Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
It has been a landmark week for Mainland China aviation with the news that the AirAsia Group has signed a joint venture MoU for a Chinese subsidiary, AirAsia China, based in Zhengzhou.
In Malaysia, Malindo Air, owned by Indonesia’s Lion Air Group, took delivery of the world’s first B737 MAX, Boeing’s response to the A320neo series. It also announced it would change its name.
Further west, the Dubai government pledged US$3 billion to expand Dubai International and Dubai World Central airport and turboprop OEM, ATR, delivered the first four of 20 firm order ATR 72-600s to Iran Air.
Midweek, the Singapore Airlines Group posted a S$360 million (US$259 million) full-year profit despite a S$138 million fourth-quarter loss. The result was a decline of 55.2% over the previous 12 months. Parent carrier, Singapore Airlines, said it would not renew leases on four of its A380s and budget SIA Group subsidiary, Scoot, has taken delivery of its first B787, fitted with crew bunks.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has made transfers to Boracay easier and China Airlines (CAL) has commenced flying its A350s to the U.S.
AirAsia signs joint venture MoU for China LCC Read More »
News
SIA Group posts S$360 million full year profit
Singapore Airlines Group (SIA Group) on Thursday reported a net profit of S$360 million (US$259 million) for the financial year ended March 31, down 55.2% year-on-year. Read More »
News
Scoot takes delivery of 14th B787 with crew bunks
Singapore Airline Group’s long-haul low-cost carrier, Scoot, has taken delivery of its 14th B787 Dreamliner. Read More »
News
Iran Air accepts first four ATRs
After several delays, Iranian flag carrier, Iran Air, took delivery of the first four of 20 on order ATR 72-600s this week. Read More »
News
Malindo receives B737 MAX and will rebrand as Batik Air Malaysia
On Tuesday, Malindo Air became the first carrier to receive Boeing’s latest single aisle jet, the much anticipated B737 MAX. Read More »
News
TCI demands Safran abandon Zodiac takeover
TCI Fund Management again has called for the board of Safran to cancel the planned US$9 billion takeover of Zodiac Aerospace and focus instead on fixing design [supplier] problems with the LEAP-1B engine, the power plant for Boeing’s B737 MAX series. Read More »
News
China Airlines launches U.S. A350 flights
On Sunday, Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) launched its first A350-900 service to the U.S., Taipei-San Francisco. Read More »
News
Boeing breaks ground on China completion and delivery centre
Last week, Boeing moved a step closer to catching up with Airbus in China when it broke ground on its B737 completion and delivery centre in Zhoushan, an island off the coast of Zhejiang province, not far from Ningbo and Shanghai. Read More »
News
Philippine Airlines moves Caticlan flights to Manila’s Terminal 2
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has consolidated its Manila-Caticlan flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA’s) Terminal 2, saving hours of transfer time. Read More »
News
Dubai pledges US$3 billion for airport development
Dubai’s Department of Finance (DOF), the Investment Corp. of Dubai and Dubai Aviation City Corp. have put in place US$3 billion in credit facilities for the future development of Dubai International and Dubai World Central (DWC; Al Maktoum) airports, the current and future home of Emirates Airline. Read More »
People
Fiji Airways names new chief marketing officer
Industry veteran, Marc Cavaliere, has been appointed chief marketing officer for Fiji Airways, the airline’s CEO and managing director, Andre Viljoen, announced on May 12. Read More »
Short Takes
AWARDS: Hong Kong’s HACTL was awarded Air Cargo Handling Agent of the Year at Air Cargo Week World Air Cargo Awards in Munich on May 10 and AirAsia was the Air Cargo Industry Customer Care winner. Read More »
