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


JULY 2020

 

Main Story

Travel bugs of travel bubbles

Opening a bilateral air bridge between two countries with low coronavirus infection rates appears, on the surface, to significantly assist in the rebooting of international air travel. In reality, these proposed “travel bubbles” are proving near impossible to implement. Read More »


 

Main Story

In a bubble of its own

In India’s corridors of power where bureaucratic complexity is an art form, a “file”, typically used to take a final decision on any new policy, can sometimes take a week to journey from one room to the other in the same building on the same floor. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

University study argues random boarding reduces risk of inflight COVID-19 transmission

Preliminary computer simulations conducted by researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida suggest random boarding of aircraft, rather than back-to-front boarding – a procedural response to the COVID-19 pandemic – may reduce exposure rates to the COVID-19 virus by about 50%. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Air cargo new darling of struggling Mainland airlines

Air cargo demand may have fallen by 19% year-on-year across the Asia-Pacific in May, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has reported, but Chinese air freight operators are going against the trend and scrambling for capacity. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Virgin Australia begins fight back under new owner

It came a little earlier than expected, after U.S. investor, Cyrus Capital Partners, withdrew its bid for Virgin Australia (VA), and accused administrator, Deloitte, of a “lack of engagement” in the sales process. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

COVID-19 forces India’s carriers to deepen pay cuts and contract supplier commitments

As the COVID-19 virus tightened its grip across India, the country’s airline industry metaphorically fell off the cliff and into a desert with only a half filled water bottle for sustenance. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Pandemic to provide excuse for AirAsia Group to exit India?

Is conglomerate, Tata Sons, preparing to buy out AirAsia Investments’ share of joint venture LCC, AirAsia India? Read More »


 

Addendum

REX taking it to the big boys on lucrative capital city routes

It was not exactly a major network announcement. But as the Qantas Group was ramping up domestic flights last month it put out a brief statement that announced it had commenced flying to Byron Bay on the New South Wales north coast. Read More »


 

Addendum

New THAI leadership under pressure to produce rescue plan by August court deadline

The revolving door continued in full swing at Thai Airways International (THAI) last month with the news Chansin Treenuchagron is the new acting president of THAI, a position he took up one month less two days after he joined the carrier as an independent board director in an earlier board clear out. Read More »


 

Addendum

IATA pays tribute to general counsel Jeff Shane and names Karen Clayton his successor

“The entire aviation world owes a huge debt of gratitude to Jeff, who joined IATA after a distinguished 25-year career in public service and 15 years in private practice,” said International Air Transport Association director general and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, when he announced Shane’s recent retirement. Read More »


 

Addendum

Airline emissions scheme builds digital tool kit to verify C0₂ reductions

The world’s airline operations may be crippled by COVID-19, but the industry is pressing ahead with implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Read More »


 

Addendum

Hong Kong government announces Cathay Pacific Airways board observers

Cathay Pacific welcomed “the designation of  Carlson Tong and Rimsky Yuen by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as observers on the board of Cathay Pacific. Read More »


 

Addendum

Struggling NokScoot slain by competition - not just COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic claimed an Asia-Pacific victim last month in Thailand-based regional carrier, NokScoot, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines-owned Scoot and Thailand’s Nok Air. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: MRO and Components

SR Technics pioneers live Remote Table Inspections for engines at Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines is a pioneer customer in the Asia-Pacific for SR Technic’s Remote Table Inspections (RTI), now available at its Zurich engine shop. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Training

FlightSafety opens for MRO training business in Queensland

Global professional aviation training company, FlightSafety International, has established an MRO learning centre in Queensland, Australia’s leading aerospace hub. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Training

Oceania carrier, Samoa Airways, signs CPaT for aviation distance learning

Samoa Airways, based in Apia in Oceania, has contracted E-solutions aviation training company, CPaT Global, to provide multi-year distance learning solutions for its aviation training requirements. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Training

Alsim closes first New Zealand simulator deal

Flight simulator manufacturer, Alsim, has sold one of its AL42 simulators to Auckland’s Ardmore Flying School. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

Asia-Europe flights to test new crew health and safety rules

Singapore and the UK are undertaking joint trials to test the crew module of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART) Take-off guidelines. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

Sabre announces leadership team for restructured Travel Solutions business

Global software and technology provider, Sabre Corporation, has announced a new leadership team for its Travel Solutions business which now combines its airline and agency focused businesses. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

COVID-19 intensifies pace of commercial airline digital transformation

Despite current financial challenges airlines and Information technology (IT) suppliers are continuing to invest in distribution, loyalty programs and supply chain management, a new survey has revealed. Read More »


 

Comment

Pilot cheating has to stop at Pakistan’s airlines

In an age when airlines, airline bodies and regulators constantly repeat the mantra that safety is the industry’s number one priority, it is absolutely astounding that a year-long investigation by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has found 40% of the country’s airline cockpit crew held fake pilot licences. Read More »