Asian air route updates from Lufthansa, Hainan Airlines and more

IndiGo boosts domestic network

Where? Delhi to Chennai (both India)
When? Daily, effective immediately
Who? IndiGo
Why? India’s largest domestic carrier, in terms of market share, connects two of the country’s largest cities
Anything else? Delhi is the busiest route from Chennai Airport, with flights by three airlines handling more than 575,000 passengers in the first quarter of 2017

Hainan Airlines adds new route Down Under

Where? Shenzhen (China) to Brisbane (Australia)
When? Twice a week, effective 20 September 2017
Who? Hainan Airlines
Why? Chinese carrier continues to expand its Australian network to take advantage of strong outbound traffic from China
Anything else? Hainan Airlines’ parent company, HNA Group, owns a stake in Virgin Australia and the two carriers are likely to provide codeshares connecting to these flights

Azerbaijan Airlines starts flying to Southeast Asia

Where? Baku (Azerbaijan) to Bangkok (Thailand)
When? Twice a week, effective 29 October 2017
Who? Azerbaijan Airlines
Why? Azerbaijan’s national carrier opens new leisure link for its citizens and provides new one-stop alternative for European and Russian travellers
Anything else? This becomes Azerbaijan Airlines’ first service to Southeast Asia, but not its first to the Far East – the airline already flies to Beijing

Lufthansa to reinstate Munich-Singapore link

Where? Munich (Germany) to Singapore
When? Five times a week, effective 27 March 2018
Who? Lufthansa
Why? German carrier taps strength of Asian market with its new fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft, the Airbus A350
Anything else? Lufthansa is ramping up its Asian network from Munich, including the launch of A380 flights to Beijing and Hong Kong