Asian air route updates: Vistara, China Southern, Air Niugini and more

Vistara flies to Amritsar

Where? Delhi to Amritsar, pictured (both India)
When? Daily, effective immediately
Who? Vistara
Why? Tapping rise in trade and religious tourism traffic between capital and India’s Punjab region
Anything else? Direct daily connection from Indian capital city to be followed by a new Mumbai-Amritsar route this week

China Southern expands Cambodian connections

Where? Shenzhen (China) to Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
When? Daily, effective 26 March 2017
Who? China Southern Airlines
Why? Rising demand for Chinese tourist traffic to Cambodia, complementing China Southern’s existing service from Guangzhou to Phnom Penh
Anything else? In 2012 Cambodia outlined plans to attract one million Chinese visitors by 2020. Last year this target was doubled to two million.

Papuan airline adds Australian route

Where? Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) to Townsville (Australia)
When? Twice a week, effective late March 2017
Who? Air Niugini
Why? Providing a new link between Torres Strait neighbours, mainly serving needs of Australia’s resources sector and other workers in Papuan capital
Anything else? Townsville will become Air Niugini’s third destination in Queensland, following Brisbane and Cairns

Guangdong’s new Express link to Bangkok

Where? Zhanjiang (China) to Bangkok (Thailand)
When? Twice a week, effective 28 March 2017
Who? China Express Airlines
Why? Former domestic carrier spreads wings with new service from populous Guangdong province to perennial Chinese tourism favourite, Bangkok
Anything else? China Express also plans to connect Zhanjiang with Phnom Penh in future