Overview
ICAO conference promises major breakthroughs
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has made major breakthroughs in aircraft tracking and conflict zone data collection. At the High Level Safety Conference last week in Montreal, its 191 member states concluded that, in the future, ICAO will collect and share all conceivable data associated with the risk of flights over conflict zones. This includes those from nations' intelligence services. The resolution, which is not expected to be passed “until later this year”, would see ICAO’s annual budget increase by 3%. More importantly, it would put an end to long-standing controversy over the organisation responsible for warning airlines of the dangers operating in conflict zones. At present, individual governments are responsible for providing carriers using their airspace with the relevant safety information. Read More »
Airline News
TransAsia president Peter Chen apologises to families of passengers killed in crash
Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration has ordered TransAsia Airways and Uni Air to ground their fleets of ATR72 aircraft to conduct engine inspections following last week’s crash of a TransAsia -600 variant soon after take-off from Taipei’s Songshan Airport. Read More »
Airline News
AirAsia India eyes break even result
AirAsia India chief, Mittu Chandilya, said the Bengalaru-based airline was looking to break even between May and June this year as more Airbus A320 aircraft join its fleet and services to Delhi commence. Read More »
Airline News
Thailand's military-led government last week approved a restructuring plan for Thai Airways International (THAI) in a bid to restore profitability at the national carrier following six consecutive quarters of operational losses. Read More »
Airline News
ANA still considering Skymark investment?
According to a report in The Japan Times last week, ANA Holdings, owner of All Nippon Airways (ANA), said it might come to the rescue of troubled Skymark Airlines, a budget carrier and Japan’s third-largest. Read More »
Airline News
PAL delays deliveries, plans Papua New Guinea service
A report in the Malaya Business Insight, quoting Philippine Airlines (PAL) president, Jaime Bautista, said PAL was delaying the delivery of new aircraft as part of its cost-saving programme. Read More »
Financial Round Up
AirAsia X Group said it was looking to raise up to MYR395 million ($108.7 million) through additional rights issues within the next quarter. Read More »
People
Malaysia AirAsia X has replaced chief executive, Azran Osman-Rani, with Benyamin Ismail. The low-cost carrier has also appointed AirAsia co-founder, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun (pictured), as AirAsia X Group chief executive to oversee its three Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai subsidiaries. Read More »
Short Takes
AIRLINES: Korean Air has launched a new business class product, initially debuting on its Incheon – Singapore and Incheon – Hanoi A330-300 routes. The Mainland’s Okay Airways has established Xi’an as its second base after Tianjin, and opened two new routes to Krabi and Bangkok as it received two out of eight ordered B737-900ER aircraft last week. Read More »
