Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
At the air show in Hyderabad, Airbus predicted demand for 1,750 new aircraft from Indian operators over the next two decades. IndiGo Airlines and Vistara confirmed that notion, saying they would order widebody aircraft this year. As the show was drawing to an end, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered the immediate grounding of eleven Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered aircraft in service with IndiGo and GoAir.
In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways has posted the first back-to-back loss in its 71-year history. In neighbouring Guangzhou, China Southern Airlines is performing strongly; the airline this week outlined the initial routes for its incoming B787-9 Dreamliner. Not far from Hong Kong and Guangzhou, in Hainan, HNA Group is under immense pressure to service US$20 billion in maturing debt. This week, the group announced a restructuring of Hainan Airlines, which will shift some of the parent’s burden to the largest and most reputable airline in its stable.
Airbus predicts India will need 1,750 new aircraft by 2036; IndiGo to order A330neo Read More »
News
India’s DGCA grounds P&W-powered A320neo
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered the immediate grounding of eleven Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neo aircraft amid a recent flurry of durability issues that resulted in aborted take-offs and in-flight shutdowns. Read More »
News
Cathay posts first back-to-back loss in 71-year history
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Group has reported a net loss of HK$1,26 billion (US$161 million) for 2017, a 119% slump from a loss of HK$575 million posted the previous year. Read More »
News
ANA and Juneyao start codeshare and frequent flyer benefit
Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Shanghai’s Juneyao Airlines will launch a codeshare and frequent flyer benefit from March 25. Read More »
News
Report: HNA Group to shed 100,000 staff
China’s distressed HNA Group is planning to cut as many as 100,000 jobs, or approximately a quarter of its workforce, as the conglomerate’s liquidity crisis continues to worsen, according to a report by Risk, Event Driven and Distressed Intelligence (REDD). Read More »
News
Vietstar plans 2018 launch with five B737-800s
Vietnam’s skies are filling up quickly. Following launch announcements from AirAsia Group and Bamboo Airways, Vietstar Airlines, another local start-up, is hoping to receive an air operator’s certificate (AOC) this year. Read More »
News
KC International Airlines launches operations
Another month, another airline for Cambodia, or so it might seem. On March 31, KC International Airlines will launch revenue service on four routes from Phnom Penh. Read More »
News
China Southern outlines initial B787-9 and MAX 8 operations
China Southern Airlines, Asia’s largest carrier, will take delivery of the first of 20 on-order B787-9s in April. The airline already owns ten B787-8s. Read More »
News
Asiana ditches A350-800 order for larger -900s
South Korea’s second largest carrier, Asiana Airlines, has converted an order for eight A350-800s to eight larger A350-900s. Read More »
News
AirAsia India seeks proposals for lease of 40 A320ceo
In a Bloomberg interview at the air show in Hyderabad, AirAsia India CEO, Amar Abrol, disclosed that the Chennai-based AirAsia Group subsidiary was currently seeking proposals from lessors regarding the lease of 40 A320ceo. Read More »
People
Amadeus promotes Tetaz to APAC airlines business chief
Madrid-headquartered IT solutions provider, Amadeus, this week announced the promotion of Cyril Tetaz to Executive Vice President, Airlines, Amadeus APAC, responsible for leading Amadeus’ airlines business in the region from April. Read More »
Short Takes
Leasing: BOC Aviation has reported a net profit of US$587 million for 2017, up 40%, on the back of a record 74 deliveries. China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) this week signed a RMB10 billion (US$1.6 billion) ‘Strategic Cooperation Agreement’ with China Development Bank. Read More »
