Spring flies to North Korea, and more Chinese airline news…

Spring Airlines plans North Korea flights‏

China’s Spring Airlines is planning to launch its first ever flights to North Korea. The low-cost carrier has applied to Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for permission to launch direct flights between Shanghai and Pyongyang in February 2016. If approved, the route would operate four times a week using Spring’s 180-seat, all-economy Airbus A320 aircraft.

Spring Airlines will become the second airline to operate the Pyongyang-Shanghai route, after North Korea’s national carrier Air Koryo. Air China also flies to the North Korean capital from Beijing.

Korean and Thai carriers add Wuxi flights

The Chinese city of Wuxi has welcomed new flights from Thailand and South Korea. Last week, Thailand’s NewGen Airways launched thrice weekly flights (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) to and from Krabi, while Korea’s T’way Airlines started operating twice weekly services (Wednesdays and Saturdays) between Wuxi and Seoul’s Incheon Airport.

Hong Kong Airlines boosts Shanghai service

Hong Kong Airlines has increased the flight frequency of its flights from Hong Kong to Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport. Effective last week, the airline has added two more weekly services direct to Shanghai’s second airport, on top the existing daily flights. The new services will operate every Wednesday and Sunday.

China Southern adds Chiang Mai flights‏

China Southern Airlines has launched a new route to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. The new thrice weekly service from Changsha to Chiang Mai took off for the first time this month and will now operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights will make a brief stop in the Chinese city of Nanning. China Southern already connects Chiang Mai with Guangzhou.

Spring Airlines connects Guangzhou and Bangkok

Spring Airlines will launch a new service between Guangzhou and Bangkok next month. Commencing on 5 December, the Chinese low-cost carrier will offer four weekly flights on the route, running every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. All services will be operated using a 180-seat all-economy Airbus A320 aircraft. Spring now connects Bangkok with nine Chinese cities.

China Eastern links Lanzhou with Bangkok

China Eastern Airlines launched a new international route this month, connecting Bangkok with Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China’s Gansu province. The new scheduled service will operate four times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays), and marks an upgrade from the previous charter flights China Eastern operated on the route.

In addition, the airline has also commenced a new service to Taipei. The new weekly service will connect the Taiwanese capital with Huaian, a city in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. Flights will initially operate every Saturday, before rising to three times a week in January 2016.

Kunming Airlines expands fleet

Kunming Airlines received its 18th Boeing 737 aircraft last week, and will continue to expand its fleet in 2016. The Chinese airline, which is based at Kunming’s Changshui International Airport, has now received five new B737s this year and will take delivery of a further five in 2016. The brand new aircraft that arrived this week comes equipped with 168 seats – eight in business class and 160 in economy.

Chinese airline flies to Cambodian beach resort

The Cambodian beach resort of Sihanoukville could be set for a Chinese tourism surge, following the launch of new direct flights. Lucky Air, which is based in Kunming, will commence a new direct service to Sihanoukville on 26 November, marking the first direct Chinese link for the coastal city. Flights will operate twice a week (Thursdays and Sundays), using a Boeing 737 aircraft.  Sihanoukville becomes Lucky Air’s fifth destination in Southeast Asia, following Singapore, Koh Samui, Phuket and Krabi.

Air China links Chongqing and Dali‏

Air China has launched a new service from Chongqing to the Chinese tourist town of Dali this month. On 21 November, the airline started operating daily flights on the route using its Boeing 737 aircraft. Located in southwest China’s Yunnan province, the historic town of Dali is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Air China will become the second carrier to serve the Chongqing-Dali route, following China Southern Airlines.