AIRLINE NEWS

AIR CHINA launched a new service between Beijing and Montreal on September 29, making it the world’s first operator to fly non-stop between the two destinations.

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS will launch a new route from its base at Tokyo Haneda to Guangzhou on October 25.

BRITISH AIRWAYS has opened a new lounge in Singapore’s Changi Airport. The Terminal 1 facility features the centrepiece Concorde Bar.

CATHAY PACIFIC will expand its European network with the launch of a four-times weekly service to Madrid starting on June 2, 2016.

EMIRATES has begun operating a daily service between Dubai and Orlando, marking the carrier’s tenth US destination.

TURKISH AIRLINES has added another service between Istanbul and Venice. The new B737-800 service will operate daily between Sabiha Gokcen and Venice Marco Polo airports.

HONG KONG AIRLINES will launch a thriceweekly service to Australia from January 8, 2016 when it operates a triangle service from its base in Hong Kong to the Gold Coast and Cairns, and back to Hong Kong.

Both JAPAN AIRLINES and QANTAS have agreed to commit US$39.7 million into their joint venture, low-cost carrier Jetstar Japan.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES will reduce flight operations for its Kuala Lumpur-London Heathrow service during November by axing one of its A380 return services on November 4, 12, 17 and 24.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES will launch a direct service from Cebu to Los Angeles on March 15, 2016 coinciding with the airline’s 75th anniversary.

QANTAS is increasing the frequency of its flights to Hong Kong and Manila. The extra flights to Hong Kong will begin on October 26, while those to Manila will start in early December.

QATAR AIRWAYS is looking to expand its presence in India with the launch of a non-stop, daily service to Nagpur from December 1.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES will reduce capacity on its Singapore-Mumbai route during the coming winter travel season, with the B777-300ER taking over the A380 on flights SQ424/423.

AIR INDIA has grounded 125 of its cabin crew staff for being overweight. The Star Alliance member commented that the decision is consistent with the fitness guidelines put forth by India’s civil aviation regulator.

CEBU PACIFIC will launch non-stop, twice weekly flights between Davao and Singapore, starting December 17, 2015. The service will be operated by an A320.

THAI AIR ASIA X plans to launch flights to Shanghai. At the time this issue went to press, the carrier was eyeing September 28, 2015 as a launch date.