All articles by Alfred Chua – Page 116
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NewsFirefly reverts to jet operations amid broad restructuring
Malaysian regional carrier Firefly – most recently the subject of speculation that it might become the country’s flag carrier – will commence jet operations from next year, reverting to an earlier plan which was eventually shelved. Announcing the move, parent company Malaysia Airlines says the carrier will add up ...
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InterviewMRO Japan taps domestic market for growth amid pandemic
Travel restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic may have crimped international travel, but for one Japanese MRO company, it has presented an opportunity to look inward. MRO Japan, an All Nippon Airways joint venture based on Okinawa island, had intended to begin line maintenance services to carriers from Asian ...
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NewsAirshow China confirms indefinite postponement, citing pandemic
The organisers of the biennial Airshow China event in Zhuhai have officially confirmed the show’s cancellation, a month after an initial announcement was hastily retracted. A notice on the show’s website gave no indication as to when the next show will take place, except to say that the new dates ...
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NewsChina Eastern parent gets CNY31 billion cash injection
China Eastern Airlines’ parent company, China Eastern Group, has received a CNY31 billion ($4.6 billion) capital boost from four state-owned enterprises. The four companies involved in the capital increase are China Life Investment Holdings, which will inject CNY11 billion; Shanghai Jiushi Group with CNY10 billion; as well as China Guoxin ...
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InterviewST Engineering’s new aerospace chief sees opportunity amid pandemic crisis
ST Engineering’s aerospace unit saw a leadership change on 1 October, when Jeffrey Lam took the helm. While the industry may be mired in crisis, Lam believes there are still plenty of opportunities for innovative companies.
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NewsGolden Week adds shine to China’s domestic airline recovery
Chinese airlines carried more than 13 million passengers across the recent Golden Week holidays in October, with the number of flights mounted during the period close to pre-pandemic numbers. Chinese carriers mounted more than 117,000 flights between 1 to 8 October. Of these, a large majority — nearly 110,000 ...
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NewsCebu Pacific to raise $500 million in fresh capital
Cebu Pacific announced plans to raise up to $500 million in additional capital — by selling preferred shares and bonds — as it undertakes a restructuring exercise that sees it cut its fleet and network to cope with reduced travel demand. The Philippine low-cost carrier discloses that it will raise ...
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NewsSingapore reiterates support for SIA, Changi Airport through pandemic
The Singapore government has pledged to support troubled national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Changi Airport Group (CAG) “as much as we can” through a “deep crisis”, as it mulls a safe and steady reopening of its borders. Speaking at a parliamentary sitting on 6 October, transport minister Ong ...
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NewsChangi Airport warns of worsening financial impact from pandemic
Singapore’s Changi Airport Group (CAG) expects the coronavirus outbreak — which has torpedoed most of the aviation industry — to “materially and adversely” impact its operating results for the coming financial year. Releasing its full-year results for the year ended 31 March, CAG says the pandemic’s impact “has been without ...
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NewsPandemic forces ‘urgent’ restructuring at Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines will embark on an “urgent restructuring exercise”, which includes a “drastic” relook at its network and fleet plans, as the coronavirus outbreak upended its business recovery momentum. The process, which will involve revising its long-term business plan rolled out in 2019, will span the next few months, ...
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NewsAAPA moves annual meeting online
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) will be conducting its annual meeting of presidents virtually, the latest in major aviation meetings to move online following the coronavirus outbreak, which precludes large scale gatherings. The annual meeting, which will airline heads from major Asia-Pacific carriers gather, was to have ...
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News‘Incorrect mental model’ led to Qantas 737 runway incursion
The captain of a Qantas Boeing 737-800 had developed an “incorrect mental model” of exit taxiways at Perth airport, believing that the aircraft would not need to cross an active runway after exiting the taxiway. Even when he saw an illuminated stop bar, he believed it was installed incorrectly. This ...
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NewsChina Eastern tweaks bellyhold cargo deal with China Cargo
China Eastern Airlines has adjusted its bellyhold freight business deal with sister carrier China Cargo Airlines, in light of changing market conditions following the coronavirus outbreak. The SkyTeam carrier states that the adjustments come amid falling demand for passenger transport, as well as its recent foray into the “unconventional ...
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NewsGuangzhou Baiyun to add terminal, two runways in latest expansion
Guangzhou Baiyun international airport has embarked on a fresh round of expansion, as part of plans to become an aviation powerhouse in China’s Greater Bay Area. The expansion project, which costs CNY54.4 billion ($7.98 billion), will see the airport add a fourth and fifth runway, a third passenger terminal covering ...
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NewsHAECO completes first 787 landing gear overhaul
HAECO has completed its first Boeing 787 landing gear overhaul, about six months after it added the widebody type to its overhaul capabilities. HAECO Landing Gear Services says the landing gear, which came from an undisclosed operator, was released under the authority of US, European and Japanese civil aviation agencies. ...
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NewsIATA to hold annual general meeting virtually
IATA will move its annual general meeting — traditionally the biggest event in the airline calendar — online, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to preclude large scale physical meetings. The airline trade body had initially rescheduled the meeting, to be held in Amsterdam and hosted by KLM, from June ...
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NewsLHT Shenzhen and CASC in A320 component MRO partnership
Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen and China Aviation Supplies Corporation (CASC) have signed an agreement for the maintenance of Airbus A320 components. Source: Lufthansa Technik Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen and China Aviation Supplies Corporation (CASC) have signed an agreement for the maintenance of Airbus A320 components. The agreement will ...
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Airline BusinessAirAsia’s Fernandes doubles down on digital as domestic market improves
AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes reiterated comments made earlier that its domestic and short-haul flights will recover faster, with the low-cost model better poised than its full-service counterparts.
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NewsAmeco becomes China’s first PW1100G MRO shop
Pratt & Whitney has opened its first PW1100G geared turbofan MRO centre in China, by adding Beijing-based Ameco to its global network of MRO providers. Ameco will also be Asia’s fourth PW1100G MRO centre, after Eagle Services Asia in Singapore, as well as IHI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ...
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NewsJAL, Matternet in drone delivery business partnership
Japan Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding with California-based drone maker Matternet to explore medical delivery services by drone, as well as to further develop a drone delivery business in Japan. The partnership will see Matternet’s M2 drone system utilised in trials in Tokyo, before assessing opportunities for a ...