Airline News in Brief 23 August 2026

Korean Air launches non-stop service to Melbourne: Korean Air will launch a non-stop service between Seoul Incheon and Melbourne, operating three times a week from December 18 through March 14, 2027. Driven by steady growth in travel between South Korea and Australia, the new route complements Korean Air’s year-round operations to Sydney and Brisbane. The service provides travellers with expanded non-stop options to Australia’s key cultural and business hubs during the peak winter travel period. Home to over 5.3 million residents, Melbourne is a major metropolitan centre known for its culture, arts, gastronomy, sports, and education. The service caters to expanding cultural, business, and leisure exchanges between the two countries. The route will be served by Boeing 787-9 aircraft on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flight KE409 departs Seoul Incheon at 8:00 AM and arrives in Melbourne at 8:30 PM. The return flight, KE410, departs Melbourne at 10:00 PM and arrives at Seoul Incheon at 7:35 AM the following day. Vietjet adds Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo service: Vietjet has officially launched its new direct service connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, strengthening air connectivity between Vietnam and Sri Lanka while opening a new travel link between South Asia and Southeast Asia. The inaugural flight, VJ1875 from Ho Chi Minh City to Colombo, received a spectacular water cannon salute upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport on the evening of August 18. Passengers were then greeted with flower garlands and Sri Lankan tea gift packs, adding a distinctive touch of local hospitality. The Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo route operates three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, providing a convenient direct connection between Sri Lanka and southern Vietnam. Flights depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 18:15 and arrive in Colombo at 21:50 local time. The return service departs Colombo at 23:00 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 05:55 the following morning. The service brings the two commercial hubs of South Asia and Southeast Asia within convenient reach, while creating more opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange. For Sri Lankan travelers, Ho Chi Minh City is a dynamic gateway to Southeast Asia, combining a vibrant mix of history, cuisine, and modern urban life with Vietjet’s extensive network connecting the city to destinations across Vietnam and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Scoot expands China network: Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), announced the launch of three times weekly flights to Guiyang in China from 26 October 2026. Operated by the Airbus 320neo aircraft, the new service strengthens Scoot’s China network and offers travellers an additional getaway option ahead of the year-end holiday season. Nestled in the heart of Guizhou province, Guiyang is renowned for its rich ethnic minority cultures, captivating landscape of abundant green spaces and mountains, as well as a pleasant climate. Discover iconic landmarks such as Qingyan Ancient Town, one of the most well-preserved historical towns in China, or travel southwest of the city to immerse in the splendours of Huangguoshu Waterfall, one of the largest in Asia. With the launch of services to Guiyang, Scoot will operate 81 weekly flights to 16 cities in mainland China. Scoot’s network will increase to 86 destinations across 18 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. In addition to the new destination, Scoot will be boosting its capacity across the Asia-Pacific region to meet anticipated increases in air travel demand during the year-end holiday season. These frequency updates form part of Scoot’s Northern Winter 2026/2027 schedule, which runs from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]