Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
It has been a quiet week in Asia-Pacific commercial aviation with much attention focused on the tragic Southwest Airlines B737 accident in the U.S.The left engine of the jet exploded en route from New York’s La Guardia airport to Dallas Love Field, sending shrapnel through a window, which broke open and caused the cabin to depressurize. The passenger who was half sucked out of the window did not survive despite being pulled back into the aircraft by fellow passengers. Seven other passengers were injured. The aircraft made a successful emergency landing on one engine in Philadelphia.
Separately, Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 operators continue to face operational challenges. The engine manufacturer has recommended increased blade inspection frequencies on the engine type after airlines found cracks on their Trent 1000 Package C engines. Airlines are keeping affected aircraft on the ground and in some cases are leasing in replacement capacity while the engines are repaired.
Juneyao Airlines reported a US$200 million net profit for 2017 and is now awaiting the imminent arrival of its maiden three B787s. Philippine Airlines will add 15 aircraft to its fleet this year, including its first four A350-900s. Bhutan’s Druk Air has committed to an A320neo and an ATR42-600 and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings is reportedly interested in acquiring shareholdings in Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express.
Temasek to invest in HNA Group airlines in Hong Kong? Read More »
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PAL provides fleet and network update
Philippine Airlines (PAL), will take delivery of 15 new aircraft this year: six A321neo and five Bombardier Q400s from May, as well as four A350-900s from June. Read More »
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Fernandes: “A350 too expensive for AirAsia”
AirAsia Group CEO and co-founder, Tony Fernandes, said this week that the “A350 is not an aircraft we will buy. Read More »
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Asia-Pacific Trent 1000 customers effected by new durability issues
Rolls-Royce is urging B787 Trent 1000 Package C operators to carry out additional engine inspections. Read More »
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Kuala Lumpur to close one runway for a month
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will close one of its three runways for maintenance and upgrade works from May 11 to June 7. Read More »
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Druk Air orders an A320neo and an ATR42-600
Bhutan’s flag carrier, Druk Air, has ordered an A320neo and an ATR42-600, with deliveries scheduled for 2019. Read More »
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Far Eastern Transport to add 11 B737 MAX 8s to fleet
Taiwanese regional carrier, Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT), will take delivery of eleven B737 MAX 8s from 2019 to 2023, with the aircraft sourced from various lessors. Read More »
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Juneyao reports US$200 million net profit for 2017
China’s Juneyao Airlines has posted a 2017 net profit of CNY1.3 billion (US$200 million), up 6.1% year-on-year. Read More »
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Emirates to firm 16 A380 options
Dubai’s Emirates Airline will convert options for 16 A380s into firm orders “sooner rather than later”, airline president, Tim Clark, has said. Read More »
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Virgin Australia announces new trans-Tasman routes
Virgin Australia will launch two new trans-Tasman routes in October and increase frequencies on a number of existing routes following the termination of its alliance with Air New Zealand (Air NZ). Read More »
Short Takes
Routes: Air Mauritius will add a weekly Mauritius-Wuhan A340-300 route on July 6. Air Seoul will launch a daily Incheon-Danang A321 route on May 18, followed by twice-weekly Incheon-Sapporo A321 flights operating from July 20 through to August 17. Read More »
