Asian air route updates: new flights from Hainan Airlines, AirAsia India, Cebgo and more…

Top Asian beach resorts get first direct link

Where? Sanya (China) to U-Tapao (Thailand)
When? Three times a week, effective immediately
Who? Hainan Airlines
Why? Providing the first ever direct connection between Sanya, China’s top beach resort, and Pattaya (pictured), the popular Thai tourist town
Anything else? U-Tapao was a base for US Air Force’s B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War – a period that contributed to the rise of Pattaya as a destination

AirAsia India adds first Ranchi routes

Where? Delhi and Kolkata to Ranchi (all India)
When? Twice weekly from both cities, effective immediately
Who? AirAsia India
Why? New low-cost carrier continues to expand Indian route map. This will mark AirAsia’s debut in Jharkhand
Anything else? AirAsia India will compete directly with its low-cost rival IndiGo on both Ranchi routes

Cebgo to launch new beach flights to Borcacay

Where? Clark to Caticlan (both Philippines)
When? Three times a week, effective 15 May 2017
Who? Cebgo
Why? Providing another connection between the Manila area and the popular resort island of Boracay (pictured)
Anything else? Philippine carriers have launched a series of new routes from Clark this year, in an effort to relieve congestion at Manila’s main airport

New domestic route created in the Philippines

Where? Cebu to Cotabato (both Philippines)
When? Four times a week, effective 16 May 2017
Who? Cebgo
Why? Cebu Pacific’s domestic subsidiary continues to expand its route map, connecting lesser-served Philippine destinations
Anything else? This will become the first direct flight between Cebu and Cotabato, which lies on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao

Xiamen Airlines adds new Cambodian connection

Where? Fuzhou (China) to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
When? Twice a week, effective 20 May 2017
Who? Xiamen Airlines
Why? Yet more flights transporting Chinese tourists to the temples of Angkor. This will be the first scheduled service from Fuzhou.
Anything else? Xiamen Airlines already flies direct to Siem Reap from Xiamen, another city in southeast China’s Fujian province

Vietnam Airlines expands connections with China

Where? Hanoi (Vietnam) to Nanjing (China)
When? Five times a week, effective 21 June 2017
Who? Vietnam Airlines
Why? Providing additional connectivity between Vietnam’s capital city and mainland China, the country’s main tourism and trade partner
Anything else? More than one million mainland Chinese have already visited Vietnam this year

New link between Russia’s Far East and Korea

Where? Blagoveschensk, pictured (Russia) to Seoul (South Korea)
When? Every other Thursday (bi-weekly) from 29 July to 7 September 2017
Who? Yakutia
Why? Rising trade between Asia’s Far East and Russia’s Amur Oblast region. Blagoveshchensk lies on Trans-Siberian Railway and on the border with China
Anything else? The route will be operated using a Sukhoi Superjet 100, the brand new Russian-build regional aircraft