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HIGH FLIERS —
From new routes, increased capacity and modernised fleets to upgraded onboard product, Gary Noakes shares news from leading airlines in the Asia Pacific region
A
s with other sectors in the travel industry, aviation is seeing flurries of activity across the globe. The Asia Pacific
market, in particular, is enjoying a boost – from China to Vietnam and beyond.
SRILANKAN AIRLINES (AS245) SriLankan Airlines pledged 2019 would be “the year of consolidation” as it undergoes restructuring in a bid to return to profitability. The flag carrier was hit by the Easter terrorist attacks on the island, but a significant boost was caused by the announcement of a free visa on arrival for 48 countries for six months from August this year, encompassing all key markets. SriLankan operates to more than 110 cities in
“We are excited to be exploring new route possibilities to destinations like Bali and Phuket”
48 countries and restarted services to Karachi in June following the reopening of Pakistani airspace. A key target for tourism is Japan, and SriLankan marked 35 years of flying to Tokyo with the start of a fifth weekly Airbus A330-300 flight to Narita in July. The island welcomed almost 50,000 Japanese visitors in 2018. A five-year plan instigated in April stated the carrier will “continue to be a catalyst for the development of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry by aligning its network with the country’s tourism strategy and carrying out joint marketing efforts with Sri Lanka Tourism”. SriLankan also plans to enhance in-flight
entertainment and cuisine, its business class product and cabin configuration in the next few years.
KOREAN AIR (AS950) Korean Air took advantage of successful aviation talks with China in March and launched new routes from Incheon to Zhangjiajie, Nanjing and
68 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 05.11.2019
Hangzhou. Zhangjiajie is popular with hikers, while Hangzhou is a former home of the Korean Provisional Government and it is hoped there will be an outbound as well as inbound flow of tourists. In June, Korean Air began flights to Asahikawa on Hokkaido island, a popular tourist route. The carrier has also increased Beijing services
from 14 a week to 18 and Seoul-Delhi flights to daily. The airline launched daily Incheon-Clark (Manila) services in October but has axed flights to Fiji’s main Nadi International airport. Korean Air has adjusted winter schedules
due to tensions with Japan and will instead increase daily flights to Chiang Mai/Bali to 11. The Incheon-Brisbane route is increased from five to seven flights a week. Another focus for Korean Air is its joint venture with Delta. In April, Korean began five weekly flights between Seoul and Delta’s Boston hub on a Boeing 787-9, including a first-class cabin. Other changes this year include a resumption of summer flights to Irkutsk and St Petersburg. The carrier ordered 30 787s in June, 20 of them the larger 787-10, to be used on mid-haul routes.
VIETNAM AIRLINES (AS675) Vietnam Airlines took delivery of the first of eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners in August. The 367-seat aircraft was initially used on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh trunk route, but will also fly internationally. The carrier also took delivery of its 14th, final Airbus A350, further upgrading its long-haul fleet. Another 50 narrow-body aircraft are likely to be ordered for the 2021-25 period. This year has seen the carrier take on
budget rivals with the launch of seven new domestic routes, five of them from the coastal city of Danang, but the carrier’s UK sales and
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