Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
It’s been a thought-provoking week in Asia-Pacific aviation as independent research into MH370 suggests a windshield heater failure could have led to the plane’s mysterious demise. In Qatar, Akbar Al Baker said he would like to deepen its ties with American Airlines, while in neighbouring Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways’ engineering unit and Airbus are planning an A380 MRO hub in the city. In Thailand, THAI and Nok Air continued to underperform in the third quarter, as did China’s Spring Airlines, although for the first time. In Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines is considering an independent investment unit, in Chengdu, Sichuan Airlines is adding new Airbus widebody capacity, and in Changsha the local airport authority is looking to alleviate growing congestion with a second runway from January.
Did a windshield heater failure cause MH370 to vanish? Read More »
News
Al Baker seeks “robust partnership” with American Airlines
Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, this week said he was seeking a close partnership with oneworld fellow American Airlines (AA), similar to its collaboration with British Airways but without equity. Read More »
News
Sichuan Airlines takes delivery of 9th A330, expects A350 in 2017
Sichuan Airlines last Thursday took delivery of its ninth A330-300 at its Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport base. Read More »
News
T’Way signs LOI for 2 -900ERs and Air Seoul expands network
South Korean low-cost carrier T’Way Airlines has inked a letter of intent (LOI) for two B737-900ERs, CAPA has reported, citing Kim Hyung Ki, a vice-president at the airline. Read More »
News
China Eastern considers investment subsidiary
Shanghai’s China Eastern Airlines has asked Beijing for permission to launch an independent investment subsidiary to explore equity opportunities across the aviation sector, the airline’s vice-president for strategic development, Wang Haitao, has told Mainland financial publication Yicai. Read More »
News
Airbus, Etihad launch A380 MRO base in Abu Dhabi
Airbus and Etihad Airways Engineering this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop an A380 MRO service base in Abu Dhabi. Read More »
News
Changsha’s 2nd runway to open in January
Changsha’s Huanghua International Airport has finished construction of its second runway. Read More »
News
Spring Airlines: 3Q net profit down 26%; “consumer dissatisfaction rife”
China’s first independent low-cost carrier (LCC), Shanghai-headquartered Spring Airlines, has posted a 26.3% year-on-year third quarter net profit decline to 430 million yuan ($65 million). Read More »
News
THAI and Nok Air still unprofitable in Q3
Thai Airways International (THAI) is likely to miss its savings target this year, despite significant year-on-year improvements. Read More »
News
ANA and CEB join Air Black Box
ANA Holdings, parent of Vanilla Air, and Cebu Pacific, parent of Cebgo, have joined technology provider Air Black Box Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. as shareholders. Read More »
People
Wehby becomes Sydney Airport COO
Sydney Airport CFO, Hugh Wehby, will succeed Shelley Roberts as COO from January. Read More »
Short Takes
Airlines: Bangladesh’s Regent Airways will acquire three B737-800s and a B777-200, according to its chairman, Yasin Ali. It currently operates two B737-700s, -800 and two Dash 8-300s. Read More »
