A trusted source of Asia-Pacific commercial aviation news and analysis


NOVEMBER 2018

Week 44

Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific

By Dominic Lalk

Indonesia is reeling from the fatal crash of a Lion Air B737 MAX 8. At press time, the MAX’s black box had been recovered and was being examined. It has been speculated that the stricken airliner suffered from technical issues in the 13 minutes it spent in the air after take-off from Jakarta’s main airport. All 189 passengers and crew died in the crash. Lion Air suspended its technical director and several engineers who declared the three-month-old jet airworthy.

China’s ‘Big Three’ airlines have reported significant declines in net profits for the first nine months of their fiscal years, blaming higher fuel costs and foreign exchange fluctuations for the results. Also on the Mainland, the HNA Group is reported to be trying to offload its 60% share in Lucky Air to China Eastern Airlines.

In other news, Scoot has confirmed it will receive B787-10s from parent Singapore Airlines’ order book with Boeing, ATR has delivered its first 72-600 to Japan Air Commuter and CDB Aviation will lease three A320neo to Vietnamese start-up, Bamboo Airways.

Black box recovered from crashed Lion Air B737 MAX 8 Read More »

 

News

Net profits decline at China’s ‘Big Three’airlines

The Mainland’s ‘Big Three’ carriers - Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – have reported significant drops in net profit for the first nine months of their fiscal years. Read More »


 

News

HNA selling Lucky Air to China Eastern?

Cash-strapped HNA Group is in the process of selling one of its most prized assets, low-cost carrier Lucky Air, the Financial Times reported this week. Read More »


 

News

Japan Airlines subsidiary accepts first ATR 72-600

Japan Air Commuter (JAC), a Japan Airlines (JAL) Group subsidiary, took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 last Monday. Read More »


 

News

Bamboo Airways leases A320neos from CDB Leasing

Vietnamese start-up, Bamboo Airways, missed its October 10 inauguration after failing to obtain all the relevant permits in time for the launch flight Vietnamese media has since reported the airline aims to start operations “before the end of the year”. Read More »


 

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News

SMBC sets up in Hong Kong

SMBC Aviation Capital this week announced the establishment of SMBC Aviation Capital Hong Kong Limited. Read More »


 

News

Scoot to add B787-10s to fleet

Singapore Airlines (SIA) low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, will introduce the B787-10 to its fleet, Scoot CEO, Lee Lik Hsin, told media during the airline’s inaugural A320neo flight from Singapore to Bangkok this week. Read More »


 

News

Singapore Airlines latest Asia-Pacific carrier to launch to Seattle

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has set its sights on Seattle, a destination that Cathay Pacific Airway ad Japan Airlines intend to add to their networks. Read More »


 

News

China Eastern’s first A350 takes off

The first of 20 China Eastern Airlines on-order A350-900s performed its maiden flight this week. Read More »


 

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People

CDB Aviation names COO

CDB Aviation this week announced the appointment of Nick Hazeldine as COO. Read More »


 

People

NATS appoints Ben Kiff as Asia-Pacific director

NATS, the UK air traffic services provider, this week announced that its director for the Middle East, Ben Kiff, has been promoted to director for both the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Read More »


 

Short Takes

Communications: Mahata Aero Technologies (MAT), an Indonesian wireless technology provider, and Garuda Indonesia, have reached an agreement to provide high speed inflight broadband to the carrier’s aircraft in conjunction with Inmarsat, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Systems. Read More »