Overview
It has been an important week for the development of aviation infrastructure in the region as the Vietnamese government approved a new 120-million-passenger mega airport outside Ho Chi Minh City, just in time to meet the growing demand from local carriers Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air. In Bangkok, Airports of Thailand is working on increasing capacity at its Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi hubs to 120 million by 2021, while in Mainland China Airbus and the Chinese government are deepening their partnership with an A330 final assembly line for Tianjin, also to support the production of up to 75 A330s just ordered by China Aviation Supplies. Read More »
Airline News
China firm signs $18 billion deal for A330s
Mainland Chinese aircraft procurement firm, China Aviation Supplies Holding (CAS), last week signed a “general terms agreement” for 45 A330-family aircraft, as well as an MOU for 30 options, at a combined value of approximately $18 billion at current list prices. Read More »
Airline News
Qantas to inject fresh funds into Jetstar Japan
Qantas Airways is set to pump another two billion yen ($21 million) into its Jetstar Japan joint venture, according to Japanese media. Read More »
Airline News
India’s DFC model to be scrapped
The Economic Times last week reported India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has initiated a process to scrap the country’s controversial Domestic Flying Credit (DFC) model, which was proposed as replacement for the so-called 5/20 rule. Read More »
Financial Round Up
IndiGo’s IPO and expired 250 A320 order
InterGlobe Aviation, owner of Indian budget carrier IndiGo Airlines, is seeking to raise more than $400 million in an initial public offering (IPO) to fund the Gurgaon-based carrier’s continuing expansion. Read More »
People
Texas-based Sabre Corporation last week completed its $411 million acquisition of Abacus International, the GDS provider for more than 100,000 travel agents across 59 Asia-Pacific markets. Spanish competitor, Amadeus, last week signed an$830 million agreement to acquire U.S.-based Navitaire, Read More »
Short Takes
ROUTES: Air China will launch a four-weekly Beijing-Kuala Lumpur A330-300 service beginning October 25. China Southern Airlines will increase frequency from 14- to 18-weekly on the Guangzhou-Melbourne A330-300 route from December 5, as well as from twice- to thrice-daily on the Guangzhou-Sydney A330-300 route starting December 10. Read More »
