On March 26th at 16:26 local time, the last scheduled flight of an Asiana Airlines Boeing 747-400 landed at Seoul Incheon Airport. The plane, with registration HL7428, arrived from Taipei, Taiwan, under flight OZ 712.

The South Korean company bids farewell to the 747-400 passenger aircraft after a 31-year operation, having introduced its first 747-400, registered HL7418, in June 1993, fresh from the factory.

Asiana will continue operations with 10 Boeing 747-400s in its fleet, but configured for cargo services.

Furthermore, on April 17th, Jetstar’s first Airbus A321neo built in Toulouse performed its first test flight. The aircraft, which still maintains the F-WWAH registration, will shortly receive the Australian registry VH-OYF.

Jetstar’s current 11 A321neo, configured with 232 single-class seats, were produced in Hamburg. Apart from the upcoming VH-OYF, the company has 7 Airbus A321neo on order, which will be added in the short term.

We review other highlights of the Asia/Oceania market during April:

• AirAsia X resumes flights between Kuala Lumpur and Changsha.

• Air India began using its Airbus A350-900s on the Mumbai – Delhi route.

• Air New Zealand will increase capacity and frequencies to Tokyo.

• Bonza inaugurated flights between Sunshine Coast and Launceston.

• China Eastern added two new routes from/to Hong Kong.

• China United Airlines launched services between Yulin and Japan.

• Chongqing Airlines will have a new connection to Sri Lanka and Maldives.

• Finnair will boost frequencies between Helsinki and Japan.

• IndiGo began its seventh route to/from Abu Dhabi.

• IrAero further expands its operations in Baku.

• Jeju Air adds four new routes.

• In addition to the first A321neo built in Toulouse, Jetstar inaugurated flights between Sydney and Osaka.

• Qantas and developments on two routes.

• Royal Brunei expands frequencies to Malaysia.

• T’Way will fly between Seoul and Kaohsiung.

• Toki Air adds its second scheduled route as of April 26th.

• ZIPAIR will increase its flights between Tokyo and the United States.

AirAsia X

After a four-year period, AirAsia X will resume the Kuala Lumpur – Changsha route.

Starting July 5th, the airline will operate four times a week between the two cities on 377-seat Airbus A330-300s.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

• D7 352  Kuala Lumpur KUL 17:35 · 22:30 CSX Changsha
• D7 353  Changsha CSX 23:45 · 04:20+1 KUL Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur – China routes

• Beijing (PKX): 6 weekly · Airbus A330-300
• Chengdu (TFU): 7 weekly · Airbus A330-300
• Hangzhou (HGH): 4 weekly · Airbus A330-300
• Shanghai (PVG): 7 weekly · Airbus A330-300
• Xi’an (XIY): 3 weekly · Airbus A330-300

Air India

The company began services between Mumbai and Delhi using Airbus A350-900 jets last April 1st. In line with our database, Air India offers 13 weekly flights on this route with these aircraft.

Daily except Saturday

• AI 864  Mumbai BOM 07:05 · 09:15 DEL Delhi
• AI 865  Delhi DEL 10:45 · 12:50 BOM Mumbai

Saturday

• AI 627  Mumbai BOM 08:30 · 10:35 DEL Delhi
• AI 628  Delhi DEL 18:40 · 20:55 BOM Mumbai

Daily except Saturday

• AI 687  Mumbai BOM 16:00 · 18:30 DEL Delhi
• AI 805  Delhi DEL 20:00 · 22:25 BOM Mumbai

Air India also carries out this route with Airbus A320s, Airbus A321s, Boeing 777-200(LR)s and Boeing 777-300(ER)s.

Air New Zealand

Effective October 27th, the airline will increase its operations on the Auckland – Tokyo Narita route, which currently performs with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner planes, 7 times per week.

According to its website, Air New Zealand will add three more frequencies, and will also begin operations with its Boeing 777-300(ER).

Daily · switch from 789 to 77W

• NZ 99  Auckland AKL 09:55 ·  16:50 NRT Tokyo
• NZ 90  Tokyo NRT 18:30 · 09:05+1 AKL Auckland

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (new flight · 787-9)

• NZ 95  Auckland AKL 23:55 · 06:50+1 NRT Tokyo 

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (new flight · 787-9)

• NZ 94  Tokyo NRT 14:30 · 05:05+1 AKL Auckland

Asiana Airlines

Following the retirement of the Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft, the South Korean carrier’s fleet is composed as follows:

• Airbus A320-200: 1
• Airbus A321-200: 13
• Airbus A321neo: 9
• Airbus A330-300: 15
• Airbus A350-900: 15
• Airbus A380-800: 6
• Boeing 747-400(F): 10
• Boeing 767-300: 1
• Boeing 767-300(F): 1
• Boeing 777-200(ER): 9

Bonza

Sunshine Coast – Launceston, Bonza’s new route.

The Australian low cost carrier, which will offer two weekly services with Boeing 737 MAX, began operations on March 29th.

Monday and Friday

• AB 689  Sunshine Coast MCY 11:05 · 13:55 LST Launceston
• AB 690  Launceston LST 14:40 · 17:20 MCY Sunshine Coast

Bonza reaches its second destination in Launceston, after Gold Coast. Meanwhile, from Sunshine Coast it operates to Albury, Cairns, Darwin, Mackay, Melbourne (MEL and AVV), Mildura, Newcastle (NTL), Proserpine, Rockhampton and Townsville, in addition to Launceston.

China Eastern Airlines

During the last week, China Eastern inaugurated two new routes to Hong Kong from China, both of which will be operated with 186-seat Airbus A320-200s.

Lanzhou · April 15th

Monday

• MU 6097  Lanzhou LHW 08:55 · 11:55 HKG Hong Kong
• MU 6098  Hong Kong HKG 13:15 · 15:40 LHW Lanzhou

It will operate 2 services a week starting April 29th (new flight on Fridays).

Yantai – Linyi · April 16th

Tuesday and Friday

• MU 6091  Yantai YNT 09:10 · 10:20 LYI Linyi
• MU 6091  Linyi LYI 11:40 · 14:50 HKG Hong Kong

• MU 6092  Hong Kong HKG 15:50 · 18:50 LYI Linyi
• MU 6092  Linyi LYI 20:10 · 21:15 YNT Yantai

China United Airlines

At 13:51 local time on April 9th, China United’s first flight from Yulin arrived in Shizuoka. The company, which will be the only one to offer this route, will operate twice-weekly with Boeing 737-800 planes.

Tuesday and Saturday

• KN 861  Yulin UYN 09:10 · 14:00 FSZ Shizuoka
• KN 862  Shizuoka FSZ 14:45 · 18:20 UYN Yulin

In addition of being the only carrier on this route, China United Airlines is the only company to fly between Yulin and Japan.

China United routes from/to Yulin

China

• Beijing (PKX): 21 weekly
• Chengdu (TFU): 7 weekly
• Lanzhou (LHW): 7 weekly
• Shanghai (PVG): 7 weekly

Japan

• Shizuoka (FSZ): 2 weekly

Chongqing Airlines

Beginning June 24th, the carrier will start operating a new route to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Chongqing Airlines will perform three weekly flights on Airbus A320-200s, under the following schedule:

Monday and Friday

• OQ 2393  Chongqing CKG 12:10 · 15:30 CMB Colombo
• OQ 2393  Colombo CMB 16:30 · 17:40 MLE Male

• OQ 2394  Male MLE 18:50 · 21:00 CMB Colombo
• OQ 2394  Colombo CMB 22:00 · 05:55+1 CKG Chongqing

Wednesday

• OQ 2393  Chongqing CKG 15:45 · 19:00 CMB Colombo
• OQ 2393  Colombo CMB 20:10 · 21:25 MLE Male

• OQ 2394  Male MLE 22:55 · 01:10+1 CMB Colombo
• OQ 2394  Colombo CMB 02:20+1 · 10:30+1 CKG Chongqing (Thursday)

Eastar Jet

Chiang Mai and Phu Quoc, new connections of the South Korean airline from Seoul Incheon effective July.

These services will be carried out once per day with 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Daily · July 11th

• ZE 517  Seoul ICN 18:30 · 22:50 CNX Chiang Mai
• ZE 518  Chiang Mai CNX 23:45 · 07:40+1 ICN Seoul

Daily · July 19th

• ZE 581  Seoul ICN 19:30 · 23:59 PQC Phu Quoc
• ZE 582  Phu Quoc PQC 01:00 · 07:25 ICN Seoul

Eastar Jet routes to/from Seoul Incheon

China

• Shanghai (PVG): 3 weekly

Japan

• Fukuoka (FUK): 14 weekly
• Osaka (KIX): 14 weekly
• Tokyo (NRT): 17 weekly

Taiwan

• Taipei (TPE): 4 weekly

Thailand

• Bangkok (BKK): 7 weekly

Vietnam

• Da Nang (DAD): 7 weekly
• Nha Trang (CXR): 7 weekly

EVA Air

As of July, EVA will expand its operations between Kaohsiung and Seoul Incheon, with the addition of two new frequencies.

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

• BR 172  Kaohsiung KHH 15:50 · 19:45 ICN Seoul
• BR 171  Seoul ICN 20:45 · 22:40 KHH Kaohsiung

It will add a new flight on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Finnair

The Finnish company made an update in its reservation system, opening the purchase of flights after March 30th, 2025.

In these new changes, more frequencies between Helsinki and Japan, specifically to Nagoya and Tokyo Narita can be seen.

• Nagoya (NGO): from 2 to 3 weekly
• Tokyo (NRT): from 6 to 7 weekly

IndiGo

The Indian low cost carrier will commence services between Chandigarh and Abu Dhabi as of May 15th. Flights will be operated by Airbus A320 jets with a daily frequency.

Daily

• 6E 1417  Abu Dhabi AUH 22:15 · 03:30 IXC Chandigarh
• 6E 1418  Chandigarh IXC 02:45 · 05:15 AUH Abu Dhabi (eff May 16th)

IndiGo routes between Abu Dhabi and India

• Ahmedabad (AMD): 7 weekly
• Chennai (MAA): 7 weekly
• Cochin (COK): 7 weekly
• Delhi (DEL): 7 weekly
• Hyderabad (HYD): 7 weekly
• Mumbai (BOM): 7 weekly

From Chandigarh, IndiGo offers seven services per week to Dubai with the same aircraft.

IrAero

In early April, IrAero made a major expansion on the Russia-Azerbaijan market with the opening of three new routes.

The services will be conducted with Sukhoi Superjet 100-95LRs seating 100 passengers.

Omsk · April 1st

Monday

• IO 504  Baku GYD 21:20 · 02:50 OMS Omsk

Tuesday

• IO 503  Omsk OMS 04:00 · 05:30 GYD Baku

Chelyabinsk · April 3rd

Wednesday

• IO 464  Baku GYD 13:00 · 16:30 CEK Chelyabinsk
• IO 463  Chelyabinsk CEK 18:00 · 20:00 GYD Baku

Nizhnevartovsk · April 7th

Sunday

• IO 422  Baku GYD 21:30 · 02:40 NJC Nizhnevartovsk

Monday

• IO 421  Nizhnevartovsk NJC 04:20 · 07:30 GYD Baku

IrAero routes between Russia and Baku

• Beslan (OGZ): 4 weekly · Sukhoi
• Chelyabinsk (CEK): 1 weekly · Sukhoi
• Kazan (KZN): 2 weekly · Sukhoi
• Krasnoyarsk (KJA): 2 weekly · Sukhoi
• Moscow (DME): 4 weekly · Sukhoi
• Naberezhnye (NBC): 1 weekly · Sukhoi
• Nizhnevartovsk (NJC): 1 weekly · Sukhoi
• Nizhny (GOJ): 1 weekly · Sukhoi
• Novosibirsk (OVB): 1 weekly · Sukhoi
• Omsk (OMS): 1 weekly · Sukhoi
• Perm (PEE): 2 weekly · Sukhoi
• Saratov (GSV): 2 weekly · Sukhoi
• Ufa (UFA): 1 weekly · Sukhoi

Jeju Air

3 international routes and a domestic one, Jeju Air’s new updates.

These flights will begin between April 24th and 28th, and will be carried on Boeing 737-800 airplanes.

• Jeju (CJU) – Beijing (PKX): 4 weekly · April 24th
• Muan (MWX) – Dayong (DYG): 4 weekly · April 24th
• Jeju (CJU) – Muan (MWX): 4 weekly · April 26th
• Muan (MWX) – Yanji (YNJ): 2 weekly · April 27th

Jetstar

The Australian company began operations between Sydney and Osaka last March 31st. Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport becomes Jetstar’s third connection in the Japanese city, reaching 11 weekly.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

• JQ 13  Sydney SYD 10:20 · 19:00 KIX Osaka
• JQ 14  Osaka KIX 21:25 · 08:10+1 SYD Sydney

Routes between Australia and Osaka · Jetstar

• Brisbane (BNE): 4 weekly · Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
• Cairns (CNS): 4 weekly · Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
• Sydney (SYD): 3 weekly · Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

Jetstar is the only airline to operate the Sydney – Osaka route.

Qantas

On April 6th, the airline launched flights between Melbourne and Cairns with Airbus A330-200 aircraft. In accordance to its website, Qantas will offer one frequency a week with these planes, seven with Boeing 737-800s and three using QantasLink’s Embraer 190s.

Daily except Saturday (Boeing 737-800)

• QF 702  Melbourne MEL 09:45 · 13:05 CNS Cairns
• QF 703  Cairns CNS 13:45 · 17:15 MEL Melbourne

Saturday (with Airbus A330)

• QF 702  Melbourne MEL 09:20 · 12:40 CNS Cairns
• QF 703  Cairns CNS 13:45 · 17:15 MEL Melbourne

On this route, in addition to Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia operate 28 and 14 weekly services, respectively.

Furthermore, on April 1st, the company inaugurated its Sydney-Port Moresby service, which will operate under the following schedule:

Monday and Friday

• QF 191  Sydney SYD 08:50 · 12:50 POM Port Moresby
• QF 192  Port Moresby POM 13:45 · 17:40 SYD Sydney

As well as Sydney, Qantas offers a daily flight to Port Moresby from Brisbane.

Royal Brunei

The carrier increased its services between Brunei (BWN) and Malaysia last March 31st.

According to our database, Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Kota Kinabalu (BKI) have added operations:

Kuala Lumpur (expanded from 10 to 11 weekly)

• BI 871/872 (BWN-KUL-BWN): Daily except Tuesday and Wednesday
• BI 873/874 (BWN-KUL-BWN): Daily except Monday

Kota Kinabalu (expanded from 7 to 8 weekly)

• BI 821 (BWN-BKI): Friday
• BI 825 (BWN-BKI): Saturday
• BI 827 (BWN-BKI): Daily except Wednesday

• BI 822 (BKI-BWN): Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
• BI 826 (BKI-BWN): Saturday
• BI 828 (BKI-BWN): Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

The distance between Brunei and Kota Kinabalu is 166 kilometers, and flights take about 20 minutes.

Check schedules on the Royal Brunei website, as they may be different on certain days.

STARLUX Airlines

Starting July 15th, the company will boost its flights on the Taipei-Clark route.

In accordance with its website, Starlux will increase from five to seven services per week, and will continue to operate on Airbus A321neo aircraft with capacity for 188 passengers.

Check the STARLUX Airlines reservation system as there will be different schedules on each day.

STARLUX routes between Taiwan and the Philippines

• Clark (CRK): 3 weekly · currently (increases to 5 in May)
• Cebu (CEB): 7 weekly · Airbus A321neo

T’Way Air

T’Way will inaugurate its second route to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, beginning June 21st. Flights from/to Seoul Gimpo will be operated with Boeing 737-800s four weekly.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• TW 677  Seoul GMP 10:40 · 12:45 KHH Kaohsiung
• TW 678  Kaohsiung KHH 13:45 · 17:40 GMP Seoul

Routes between South Korea and Taiwan – T’Way Air

Kaohsiung

• Seoul Incheon (ICN): 7 weekly · Boeing 737

Taichung

• Seoul Incheon (ICN): 4 weekly · Boeing 737

Taipei Songshan

• Seoul Gimpo (GMP): 4 weekly · Boeing 737

Taipei Taoyuan

• Daegu (TAE): 7 weekly · Boeing 737
• Jeju (CJU): 5 weekly · Boeing 737

Toki Air

The new Japanese airline, which began service in early February, will add its second scheduled route as of April 26th.

Operations will be carried out with its ATR 72-600, ten times a week.

Daily except Tuesday and Thursday

• BV 201  Niigata KIJ 07:35 · 08:20 SDJ Sendai
• BV 202  Sendai SDJ 08:50 · 09:40 KIJ Niigata

Daily except Tuesday and Thursday

• BV 203  Niigata KIJ 18:50 · 19:35 SDJ Sendai
• BV 204  Sendai SDJ 20:05 · 20:55 KIJ Niigata

Toki Air routes (to/from Niigata)

• Sapporo (OKD): 10 weekly
• Sendai (SDJ): 10 weekly · effective April 26th

On April 18th, as can be seen through our database, Toki Air’s ATR 72-600, registration JA01QQ, made its first service between Niigata and Sendai. This was a test flight prior to the start of regular operations.

Uzbekistan Airways

The carrier schedules to increase its flight frequency between Tashkent and Tokyo starting in August. Currently, Uzbekistan Airways has a weekly service on this route with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner airplanes.

Thursday

• HY 527  Tashkent TAS 22:05 · 09:40+1 NRT Tokyo

Friday

• HY 528  Tokyo NRT 11:05 · 16:10 TAS Tashkent

Uzbekistan Airways plans a new operation on Mondays from Tashkent and from Tokyo on Tuesdays.

ZIPAIR

San Jose will gain more services from ZIPAIR effective June 1st.

The Japanese airline will reach six weekly flights from/to Tokyo Narita, which will be operated on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with a capacity of 272 passengers.

Daily except Tuesday and Friday (currently)

• ZG 30  Tokyo NRT 16:25 · 09:40 SJC San Jose
• ZG 29  San Jose SJC 11:40 · 14:50+1 NRT Tokyo

It will add a new flight on Fridays.

ZIPAIR routes

Canada

• Vancouver (YVR): 3 weekly

Philippines

• Manila (MNL): 7 weekly

Singapore

• Singapore (SIN): 7 weekly

South Korea

• Seoul (ICN): 7 weekly

Thailand

• Bangkok (BKK): 7 weekly

United States

• Honolulu (HNL): 4 weekly
• Los Angeles (LAX): 7 weekly
• San Francisco (SFO): 7 weekly
• San Jose (SJC): 5 weekly · currently

With respect to new jets, 10 were incorporated during the last month into different companies of this market.

Other additions have also been made, but of aircraft that have not recently left the factory, which are between 2 and 5 years old.

These are the airlines:

• Air China (x2)

• Air India (x2)

• Air India Express (x2)

• ANA (x2)

• China Southern Airlines

• EVA Air Cargo

• Japan Airlines

• Juneyao Air

• Lucky Air

• Thai

• Vistara

• Xiamen Air

*It is not new from the factory.

To read the reports we have published during April:

• United States and Canada
• Latin America
• Europe
• Dubai deep dive: How Emirates runs its megahub

Cover photo: David Syphers – JetPhotos (Sydney, Australia).