Overview
It’s been an interesting first week of January in Asia-Pacific aviation as Thai authorities rejected a price floor regulation for its LCCs after the same initiative had failed in Indonesia. In Seoul, Asiana Airlines has decided to introduce premium economy cabins into its aircraft fleet with the arrival of its A350s and is preparing the June launch of LCC offshoot, Air Seoul, to improve its unimpressive bottom line. Read More »
News
Asiana launching premium economy and Air Seoul to mend bottom line
Asiana Airlines’ budget airline-in-the-making, Air Seoul, has secured its business licence from the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and is now awaiting allocation of an air operator’s certificate (AOC) in time for its planned June launch. Read More »
News
Cultural challenges emerge for MAB
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) was thrown another curveball this week. Malaysia’s The Star newspaper published comments by Islamic preacher and Perlis mufti, Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, that read: Read More »
News
Asia lessors give A320 another boost
Mainland owned but Singapore-based lessor, BOC Aviation, has placed a top-up order for 30 A320 Family aircraft made up of 18 A320neos and 12 A320ceos. Read More »
News
“Nothing decided” on A380 purchase said All Nippon Airways
Japan’s largest carrier, Tokyo-based All Nippon Airways (ANA), has denied reports that parent company, ANA Holdings, has finalised a deal for three A380s, a contradiction of Nikkei Asian Review, Bloomberg and Reuters reports that claimed the airliners would be delivered from 2018 and used on flights to Hawaii to counter rival, Japan Airlines’ (JAL), dominance there. Read More »
News
Emirates launches Cebu and Clark and Etihad mulls Malta investment
Tim Clark and his Emirates Airlines have kept their promise to launch services to secondary cities in the Philippines. Last October’s air service agreement expansion between the UAE and the island nation gave permission for Emirates to increase frequency to Manila, despite vehement objections from Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Air. Read More »
News
Garuda rolls out new premium cabin and plans for 10% passenger growth in 2016
Garuda Indonesia will debut its new business class seats this month when it takes delivery of its latest A330-300. The SkyTeam alliance member is upgrading to a 'fully lie-flat' seat in a more passenger-friendly 1-2-1 layout; the Super Diamond design from B/E Aerospace that provides direct aisle access for each passenger. Read More »
News
Colorful Guizhou launched as Air China, China Express and Sichuan Airlines boost their fleets
Colorful Guizhou Airlines has commenced commercial operations with scheduled passenger flights between Guiyang and Bijie. Using its two Embraer 190s - set to grow to seven by year-end. The start-up will roll out services to Tongren, Chengdu, Tianjin, Zhuhai and Ningbo in coming weeks. Read More »
News
The outlook for Philippines commercial aviation in 2016 is positive as local and foreign carriers signal their intentions to expand after last year’s renewal and expansion of air service agreements with the UAE, South Korea, Russia and Australia. (See Emirates launches to Cebu and Clark airports). Read More »
Short Takes
Airlines
Fiji Airways has received its first A330-300 variant, with plans to fly on the Sydney and Los Angeles routes from January 16. Nepal Airlines is said to be “close” to announcing an Airbus wide body order to open new routes to Japan and Australia. Read More »
People
CALC names deputy CEOs, confirms CCO, COO
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) has appointed Barry Mok and Winnie Liu as deputy CEOs. Liu has also been appointed CCO, while Mok will continue his responsibility as CFO. Meanwhile, Pitney Tang has been promoted to COO. Read More »
