Asian air route updates: Saudia, Vanilla Air and more

Pakistan gets new pilgrimmage flights

Where? Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Multan (Pakistan)
When? Four times a week, effective 1 April 2017
Who? Saudi Arabian Airlines
Why? Trade and pilgrimage connection for Pakistan’s fifth largest city
Anything else? Saudia will serve the route using a large Boeing 777 aircraft

Low-cost link for Japanese tourist island

Where? Osaka Kansai (Japan) to Amami Oshima, pictured (Japan)
When? Summer seasonal service, effective 26 March 2017
Who? Vanilla Air
Why? Tourist traffic to sub-tropical island located between mainland Japan and Okinawa
Anything else? Amami Oshima is becoming a centre for whale-watching, including humpback whales

First Chinese connection for Japan’s Aomori

Where? Tianjin (China) to Aomori (Japan)
When? Four times a week, effective 30 January 2017
Who? Okay Airways
Why? Airlines continue to create new connections between Asia’s two largest economies
Anything else? First mainland Chinese connection for Aomori, the northernmost prefecture in Honshu

Gaming charters from Vietnam

Where? Danang and Hanoi (Vietnam) to Macau
When? Three times a day (twice from Danang, once from Hanoi), 15 February to 25 March 2017
Who? Vietnam Airlines
Why? Charter flights to take Vietnamese tourists to Chinese gaming hub
Anything else? Macau’s casino revenues are rebounding following two years of declines