Mega Maldives Airlines today on its weibo page announced the launch of 3 new routes to China, which will start gradually in June and July 2012.

Details:

eff 01JUN12 Male – Chengdu
eff 24JUN12 Male – Chongqing
eff 02JUL12 Male – Hangzhou

Virgin Australia starting 13AUG12 is launching Brisbane – Mount Isa service, on board Embraer E190 aircraft. This flight operates on weekdays only.

Schedule:

DJ1267/VA1267 BNE0600 – 0840ISA E90 x67
DJ1268/VA1268 ISA0910 – 1115BNE E90 x67

Currently QANTAS is the sole operator on this route.

Virgin Australia starting late-May 2012 is gradually increasing Brisbane – Gladstone service, from up to 3 daily to up to 5 daily. ATR72 turboprop operates these services.

Schedule:

DJ1709/VA1709 BNE0600 – 0720GLT AT7 x67
DJ1711/VA1711 BNE0850 – 1010GLT AT7 x7
DJ1713/VA1713 BNE1215 – 1335GLT AT7 x6
DJ1715/VA1715 BNE1550 – 1710GLT AT7 x6
DJ1717/VA1717 BNE1750 – 1910GLT AT7 x6

DJ1710/VA1710 GLT0750 – 0910BNE AT7 x67
DJ1712/VA1712 GLT1040 – 1200BNE AT7 x7
DJ1716/VA1716 GLT1405 – 1525BNE AT7 x6
DJ1718/VA1718 GLT1740 – 1900BNE AT7 x6
DJ1720/VA1720 GLT1940 – 2100BNE AT7 x6

DJVA1711/1712 eff 28MAY12
DJVA1717/1720 eff 11JUN12

Hawaiian Airlines starting 23JUN12 is introducing Airbus A330-200 operation on its daily Honolulu – San Diego route, which will replace existing Boeing 767 operation.

Schedule:

HA016 HNL1435 – 2255SAN 332 D
HA015 SAN0955 – 1250HNL 332 D

A330-200 service from San Diego begins from 24JUN12

As per 18MAY12 GDS inventory display, Air Austral from 16AUG12 will cancel St. Denis de la Reunion – Sydney – Noumea service, currently operating twice a week with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.

The airline previously planned to cancel this route from 28MAR12 but was reinstated. In the latest company restructure plan announced this week, the airline has decided to cancel this route, along with other service adjustments.

Existing schedule:

UU951 RUN1345 – 0600+1SYD0725+1 – 1105+1NOU 77L 47
UU952 NOU0830 – 1045SYD1215 – 1830RUN 77L 26

Reservation for travel on/after 16AUG12 is closed.

As per 18MAY12 GDS timetable and inventory display, initial changes to Singapore Airlines’ Winter 2012/13 operation as follows.

Additional changes to come in the coming weeks.

Singapore – Colombo Airbus A330-300 replaces Boeing 777-200/-300
Singapore – Dubai 3 weekly Dubai – Riyadh* sector is terminated, therefore SIA operates daily round-trip SIN DXB and 3 weekly SIN DXB CAI (see below)
Singapore – Dubai – Cairo Airbus A330-300 replaces Boeing 777-200, service operates thrice weekly
Singapore – Istanbul Service reduces from 5 to 4 weekly. This route operated 6 times a week in W11
Singapore – Nagoya 03MAR13 – 04MAR13 Boeing 777-200 replaces Airbus A330-300

*Service to Riyadh cancelled

Previously reported changes:
Singapore – Abu Dhabi – Jeddah 3 weekly service Cancelled. Jeddah service to be re-routed, which will reflect in the GDS in coming weeks
Singapore – Athens Service cancelled
Singapore – Perth 10DEC12 – 31JAN13 Service operates 4 daily, increases from 24 weekly in same period in 2011/12
SQ213 SIN0755 – 1315PER 772 D
SQ214 PER1735 – 2250SIN 772 D

Rwandair starting June 2012 is increasing service to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Johannesburg, as per 18MAY12 GDS timetable and inventory display.

Details:

Kigali – Dar es Salaam – Kilimanjaro – Kigali eff 11JUN12 Service increases from 2 to 3 weekly. Opposite direction will also increases from 2 to 3 weekly
WB103 KGL1220 – 1525DAR1610 – 1710JRO1755 – 1825KGL 735 125
WB103 KGL1220 – 1450JRO1535 – 1635DAR1720 – 1825KGL 735 347

Kigali – Johannesburg eff 10JUN12 Service increases from 4 to 8 weekly. Previously the airline planned to increase to 7 weekly from 01AUG12
WB113 KGL1100 – 1500JNB 738 x257
WB119 KGL2050 – 0045+1JNB 738 x246

WB120 JNB0130 – 0525KGL 738 x246
WB112 JNB1545 – 1945KGL 738 x257

Afghan private carrier Safi Airways has postponed planned Kabul – Bahrain service launch, which is now re-scheduled to start from 24JUN12. Previously the airline planned to start the flight from 23APR12.

The airline remains on track to operate 3 weekly flights with following scheudle:

4Q241 KBL1930 – 2140BAH 320 127
4Q242 BAH0050 – 0515KBL 320 123

China Southern Airlines is temporary reducing service on a number of routes to Japan, during the month of May and June 2012.

Affected routes are:

Dalian – Fukuoka 04JUN12 – 17JUN12 Reduces from 4 weekly (Day x246) to 3 weekly (Day 157)
Dalian – Hiroshima 01JUN12 – 27JUN12 Reduces from 3 weekly (Day 246) to 2 weekly (Day 26)
Dalian – Sapporo Cancelled on 09JUN12
Harbin – Niigata 01JUN12 – 30JUN12 Reduces from 4 weekly (Day x246) to 3 weekly (Day 157)
Shenyang – Fukuoka 17MAY12 – 30JUN12 Reduces from 3 weekly (Day 246) to 2 weekly (Day 46)
Shenyang – Nagoya 01JUN12 – 30JUN12 Reduces from 3 weekly (Day 357) to 2 weekly (Day 37)
Shenyang – Osaka Kansai 15MAY12 – 28JUN12 Reduces from daily to 5 weekly (Day x24)

Alaska Airlines has announced that it’ll start operating Portland OR – Lihue (Kauai) service, from 05NOV12. The flight will operate 4 times a week on board Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Schedule:

AS803 PDX1040 – 1505LIH 738 x135
AS804 LIH1200 – 1955PDX 738 x135

Ethiopian Airlines starting 16JUL12 is launching service to Addis Ababa – Toronto route, on board Boeing 777-200LR aircraft twice a week. Toronto is Ethiopian’s 2nd North American destination, and is the first East African carrier to operate service to Canada.

Reservation begins today (17MAY12) with following schedule:

ET502 ADD2230 – 0340+1FCO0440+1 – 0740+1YYZ 77L 15
ET503 YYZ1015 – 0715+1ADD 77L 26

Outbound flight operates via Rome as technical stop.

British Airways is boosting operation to Las Vegas, with the launch of 3 weekly London Gatwick – Las Vegas operation starting 28OCT12. Overall service will increase from daily to 10 weekly.

Schedule:

BA2277 LGW1130 – 1405LAS 777 136
BA2276 LAS1555 – 0945+1LGW 777 136

Singapore Airlines starting 28OCT12 is terminating service to Abu Dhabi and Athens. Although the airline announced the cancellation of these service on 16MAY12, it did not close reservation until night-time of 17MAY12 (GMT +8).

Existing flight schedules:
Singapore – Abu Dhabi
SQ456 SIN1245 – 1610AUH 333 357
SQ455 AUH0110 – 1300SIN 333 146

Currently service extends to/from Jeddah, where the Saudi airport will be re-routed. Information on Jeddah service change to be adjusted in coming weeks.

SIA resumed service to Abu Dhabi in 2006

Singapore – Athens
SQ398 SIN0105 – 0730ATH 772 357
SQ397 ATH1315 – 0510+1SIN 772 357

Service operates Day 35 from 01OCT12 to 26OCT12. SIA launched service to Athens in 1972.

New start-up carrier SaipanAir is set to launch operation on 01JUL12, announced on Wednesday (16MAY12) on its facebook page. The airline will operate Boeing 737-400 and 757 aircraft to Japan and China.

Details:

Saipan – Beijing eff 01JUL12
Q7888 SPN1825 – 2155PEK 757 x246
Q7889 PEK2255 – 0625+1SPN 757 x246

Saipan – Tokyo Narita eff 01JUL12
Q7810 SPN0900 – 1130NRT 757 D
Q7811 NRT1230 – 1700SPN 757 D

Saipan – Osaka Kansai eff 01AUG12
Q7822 SPN1730 – 2000KIX 734 D
Q7823 KIX2100 – 0130+1SPN 734 D

Saipan – Shenyang eff 01AUG12
Q7890 SPN1830 – 2145SHE 757 246
Q7891 SHE2245 – 0600+1SPN 757 246

Hong Kong Airlines in June 2012 is introducing 2 new destinations in China, where it plans to offer 3 weekly service to Guiyang and 2 to Taiyuan.

Details:

Hong Kong – Guiyang eff 05JUN12
HX374 HKG1540 – 1730KWE 738 246
HX375 KWE1820 – 2020HKG 738 246

Reservation for this route is only available in full fare. Discounted air fare not available for reservation

Hong Kong – Taiyuan eff 17JUN12
HX356 HKG1210 – 1455TYN 738 47
HX357 TYN1550 – 1825HKG 738 47

Hong Kong Airlines starting 30JUN12 is introducing Airbus A320 aircraft operation on service to Hanoi and Phuket, replacing existing Boeing 737-800 service.

Schedule:

Hong Kong – Hanoi
HX528 HKG1750 – 1845HAN 320 D
HX529 HAN1935 – 2230HKG 320 D

Hong Kong – Phuket
HX763 HKG2320 – 0200+1HKT 320 D
HX764 HKT0245 – 0705HKG 320 D

As per 17MAY12 GDS timetable and inventory display, Korean Air during the month of November 2012 is to operate 23 weekly service on Seoul Incheon – Bangkok route, which was similar to Nov 2011.

Schedule:

KE657 ICN0750 – 1150BKK 73H D
KE651 ICN1740 – 2110BKK 773 D
KE653 ICN1840 – 2210BKK 773 D
KE659 ICN2110 – 0110+1BKK 333 47

KE660 BKK0240 – 0950ICN 333 15
KE658 BKK1305 – 2025ICN 73H D
KE652 BKK2240 – 0600+1ICN 773 D
KE654 BKK2345 – 0705+1ICN 773 D

Estonian Air in Winter 2012/13 season will continue to operate Tallinn – Paris CDG service, on/after 28OCT12. In winter season the airline will continue to operate 6 weekly flights.

Tallinn is the host city of Routes Europe for this coming weekend, 20MAY12 – 22MAY12.

Schedule:

OV171 TLL0735 – 0940CDG 735 247
OV471 TLL1620 – 1825CDG CR9 135

OV172 CDG1030 – 1430TLL 735 247
OV472 CDG1910 – 2305TLL CR9 135

As per 17MAY12 GDS timetable and inventory display, Air China has adjusted planned service reduction for South East Asia service for the rest of Summer 2012 season.

Details:

Beijing – Kuala Lumpur 10JUN12 – 23SEP12 Service reduces from 5 to 4 weekly. Reduction period extended from previously planned late-July 2012
Beijing – Manila 04JUN12 – 29SEP12 Service reduces from 4 to 3 weekly
Beijing – Singapore Overall frequencies reduced from 14 to 12 weekly, CA975/976 Day 13 from PEK, Day 24 from SIN cancelled
Beijing – Xiamen – Singapore Overall service reductions from daily to 4 weekly (Day x257)

Singapore reductions previously in effect until 01JUL12, but is now extended to 30SEP12

Aerolineas Argentinas has already adjusted operation to Mexico, where service to Mexico City has been terminated, while maintaining service to Cancun.

Cancun service operates twice a week with following schedules:

AR1946 EZE0015 – 0645CUN 340 17
AR1947 CUN0845 – 1950EZE 340 17

Virgin Atlantic starting 26SEP12 is cancelling London Heathrow – Nairobi service, where it currently operates this route 5 times a week, with Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

Reservation for travel on/after 26SEP12 is closed on Thursday (17MAY12) morning. Existing schedule:

VS671 LHR2100 – 0750+1NBO 343 x12
VS672 NBO0950 – 1640LHR 343 x23

As per GDS timetable and inventory display, TACA from 17JUN12 is discontinuing San Salvador – Chicago nonstop operation, currently operating twice a week.

The airline will continue to operate San Salvador – Guatemala City – Chicago service. Existing nonstop schedule:

TA586 SAL1452 – 2042ORD 320 15
TA587 ORD0945 – 1325SAL 320 26

ANA has announced planned operation of its Pokemon Jets service during Summer vacation, between 13JUL12 and 31AUG12. Planned operation, announced by the airline, as follows:

Nagoya Chubu – Okinawa 13JUL12 – 16JUL12
NH965 NGO0900 – 1115OKA 773 D
NH308 OKA1810 – 2015NGO 773 D

Service operated by Pokemon Peace Jet

Tokyo Haneda – Okinawa 20AUG12 – 31AUG12
NH125 HND0745 – 1015OKA 744 D
NH137 HND1500 – 1730OKA 744 D

NH124 OKA1145 – 1405HND 744 D
NH136 OKA1905 – 2125HND 744 D

Service operated by Pokemon Flower or Pikachu Jumbo Jet

Tokyo Haneda – Sapporo 17JUL12 – 09AUG12
NH053 HND0800 – 0935CTS 744 D
NH065 HND1300 – 1435CTS 744 D
NH075 HND1800 – 1930CTS 744 D

NH056 CTS1030 – 1205HND 744 D
NH068 CTS1530 – 1705HND 744 D
NH082 CTS2030 – 2205HND 744 D

Service operated by Pokemon Flower or Pikachu Jumbo Jet

Note last-minute aircraft changes is possible

China Airlines Cargo on 16MAY12 has launched new cargo service, operating Taipei – Kuala Lumpur – Chennai – Luxembourg – Taipei route twice a week, with Boeing 747-400 Freighter.

Schedule:

CI6435 TPE0120 – 0550KUL0820 – 0920MAA1130 – 1700LUX 74Y 37

CI6436 LUX1930 – 1430+1TPE 74Y 3
CI6436 LUX0700 – 0200+1TPE 74Y 1

AirAsia X on 17MAY12 has opened reservation for Kuala Lumpur – Beijing service, which will begin from 22JUN12. This will replace existing service to Tianjin.

From 06AUG12, service to Beijing will operate on daily basis. Schedule:

D7316 KUL1845 – 0050+1PEK 330 x24
D7316 KUL1900 – 0105+1PEK 330 24
D7317 PEK0205 – 0830KUL 330 D

Service operates Day 356 from KUL, Day 467 from PEK. Daily operation in effect from 06AUG12