December 1st 2024

Print Friendly

MARCH

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines became the latest carrier to farewell the 747-400 from commercial flying when one of the type, 25-year-old jumbo jet registration HL7428, completed the OZ711/712 rotation between Seoul Incheon and Taipei Taoyuan on March 25. Read More »

The Queen of the Skies remains a perennial favourite with aviation enthusiasts. Airlines still flying the 747-400 in March were Air China, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Max Air and Rossiya Airlines.

In new beginnings, Turkish Airlines arrived in Australia for the first time when it commenced one-stop Istanbul-Singapore-Melbourne, becoming one of a rare group of carriers that fly to all six inhabited continents.

The Star Alliance member said it hoped to serve Australia nonstop from Türkiye with new generation aircraft.

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) reported its first net profit in 2023, a 1 billion ringgit (US$224 million) turnaround from 2022.

MAG, the parent company of Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and MASWings added it expected to be profitable in 2024 “unless something serious happens”.

It was a similar story in the Philippines, where Cebu Pacific posted a full-year 2023 net profit on the back of a 60% improvement in revenue. It also flagged a stronger financial performance this year.

But in Vietnam, were Vietjet is leading the country’s air passenger growth, Pacific Airlines suspended operations to restructure and improve its financial position.

A subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, the LCC returned all aircraft to lessors amid reports it had missed monthly payments. The airline resumed flying as a full-service carrier in June 2024.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) published an interim report on the crash of China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735, operated by 737-800 registration B-1791 on March 21, 2023. The regulator said it found “no anomalies” in its investigations. The final report is yet to be released.

Two of the region’s major carriers - Japan Airlines (JAL) and Korean Air (KAL) - disclosed new aircraft orders this month.

JAL put pen to paper for 20 A350-900s and 10 787-9s planned for international operations with deliveries commencing in 2027. KAL ordered 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s from Airbus.

There was further upheaval at Boeing in the month when the beleaguered aerospace giant announced a leadership clear out that forced the earlier than planned resignation of CEO, Dave Calhoun, and the abrupt exit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO, Stan Deal.

Previously, Boeing said Calhoun would depart as CEO in December 2025 rather than in April 2028. In the end, Calhoun did not last beyond August, when Kelly Ortberg took over as CEO.