The first thing that strikes you about Ivan Chu is his energy. He walks fast. He talks fast. He reputably hikes and skis fast - and there is no doubt he is operating at top speed as Cathay Pacific Airways chief executive. Read More »

When China Eastern Airlines (CEA), the country’s biggest operator, recently booked a disappointing first half profit of just $8 million, down from $93 million in the same period a year ago, it was only the beginning of the bad news for its shareholders this year. Read More »

International aircraft lessors are being challenged for a greater piece of the global leasing pie by the financial giants of Greater China and their Japanese peers. Read More »

Royal Brunei Airlines, one of the Asia-Pacific’s smaller full-service operators, is reinventing itself as a boutique airline ready to take on legacy rivals and budget airlines alike. However, its management admits big challenges lie ahead. Read More »

Recent developments in the U.S. airline industry are having a significant impact on Asia-Pacific carriers, said someone who should know, the CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, Mark Dunkerley. Read More »

Consensus has still be reached about the viability of Khazanah Nasional’s US$1.9 billion rescue package for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) as critics contend that de-listing the carrier will not produce the reforms necessary at the distressed airline. Read More »

When Lucio Tan stood before Philippine Airlines employees – they fondly refer to him as the “Kapitan” - at a general meeting on September 15 it quickly became clear that this was going to be an emotional gathering. Read More »

It is no surprise that China’s airlines have hit a rough patch. The once over-regulated industry was bound to encounter challenges as it moved to the competitive global stage. Read More »

The arrival of Qatar Airways’ first A380 at the airline’s Doha headquarters last month gave the carrier’s chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, the opportunity to be gracious about his client, and he took it. Qatar had rejected the first three of its 10-plane A380 order but said the delay was not the fault of Airbus. “The delay was caused by us because we demanded additional quality,” Al Baker said. Read More »

State-owned Air India has said it plans to cut the number of unprofitable routes to 19% of its overall network at the end of the current financial year, after reducing flights by 38% in the last fiscal year and 60% two years ago, reports India’s Business Standard. “We have completely withdrawn flights not meeting ATF (aviation turbine fuel) costs. Read More »

Japan Airlines (JAL) has signed a firm order with Embraer for a total of 15 E-Jets comprising the E170 and E190 models, in addition to 12 further options, valued at US$677 million at current list prices. “We have been operating our E-Jets for five years and the aircraft have achieved an outstanding 99.7% dispatch reliability. They are efficient and have displayed exceptional performance,” said Yoshiharu Ueki, representative director, president of Japan Airlines. Read More »

Malaysia’s opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, has called on the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Malaysia Airline System Bhd.’s (MAS) losses over the years. Read More »

Indian low-cost carrier (LCC) IndiGo has signed a $2.6 billion deal with China’s Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. (ICBC) who will finance the Gurgaon based airline’s acquisition of 30 new A320s. IndiGo is India’s largest carrier, with a market share of 32%, and the only airline on the subcontinent that has been continuously profitable since its 2006 launch. Read More »

AirAsia Group has turned in unexpectedly poor performance results for second-half 2014. While the group’s Malaysian subsidiary, AirAsia Malaysia, remained profitable with a small operating margin, all of the group’s overseas affiliates incurred losses. The group’s performance is in line with results from other low-cost Asia-Pacific carriers as they struggle to maintain yields in a market with too much capacity. Read More »

Thai Airways International (THAI) is struggling to make ends meet and has embarked on a restructuring mission aimed at turning its fortunes around after a net loss of 7.654 billion baht (US$236 million) in second-quarter 2014, more than double its 2.899 billion baht loss in the year-ago period, and the fifth consecutive quarter of losses for the legacy carrier. Read More »

Bahrain’s Gulf Air has cut its first-half 2014 losses “by more than 30%” compared to the same period a year ago, the airline said. Read More »

China’s ‘boutique’ budget carrier, Juneyao Airlines, has bucked the trend of dwindling profits and losses at Mainland carriers in 2014. The airline posted a 191 million yuan (US$31.1 million) operating profit on revenue of 3.2 billion yuan for the reporting months. Read More »

AIRLINES: Air India has suspended a pilot and 10 cabin crew for habitually showing up late for work and delaying, amongst others, flight AI144 from Newark to Mumbai by over two hours on September 13. Apsara International Air, a new start-up financed by Chinese investors, has received its AOC and plans to commence domestic services out of Phnom Penh later this month using an A320. Read More »

Hogan handpicks ‘New Alitalia’ CEO and CCO

Sweeping changes have arrived at Alitalia after Etihad Airways’ 49% equity investment in the struggling flag carrier was finalised. Last month Alitalia announced the appointment of Silvano Cassano as chief executive officer (CEO). Read More »

Asia Pacific airlines carried 20.5 million international passengers in June, 1.6% more than the same month last year. Read More »