Short Takes
March 1st 2014
AIRLINES: Dependent on approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Guilin Airlines will be launched with three airliners, in May. The carrier is a joint venture between Hainan Airline’s parent company, the HNA Group, and the Guilin Municipal Government. Philippine Airlines has abandoned its plans to launch a joint venture carrier with Cambodian Airlines. Read More »
AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT: Airbus subsidiary, Airbus Prosky, will open a regional office in Singapore in recognition of huge future aviation growth and a deepening of the company’s research ties with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
ENVIRONMENT: The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued its first licence to produce commercial biofuels to Chinese refiner, Sinopec, following two years of testing by the CAAC’s Aircraft Airworthiness Certification Department.
FLEETS: Kuwait Airlines has ordered 10 A350-900s and 15 A320neo family aircraft. The airline’s current fleet is made up of three A320s, three A310s, five A300s and four A340s.
ROUTES: Etihad Airways is the last of the three Middle East major carriers to announce flights to Phuket. Etihad said it will start a daily non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and the island leisure centre in October. Emirates Airline operates non-stop daily flights to Phuket and Qatar Airways flies Doha-Phuket via Kuala Lumpur seven days a week. Hong Kong headquartered low-cost carrier, HK Express, added Hong Kong-Fukuoka in Japan to its network in February and will increase its scheduled flights to Osaka and Seoul in April. United Airlines has announced it will introduce a non-stop, six times a week service between Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia in October using its new B787-9s. United Airlines is the B787-9 launch customer.
TRAINING: Singapore Airlines and Airbus will establish a US$63 million flight training academy at Seletar Aerospace Park, which will include simulator training for the A380 as well as training for all other Airbus aircraft types.
