New Seaplane Operators On The Horizon In Southeast Asia
Seaplanes are growing in popularity in Southeast Asia with several new operators on the horizon and existing operators seeing strong demand for their air services. Malaysian property developer Ikhasas is opening a five-star resort on Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands next year…
Garuda’s Citilink Expands In Kupang, Filling Void Left By TransNusa
Garuda Indonesia’s low-cost carrier Citilink is resuming ATR services on some routes in eastern Indonesia, especially from the city of Kupang which used to be a major hub for rival turboprop operator TransNusa. Citilink president director Dewa Kadek Rai, says…
ATR Delivers First Aircraft Bound For Japan’s Toki Air
Aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has taken delivery of an ATR 72-600 which will be the first aircraft operated by Japanese start-up Toki Air. ATR says in a statement that NAC has taken delivery of the aircraft on behalf…
Philippines To Re-Open Baguio Airport By Year-End For Scheduled Turboprop Operations
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has decided to re-open Baguio Airport so it can start having commercial passenger flights in December. The city government of Baguio says in a statement that the airport is still used by…
Air Tahiti To Wet-Lease Twin Otter From Zimex Aviation, Plans To Use ATR 42-600S Longer-Term
French Polynesia’s government has decided to subsidize twin engine passenger air services on two routes to the Marquesas Islands after deciding that single-engine operations were insufficient. Local media reports show the country’s vice-president, Jean Christophe Bouissou, and the CEO of…
Australia’s Skytrans Adding Dash 8-300s Primarily For Mining Charters
Australian regional carrier Skytrans, which is based in the northern state of Queensland, is stepping up to 50-seat regional turboprop aircraft to cater to demand from the state’s resource sector. Skytrans CEO, Alan Milne, tells the Cape York Weekly newspaper…
Laos’ New High-Speed Rail Taking Passengers Away From National Carrier Lao Airlines
Laos’ national airline, Lao Airlines, has axed one domestic passenger route arguing the country’s new high-speed rail line has caused it to lose business. Lao Airlines says in a statement it has stopped serving the Vientianne-Oudomxay route due to high…
New Japan Aviation Launches Passenger Service To Volcanic Island
Japanese carrier New Japan Aviation (新日本航空) is launching an air service today linking southern Japan’s Kagoshima city to Suwanosejima, a very remote outlying southern island that has a population of less than 50 people and was previously only accessible by…
Japan’s AirDo and Solaseed Air Complete Merger
Japanese carriers AirDo and Solaseed Air merged their operations today (3 October) to cut costs and create a stronger business in the face of greater business uncertainty. The two carriers in a joint statement say the merger took effect today…
Pacific Carriers To Collaborate More To Maintain Regional Air Connectivity
Airlines and regulators in the Pacific will be embarking on a strategy, that involves greater collaboration, to maintain air connectivity across the region and meet international safety, security and compliance standards. “Our vision is we are stronger collaborating together, especially…
SriLanka’s FitsAir Relaunching As LCC Under Leadership Of Former SriLankan Airlines CEO
FitsAir, an established SriLankan carrier that until now has mostly been an air cargo airline, is relaunching as a low-cost carrier that operates Airbus A320 and 70-seat regional turboprop passenger aircraft. The airline’s booking engine show it is launching a…
Taiwan’s Starlux Plans To Add ATR Aircraft Eventually
Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines has highlighted that its first priority is to develop its international passenger and cargo business, by catering to transit traffic, but it has also disclosed it plans to eventually add ATR aircraft to serve destinations within…
