Hainan and Bangkok Airways head to a new region

[LUNN]

The two carriers are expanding their networks to include South Asia from summer 2011, Hainan Airlines plan to launch Mumbai and Kolkata in India both from Shenzhen, around March, while Bangkok Airways are starting Bangladesh with Chittagong from 27th March and India with Mumbai from 2nd March, from Bangkok.

In 2008 Hainan had also sought permission to serve Afghan capital Kabul from Urumqi, but didnt get approval.

Hainan will be technically the seventh mainland Chinese airline to serve India since the two established direct air links in 2002, others being:

Air China (Delhi, Bangalore)
China Eastern (Mumbai, suspended, Delhi, Kolkata)
China Southern (Delhi)
Jade Cargo (Chennai + doing scheduled charters to Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata for other carriers)
Shanghai Airlines Cargo (Mumbai, suspended)
Great Wall Cargo (Chennai, Mumbai both suspended)

Indian carriers to mainland:

Air India (Shanghai)
Jet Airways (Shanghai, suspended)
defunct Sahara Airlines (Guangzhou)

[CathayPacific]

I think this is not Bangkok Airways' "entry" into South Asia. I think it has been serving Maldives for a few years.

[LUNN]

Oh yes forgot about that, thanks.