Overview
This week in the Asia-Pacific the industry commemorated the second anniversary of the tragic downing of MH17 over eastern Ukraine, the second disaster to hit Malaysia Airlines within months of each other in 2014. The carrier is still struggling to make ends meet and recover its premium image of yesteryear. In its latest update, MAB plans to place a new short- and medium-range order and add premium economy class to its long-haul fleet. In Japan, Vanilla Air is moving forward on plans for a secondary base at Taipei’s Taoyuan Airport while China’s HNA Group continues its global shopping spree with confirmation in the last week of investments in SR Technics, TAP Portugal and Yangtze River Express.
MAB settles MH17 claims and adds premium economy class Read More »
News
Delta and Hawaiian victors in Haneda daytime slot allocation
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) this week made a preliminary decision about the allocation of the five daytime slots for U.S. carriers at Tokyo’s downtown Haneda Airport. Read More »
News
Vanilla Air builds secondary base at Taoyuan
All Nippon Airways (ANA) low-cost off subsidiary, Vanilla Air, will launch daily fifth freedom flights between Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City from September 14. Read More »
News
AirAsia plans to return to Adelaide and London
Speaking at last week’s Farnborough Air Show outside London, AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, said he hoped his low-cost empire would make a quick return to Adelaide and London, both previously served by its AirAsia X units. Read More »
News
Vistara “keen” on long-haul destinations; SriLankan seeks investor
"Low-cost carriers have not been able to really make the business model work on long-haul international routes. Read More »
News
HNA accelerates expansion drive with new investments
HNA Group’s Hainan Airlines this week said it would invest 915.2 million yuan ($137 million) to increase its holding in Shanghai-based Yangtze River Express Airlines from under one per cent to 11.6%. Read More »
News
Mainland carriers continue route assault
Air China subsidiary, Tibet Airlines, on Sunday launched its first international route, linking Chengdu with Koh Samui. The A319 route will operate three times a week. Read More »
News
Manila’s Ninoy Aquino closed after asphalt punctures EVA jet
The main runway at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was closed from 4:30pm to midnight on Monday due to emergency pavement repairs that became necessary after a large piece of asphalt came lose and damaged an EVA Air B747-400 that had just landed. Read More »
News
Nok Air readies for China launch
“It is perfect timing to go to China,” Nok Air CEO, Patee Sarasin, told AIN this week. “The country is opening up, but it has restricted certain Thai airlines from going in. For now, the market isn’t saturated.” Read More »
News
Qatar Airways considers adding B777s
Doha-based Qatar Airways has told Aviation Daily it was evaluating additional B777-300ER orders to make up for the capacity shortfall caused by delayed A350 deliveries. Read More »
People
Chicago-based manufacturer Boeing has named Greg Hyslop its chief technology officer (CTO), effective immediately, replacing John Tracy, a 35-year company veteran who served as CTO since 2006 and announced his retirement earlier this year. Read More »
Short Takes
Airlines
Air Seoul has outlined its initial schedule. The LCC will assume parent Asiana Airlines’ Shizuoka and Takamatsu flights from October 7, with services to Nagasaki, Ube and Macau following shortly thereafter. Read More »
