Asian air route updates: Uzbekistan Airways, Jetstar, Tibet Airlines and more

New link between biggest cities in Uzbekistan and Pakistan

Where? Tashkent (Uzbekistan) to Lahore (Pakistan)
When? Twice a week, effective immediately
Who? Uzbekistan Airways
Why? Strategy of connecting Uzbekistan’s capital with other major regional cities
Anything else? The Uzbek national carrier previously suspended its Lahore route three years ago

New domestic connection to Taipei’s east coast

Where? Taipei to Hualien (both Taiwan)
When? Twice a day, effective 16 February 2017
Who? UNI Air
Why? EVA Air’s subsidiary takes over route operated by TransAsia Airways, which closed last year
Anything else? Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan, was inhabited by Spanish gold miners in the 17th Century

Tibet gets a rare international air link

Where? Lhasa (China) to Kathmandu (Nepal)
When? Four times a week, effective 26 March 2017
Who? Tibet Airlines
Why? Part of a new daily service, with three weekly flights operating from Chengdu to Kathmandu and remaining four operating via Lhasa
Anything else? Kathmandu is the only non-Chinese city with direct flight connections to Tibet

New domestic flights to Great Barrier Reef

Where? Sydney to Proserpine (both Australia)
When? Three times a week, effective 4 April 2017
Who? Jetstar
Why? Flights to Whitsunday island gateway to serve rising domestic tourism to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Anything else? New service will come just two weeks after Tigerair launches new service to Proserpine from Brisbane