Overview
It has been an eventful week in Asia-Pacific aviation as All Nippon Airways confirmed an order for three A380s and Cathay Pacific Airways announced it would rebrand its Dragonair subsidiary as Cathay Dragon to strengthen the regional offshoot’s association with the parent carrier. At the same time, Lion Air Group is understood to be rebranding its Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, as Batik Air Malaysia to more closely align the carrier with Batik Air, Lion’s Indonesian full-service airline. In Thailand, dolls can now purchase tickets and be served food and drinks on THAI Smile. Further west, Airbus confirmed it has signed agreements with Iran for 118 aircraft, including twelve A380s and 16 A350s. In Doha, Qatar Airways CEO, Al Baker, said he was not interested in consolidation in his region while in India, the A320neo’s delivery delay is impacting IndiGo’s on bottom line.
ANA selects A380 as Cathay launches Cathay Dragon and Mainland carriers expect bumper 2015 profits Read More »
News
Iran orders 118 aircraft to become “the envy of the region”, Qatar CEO rejects Gulf consolidation
The Iranian government this week struck a deal with Airbus for 118 new aircraft, including 21 A320ceos, 24 A320neos, 27 A330ceos, 18 A330-900neos, 16 A350-1000s and twelve A380s for Iran Air. Read More »
News
A320neo delay weighs heavily on IndiGo
InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of Gurgaon-headquartered IndiGo Airlines, which made a stellar market debut in November, has reported disappointing numbers for the nine month period to December 31. The results were driven by an decline of more than 80% in net profit in the seasonally weak July-September quarter and higher employee and aircraft leasing costs. Read More »
News
Thailand hires British safety experts as Bangkok Airways expands
Air safety experts from the UK will arrive in Thailand next month to provide three months of training on safety oversight and issuance of air operator certificates (AOCs), acting director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and Department of Airports director-general, Chula Sukmanop has said. Read More »
News
Air New Zealand pleased with Houston route but cancels Vanuatu
Citing robust demand from U.S. tourists and oil executives travelling to and from Australia, Air New Zealand (Air NZ) this week said it would retain its five-weekly Auckland-Houston B777-200ER link in the northern summer schedule starting on March 30. The carrier connects on to Star Alliance partner United Airlines’ Houston network. Read More »
News
Boeing boosts B737 MAX output but slows B747-8 production
Boeing has scheduled the first flight of the B737 MAX 8 for today, January 29, but cautions the date may be subject to change. Powered exclusively by the CFM International LEAP-1B, the MAX 8 is designed to seat 162 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. Read More »
News
Philippine Airlines to announce European destination?
Philippine Airlines (PAL) president, Jaime Bautista, told local Philippine media the flag carrier would launch a second destination in Europe this year, following London Heathrow, in addition to the non-stop Cebu-Los Angeles B777 service it will start in March. Read More »
News
Malindo Air to rebrand as Batik Air Malaysia?
Kuala Lumpur-based Malindo Air is set to be rebranded as Batik Air Malaysia as Indonesian parent, Lion Air Group, seeks to more closely align its subsidiaries, including Batik Air, Wings Air and mainline Lion Air. Read More »
People
Walter Cho’s influence at Korean Air on the rise
Korean Air is accelerating its third generation succession as Walter Cho, executive vice-president and only son of chairman, Cho Yang-ho, assumes an increasingly larger role in steering the country's largest carrier towards recovery. Read More »
Short Takes
AIRLINES: Hawaiian Airlines parent, Hawaiian Holdings, reported a 2015 net income of $182.6 million, more than double the net profit of $68.9 million in 2014. Read More »
