From new routes, increased capacity and modernised fleets to upgraded onboard product, Gary Noakes shares news from leading airlines in the Asia Pacific region.
As 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 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 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 took advantage of successful aviation talks with China in March and launched new routes from Incheon to Zhangjiajie, Nanjing and 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 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 and 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 marketing executive Alexander Keech said further international expansion was also being examined: “Vietnam Airlines has lots of news that we are looking forward to sharing at WTM London this year, and we are excited to be exploring new route possibilities to destinations like Bali and Phuket [launched in October 2019], plus [to be confirmed] Los Angeles and Perth.”
Malaysia Airlines launched MHholidays, in partnership with Tui, this summer, allowing tailor-made travel by pairing the airline’s flights with Tui’s accommodation range. The venture covers more than 5,000 hotels in 50 destinations worldwide. The airline also began flights to Kochi in March.
A rebrand of first class to Business Suite is now complete, with cabins on Airbus A380s and A350s offering the benefits of first class at a more competitive price. Business Suite is available on routes to London, Tokyo, Osaka and on winter flights to Sydney and Seoul. The airline has also become the first to partner with Aspinal of London for its business class amenity kits.
The carrier’s UK and Europe marketing manager Richard De Villa said a booking incentive would be launched at the end of 2019 following a programme of UK agent fam trips.
China Airlines is Taiwan’s national carrier and marks its 60th anniversary this year. The airline continues to operate four flights a week from Taipei to Gatwick and has increased frequencies from Taiwan to Vienna, Honolulu, the Pacific island of Palau and the Japanese destinations of Nagoya, Sapporo and Takamatsu.
After renewing its long-haul fleet with Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350-900s, the carrier has ordered 14 Airbus A321neo narrow-bodies for delivery from 2021, with options for another 16.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) introduced new first and business class cabins onto Heathrow-Tokyo Haneda services in August. The fully enclosed first-class cabin, called The Suite and The Room business cabins – with seats double the width of the previous version – are a collaboration between architect Kengo Kuma and British designers Acumen. New premium economy and economy cabins also feature. The Boeing 777-300ER will also appear on New York and Frankfurt services this winter.
ANA launched a Tokyo Narita-Perth service in September, the first link between Japan and the Australian city. ANA became the first Japanese carrier to launch services from Narita to Chennai in October and will again be the first to offer Narita to Vladivostok from March 2020. The carrier also became the first Japanese airline to fly the Boeing 787-10 in April, employing it on services from Narita to Bangkok. It took the second of three Airbus A380s into its fleet this year, all of which will serve Honolulu.
Philippine Airlines introduced a premium economy product this summer, with dedicated cabins on Airbus A350 and selected A330s offering a 38-inch pitch and 8-inch recline. Some domestic flights also offer an upgraded service and extra legroom option.
The airline began flying from its hub at Manila’s main Ninoy Aquino airport to Hanoi and Phnom Penh this summer.
The carrier has also strengthened links with Japan, upgrading its Cebu-Nagoya route from four a week to daily in March. Earlier in 2019, ANA’s parent company took a 9.5% stake in Philippine Airlines.