Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
It’s been a frantic week in Thai aviation. Twelve local carriers, including Orient Thai Airlines and Thai VietJet Air, will only be able to fly domestic routes from now after their air operator certificates were not renewed. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said they did not comply with required standards.
In China, Boeing has forecast demand for 7,240 new aircraft to 2036, while regional aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, has estimated there will be a need for 1,070 smaller jets in the next 20 years.
Also on the Mainland, Sichuan Airlines has taken delivery of its first A320neo aircraft and China Southern Airlines is considering a Bombardier CSeries order.
In Taiwan, China Airlines (CAL) has confirmed it will retire its remaining B747-400s before year-end and that the airline is evaluating a Taipei-Ontario, California route.
Further south, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has confirmed it will take delivery of 27 new aircraft in the next five years, including an unspecified number of A321neoLRs, which will enable the carrier to fly nonstop to Australia and India.
Thai CAAT suspends 12 carriers Read More »
News
China Airlines retiring B747s and evaluating Ontario California route
Taiwan’s China Airlines (CAL) this week confirmed to Orient Aviation it would retire its entire B747-400 passenger fleet before year end. Read More »
News
PAL to take delivery of 27 aircraft by 2021
Manila-based Philippine Airlines (PAL) will increase its fleet from 82 to 96 aircraft by 2021, its president and chief operating officer, Jaime Bautista, told a news conference at the Management Association of the Philippines general meeting. Read More »
News
Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 to open in October
Singapore Changi International Airport's Terminal 4 (T4) will start operations on October 31. The first arriving and departing flights at T4 will be operated by Cathay Pacific Airways as CX659 from and CX650 to Hong Kong, respectively. Read More »
News
Embraer remains bullish on China market
China will need 1,070 regional jets with 70 to 130 seats over the next 20 years, making it the third-largest regional aviation market after the U.S. and Europe, Brazilian manufacturer, Embraer, predicted at the fourth China Regional Aviation Forum in Yinchuan. Read More »
News
Sichuan Airlines receives first A320neo
Sichuan Airlines this week took delivery of its first A320neo. The airline now operates 116 A320 Family aircraft and ten A330 wide-bodies. Read More »
News
Boeing objects to UTC US$30 billion Rockwell Collins merger
Boeing said on Thursday it would request that regulators scrutinise the US$30 billion merger of United Technologies and aviation equipment supplier, Rockwell Collins. Read More »
News
Airbus to upgrade Qantas A380 cabins
The Qantas Group has signed a contract with Airbus to upgrade its 12 A380s in a project scheduled for completion in 2020. Read More »
People
Boeing names new communications chief
U.S. manufacturer Boeing this week named Phil Musser as the OEM’s next senior vice-president of communications, succeeding Tom Downey, who will step down from the role “late this month” and retire from the company early next year, following 31 years of service. Read More »
Short Takes
Airlines: Shareholders at Air France-KLM have approved plans for fellow SkyTeam members China Eastern Airlines and Delta Air Lines to each acquire 10% of the Franco-Dutch group. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken delivery of its first of 30 on-order A320neo Family aircraft. Read More »
