Korean Air to launch flights to Kobe, Japan: Korean Air will commence twice-daily flights between Seoul Incheon and Kobe from April 18, becoming the first Korean flag carrier to operate this route. The morning flight will depart from Seoul Incheon at 8:25 am, arriving at Kobe at 10:00 am, with the return flight departing from Kobe at 11:00 am and arriving at Seoul Incheon at 1:00 pm. The afternoon service will depart from Seoul Incheon at 3:50 pm, reaching Kobe at 5:30 pm, while the return flight will leave Kobe at 6:30 pm and arrive at Seoul Incheon at 8:40 pm. The flight time is approximately two hours. Kobe, a key city in Japan’s Kansai region alongside Osaka and Kyoto, has been a major hub since opening its port to international trade in 1868. Today, it is known for its blend of Eastern and Western influences, with attractions such as the historic Kitano-Ijinkan district, Nankin-machi Chinatown, and the vibrant waterfront of Harborland. The city is also famous for its scenic harbor views, Arima Onsen—one of Japan’s top three hot springs—and its world-renowned Kobe beef. With its central location, Kobe offers convenient access to nearby destinations. Osaka, Kyoto and Nara lie on the east and Himeji and Okayama to the west, all within an hour’s drive. Osaka, in particular, can be reached in less than 20 minutes via the bullet train. Korean Air will continue to expand its network to meet the growing demand for travel to Japan, enhancing connectivity and customer convenience.
HK Express resumes direct flights to Ishigaki: HK Express Airways (HK Express) proudly announces the return of its direct flights to Ishigaki, Japan, offering more diverse options to explore Okinawa. Starting from 3 April 2025, there will be daily flights from Hong Kong to Ishigaki Airport (ISG) in Japan. With the addition of the Ishigaki route to the existing Naha service, customers can now choose between Okinawa’s two major airports as entry and exit points, making it easier than ever to connect to other destinations in Japan. To celebrate the much-anticipated return of the Ishigaki route, HK Express is launching a limited-time promotional offer! Fly to Ishigaki or Naha with one-way ‘Lite’ fares starting from just HKD$148 (inclusive of one small personal item and one cabin baggage). Located southwest of Okinawa’s main island, Ishigaki is a true gem of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. From scenic viewpoints to iconic lighthouses, Ishigaki offers mesmerising panoramic views of endless blue horizons and poetic sunsets.
Air India expands international route network: Air India announced a number of additional frequencies on key routes as part of its Northern Summer schedule effective 30 March 2025: United Kingdom: Delhi-London Heathrow: Addition of 3x weekly flights, increasing from 21x to 24x weekly flights operated by a combination of Air India’ flagship A350-900 and upgraded B787-9 aircraft; Amritsar-Birmingham: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights; Amritsar-London Gatwick: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights; Ahmedabad-London Gatwick: Increasing from 3x to 5x weekly flights Rest of Europe: Delhi-Zurich: Increasing from 4x to 5x weekly flights; Delhi-Vienna: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights; Far East Asia: Delhi-Seoul (Incheon): Increasing from 4x to 5x weekly flights; Delhi-Hong Kong: Switching from A321 to B787 Dreamliner on 7x weekly flights; Africa: Delhi-Nairobi: Increasing from 3x to 4x weekly flights The modernisation of the airline’s narrowbody aircraft is progressing well, and will complete in mid-2025, while the first of the legacy widebodies, a Boeing 787, will commence retrofit of new seats and entertainment systems in April and re-enter service in October 2025. Thereafter, two-to-three B787s will be inducted per month until all 27 legacy aircraft have been upgraded. Retrofit of the legacy Boeing 777 fleet with new seats and entertainment systems, originally due to commence in 2025, will now commence in early 2026 due to production constraints at the selected seat supplier. In the meantime, Air India is taking the opportunity to refresh as many other elements of the B777 interiors as feasible during 2025, ahead of the full retrofit program.
Hong Kong Airlines adds direct service to Sydney: Hong Kong Airlines announced the latest development of its network expansion, with the introduction of a new direct service to Sydney, Australia, set to commence on 20 June 2025. This will make Hong Kong Airlines the second Hong Kong-based airline to operate this popular route, enhancing convenience for passengers and promoting market competition. The new service will be operated with daily scheduled flights and is Hong Kong Airlines’ second Australian destination in this year, following the successful resumption of seasonal flights to the Gold Coast on 17 January. Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Mr Yan Bo stated, “This is an important milestone for Hong Kong Airlines. In the past, we only operated flights to the Gold Coast and Cairns in Australia, offering passengers access to popular tourist hotspots in Queensland. Now, we are honoured to extend our reach to Sydney, the country’s most iconic city. This new route will enable us to serve a broader range of international travellers and is also a testament to the efforts of the two governments to actively support more biliteral air traffic rights. We are committed to providing passengers with high-quality services and competitive prices, ensuring they have more diverse and convenient options for their travel plans.”
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