Overview
It has been an interesting week in Asia-Pacific aviation as Emirates Airline beat the competition when it announced it would add two Chinese secondary destinations to its network and Mainland heavyweight, Hainan Airlines, continued its rapid expansion with the addition of Changsha-Los Angeles B787 services to its network. On Thursday, China Southern Airlines, the Mainland’s largest airline, unveiled its order for 110 Boeing aircraft, valued at US$10 billion at list prices. The aircraft will join its own fleet and that of its subsidiary, Xiamen Airlines, from 2017-2021. Earlier today, Hong Kong budget carrier, HK Express, said it would add 10 230 seat A321s to its prior order for A321 and A320neo aircraft.
Down Under, Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand are looking at posting bumper first-half profits, while on the Indian subcontinent business mogul, Arun Bhatia, is having second thoughts about his investment in AirAsia India. Further south, flag carrier, SriLankan Airlines, is considering converting its A350 orders to smaller A320 Family aircraft, a reflection of a strategy shift.
Emirates expands in China as United Airlines’ withdrawal from Dubai fuels subsidies row Read More »
News
China Southern to spend US$10.12 billion on 110 B737MAX and B737NG aircraft
On Thursday, China Southern Airlines (CSA), the country’s largest carrier, announced it had ordered 80 Boeing 737Max and 30 737NG aircraft, at list prices, before discounts, of US$10.12 billion, for its fleet and that of its subsidiary, Xiamen Airlines. Read More »
News
Qantas eyes $900 million first half profit
Qantas Airways Group chief, Alan Joyce, said the company remained "very committed" to returning excess cash to shareholders after Qantas this week forecast it would report a bumper first half before tax profit in the range of A$875 million to A$925 million (US$630-US$666 million). Read More »
News
SriLankan to cancel A350 slots?
SriLankan Airlines chief, Suren Ratwatte, this week said the government-backed carrier was planning a review of its 2013 wide body order for four A350-900s and six A330-300s, with a view to adding more suitable narrow bodies to its fleet, joining its six A320s and two A321s currently in service. Read More »
News
Air India profit-bound while Bhatia “displeased” with AirAsia investment
For the first time since its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007, notoriously broke and chronically tardy flag carrier, Air India, is set to post an operating profit of “six to seven crore rupees” ($0.96-1.12 million) this financial year, Read More »
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Thailand recruits foreign safety inspectors
After the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) last week spared Thai-registered airlines from being banned from European skies, the kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), which will officially replace the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) on January 1, Read More »
News
Vietnam Airlines to finalize equity deal by year end
Hanoi-headquartered Vietnam Airlines (VNA), is close to finalizing deals with three strategic investors for the acquisition of 20% of the largely government-owned carrier, its chief, Pham Ngoc Minh, told Vietnam's Bizlive news. Read More »
News
Hong Kong LCC, HK Express, heads to 50 aircraft target
Hong Kong budget carrier, HK Express, will acquire ten more A321s to add to its earlier commitments for A320neos and A321s, a decision that will take it closer to its expanded target of a 50 aircraft fleet by 2018. Read More »
News
Air Astana cleared by EASA, Uzbekistan Airways eyes A320neo
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has removed Kazakhstan’s national carrier, Air Astana, from the European Union Air Safety List, its first upgrade since 2009. Read More »
People
SIA’s Goh exits Virgin Australia board
Singapore Airlines (SIA) chief, Goh Choon Phong, will step down from Virgin Australia’s board. Goh will be replaced by his alternate director, Marvin Tan Meng Hung. Read More »
Short Takes
LESSORS: AWAS this week announced it will provide a financing solution for the long-term lease of two A320s to VietJet Air as part of the LCC’s expansion strategy, making it the fourth and latest transaction between the two parties for a total of eight new A320 Family frames. Read More »
