Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
The week kicked off with the year’s most important aviation leader gathering, the International Air Transport Association’s 74th Annual General Meeting, held in Sydney.
As the industry’s cheque writers met in Australia, China’s HNA Group announced an order for 300 ‘Made in China’ COMAC jets. Also on the Mainland, flag carrier Air China is getting ready to take delivery of its first A350-900 after insisting it should get the aircraft before Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines.
On the airlines front, Cathay Pacific Airways has rostered additional A350-1000 flights, Singapore Airlines said it might face payload restrictions on its A350ULR flights from the U.S. and Taiwanese start-up, StarLux Airlines, has its sights set on an A350-1000 order.
There were several alliance updates this week. Oneworld has announced its ‘oneworld connect’ model, Star Alliance has said it is making good progress on its digital transformation and SkyTeam has named a new CEO.
IATA AGM: Lower profits expected as costs rise Read More »
News
Air China readies for A350 and signs deal with Sabre
The first A350-900 for Air China has performed its maiden flight. Read More »
News
SIA CEO: A350ULR U.S. flights may face payload restrictions
Speaking on the sidelines of the IATA AGM in Sydney this week, Singapore Airlines (SIA) CEO, Goh Choon Phong, said the airline’s announced A350ULR flights from Singapore to the U.S. could face payload restrictions, particularly in the cargo hold. Read More »
News
Oneworld launches ‘connect’ model
The oneworld alliance has introduced a new membership tier, oneworld connect, which is designed to fill network gaps with carriers that do not have the scale, capabilities or desire to become full-fledged members. Read More »
News
HNA Group intends to order 300 COMAC jets
Mainland aircraft manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), this week received a massive order for 300 aircraft from the debt-ridden HNA Group conglomerate. Read More »
News
Boeing and Safran announce APU joint venture plan
Boeing is once again rocking its supply chain in its relentless quest for better cost control. Read More »
News
Airbus sells 15 A350s in May; StarLux to order A350-1000?
Toulouse-headquartered aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, sold 15 A350-900s to an undisclosed customer in May, ending a half-year widebody order drought and lifting the total order tally for the -900 to 679 aircraft. Read More »
News
Cathay Pacific rosters A350-1000 on Amsterdam and Zurich routes
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways has rostered the A350-1000 on its Amsterdam and Zurich routes, replacing B777-300ER aircraft. Read More »
People
The SkyTeam alliance this week named Delta Air Lines executive, Kristin Colvile, as its new CEO. Read More »
Short Takes
Routes: AirAsia India will launch a daily Bengaluru-Surat A320 route on June 1. Read More »
