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


APRIL 2021

 

Cover Story

Qantas readies for post pandemic lift off

Now into his 14th year as CEO of Qantas Group, Alan Joyce, made it clear to Orient Aviation last month he is not going anywhere anytime soon. Read More »


 

Main Story

Industry momentum gathers for “vaccine passports” across region

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is increasingly concerned that a proliferation of travel passes or “vaccination passports” being trialed by both private companies and governments will add even more complexity to air travel. Read More »


 

Special Reports: Aircraft Leasing

Bumpy business forecast for aviation lessors

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis shareholders in major lessor, Hong Kong-listed and Singapore-based BOC Aviation must be thanking their lucky stars. Read More »


 

Special Reports: Aircraft Leasing

MTU rides wave of Asia-Pacific recovery

In retrospect, some might suggest the decision by German-based MRO, MTU Maintenance, to open an office in the aviation leasing hub of Singapore in September 2019 was poorly timed. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Korean Air president outlines acquisition timetable for Asiana merger

In a frank and detailed online briefing last month, Korean Air (KAL) president, Woo Keehong, confirmed a full merger of its former rival, Asiana Airlines, into the KAL fold would take two years. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

IATA leader rose to every challenge in aviation's most tumultuous era

When the severity of the coronavirus pandemic was revealed early in 2020, International Air Transport Association director general and chief executive, Alexander de Juniac, did not hesitate to act. Read More »


 

News

Pandemic delays Greater Bay Airlines launch by several months

Despite unavoidable delays caused by the pandemic, it remains all systems go for Hong Kong’s newest budget carrier, Greater Bay Airlines (GBA). Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Taiwan’s airlines having a better pandemic than many airline peers

The first day of January 2021was not a good start to the year for Taiwan’s airlines. Read More »


 

Training

Cockpit training adapts for post-pandemic world

Before the airline world was hit by the worst crisis in its history U.S. OEM, Boeing, forecast the commercial aviation industry would require an additional 804,000 pilots worldwide by 2038. Read More »


 

Addendum

China Airlines insider appointed president

Starting at China Airlines (CAL) as a straight out of university flight attendant in 1986 and progressing through the ranks as a CAL pilot and senior manager, the flag carrier’s new boss, Shing-Hwang Kao, can rightly claim to know the company inside out. Read More »


 

Addendum

Direct bookings with carriers to climb to 55% after “lost year”

A recent survey commissioned by technology solutions provider, Accelya, and published in early April, confirmed what everyone in the industry knows full well: 79% of the airline executives surveyed said the pandemic was the most challenging moment in their careers. Read More »


 

Addendum

China and Australia biggest beneficiaries of domestic market rebound

In China’s case it is the giant sprawl of the nation that has produced a near 100% rebound in domestic air traffic in a few short months. Read More »


 

Addendum

IATA boss warns providers against opportunistic fee hikes

It has not taken new International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general, Willie Walsh, long to demonstrate he means business. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Aircraft Interiors

Global seat manufacturer RECARO reports 60% profit fall for fiscal year

Germany-headquartered RECARO Aircraft Seating has reported a 60% drop in earnings for its fiscal year compared with the same months in 2019. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: MRO and Components

Liebherr and AFI KLM E&M partner in China

Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation, a leading supplier of several categories of systems for commercial aircraft, and AFI KLM E&M have designated the global company’s China components arm as a “Dedicated Partner and Repair Centre” for MRO of Liebherr’s electronic controllers on A320s and A330s. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: MRO and Components

Dutch investor acquires two Fokker companies from Fokker/GKN

Privately held PANTA Holdings, which has a long history of investing in European aviation, has bought aftermarket specialist, Fokker Services, and conversions and refurbishment arm, Fokker Techniek, from parent company Fokker Technologies/GKN. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

Singapore Airlines selects Salesforce technology for customer services

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has chosen 1Point, developed by Salesforce and designed to deliver seamless and integrated customer experiences, to revamp its customer case and knowledge management system. Read More »


 

Comment

Lessors survival strategies honed by past crises

With around half the world’s airline fleet owned or managed by leasing companies and a majority of them grounded for the past year or more it is hardly surprising some lessors have been struggling. Read More »