The recent statistical horrors for Asia-Pacific airlines, both financial and operational, have been well documented. Read More »

It may be cold comfort for the region’s airlines, and for that matter the rest of the world’s carriers, but the industry will improve in 2021. Read More »

JANUARY

Much of the world celebrated the arrival of 2020 in anticipation of a positive year, particularly given the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in the previous December airlines worldwide were tipped to post a collective net profit of US$29.3 billion this year, up from a likely US$25.9 billion in 2019. Read More »

FEBRUARY

The biennial Singapore Airshow went ahead with “enhanced precautionary measures” in response to COVID-19. Read More »

MARCH

The brutal reality of COVID-19 was realised this month, when IATA released two updated forecasts on the global airline industry’s expected losses. Read More »

APRIL

Virgin Australia (VA) was one of the first casualties of the pandemic after it entered administration. Read More »

MAY

The financial red ink continued to flow this month, led by the Asia-Pacific’s two most prominent carriers, Cathay Pacific Group and SIA group’s three airlines. Read More »

JUNE

Cathay Pacific Group chairman, Patrick Healy, described the airline group’s capital raising as the “only plan available” to avoid a collapse of the airline company. Read More »

JULY

As airlines racked up year-on-year declines in passenger numbers, with capacity and demand down in the 90% and above range, attention turned to month-on-month comparisons for signs of improvement. Read More »

AUGUST

There was a fatal accident in the Asia-Pacific this month, when an Air India Express 737-800 crashed while attempting to land at Calicut International Airport at Kozhikode. Read More »

SEPTEMBER

Creditors approved Bain Capital’s proposed takeover of VA, with the company to exit voluntary administration but without its 777-300ERs and A330-200s. Read More »

OCTOBER

It was the end of the road for AirAsia Japan and Cathay Dragon when both carriers became victims of COVID-19. Read More »

NOVEMBER

In normal times, a proposed union between the number one and number two airlines in a country would be given short shrift by governments and regulators. Read More »

DECEMBER

News the proposed Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble (ATB) had been deferred for a second time highlighted the fragile nature of international air travel while the world waited for a COVID-19 vaccine. Read More »

As Korean Air (KAL) parent, Hanjin Kal, seeks to overcome opposition to its proposed takeover of Korea’s second international carrier, Asiana Airlines, chief analyst at aviation data group OAG, John Grant, has raised the possibility of more airline mergers post the passing of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More »

Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group may have reported its biggest ever quarterly loss last month, a net deficit of $1.7 billion, but CEO, Goh Choon Phong, did not show any signs of being disheartened when he announced the results. Read More »

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have given the 737 MAX the green light to re-enter commercial service, but the type has to overcome several more hurdles in Asia and the Middle East before it can return to the fleets of its operators. Read More »

Policy shifts in industrial relations, aviation regulation and Australia’s response to climate change are necessary to take aviation forward, Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce said last month. Read More »

Six leading Japanese companies will jointly review recycling methods for reuse of CO₂ from sources, including exhaust gases, to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Read More »

Willie Walsh, 59, gave the industry a clear indication of his state of mind when it came to governments and their treatment of aviation in a speech at the International Air Transport Association’s virtual AGM, held in Amsterdam last month. Read More »

The Singapore Airlines Group continues apace with seizing opportunities to improve profits with a Cooperation Framework Agreement signed with India-based Vistara. Read More »

Ambitious LCC, Fly Gangwon, which made its inaugural flight in 2019 and is focused on developing the tourism market of coastal Gangwon, has chosen Sabre Corporation as its global GDS partner. Read More »

Avolon has agreed to acquire 20 shipsets of Recaro’s SPRINT seat for 15 A320s and five 737NGs with deliveries scheduled to June 30 next year. Read More »

Singapore Component Solutions (SCS) and Hutchinson have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the component repair business in the Asia-Pacific. Read More »

Come January 1, airlines worldwide will be breathing sighs of relief, glad to say goodbye to a year of operating miserably. Read More »