Asian air route updates: new flights from Norwegian, Spring, Air China and more…

Spring adds low-cost link between key Asian cities

Where? Shanghai Pudong (China) to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
When? Four times a week, effective immediately
Who? Spring Airlines
Why? China’s largest low-cost carrier expands its international network with a new route connecting two of Asia’s key cities
Anything else? Spring becomes the fourth airline operating the route, but the first LCC

Jetstar Pacific brings Chinese tourists to Nha Trang

Where? Cam Ranh (Vietnam) to Guiyang (China)
When? Three times a week, effective immediately
Who? Jetstar Pacific
Why? Bringing more Chinese tourists to the expanding Vietnamese beach resort of Nha Trang
Anything else? This becomes the airline’s third mainland Chinese route from Cam Ranh, following Wuhan and Changsha

Northeastern cities get new direct connection

Where? Harbin (China) to Vladivostok, pictured (Russia)
When? Twice a week, effective 18 May 2017
Who? Sichuan Airlines
Why? Connecting two key economic hubs in northeast Asia, and providing a way for Chinese leisure travellers to access Russia’s casinos
Anything else? Vladivostok was part of China during several dynasties, including the Jin, Yuan and Qing

Sichuan Airlines adds first link to Laos

Where? Kunming (China) to Vientiane, pictured (Laos)
When? Three times a week, effective 30 May 2017
Who? Sichuan Airlines
Why? Serving expanding trade and tourism links between southwest China’s Yunnan province and neighbouring Laos
Anything else? This will be Sichuan Airlines’ first connection to Laos

West Air connects Chongqing with the Philippines

Where? Chongqing (China) to Cebu (Philippines)
When? Three times a week, effective 2 June 2017
Who? West Air
Why? HNA’s Chongqing-based LCC expands international route map with first flights to the Philippines
Anything else? Chongqing is home to more than 30 million people – approximately the same as Malaysia

Air China flies Down Under from Shenzhen

Where? Shenzhen (China) to Melbourne (Australia)
When? Three times a week, effective 20 June 2017
Who? Air China
Why? Expanding international connectivity from Shenzhen, the Chinese city in the Pearl River Delta
Anything else? From being a small town of 30,000 people in the 1970s, Shenzhen is now one of the largest and wealthiest cities of China.

Vietjet continues to connect key ASEAN cities

Where? Hanoi (Vietnam) to Yangon (Myanmar)
When? Daily, effective 31 August 2017
Who? Vietjet
Why? Fast-growing LCC continues to launch new services between key Southeast Asian cities
Anything else? Vietjet’s new service will make up for the suspension of Emirates’ Hanoi-Yangon flights in June

Norwegian gives Singapore a new low-cost link to London

Where? London Gatwick (UK) to Singapore
When? Four times a week, effective 28 September 2017 (rising to five per week)
Who? Norwegian
Why? Fast-expanding LCC continues to develop long-haul network from London Gatwick, its main UK base
Anything else? Norwegian will operate the long-haul route using its 344-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft