Across most of the Asia-Pacific the growth of low-cost carriers (LCCs) has been a heady success story. In some domestic markets, such as Thailand and the Philippines, budget operators are carrying more than half the passenger traffic. Read More »

Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines (CEA) and Qantas Airways have been trying for more than a year to establish a low-cost carrier (LCC) in Hong Kong. But there have been serious questionmarks raised, not least by incumbent Cathay Pacific Airways, about whether civil aviation authorities should grant an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to an airline essentially owned and managed by interests outside the city.Read More »

When it comes to competition, Hong Kong Express’ new deputy chief executive, Andrew Cowen, has no fears. Read More »

The opening of Japan’s skies to local low-cost carriers early last year was hailed as a major development in the country’s aviation market. Read More »

It was Singapore Airlines (SIA) chief executive, Goh Choon Phong, who spelled it out for the heads of the world’s airlines at their annual talkfest in South Africa last month. His message: forget about a level playing field, accept the situation and get on with it. Read More »

With the threat of an aviation trade war lingering in the air and an ICAO special task force showing no signs of finding a solution to the issue of airline emissions, International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general and CEO, Tony Tyler, was pulling no punches when he delivered his state of the industry report at the association’s 69th annual general meeting in Cape Town last month. Read More »

Singapore Airlines (SIA) led Asian buyers at the Paris Air Show in June, but orders from Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern airlines, in general, were thin on the ground. Read More »

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When Canadian flight training group, CAE, announced its full year results recently it confirmed an ongoing trend in the simulation market: the Asia-Pacific and its thriving airline industry has already become a key sales target for anyone in the business of selling flight simulators and other training aids. Read More »

With hundreds of jets arriving in the next decade and beyond, Gulf airlines are ensuring a steady flow of new pilots are available for their rapidly growing aircraft fleets. The latest development: a new pilot training facility in Dubai that makes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) one of the world’s leading crew training centres. Read More »

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have captured 24% of traffic in the Asia-Pacific, up from 1.1% in 2001. What’s more, the spending shows no sign of slowing as carriers continue to raise cash for major fleet expansion.Read More »

After an extended investigation, the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued a report which said that lax manufacturing procedures and inadequate oversight at Rolls-Royce aerospace had contributed to one of the company’s engines exploding mid-flight on a Qantas Airways A380 in November, 2010. Read More »

Korean Air (KAL) has joined the region’s Cathay Pacific Airways and Air New Zealand in banning the transport of shark fins on its aircraft. KAL said it previously carried shark fin species from vendors who provided a valid CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) permit. Read More »

Close on the heels of its recent tie-up with Gulf operator, Etihad Airways, India’s Jet Airways has appointed Australian industry veteran, Gary Toomey, as its new chief executive. Read More »

There are reports that Vietnam’s first privately-owned airline, low-cast carrier (LCC) VietJet Air, wants to set up a subsidiary in Thailand as it seeks to expand its reach with the imminent arrival of Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) open skies in 2015. Read More »

Once again the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East completely dominated the June Skytrax awards, winning nine out of the top 10 places in the annual global survey. Read More »

AIRLINES: Hainan Airlines now operates its domestic West China-based subsidiary, West Air, as a low-cost carrier.  Read More »

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced it has established an investment management company in Singapore to access investment in the region. The new company, Strategic Partner Investment Pte Ltd, will be run by trusted ANA hand, Kazuyuki Iwakata, who will manage ANA strategic investments across the region. Read More »

Air New Zealand (AirNZ) continues to punch above its weight with the news it could almost triple its profits for the year to June 30. The airline said it is in line to report a profit of between NZ$235 million (US$183.37 million) and NZ$260 million (US$209 million) for the year. Read More »

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) reported another quarter of negative results with a loss of 279 million ringgit (US$91.9 million) for the three months to March 31. The figures compared with a loss of 172 million ringgit in the same three months a year ago.

Underpinned by robust business and leisure travel markets, Asia-Pacific airlines carried a combined total of 18.9 million international passengers in March, a strong 8.8% increase compared to the same month last year. Read More »

Asia-Pacific airlines carried 17.9 million international passengers in April, 3.7% more than in the same month last year. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), international passenger traffic grew 2.9%, whilst available seat capacity expanded 4.8%. This led to a 1.4 percentage point contraction in the average international passenger load factor (PLF) to 76.6% for the month. Read More »