Eastern Airways has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to codeshare with Delta Air Lines and add its designator code to wet-lease flights it operates for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and KLM cityhopper. To do so, it asked the DOT for an exemption permitting it to engage in scheduled flights between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands under a codeshare arrangement with Delta or any duly authorised US carrier. The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Eastern Airways operates four ATR72-600s, nine BAe Jetstream 41s, two E170s, and two E190s. It additionally owns one E145 and one E135 (both operating for Bristow Helicopters Nigeria (BHN, Lagos)) as well as three BAe Jetstream 41s which are not in operation. It is looking to bolster its fleet by adding up to two additional E-Jets (E190s or E170s) in the next six months. This additional capacity will be allocated to further support its flights for KLM. However, US carrier Eastern Airlines (2D, Miami International) objected to the British carrier’s use of the word "Eastern". “Use of the trade name ‘Eastern Airways’ [...] may cause confusion to the travelling and shipping public,” the US carrier protested to the DOT. Eastern Airways’ legal name is Air Kilroe Limited.<br/>
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The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and China Eastern Airlines have announced a “strategic partnership” that will see three weekly routes from Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) from April. The flights will be the first regular timetabled flights by Chinese airlines between the two countries, although various airlines have provided special direct Hajj pilgrimage flights in the past. Saudi flag carrier Saudia began flights to Beijing from Riyadh and Jeddah in August 2023. The Saudi state program, part of the Ministry of Tourism, has made linking the Kingdom with China a top priority. “The introduction of this new route with one of the world’s largest airlines is another step towards enhancing connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China, a key priority market for us,” ACP CEO, Majid Khan told the Saudi Press Agency. <br/>
Vietnam Airlines will open direct flights between Hanoi and Munich, one of the largest cities in Germany, starting from October 2024. The flights will be operated using environmentally friendly Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft. There will be two flights per week departing from Hanoi on Friday and Sunday. The return flights from Munich to Hanoi will depart on Monday and Saturday. In addition to the Hanoi-Munich route, Vietnam Airlines will also operate a weekly flight between HCM City and Munich. The flight will depart from HCM City on Monday and return from Munich on Tuesday. Starting from December 2024, Vietnam Airlines plans to increase the frequency of flights between HCM City and Munich. There will be an additional flight departing from HCM City on Wednesdays, and the return flight from Munich will be on Thursdays.<br/>