Overview
This week the Asia-Pacific notched up another world first: the establishment of the first LCC alliance to cover all of Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand. In China, Ruili Airlines sprung a surprise at its second anniversary ceremonies with the announcement of a B787 order. Also on the Mainland, aviation authorities said they would open up more airspace for civilian use to support the growth of the country’s general aviation industry. In neighbouring Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways said it must tie the belt tighter amid decreasing yields and loads as the airline prepared to welcome its first new aircraft type in two decades – the A350-900. Further west, Qatar Airways again increased its shareholding in British Airways parent, the International Airlines Group (IAG).
Value Alliance to spur LCC growth in the Asia-Pacific Read More »
News
Cathay boss orders cost reduction drive amid weakening outlook
Following weak April traffic figures, Cathay Pacific Airways chief executive, Ivan Chu, has told staff it “is now necessary for us to contain costs further”, particularly with the carrier’s yields "coming under ever-more pressure". Read More »
News
Air China reports robust April figures and accepts first B787-9
On Thursday, Mainland flag carrier, Air China, took delivery of the first of 15-on-order B787-9s at Boeing’s North Charleston facility. Read More »
News
Ruili Airlines orders six B787-9s
Ruili Airlines celebrated its second anniversary on Wednesday with a ceremony in its namesake hometown next to China’s border with Myanmar and an announcement it has committed to purchasing six B787-9s, with deliveries from 2019. Read More »
News
Qatar Airways increases IAG stake to 15.01%
Qatar Airways has again raised its equity in British Airways (BA) parent, IAG, this time to 15.01%. "Qatar Airways may consider increasing its stake further over time within the allowable limits [49%]," the state-owned carrier said. Read More »
News
Hawaiian sole applicant for night time Haneda slot
Hawaiian Airlines has been pre-awarded the single available night-time slot for departures to the U.S. from Tokyo’s downtown Haneda Airport after it became apparent it would be the only carrier to apply for it. Read More »
News
Bangkok Airways and THAI post profit gains but Nok Air’s financial haemorrhaging continues
On Monday, Thailand’s flag carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI), announced a 32% year-on-year first-quarter net profit increase, to 5.99 billion baht ($169 million), following more than three years of consecutive record losses. Read More »
News
Boeing accelerates B737 MAX rollout and Airbus delivers second U.S.-built A321
Boeing has confirmed it will deliver its first B737 MAX 8 earlier than previously anticipated, The Wall Street Journal has reported, quoting Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO, Ray Conner. Read More »
News
China opening more airspace for general aviation and commits to 500 airports by 2020
The Mainland’s State Council on Tuesday announced plans to open more of the country’s lower altitude airspace for civilian use, a decision intended to encourage the growth of China’s fledgling general aviation industry, ease congestion along higher altitude flight paths and provide more space for pilots training on light aircraft. Read More »
News
Vietnam Airlines declares war in Vietnamese air market battle
Following the rapid ascent of budget carrier, VietJet Air, and its massive order backlog, flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VN) has come under intense pressure to maintain its position as the country’s leading carrier. Read More »
People
Gulf Air confirms executive team
Gulf Air’s board has officially promoted Maher Salman Jabber Al Musallam from deputy and acting CEO to permanent chief of Bahrain’s flag carrier. Read More »
Short Takes
AIRLINES: Airbus and EgyptAir have confirmed that flight MS804 from Paris (CDG) to Cairo, operated by an IAE-powered A320 built in 2003, has gone missing, and is believed to have crashed into the Mediterranean approximately 175 miles off the Egyptian coast. Read More »
