A trusted source of Asia-Pacific commercial aviation news and analysis


DECEMBER 2018

Orient Aviation December 2018-January 2019

ORIENT AVIATION PERSON OF THE YEAR 2018
GOH CHOON PHONG
CEO, Singapore Airlines

DOING BUSINESS BEYOND TRADITIONAL AIRLINE BOUNDARIES
Goh Choon Phong debates incremental change versus ground zero overhaul at the airline group

• China Southern Airlines abandons SkyTeam for American partner

• Qantas “cloud cost map” to cut millions from group’s fuel bill

• Air New Zealand and ATR form venture to develop regional aviation

 

Cover Story

Doing business beyond traditional airline boundaries

The transformation program Singapore Airlines is undergoing, explained the carrier’s boss, Goh Choon Phong, last month is forensically focused on building the best foundations for the airline group – and it could result in a complete change in the company’s structure, he said. Read More »


 

Photo Gallery

Orient Aviation Person of the Year 2018 Gala Dinner and Award Presentation Photo Gallery Read More »


 

Person of the Year Awards Dinner

Remarks by guest of honor and 2018 Orient Aviation Person of the Year Goh Choon Phong CEO of Singapore Airlines at the award dinner on January 25 in Hong Kong

Goh Choon Phong’s speech highlighted the group’s progress at the midpoint of its transformation: Read More »


 

Year in Review

Changes and challenges In 2018

At the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines 62nd Assembly of Presidents in Jeju, South Korea, in October airline delegates passed resolutions to redress restrictive regulatory regimes that govern safety and cross border manpower demands, the retrogressive trend to a patchwork of emissions taxes and a commitment to fighting wildlife trafficking at airlines. Read More »


 

Year in Review

Recognition and ruptures at the top

Early in the year, Japan Airlines (JAL) announced a major leadership transition, with chief executive Yoshiharu Ueki (65), the former pilot credited with leading the carrier’s recovery post its humiliating bankruptcy, moved up to chairman of the board. Read More »


 

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Year in Review

Asia-Pacific low-cost carriers maintain head of steam

If anyone thought the rush to launch Asia-Pacific airlines was losing impetus they should think again. Read More »


 

IATA 2019 Global Forecast

IATA forecasts lower fuel costs for coming year

The world’s airlines are cautiously optimistic about their profit prospects for 2019 and they don’t believe the global economy will be threatened by a recession despite Sino/U.S. political tensions and consequent volatility in financial markets, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at its year-end global media briefing this month. Read More »


 

IATA 2019 Global Forecast

Turbulence detection transformed by data tracking

It is a perennial problem for airline operations and the leading cause of injuries to cabin crew and passengers in non-fatal accidents. Read More »


 

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IATA Global Media Day Coverage

BREXIT spells trouble for Asia-Pacific carriers

From an Asia-Pacific perspective, the current chaos in Europe over BREXIT – the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU) – may appear to be a distant problem with little relevance. Read More »


 

IATA Global Media Day Coverage

Disobeying safety procedures biggest cause of bad onboard behavior

If anyone thought incidents of unruly behavior by airline passengers were fading away, they would be wrong. Read More »


 

IATA Global Media Day Coverage

Passengers confused about check in rules for electronic devices IATA survey reveals

What do you do with spare batteries, power banks or even electronic cigarettes when you are packing for a flight? Read More »


 

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News Backgrounder

Boeing opens first Mainland China completion and delivery centre

In mid-December, Boeing moved a step closer to catching up with Airbus in China when it opened its B737 completion and delivery centre in Zhoushan, an island off the coast of Zhejiang province and close to Ningbo and Shanghai. Read More »


 

Alliances

Alliances adjusting to new operating reality

When China Southern Airlines (CSA), the country’s largest carrier, announced last month it would be pulling out of the SkyTeam alliance on January 1, it was confirmation of rumours that had been circulating in the industry since 2017. Read More »


 

Addendum

IATA’s founding China boss retires

Baojian Zhang, a linchpin figure in the development of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) airline member expansion on the Mainland retired this month after 24 years as its regional vice president North Asia. Read More »


 

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Addendum

Qantas “cloud” cost map to cut millions from annual fuel bill

Qantas expected to reduce its fuel bill by up to $40 million a year as a result of its new “cost map”; a revamp of its route planning system that took five years and a multi-million dollar investment to develop. Read More »


 

Addendum

Malaysia Airlines fine tunes executive team

Malaysia Airlines Berhad, has announced the carrier’s head of strategy and network, Phillip See, will take up the position of CEO of LCC, Firefly, on January 1, reporting directly to MAB group CEO, Izham Ismail. Read More »


 

Addendum

Virgin Australia edges closer to naming Borghetti successor

Three candidates have emerged as contenders for the position of CEO of Virgin Australia Airlines, a position CEO, John Borghetti, has decided he will not extend after his contract expires on January 1, 2020. Read More »


 

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Industry Addendum

Aireon creates customer affairs leadership role

U.S. headquartered global aircraft surveillance and tracking company, Aireon LCC, has appointed Peter Cabooter to the new position of vice president customer affairs. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

ATR and Air New Zealand explore future of regional aviation

European turboprop manufacturer, ATR and leading global carrier, Air New Zealand, will jointly explore the role of new propulsion technologies for regional aircraft. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

China’s airports spend big on cybersecurity technology

More than 90% of China’s airports and airlines will implement large scale cyber security programs in the next three years, reported SITA vice president and general manager East Asia, May Zhou, in a recent briefing paper. Read More »


 

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Industry Addendum

Hong Kong takes honours with VR MRO training platform

Hong Kong-based joint venture, China Aircraft Services Ltd (CASL) has developed a virtual reality (VR) training platform for walk-around aircraft inspection. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

Boeing and U.K’s ELG achieve breakthrough in carbon fibre recycling

Boeing, which is the largest user of aerospace grade composites for its commercial and defence programs, will partner with Britain’s ELG carbon fibre to recycle aerospace grade composite for the manufacture of electronic accessories and automatic products. Read More »


 

Comment

Propping up flag carriers recipe for failure

It has been a challenging 12 months for Asia-Pacific airlines but as another year draws to a close there has been some recent good news. Read More »