Overview
It has been a significant week in Asia-Pacific aviation with the surprise news that Malaysia Airlines CEO, Christoph Mueller, has resigned and will leave the airline in September, less than a year into his transformation mission at the carrier. In Singapore, Airbus and Singapore Airlines co-opened the Airbus Asia Training Centre, giving airlines more choice of training centres in the region. In China, the HNA Group continued its takeover spree, China Eastern Airlines may allow online travel agency Ctrip to buy into it and the Mainland government approved a new $1.1 billion airport for Chengdu. In Jakarta, Garuda Indonesia ordered 14 Rolls-Royce powered A330neos.
Mueller to depart Malaysia Airlines in September Read More »
News
Airbus and Singapore Airlines training joint venture formally opens its doors
On Monday Airbus and Singapore Airlines (SIA) opened the joint venture Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC) at Singapore’s Seletar Aerospace Park to meet growing demand for cockpit crew in the Asia-Pacific. Read More »
News
Garuda Indonesia signs up for 14 A330-900neos
On Tuesday, Garuda Indonesia announced an order for 14 Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-powered A330-900neos, to support the carrier’s future medium and long-haul growth. Read More »
News
Online travel agency Ctrip to invest in China Eastern Airlines
China’s largest online travel agency, Ctrip, is moving towards a partnership with a former rival, China Eastern Airlines (CEA), with the news that the Shanghai-based carrier is considering Ctrip’s offer to buy up to 10% of the carrier in next 12 months. Read More »
News
HNA Group acquires ICE, Monarch Airlines next?
Haikou-headquartered HNA Tourism Group, a subsidiary of the HNA Group, has agreed to acquire London-based foreign exchange specialist, International Currency Exchange (ICE) for an undisclosed fee. Read More »
News
Shanghai carriers gear up for growth
China Eastern Airlines (CEA) plans to grow its fleet from 561 (year-end 2015) to more than 800 by 2020, its president, Ma Xulun, has told Reuters. Read More »
News
China’s regulator greenlights new Chengdu airport as Beijing Daxing construction accelerates
China’s top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), on Monday approved construction commencement of the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Jianyang, approximately 50kms south east of downtown Chengdu. Read More »
News
Cathay’s load factor dips again
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways on Wednesday followed the Big Three’s lead when it announced another year-on-year decrease in its load factor, from 87.3% in March 2015 to 83.9% this year, amid added capacity. Read More »
News
Taiwan charges air traffic controllers with criminal negligence in TransAsia crash
Taiwan has charged two air traffic controllers with criminal negligence contributing to the crash of TransAsia Airways flight GE222 on July 24 last year near the airport at Magong on Penghu Island, that killed 49 passengers and crew. Read More »
News
Rats keep gnawing at Air India as SkyTeam reaffirms its interest in Jet Airways
Air India chairman, Ashwani Lohani, has ordered staff to refrain from eating in ramp areas at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport and requested space for a staff canteen at the capital airport after rats grounded three Air India long-haul flights that were departing or returning to Delhi in the last two weeks. Read More »
People
Lufthansa Technik appoints new head of overhaul services
MRO firm Lufthansa Technik has appointed Thomas Rueckert, 45, as its new head of aircraft overhaul services, replacing Soeren Stark, who has been appointed to the executive board of Lufthansa Cargo as COO. Read More »
Short Takes
AIRLINES: Korean LCC Jin Air has signed a codeshare agreement with Australian-based Jetstar Group – Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan and Jetstar Pacific – to offer combined route bookings across both carriers networks to create “seamless travel packages”. Read More »
