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


OCTOBER 2020

Week 41

Orient Aviation Daily Digest October 9, 2020

A look at the week in the Asia-Pacific

By Jordan Chong

It has been a difficult week for the AirAsia Group with the closure of its Japanese operations after just three years in the air and some uncertainty about the prospects of long-haul arm AirAsia X.

AirAsia Japan joined a growing list of airlines that have found the financial pressures brought on by the coronavirus pandemic too tough to withstand, following the collapse of NokScoot and the retirement of Tigerair Australia by parent company Virgin Australia, which itself was under new ownership after going through voluntary administration.

It was the second time AirAsia co-founder, Tony Fernandes, has tried and failed to establish a foothold in Japan, following his failed joint venture with All Nippon Airways (ANA) that began in 2012 and was terminated by the Japanese carrier the following year. Read More »

 

Daily Digest

Orient Aviation Daily Digest: Former Jetstar boss, Jayne Hrdlicka, confirmed as new Virgin Australia CEO

October 15, 2020

  • Administrators for Virgin Australia (VA), Deloitte, today named former senior Qantas group executive and Jetstar boss, Jayne Hrdlicka, as the airline's new CEO. Read More »

 

Daily Digest

Orient Aviation Daily Digest: South Korea’s Eastar Jet back on the market after collapse of Jeju Air deal

October 14, 2020

  • South Korea's Eastar Jet said yesterday it planned to cut its 1,200 strong workforce by 50% and reduce its aircraft fleet of 18 to six to increase its appeal to investors, the Yonhap news agency reported. Eastar is looking for new owners after rival South Korean LCC, Jeju Air, decided against acquiring a majority holding in the airline last July. Read More »

 

Daily Digest

Orient Aviation Daily Digest: China Southern Airlines seeking to raise US$2.4 billion in fresh capital

October 13, 2020

  • China Southern Airlines (CSA) said yesterday it planned to raise 16 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) in fresh capital by selling 160 million A Share convertible bonds at 100 yuan each. The bonds will have a term of six years, from October 15 2020 and October 14 2026, CSA said in a regulatory filing to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Read More »

 

Daily Digest

Orient Aviation Daily Digest: Malaysia Airlines shutdown inevitable unless lessors accept debt restructuring says airline's boss

October 12, 2020

  • Malaysia Airlines Group CEO, Captain Izham Ismail, told Malaysia’s The Edge Weekly on Saturday the carrier would have no choice but to close if lessors rejected a restructuring plan to keep the airline afloat. Read More »

 

News

Singapore opening for foreign visitors

Singapore’s Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, said this week the country was ready to reopen its borders to foreign visitors and revive its status as an aviation hub. Read More »


 

News

Global airline lobby association says risk of contracting COVID-19 on a flight very low

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said this week data that showed how rare the incidence of COVID-19 transmission on board an aircraft has been during the pandemic should reassure travellers the risk of contracting the disease on a flight was low. Read More »


 

News

AirAsia X working to ensure post-COVID-19 survival

AirAsia X (AAX) said this week it was working to restructure its debt and undertake a share consolidation as part of efforts to ensure its survival, access fresh capital and avoid liquidation. Read More »


 

Short Takes

Thai Airways International (THAI) said this week its international flights would remain suspended for the rest of calendar 2020 “due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, and the continuous immigration restrictions and governmental measures imposed by several countries”.  THAI suspended its international flights at the end of March, but the carrier continued to operate a number of flights to six European and four Asian ports to bring Thais home.  Read More »