Turkish Airlines launches Mongolia flights
Turkish Airlines has launched its first ever flight to Mongolia. On Monday 2 July, the national carrier commenced its new service from Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar, via Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek. Flights will now operated three times a week, departing Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport at 1905 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and arriving into Ulaanbaatar at 1005 the following day. Return flights leave the Mongolian capital at 1105 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving back into Istanbul at 1635.
ANA to boost fleet funds through share offering
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is planning to raise funds for its fleet expansion through a share sale. The Japanese carrier announced today (2 July 2012) that it will offer 914 million shares of common stock, the proceeds of which will go towards paying for its order of 55 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Of the total offering, 414m shares will be sold on the Japanese market and 300m internationally.
Korean Air to launch Yangon flights
Korean Air has announced plans to launch a new direct service to Yangon. From 13 September, the Seoul-based national carrier will offer four weekly flights from Incheon International Airport to Myanmar’s largest city, using a Boeing 737-900 aircraft. Services will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday, leaving Seoul at 1805. The return service will depart Yangon at 2320 the same day.
Vietnam Airlines flies to Chengdu
Vietnam Airlines has launched a new direct service connecting Hanoi with Chengdu. The airline will serve the route three times a week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) using a Fokker 70 aircraft. Chengdu will become the fourth destination in mainland China for Vietnam Airlines, following Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The carrier also flies to Hong Kong.
More retail space planned for Pudong airport
Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport will undergo a major renovation this year to expand its retail space. The Shanghai Airport Authority revealed this week that CNY1.4 billion (US$221m) will be spent adding 6,000m² of extra retail space to Pudong’s Terminal 1. The project is expected to be completed in 2014.
New order for China’s C919 jet
China’s domestic aircraft manufacturer, COMAC, has announced a major new order for its C919 narrow-body jet. ABC Leasing, the aircraft leasing arm of the Agricultural Bank of China, has ordered 45 C919s. The 150-seat aircraft are likely to be leased to domestic Chinese carriers. The latest order boosts the Shanghai-based COMAC’s total C919 order book to 280 aircraft.
Burger King to enter Cambodia with airport outlet
Burger King will start open a new restaurant at Phnom Penh International Airport, marking its entry into Cambodia. The Phnom Penh Post reported that the new outlet is expected to open as early as November, and is likely to be followed by other restaurants around the country.
Cheapflights.com.au offers airport Wi-Fi guide
Online travel site Cheapflights.com.au now offers a guide to airport Wi-Fi services in Australia and New Zealand. The new guide, which is available on the company’s website, tells travellers whether an airport offers free Wi-Fi and if so, in which part of the terminal. It named Gold Coast and Wellington airports as the best departure points in Australia and NZ respectively, for offering free Wi-Fi across all areas.
Egyptair plans Vietnam flights
Egyptair is planning to launch a new service between Cairo and Ho Chi Minh City. The Saigon Times reported that the airline’s officials travelled to Vietnam recently to meet with local travel companies. While no start date for services has been confirmed, the airline is planning to test demand by codesharing on Thai Airways’ existing services between Bangkok and HCMC, which would enable Egyptian passengers to connect to Vietnam from Egyptair’s direct Cairo-Bangkok flights. THAI and Egyptair are partners in the Star Alliance. A direct route is likely to follow shortly after, the report added.
PAL receives new B777
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The wide-body jet flew to Manila from the US planemaker’s factory in Seattle last week. It becomes the third B777 in PAL’s fleet and will immediately go into service across on routes to Australia.
JAL codeshares to Vienna
Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched a new codeshare service enabling its passengers to fly to Vienna. The deal, signed with Austrian low-cost carrier NIKI – subsidiary of JAL’s oneworld alliance partner airberlin – will offer sox weekly flights between Vienna and Frankfurt, connecting to JAL’s direct daily flights from Tokyo Narita.
Vietnam Airlines sponsors London festival
Vietnam Airlines has become the sponsor of London’s inaugural Vietnam Summer Festival. The national carrier, which launched its first direct flights to London in December 2011, will boost its presence in the UK market with the sponsorship of the event, which takes place at London’s Spitalfields Market on 14 July 2012. Organised by Vietnamese Professionals in the UK (Vietpro), the free festival is designed to celebrate Vietnamese culture, cuisine and crafts. Vietnam Airlines will also sponsor the festival’s Tourism Market, where travel companies will provide information on travel to Vietnam.
