All articles by Alfred Chua – Page 118
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NewsTokyo evaluates AW609 to connect remote islands
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will evaluate the capabilities of the Leonardo Helicopters AW609 civil tiltrotor, as it mulls future air connections with the outlying island of Ogasawara. Located about 1,000km (540nm) away from Tokyo, Ogasawara island lacks direct air links with major Japanese cities. Source: Leonardo ...
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News‘Flying-V’ model embarks on first test flight — with Airbus support
A scaled model of the ‘Flying-V’ blended wing aircraft concept — first unveiled by Dutch researchers last year — has completed its first test flight in Germany. Airbus also emerged as the latest partner in the project, after Dutch flag carrier KLM threw its weight behind the project last year. ...
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NewsJAL in consortium to study drone deliveries in Tokyo
Japan Airlines has joined a consortium of four other Japanese companies in a feasibility study on drone deliveries in Metropolitan Tokyo. The two-year project will see the group study the feasibility of drone deliveries in the medical, food, as well as security sectors. Source: Japan Airlines Japan Airlines ...
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NewsGE changes LPT protective coating after 2018 Qantas A330 aerofoil failure
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has identified oxidation — and subsequent deterioration — of the protective coating around parts of a GE Aviation CF6 engine’s low‑pressure turbine as the cause of aerofoil failure, leading to an inflight engine shutdown. Releasing its final report into the June 2018 incident, ...
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NewsChina’s ‘Big Three’ carriers suffer first-half losses
At least one of China’s three largest state-owned carriers has explicitly warned that the coronavirus outbreak will continue to severely impact its profitability in the short term. In the release of its half-yearly results, China Southern Airlines says the “severe impact” of the pandemic has led it to predict ...
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Airline BusinessOnce the industry’s darlings, Asian LCCs struggle in pandemic’s wake
Asia-Pacific’s low-cost carriers were once the region’s success stories and seen as the next phase of growth. Amid the coronavirus outbreak though, many are now struggling. How will they overcome the crisis?
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NewsBoeing orders eight 787s to be withdrawn from service over structural issue
Boeing has ordered the removal from service of eight recently built 787s which have been identified as suffering from two “distinct manufacturing issues”. The airframer discloses that the two structural issues were found in the join of the aft body fuselage section of the jets, “which, in combination, result ...
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NewsVistara starts London flights under ‘transport bubble’ arrangement
Indian carrier Vistara has commenced thrice-weekly flights between Delhi and London Heathrow under a bilateral “transport bubble” arrangement, and is in discussions to operate to other European countries. London Heathrow, which it will operate from 28 August to 30 September, will be the carrier’s first long-haul destination in its ...
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NewsBoeing-SIAEC joint venture cuts 13% of workforce
Singapore-based Boeing Asia-Pacific Aviation Services (BAPAS), a services joint venture between Boeing and SIA Engineering, has laid off 13% of its workforce, as the coronavirus outbreak continues to affect the aviation sector. The move, which BAPAS says was “taken as a last resort”, will affect 27 of its 204 employees ...
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NewsSIAEC acquires remaining shares in Airbus joint venture
SIA Engineering has completed the acquisition of the Airbus’ shares in a Singapore-based MRO joint venture, Heavy Maintenance Singapore Services (HMSS). The deal, which closed on 27 August, sees SIAEC acquire the remaining 35% of HMSS shares owned by Airbus services unit Airbus Services Asia-Pacific, at a book value ...
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NewsAirAsia X posts record quarterly loss amid ongoing grounding
Beleaguered long-haul, low-cost carrier AirAsia X will remain grounded “in the near term”, as it trims its fleet and network amid a record operating loss. The carrier, which only operates international routes, is also looking to sell two Airbus A330 aircraft to raise cash, and negotiating the early return of ...
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NewsSingapore and Indonesia mull essential travel ‘green lane’
Singapore and Indonesia will begin discussions over a “green lane” for essential travel between the two countries.
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NewsAirAsia to focus on domestic recovery amid widened Q2 loss
AirAsia Group anticipates a return to profitability “in the years to come”, with demand — particularly for domestic travel — expected to increase in the second half of the year. At the release of its second-quarter financial results, group chief executive Tony Fernandes says AirAsia Group has reduced its costs ...
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NewsScoot converts A320 into temporary freighter
Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot has begun cargo charter operations using a freight-optimised Airbus A320ceo, tapping on demand as an alternative revenue source. The aircraft, registered 9V-TAZ, underwent a four-day modification programme earlier this month. That involved the removal of all 180 seats, as well as the installation of placards to ...
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NewsChinese carrier Q2 losses expected to narrow amid domestic recovery: HSBC
China’s three largest carriers — Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines — are expected to see losses narrow in the second quarter helped by strong domestic traffic recovery and a flat Chinese Yuan against the US dollar.
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NewsTransit passengers lift Cathay July traffic figures
Cathay Pacific, which recently reported a record first half operating loss, carried a significantly higher number of passengers for July, as transit passengers lifted passenger volume for the month. Together with its regional arm Cathay Dragon, the carrier carried nearly 43,000 passengers in July, a 58.5% month on month ...
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NewsNokScoot woes drag Nok Air deeper into red
Thai low-cost carrier Nok Air saw a staggering increase in its first-quarter losses, led mostly by trouble at its now-shuttered long-haul subsidiary NokScoot. Nok, which recently took a similar path as compatriot Thai Airways to file for business rehabilitation, reported an operating loss of Bt4.4 billion ($141 million) for the ...
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NewsTroubled Thai sees operating loss more than double
Thai Airways International, which recently entered court-supervised business rehabilitation amid longstanding financial woes, plunged deeper into the red in its half-yearly financial results. For the six months ended 30 June, the Star Alliance carrier reported an operating loss of Bt18.3 billion ($590 million), widening the Bt7.9 billion operating loss it ...
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NewsST Engineering Aerospace sees first-half profit shrink
ST Engineering’s aerospace unit remained profitable in its half-yearly financial results, though both operating and net profits saw year-on-year declines. For the six months ended 30 June, the unit made an operating profit of S$116 million ($84.4 million), a 21% decrease year on year. It also saw net profit fall ...
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NewsTaiwanese carriers bounce back to profitability despite global downturn
China Airlines and EVA Air reported operating profits for their latest quarterly financial results, placing them among the few airlines to turn a profit during a pandemic-induced economic downturn. For the three months ended 30 June, both carriers made a strong comeback from a loss-making previous quarter — despite ...