Much is changing in the Philippines airline industry. Its national carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), formed in 1941 and the oldest carrier in Asia, has witnessed its dominance evaporate in the last couple of years as low-cost carriers, particularly ambitious and fast growing local carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, have eaten sizably into its once buoyant domestic market. Now its major rival is looking to twist the knife even further by taking on PAL offshore. Read More »

An extensive refleeting programme will be among the priorities of Philippine Airlines’ new investors, San Miguel Corporation (SMC). Read More »

If the proposed no-frills carrier, Jetstar Hong Kong, secures the go-ahead from Hong Kong aviation regulators – and that is by no means guaranteed – it will represent a major first in the region’s airline industry. Never before has a Mainland Chinese operator, in this case Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines, partnered with a Western network carrier, Qantas Airways, to launch a budget or, indeed, any new passenger airline. Read More »

The recovery has started, but it remains delicate. That was the message from TeamSAI chairman and chief executive, Chris Doan, when he released the consultant’s 2012-2022 global maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) forecast last month. Read More »

Government-owned Air India needed some good news. Last month it finally arrived when the government announced the flag carrier would receive another massive, life saving cash injection to keep it afloat. New Delhi will pump $5.8 billion into the troubled airline through to 2020, including $1.3 billion in its current financial year. Read More »

Considering the Asia-Pacific arrived late on the low-cost carrier (LCC) scene it is astounding that by the middle of next year there will be more than 50 budget operators – or hybrids of the model – operating in the region. Read More »

Garuda Indonesia has continued its success story with the development of a joint venture leisure company, Garuda Orient Holidays, which is dedicated to building travel demand between the huge leisure markets of China and Indonesia. Read More »

Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines (CEA) announced last month it would join the local provincial government in investing more than US$200 million in China Eastern Wuhan Airlines. Read More »

More pages were added to the history book of aviation biofuels in April when an All Nippon Airways’ B787 completed a transpacific flight partly powered by biofuels.  Read More »

Japan Airlines (JAL), racing to catch up with rival All Nippon Airways as the positive effects of its radical restructuring multiply, has launched the first non-stop service between Tokyo and Boston in the U.S. using its new B787 aircraft. Read More »

AIRPORTS: Narita Airport Authority will build a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal, adjacent to Terminal Two, with completion planned for 2014.  Read More »

Australia’s gigantic mining boom has proved a boon for struggling Qantas Airways as demand for charter flights to remote work sites grows. Read More »

China’s airlines reported losses for March of US$31.58 million despite increases in domestic and international passenger demand. Fuel costs increased by 16%, compared with the same month in 2011, earnings from international cargo declined 18.3% and domestic cargo traffic dropped 6.1%. Read More »

Cathay Pacific Airways and Air China and the Shanghai airport and airport authority have established a joint venture company that will re-structure the operations and ownership of ground handling services at the city’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Read More »

Virgin Australia, which received Australian competition authority approval to establish a corporate alliance with Perth-based Skywest Airlines, has invested US$8 million in the West Australian carrier. Read More »

Asia-Pacific carriers reported a 7.3% increase in international air passengers to 17.2 million in January, a figure underpinned by a boost from leisure markets during the Lunar New Year festival. In revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, international passenger traffic grew 6.3%. Read More »