A digest of the key route development and schedule updates from airlines in the region...
China Eastern Expands European Operation
China Eastern Airlines between July and October 2012 is increasing European operation, where service to Paris and Rome will see additional flights from Shanghai Pu Dong. Elsewhere in Europe, China Eastern operates 4 weekly to London Heathrow, daily to Frankfurt, 2 weekly to Hamburg and 3 weekly to Moscow.
Dragonair to offer nonstop Hong Kong - Clark Link
Dragonair starting 29MAY12 is launching new service to Clark in the Philippines, becoming its 2nd destination in the country. The airline will offer daily flight on board Airbus A320 aircraft. This route does not provide business class service.
China Eastern Doubles Capacity to Mandalay in Myanmar
Since 25MAR12 China Eastern has doubled its capacity on Kunming - Mandalay service, where it is operating Boeing 737-300 aircraft instead of CRJ. The Skyteam member is the only international carrier offering service to Myanmar's second largest city, while the Boeing 737 is the biggest aircraft for the airport.
Yangtze River Express Opens Chengdu – Paris Freight Link
Chinese cargo carrier Yangtze River Express this week inaugurated a new scheduled freight link to Europe from Shanghai and Chengdu, the latter city host to this month’s Routes Asia conference. The airline is offering a three times weekly link between Shanghai and Paris with intermediate stops in Chengdu and Prague from April 3, 2012. It will use Paris Vatry Airport in the French capital, providing the facility with its first non-European originating cargo flight.
China Eastern Strengthens Japan Operation
China Eastern Airlines in Summer 2012 season is increasing number of weekly flights to Japan, which sees routes between Qingdao and Fukuoka and from Shanghai Pu Dong to Hiroshima, Niigata, Okayama, Okinawa and Okinawa all receive additional weekly flights:
Cathay Pacific Boosts Cargo Trade in Mainland China
Cathay Pacific Airways has this week launched of a new twice-weekly freighter service to Zhengzhou, the capital city and principal commercial hub of Henan Province in Central China. The new link was inaugurated on March 28, 2012 and represents the third new destination in China that the Hong Kong-based carrier has added to its cargo network following the launch of flights to Chengdu and Chongqing in Western China in the second half of last year. The service is being operated by one of Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 747 Freighters and will be served via Shanghai on the outbound leg from Hong Kong but will return directly to the former British colony on its return flight.
China Eastern Increases Summer Service to Vancouver
China Eastern Airlines starting 22JUN12 to 10SEP12 is increasing Shanghai Pu Dong - Vancouver service, where it'll lift weekly frequencies from 7 to 11. All 11 weekly flights will be operated by Airbus A330-200, although the new flights is to be operated with older inflight product.
Filipino Carriers Continue International Expansion
Airlines from the Philippines continue to reveal their international route expansion plans, which includes, as of 03APR12, new routes from Airphil Express, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, SE Air and Zest Air.