Overview
It has been a fast-evolving week in Asia-Pacific and Middle East aviation. Boeing received two significant boosts from China when China Eastern Airlines ordered 15 B787-9s and Xiamen Airlines added ten B737 NGs to its order book. Qatar Airways bulked up its equity in British Airways parent, IAG, and suggested it might cancel its A320neo order in lieu of B737 NGs. In Japan, the battle for lucrative daytime slots at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport began and in Hong Kong, lessors prepared for IPOs. Down Under, Air New Zealand is continuing its Pacific Rim expansion with a new service to Chengdu, according to insiders.
China Eastern orders 15 B787s and Xiamen Air adds ten B737s Read More »
News
Qatar Airways builds IAG stake, Etihad reports a profit and Turkish Airlines “interested in A380neo”
Qatar Airways has increased its shareholding in International Airlines Group (IAG) from 9.99%, to “just under 12%,” CEO, Akbar al Baker, told media at this week’s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, adding his airline has received two dividend payments, with a third expected soon, since its initial buy-in in January 2015. Read More »
News
Philippine Airlines seals deal for six A350 XWBs
Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced earlier today it had finalized a purchase agreement with Airbus for six A350-900s and six options, a confirmation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the airline and the French manufacturer at February’s Singapore Air Show. Read More »
News
Beijing Capital Airlines (BCA), a HNA Group subsidiary, is gradually conquering markets untapped by the “Big Three” state-controlled carriers. Read More »
News
U.S. carriers start battle over Haneda daytime slots
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has received proposals from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines about their intended use of newly allocated daytime slot pairs at Tokyo’s downtown Haneda Airport, from October. Read More »
News
Hawaiian has its eyes on China and reports bumper first quarter profit
Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, last week reported a $51.5 million first-quarter net profit, nearly doubling its $25.9 million net income in the year-ago period, as revenues grew 2% and expenses decreased 2.1%. Read More »
News
BOC readies for May IPO in Hong Kong to be followed by two other Chinese lessors by year end
BOC Aviation, the Singapore-headquartered leasing arm of the Bank of China, officially announced an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong on Monday. Read More »
News
THAI seeks return to profitability amid fleeting and destination woes
Thai Airways International (THAI) has been asked by its military government minders to produce an operating profit of twelve billion baht ($341 million) and a net profit of two billion baht this year, the Bangkok Post reported this week. Read More »
News
Report: Air New Zealand to add Chengdu to its network?
Air New Zealand (Air NZ) is looking to add Chengdu as a destination, a CAPA report this week suggested. The Auckland-based carrier has announced Ho Chi Minh City and Manila as additions to its ‘Pacific Rim’ network, as well as Houston and Buenos Aires last year. Read More »
News
Colombo says it will take on SriLankan’s debt pile
The Sri Lankan government this week said it will absorb SriLankan Airlines’ debts of 461 billion rupees ($3.15 billion). Read More »
News
China’s “Big Three” record further yield drops
The state-controlled “Big Three” Chinese carriers have come under pressure from falling yields amid signs of overcapacity. In 2015, Air China’s yield dropped 6.7%, to 0.56 yuan ($0.09), China Eastern Airlines (CEA) lost 8.4%, also to 0.56 yuan, and China Southern Airlines (CSA) dropped 8.6% to 0.53 yuan. Read More »
People
HK Express appoints CEO to its board
HK Express CEO, Andrew Cowen, has been appointed to the LCC’s board, taking on the additional role of director following the retirement of former vice-executive chairman and executive director, Kalid Razack. HK Express is an HNA Group subsidiary offering short-haul budget flights from Hong Kong. Read More »
Short Takes
AIRLINES: Mainland conglomerate, the HNA Group, the parent of Hainan Airlines, will buy U.S. headquartered Carlson Hotels, the owners of the Radisson hotel chain. In 2016, the HNA Group has purchased technology logistics group, Ingram Micro, and Swiss airline catering company, Gategroup. Read More »
