Alfred Chua
Alfred Chua is the Asia Air Transport Editor for FlightGlobal, where he covers airlines and air transport topics in Asia-Pacific. Chua joined FlightGlobal in 2019 and is based in Singapore, where he previously worked as a news reporter at a local news agency. He has produced several Asia-Pacific CEO interviews for the Airline Business magazine, including with the CEOs of Malaysia Airlines, China Airlines and ANA.
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NewsPAL Express taps HAECO for Airbus narrowbody base maintenance
PAL Express – the sister company of national carrier Philippine Airlines – has signed a base maintenance agreement with HAECO, becoming the MRO provider’s newest customer.
NewsSeoul beefs up oversight of low-cost carriers after fatal Jeju Air crash
South Korean authorities will increase their scrutiny of the country’s low-cost airline sector, including tightening the criteria for MRO workers and enforcing stricter rules on network expansion.
NewsCanberra acquires Rex’s debt; reiterates ‘ongoing commitment’ to regional operations
The Australian government has become the principal secured creditor of embattled operator Regional Express (Rex), after acquiring the carrier’s debt.
Airline BusinessInternational demand holds strong as Japanese majors eye ‘strategic expansion’
Japan’s two largest carriers will continue growing their international networks in the upcoming financial year, as capacity surpasses pre-pandemic levels amid strong travel demand.
NewsHong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines blames ‘negligence’, delivery delays for schedule cuts
Greater Bay Airlines – the city’s newest and smallest operator – will cancel 128 flights in February and March.
NewsANA to secure ‘stable supply’ of spare aircraft amid supply chain crunch
All Nippon Airways’ parent ANA Holdings is working to secure a “stable supply” of spare operating aircraft to counter supply chain challenges.
NewsAir New Zealand appoints new commercial and safety chiefs
Air New Zealand is to boost its senior leadership team with the appointment of a chief safety and risk officer, as well as a chief commercial officer.
NewsComac targets delivery of 30 C919s in 2025: report
Comac is reportedly targeting 30 deliveries of its C919 aircraft this year, as it expands the production capacity of the narrowbody programme.
NewsQantas returns as AAPA member
Qantas has rejoined the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), after exiting the group nearly 15 years ago.
Airline BusinessChina’s ‘Big Three’ see improvement in 2024 traffic, as financial results loom
Domestic traffic growth continued to drive recovery at China’s three largest carriers in 2024, even as international traffic moves closer to a full recovery.
NewsAir New Zealand receives first PW127XT-powered ATR 72
Air New Zealand’s first ATR 72-600 with Pratt & Whitney’s new PW127XT engine has entered commercial operations.
NewsChina Eastern partners China Southern for ‘voluntary’ cross-airline domestic transfer
China Eastern Airlines has partnered with compatriot China Southern Airlines for what it calls a cross-airline passenger transfer service on flights between Beijing’s Daxing airport and Guangzhou.
Airline BusinessSouth Korea’s T’way Air builds new MRO facility amid domestic upheaval
T’way Air’s new MRO facility – to be operational by 2028 – comes as the South Korean airline sector’s safety and growth are thrust back into the spotlight.
NewsStarlux doubles A350 freighter order
Starlux Airlines has firmed up options for five additional Airbus A350 freighters, doubling an initial order placed in 2024.
NewsAkasa Air appoints marketing head to newly created operations role
Akasa Air has appointed its marketing chief Belson Coutinho to a newly-created chief operating officer role, amid slower growth in 2024, and increased regulatory scrutiny in recent months.
NewsAAPA sees ‘positive’ 2024 amid supply chain challenges and economic concerns
Asia-Pacific carriers expect 2024 ended on a “positive note”, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), with international travel demand already past pre-pandemic levels.
NewsC919 begins first commercial service outside Mainland China as Comac focuses on ramp-up
Comac’s C919 has commenced operations on its first commercial route outside of Mainland China, flying from Shanghai to Hong Kong.
NewsCathay expects ‘strong’ second-half results on cargo, fuel costs
Cathay Pacific expects a “strong” showing for the second-half financial results, as it approaches full capacity recovery January next year.
News‘Safety margin’ reduced in Singapore 787 runway incursion: investigators
Investigators have found that the “safety margin” was reduced in a runway incursion incident between two Boeing 787-9s at Singapore’s Changi airport.
NewsChina’s passenger traffic surpasses pre-pandemic levels in ‘new high’
Chinese carriers flew close to 11% more passengers compared to pre-pandemic 2019, with international traffic moving closer to full recovery.