TFU): 7 weekly
Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG): 14 weekly
Enshi Xujiaping (ENH): 4 weekly
Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN): 7 weekly
Guilin Liangjiang (KWL): 7 weekly
Haikou Meilan (HAK): 7 weekly
Jinghong Xishuangbanna (JHG): 3 weekly
Kunming Changshui (KMG): 21 weekly
Lijiang Sanyi (LJG): 7 weekly
Mangshi (LUM): 4 weekly
Nanning Wuxu (NNG): 2 weekly
Sanya Phoenix (SYX): 7 weekly
Tangshan Sannuhe (TVS): 3 weekly
Urumqi Diwopu (URC): 7 weekly
Xi’an Xianyang (XIY): 7 weekly
Yichang Sanxia (YIH): 7 weekly
Yinchuan Hedong (INC): 14 weekly

Portugal

Lisbon (LIS): 2 weekly

Russia

Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO): 2 weekly

South Korea

Jeju (HGH): 2 weekly · new

Spain

Madrid (MAD): 1 weekly

China Airlines

The Chinese carrier will start flights between Taipei and Toyama from January 31st, 2024. Operations will be twice a week on 158- and 161-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Wednesday and Saturday

CI 2170 Taipei TPE 06:35 · 10:25 TOY Toyama
CI 2171 Toyama TOY 11:25 · 14:10 TPE Taipei

According to different reports, the airline will use the Airbus A321neo on this route starting in April 2024.

Sapporo, Shanghai and Tokyo Haneda are the current connections from Toyama airport:

Sapporo (CTS): 7 weekly · ANA
Shanghai (PVG): 2 weekly · Shanghai Airlines
Tokyo Haneda (HND): 21 weekly · ANA

Eastar Jet

Eastar Jet’s inaugural flight from Seoul Incheon arrived in Taipei on the morning of November 20th. The South Korean low cost carrier will operate four weekly with Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

ZE 881 Seoul Incheon ICN 08:00 · 09:45 TPE Taipei
ZE 882 Taipei TPE 10:45 · 14:20 ICN Seoul Incheon

This route, in addition to Eastar Jet, is offered by:

Asiana Airlines: 14 weekly
China Airlines: 14 weekly
EVA Air: 14 weekly
Jin Air: 7 weekly
Korean Air: 14 weekly
Scoot: 4 weekly
Tigerair Taiwan: 7 weekly

Jetstar Airways

The airline confirmed that it will inaugurate flights between Sydney and Osaka beginning April 1st, 2024. Jetstar will resume operations on this route after a 15-year suspension.

Based on its website, the company will have the following schedule:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

JQ 13 Sydney SYD 10:20 · 19:00 KIX Osaka
JQ 14 Osaka KIX 21:00 · 07:35+1 SYD Sydney

Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States are Jetstar’s international markets from Sydney.

Korean Air

The carrier will resume flights to Hawaii from April 26th, 2024, in accordance with its reservation system. Korean Air schedules one daily frequency on the Seoul – Tokyo – Honolulu route on Boeing 777-200(ER) aircraft.

Schedule

KE 001 Seoul Incheon ICN 17:40 · 20:00 NRT Tokyo Narita
KE 001 Tokyo Narita NRT 21:20 · 10:00 HNL Honolulu (same day)

KE 002 Honolulu HNL 11:55 · 15:20+1 NRT Tokyo Narita
KE 002 Tokyo Narita NRT 17:20+1 · 20:00+1 ICN Seoul Incheon

Loong Air

Starting December 12th, the company plans to commence operations between Chengdu and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Loong Air intends two flights per week on the 161- and 165-seat Airbus A320-200s.

Tuesday and Saturday

GJ 8531 Chengdu TFU 09:15 · 12:50 FRU Bishkek
GJ 8532 Bishkek FRU 13:50 · 20:30 TFU Chengdu

Malaysia Airlines

Between November 9th and 10th, Malaysia Airlines inaugurated two new routes to India from Kuala Lumpur. Both will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, twice weekly:

Amritsar

Wednesday and Saturday

MH 118 Kuala Lumpur KUL 18:50 · 22:10 ATQ Amritsar
MH 119 Amritsar ATQ 23:25 · 07:30+1 KUL Kuala Lumpur

Thiruvananthapuram