Orient Aviation November 2013
Cover Story
Zhang Qiang, the Mainland-educated and Black Belt Karate-trained president of newborn low-cost carrier (LCC), Hong Kong Express Airways, makes no apologies for his missionary zeal when it comes to his recently launched “baby”. Read More »
Main Story
An historic emissions agreement, reached after intense negotiations at the recent International Civil Aviation Organization’s 38th Assembly, is threatened with fragmentation after the European Union said it would restart the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) clock on all flights, including international services, passing through its air space. Read More »
Comment
Drop the revised EU aviation ETS
It beggars belief. After years of negotiations and controversy, the 191 members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) reached a landmark agreement in early October to establish a global market-based measure (MBM) to reduce the industry’s emissions across the globe. Read More »
News Backgrounder
JAL boss wants answers about slots "spoils"
Japan Airlines (JAL) president, Yoshiharu Ueki, is threatening to sue the Japanese transport department over its recent decision to give All Nippon Airways (ANA) more than double the number of new day time international slots at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport than JAL.Read More »
Opinion
JAL's Airbus deal good for Japan
The impact of Japan Airlines’ (JAL) groundbreaking US$9.5 billion order for 31 A350s plus 25 options has gone far beyond a major refleeting decision. It turned Japan’s concept of corporate obligation on its head. Read More »
Air Cargo
Vital signs good for air cargo
Asia-Pacific airlines continue to battle to turn a profit at their cargo operations, but they may be winning the war. Read More »
Special Report: Asia-Pacific Airports Update
Asia-Pacific airports take to the sky
Officials at South Korea’s Incheon Airport recently held a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of work on a second terminal that by 2017 will lift passenger capacity by 41% to 62 million.Read More »
Special Report: Asia-Pacific Airports Update
Middle East's lofty ambitions keeping up with the neighbours
The world’s biggest greenfield airport development, the Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA) at Dubai, is open for passenger business. After a day-long trial involving 1,200 Dubai residents, on October 28 it welcomed its first customer, Wizz Air, the largest low-cost carrier in Central and Eastern Europe.Read More »
Special Report: Asia-Pacific Airports Update
Anguish in India as airport plans unveiled
India has announced plans for an airport spending spree that requires a US$12 billion public and private investment package over the next five years. That is the good news. Read More »
Technology
New Boeing technology will mean fewer parts
Boeing Aerostructures, the manufacturer’s second largest research and development laboratory, at Fisherman’s Bend near Melbourne, Australia, is within a few years of introducing breakthrough technology that will dramatically improve the production of major carbon fibre parts for its big jets, including the B787 Dreamliner. Read More »
Regional Round-Up
Boeing scores big in China with B737 MAX deal
Insiders report that China has made its first commitment to the B737 MAX with Mainland aviation authorities reported to have signed up for more than 200 of the MAX aircraft type, an upgraded version of the single aisle popular B737. Based on list prices for the aircraft, the order could be worth up to US$20 billion to the Seattle-based manufacturer. Read More »
Regional Round-Up
Thai AirAsia X critical to "multi-hub" strategy
Thailand’s aviation authorities have issued an air operator’s licence to the medium to long-haul, low-cost carrier, Thai AirAsia X, which plans to begin flying with two A320s in early 2014. Read More »
Regional Round-Up
U.S. sets date for Asiana crash hearing
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a two-day investigation into the July 6 Asiana Airlines crash, in Washington D. C. in December. The NTSB said the information to be examined would focus on “pilot awareness in a highly automated cabin, emergency response and cabin safety”. Flight 214 was carring 291 passengers and crew when it crashed on approach to San Francisco International airport. Read More »
Regional Round-Up
Airbus predicts global air freight fleet to double
In its new Cargo Global Market Forecast, Airbus reported air cargo traffic would grow by 4.8% a year, which would mean the world’s freighter fleet would reach 3,000 aircraft by 2032. Read More »
Regional Round-Up
Garuda and ATR take US$840 million "quantum leap"
Garuda Indonesia, French turboprop manufacturer ATR, and Denmark’s Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) have announced an US$840 million fleet package which will bring 25 ATR 72-600s, with 10 options, into the airline’s fleet. Read More »
Regional Round-Up
Double digit growth at Asia-Pacific airports
Boosted by international and domestic summer travel, traffic at Asia-Pacific airports increased by +10% in August, with Asia-Pacific passenger feeds from the region boosting airport growth in the Middle East by +18.5%. Read More »
Short Takes
CARGO: China Airlines, capitalizing on a new rule that allows cross straits carriers to fly into China via an intermediate stop, has launched a B747-400F once a week Taoyuan-Nanjing-Zhengzhou cargo service. Read More »
