Asia

This week: Hainan Airlines launches third European flight from Shenzhen; Cathay Dragon adds Davao City; and AirAsia X ups India focus.

Australia’s flag carrier Qantas is looking to grow its international network with an order for six additional Dreamliners as it accelerates the retirement of its last six Boeing 747s.

Hainan Airlines is to launch a non-stop service from Tel Aviv to Guangzhou, the host city for World Routes 2018.

The start-up is to delay its first flight to Hong Kong, scheduled to take off on 30 April, because it has not yet received permission to fly through Russian airspace.

This week: Air Italy adds a fourth international route from Milan Malpensa and Air Malta to serve London Southend.

Philippine Airlines is introducing new routes and hikes in flight frequencies ahead of taking delivery of the first of 21 new aircraft scheduled to arrive by the end of 2019.

Indian full service carrier Vistara is now eligible to fly overseas after receiving its 20th aircraft.

The relaxation of a domestic price cap in China underpins significant market developments - and could make outbound travel even stronger than expected.

Jet Airways hopes its latest order with Boeing will help it to meet booming demand in India.

Revisit the key news stories, quotes, audio and images from the 16th annual Routes Asia in Brisbane, the only route development event dedicated to the Asia Pacific region.

Air Belgium will operate its inaugural service at the end of the month as it seeks to gain a foothold in Asia.

Qantas will on Saturday launch a daily service linking London and Perth, becoming the first non-stop regular link between the UK and Australia. Routesonline looks in more detail at what is set to become one of the world’s longest flights.

A focus on exactly what the customer wants is benefiting both the LCC and legacy sectors, delegates at Routes Asia 2018 in Brisbane were told.

Three questions for Raj Andrade, VP - business development, marketing and strategy, Bangalore International Airport in Bengaluru.

With Routes Asia heading to Cebu in the Philippines in 2019, Routesonline looks at some of the key facts and figures shaping the Southeast Asian country’s market.

Entering the European market is a long-term plan for Thai AirAsia X, the long-haul low-cost carrier’s chief executive has confirmed.

Low-cost carriers are unlikely to succeed in the current ultra-long-haul markets due to customer expectations.

The forthcoming delivery of 18 Airbus A321neo LRs to the Jetstar Group should free up the airline's Boeing 787s for new and existing leisure flights.

Newcastle Airport is set to become New South Wales' second international airport and is targeting services to Fiji, New Zealand and beyond.

Virgin Australia is to fly direct from Brisbane Airport to Alice Springs Airport, the carrier revealed at Routes Asia 2018.

A joint venture between Air Canada and Air China is expected to conclude in the coming months which will allow Canada’s flag carrier to compete “more aggressively” in the Pacific market, according to its chief financial officer.

Vietjet Air is to make Brisbane its first Australian long haul destination with plans to launch direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City from 2019.

Hainan Airlines is to operate the first ever direct route to mainland China from Ireland and Scotland.

China is set to become the world’s largest aviation market within the next five years so it is unsurprising that the country’s airports are leading the way when it comes to annual passenger growth. Routesonline analyses the fastest-growing major airports in the world, with more than half of the top 20 in China alongside counterparts in Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The rapid growth of Asia’s commercial aviation sector has positioned the region among the largest and fastest-growing in the world, but coping with demand remains a challenge.