Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
This week in Asia-Pacific aviation was all about innovation. Airbus, Routehappy, Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines launched a visual merchandising platform at this week’s ITB travel trade show in Berlin that is said will change the way passengers search for flights and make purchasing decisions.
In Thailand, Nok Air continues operating deep in the red and is looking to sublease a part of its fleet. Its parent, Thai Airways International (THAI), also is pursuing alternative revenue streams. This week it signed an MRO joint venture agreement with Airbus.
Also this week, Boeing rolled out its B737 MAX 9 and Embraer presented the largest ‘Made in Brazil’ aircraft yet, the E195-E2. In Toulouse, Airbus is said to have won a single-aisle contract from South Korean start-up, K-Air.
In no less significant news, ICAO this week formally adopted the world’s first CO2 aircraft emissions standard. It will be applicable to new aircraft types from 2020 and in-production models from 2028.
Airbus and Routehappy lure passengers with visual merchandising platform Read More »
News
THAI and Airbus explore U-Tapao MRO partnership
Thai Airways International (THAI) and Airbus this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly “evaluate” development of a new MRO facility at Thailand’s U-Tapao International Airport, south of Bangkok. Read More »
News
Indian regulator probes A320neo incidents
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating a string of incidents in the last month that involved A320neos powered by Pratt & Whitney’s (P&W’s) geared turbofan (GTF) engines. Read More »
News
LCC SpiceJet commences Delhi-Bangkok flights
Gurgaon-headquartered budget carrier, SpiceJet, will launch a daily Delhi-Bangkok B737-900ER service in the second-quarter, which will break the hold on the strategically significant route held by Star Alliance fellows, Air India and Thai Airways International. Read More »
News
Nok Air loses its way as competitors mount
Nok Air, Thailand’s second-largest low-cost carrier (LCC) after Thai AirAsia, has posted a 3.28 billion baht (US$94 million) 2016 fiscal year loss, widened from a record loss of 1.66 billion baht in 2015. Read More »
News
Taiwan’s China Airlines and NORDAM announce MRO JV
Taiwanese flag carrier, China Airlines (CAL), and NORDAM Aerospace Maintenance Group this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a joint venture to provide MRO services for thrust reversers and other composite parts in the Asia-Pacific. Read More »
News
Airbus delivers 49 aircraft in February, reports 10 cancellations
February was not a good month for Airbus. The manufacturer received no orders and was notified of ten cancellations. TransAsia Airways, which shut down last November, cancelled four A330-800neo and six A321neo. Read More »
News
ICAO formally adopts CO2 standard
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has formally adopted a global CO2 emission standard which it said will reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the world's climate.
Contained in a new annex of the Chicago Convention, the aircraft CO2 emissions measure represents the first global design certification standard governing CO2 emissions for an industry sector. Read More »
News
China Southern chairman: ATC and airspace restrictions curtail civil aviation growth in China
China Southern Airlines chairman, Wang Changshun, this week said China’s tight air traffic control (ATC) and airspace restrictions “are holding back civil aviation development and cause flight delays”. Read More »
News
HNA Group buys 82.5% of Germany’s Hahn airport
Germany’s federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate this week said it had agreed to sell its 82.5% equity in the airport to China’s HNA Group, reportedly for €15 million. Read More »
Short Takes
HNA pioneers price-based miles accrual in China
HNA Group’s Fortune Wings Club will become the first frequent flyer program in Mainland China to award points based on ticket price and membership level instead of flight distance and class. Read More »
People
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) this week announced the appointment of Yu Tai Tei as chief risk officer, effective immediately. He previously served as CALC’s chief financial officer for a short period in 2013. Read More »
Short Takes
Manufacturers: Orient Aviation understands that Airbus has been awarded an order for eight A320 aircraft from South Korean start-up carrier K-Air. Boeing this week rolled out the first B737 MAX 9, 13 months after the smaller MAX 8 achieved first flight. Read More »
