Short Takes
April 22nd 2016
AIRLINES: Korean LCC Jin Air has signed a codeshare agreement with Australian-based Jetstar Group – Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan and Jetstar Pacific – to offer combined route bookings across both carriers networks to create “seamless travel packages”. Read More » “We respectfully request for the support and assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs in taking the appropriate measures and initiatives that would help PAL secure the needed Kuwaiti authorization for our Dubai-Kuwait fifth freedom rights, including diplomatic protests and special representations with the Government of the State of Kuwait, as may be warranted,” Philippine Airlines (PAL) CEO, Jaime Bautista, said Tuesday, after Kuwait refused to grant the necessary permits, although the Philippines in March granted Kuwait Airways rights to upgrade its Manila service from six to eight-weekly. Thai Airways International’s (THAI’s) first A350 has rolled out of Airbus’ paint shop in Toulouse. Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has said its under-development LCC will be named flyadeal, and will launch operations from mid-2017.
MANUFACTURERS: New Zealand’s Wellington airport and the Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) clubs at Auckland and Christchurch International Airports will install Rockwell Collins Common Use Passenger Processing Solutions (CUPPS), ARINC Vmuse, for passenger self check in services.
ROUTES: Air Algerie has shelved plans for an Algiers-Guangzhou A330 service from October. Air Canada will replace the B767-300ER with the B787-8 on the Calgary-Narita flight effective May 1. Asiana Airlines will increase frequency on the Incheon-Rome B777-200ER service from three to five-weekly beginning July 1. Hong Kong Airlines will start a three times a week Hong Kong-Kuching all-economy A320 route starting May 28. Malindo Air will commence double daily Kuala Lumpur-Johor Bahru B737-800 flights from May 16. Scoot will launch a thrice-weekly Singapore-Taipei-Sapporo B787-8 route on October 1. Shaheen Air will launch twice a week Karachi-Bangkok and twice-weekly Lahore-Bangkok A330 operations from May 20, respectively.
MRO: Ameco has completed its first A330 landing gear overhaul service at its Beijing facility on an Air China aircraft. Islamabad-headquartered LCC Airblue has extended its contract with SR Technics covering maintenance of the CFM56-5Bs powering its A320s until 2022. ST Aerospace has said it secured contracts worth S$443m ($326m) in the first quarter, up from S$298m year-on-year, including several ATR landing gear contracts with undisclosed customers in the Asia-Pacific.
