Asian air route updates from Thai Smile, Lao Airlines, Jetstar and more

Thai Smile flies to Lucknow

Where? Bangkok (Thailand) to Lucknow (India)
When? Four times a week, effective immediately
Who? Thai Smile
Why? Thai Airways’ regional subsidiary taps rising demand for inbound travel from India
Anything else? Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India with almost 200 million people

Tibet Airlines adds new route to Nepal

Where? Chengdu (China) to Kathmandu (Nepal)
When? Four times a week, effective 8 August 2017
Who? Tibet Airlines
Why? Beijing-backed Tibet Airlines expands network from its secondary base in Chengdu, southwest China
Anything else? Tibet Airlines’ parent company, Air China, also serves the route

China Southern adds Colombo stop to Maldivian route

Where? Guangzhou (China) to Colombo (Sri Lanka)
When? Three times a week, effective 26 September 2017
Who? China Southern Airlines
Why? Airline adds Sri Lankan stop into Guangzhou-Maldives route to cater for rising Chinese trade and tourism
Anything else? As well as adding a stop in Colombo, the frequency of the route will increase from two to three weekly flights

Lao Airlines to resume Singapore service

Where? Vientiane (Laos) to Singapore
When? Three times a week, effective 19 October 2017
Who? Lao Airlines
Why? Catering for intra-ASEAN business and leisure traffic, especially inbound tourism to Laos from Singapore. Flights will continue onwards between Vientiane and Luang Prabang
Anything else? This marks a resumption of the service that Lao Airlines suspended earlier this year

Shanghai’s Juneyao Airlines starts Philippine flights

Where? Shanghai Pudong (China) to Cebu (Philippines)
When? Daily, effective 30 October 2017
Who? Juneyao Airlines
Why? Chinese airlines expands Southeast Asian network, taking advantage of rising outbound demand from China
Anything else? This will be Juneyao’s first route to the Philippines

Jetstar Asia launches third Thai destinations

Where? Singapore to Hat Yai (Thailand)
When? Four times a week, effective 3 November 2017
Who? Jetstar Asia
Why? Short hop into Thailand for Singaporean travellers who want to experience another side of the country
Anything else? This will become Jetstar Asia’s third destination in Thailand, after Bangkok and Phuket

Qantas to start seasonal service to Osaka

Where? Sydney (Australia) to Osaka Kansai (Japan)
When? Three times a week from 14 December 2017 to 24 March 2018
Who? Qantas
Why? Qantas expands its Japanese operations with new seasonal service to cater for rising demand in both directions
Anything else? This will be the only direct connection between Sydney and Osaka, Japan’s second largest city