Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
It’s been an action-packed week in Asia-Pacific aviation. On Wednesday, Virgin Australia touched down in Hong Kong for the first time, marking the beginning of its alliance with China’s HNA Aviation carriers and spelling trouble ahead for Cathay Pacific Airways.
Also on Wednesday, China Aircraft Supplies Holding Company signed a ‘General Terms Agreement’ with Airbus for 140 aircraft, including 40 A350s, although it is unclear if these are new commitments or are previously announced A350 orders for China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
In Vietnam, start-up Bamboo Airways has emerged as a potential B777X and B737 MAX customer, while across the border in Thailand Chinese carriers are increasingly choking the kingdom’s smaller airports as Mainland visitors to Thailand grow.
In India, Jet Airways is reportedly considering a 24% equity sale to U.S. carrier, Delta Air Lines. Further south, in Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines has become the first A321neo operator in the Asia-Pacific.
Hong Kong Airlines expands to U.S. as alliance with Virgin Australia kicks off Read More »
News
Cathay Dragon authorized for U.S. flights and agrees Shenzhen Airlines codeshare
Cathay Pacific Airways’ 100%-owned subsidiary, Cathay Dragon, has been granted permission to launch passenger flights to the U.S. after the Department of Transportation approved the carrier’s request for an amended foreign air carrier permit. Read More »
News
China approves 140 Airbus orders
During Xi Jinping’s visit to Germany for the G20 meeting this week, the Chinese president, German chancellor Angela Merkel, executive vice president of China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS), Sun Bo, and Airbus CEO, Tom Enders, signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) for the acquisition of 100 A320 Family single aisle jets and 40 A350 long-haul jetliners. Read More »
News
Bamboo Airways tipped as B777X and B737MAX customer
Vietnamese start-up carrier, Hanoi-based Bamboo Airways, has held negotiations with Airbus and Boeing for an order for 15 aircraft, Vietnam Net Bridges has reported, but specified the airline’s talks with the U.S. manufacturer concerned 10 B737 MAX 9s and five B777Xs for delivery from 2018. Read More »
News
Australia’s Cairns Airport confirms new Asia flights
North Queensland’s Cairns Airport has announced the addition of three times weekly China Southern Airlines flights between the airline’s Guangzhou hub and Cairns Airport from December, which will convert a seasonal route into a year-round scheduled service. Read More »
News
SriLankan becomes Asia-Pacific’s first A321neo operator
SriLankan Airlines this week became the first Asia-Pacific airline operator of the A321neo. Read More »
News
Delta Air Lines to buy 24% of India’s Jet Airways?
Delta Air Lines is reported to be one step closer to expanding its footprint in the Asia-Pacific. Read More »
News
Qatar Airways announces new destinations; Meridiana deal uncertain
Qatar Airways group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, appeared unperturbed about the diplomatic standoff between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours when he announced two route launches on Monday. Read More »
News
Malindo to dominate China-Sabah market
The Malaysian subsidiary of Indonesia’s Lion Air Group, Malindo Air, will launch three scheduled year-round routes between China and Kota Kinabalu, the gateway to Malaysia’s Sabah province in Borneo. Read More »
News
Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai brace for Mainland tourist onslaught
The undiminished appetite of Mainland tourists for overseas travel is causing capacity and infrastructure bottlenecks at many of the region’s smaller airports. Read More »
Short Takes
MRO: China Airlines (CAL) and Boeing have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the development of the airline’s capabilities to serve the growing maintenance, repair and overhaul market in Asia. Read More »
