Overview
It has been a course-setting week in Asia-Pacific aviation. In India, the world’s third largest future aviation market, the government relaxed its punitive aviation laws, including easing the 5/20 rule and raising the foreign ownership cap for airlines. In China, HNA Group said it is looking to add more destinations to its fast-growing network, while Nanshan Group completed its purchase of 20% of Air New Zealand’s shares in Virgin Australia. Boeing signed a US$20 billion agreement with Iran Air for B747-8, B777 and B737 aircraft. In Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines appears to have a new home for its four on-order A350s.
Virgin granted slots to Beijing and Hong Kong, Air New Zealand completes Nanshan sale Read More »
News
India eases 5/20 rule and scraps foreign ownership caps for airlines
India, at last, has relaxed the unpopular 5/20 rule, which required local carriers to fly domestically for at least five years and operate 20 aircraft, before they were allowed to fly overseas. Read More »
News
Boeing signs breakthrough deal with Iran Air
Boeing announced on Tuesday it had signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Iran Air for an unspecified number of commercial passenger aircraft, but with Iranian statements saying the order was for approximately 70 single-aisles and 30 long-haul jets. Read More »
News
Bangkok Airways scraps re-fleeting plans
Suvarnabhumi-based Bangkok Airways has side lined plans to acquire new A320neo or B737MAX aircraft to replace its A319/A320 fleet. The boutique airline said switching to more fuel-efficient aircraft has become less urgent, citing the lower oil price environment. Read More »
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Airbus showcases A350 in China
Airbus will hold an A350 demonstration tour in China from June 25 to July 1, with scheduled stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou and Chengdu. Read More »
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Hainan Airlines sets its sights on new markets
No week goes by without major news from Hainan Airlines and its parent, Haikou-headquartered HNA Group. This week, Hainan said it planned to resume thrice-weekly A330-200 flights between its Beijing hub and Cairo from December, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Read More »
News
AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, this week told the New Straits Times he would “certainly discuss” the A321 with Airbus as part of the group’s re-fleeting plans. “It’s early days, but certainly (in) the ballpark," Fernandes said. Read More »
News
SriLankan to lease A350s to Turkish Airlines?
A report in in the Sri Lankan Business Times this week suggested flag carrier, SriLankan Airlines, planned to lease three of its four on-order A350-900s to Turkish Airlines. Read More »
News
Mainland carriers return to Qunar
Mainland heavyweights, Air China and China Eastern Airlines, have resumed selling tickets through Chinese online retailer, Qunar Cayman Islands Ltd, following a near three-month boycott. Read More »
News
Air Guilin launches operations and Dalian Airlines cleared for international operations
HNA Group’s latest airline offshoot, Air Guilin, has secured its air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It will launch commercial services tomorrow with A319s, two bought and one leased acquired from sister carrier, Beijing Capital Airlines. Read More »
News
TransAsia to dispose of A330s and cut network
Taiwan’s incident-ridden TransAsia Airways this week confirmed it would sell or lease its four in-service A330-300s. The carrier mainly flies the wide body jets between Taiwan and Japan. Read More »
People
Embraer promotes Slattery to President and CEO
Brazilian aircraft maker, Embraer, has promoted CCO, John Slattery, to President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, effective from this month. Read More »
Short Takes
Airlines
Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair have introduced an immediate ban on transporting shark fins. Emirates Airline has taken delivery of its 80th A380, with another 62 pending delivery. Read More »
