Asia Pacific – Page 238
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NewsPhilippine Airlines confirms $1bn revenue loss due to Covid-19
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has seen revenue shrink by nearly $1 billion since it suspended operations because of the coronavirus pandemic, the flag carrier’s parent confirms.
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NewsAir New Zealand grounds 777s and defers A321neo deliveries
Air New Zealand (ANZ) will ground its Boeing 777-200ER and 777-300ER fleets until at least the end of this year as part of organisation-wide cost-cutting measures. Including deferrals of planned Airbus A321neo deliveries, the airline has also deferred or cancelled almost NZ$700 million ($430 million) of expected capital expenditure to ...
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NewsATSB report highlights safety issues with firefighting
An increase in aerial fire-fighting activities in Australia over recent years has contributed to a higher rate of safety incidents, according to the country’s air accident investigation body, although stresses there has not been an rise in the risk per flight.
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NewsChina Airlines issues A350-900 leaseback RFP: sources
China Airlines has issued a request for proposals for the sale and leaseback of two Airbus A350-900s, according to two sources. The Taiwanese flag carrier has returned to the market after agreeing to sell and lease back five A330-300s earlier this month. The deadline for bids on the A350s is ...
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NewsThai government reduces stake in Thai Airways
The Thai government is no longer a majority shareholder in Thai Airways after the country’s finance ministry reduced its stake to 47.86% from 51.03%. “After the reduction of shareholding percentage held by the Ministry of Finance in the company, the company shall cease to be a state enterprise under the ...
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NewsAir Astana converting 767s for new cargo division
Air Astana is establishing a freight division, Air Astana Cargo, which will use three Boeing 767-300ERs which are being retired from the airline’s fleet and modified for cargo transport. It will put the initial aircraft into service on 26 May – in a “semi-cargo” layout, following modification in Almaty – ...
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NewsFlight recorders of crashed PIA A320 recovered
The flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus A320 that crashed on 22 May have been recovered. Media reports from Pakistan quote PIA as saying that both devices were found on Saturday 23 May, a day after the aircraft crashed in an urban area. ...
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NewsCrashed PIA A320 crew mentioned ‘lost engines’ during go-around
Pakistan International Airlines is referring to evidence of a “technical fault” on the Airbus A320 which crashed while attempting to land at Karachi. Air-ground communications from flight PK8303 reveal that the crew tried to execute a go-around while conducting an ILS approach to runway 25L, following a service from Lahore ...
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NewsReturn-to-line training must be tailored for individual pilots: federation
Cockpit crew representatives are cautioning that resumption of flight operations as the coronavirus crisis recedes will require careful consideration of varying training levels for returning pilots. There will be a range of situations that operators will need to take into account, says international airline pilot federation IFALPA. Some pilots will ...
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NewsPhilippine Airlines' parent returns to profitable growth in 2019
PAL Holdings posted an operating profit of Ps2.87 billion ($56.6 million) in 2019, reversing 2018’s Ps5.98 billion operating loss. Total revenue at the parent company of Philippine Airlines (PAL) grew 2.7% to more than Ps154 billion, driven by a 4.2% increase in the passenger segment revenue to Ps134 billion. Ancillary ...
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NewsVirgin Australia secures US Chapter 15 recognition
Virgin Australia has secured recognition from the US Bankruptcy Court for its voluntary administration process, under Chapter 15 of the country’s bankruptcy code. This protects the carrier’s US assets from creditors and allows Australia’s courts to preside over all claims. The petition was filed in New York on 29 April, ...
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NewsZipair Tokyo applies to launch with cargo-only flights
Start-up carrier Zipair Tokyo has applied to authorities to launch with cargo-only flights between Tokyo Narita and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from 3 June.
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NewsIndia to restart domestic flights from 25 May
India plans to restart domestic civil aviation in a “calibrated manner” from 25 May. Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a 20 May Twitter post that all airports and airlines are being informed to be ready for operations from that date. He added that standard operating procedures for ...
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NewsCambodia lifts entry ban on six nationalities as Covid-19 ebbs
Cambodia has removed its ban on visitors from France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Spain and the United States, which was first imposed in mid-March amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) national news agency reported on 20 May that visitors from these countries are now allowed to enter the ...
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NewsChangi airport reopens transit from 2 June
Changi airport will gradually allow transit passengers from 2 June, after Singapore banned all short-term visitors from entering or transiting, effective 23 March 23:59. “This is part of Singapore’s strategy to gradually reopen air transport to meet the needs of our economy and our people, whilst ensuring sufficient safeguards for ...
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NewsIHI warns of engine supply chain challenges
Japan’s IHI has warned that the coronavirus pandemic will have a significant impact on the engine supply chain. IHI, which has workshare on a number of major propulsion programmes, says that while demand held up in the fourth quarter of its 2019 fiscal year, which ended on 31 March, it ...
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NewsMajor lessors now hold substantial interests in Norwegian
Chinese-linked interests will hold significant shareholdings in Scandinavian budget carrier Norwegian following a debt-to-equity conversion scheme established to shore up the company’s financial position. Norwegian’s new share capital amounts to nearly 3.07 billion shares following the conversion scheme. Leasing firm BOC Aviation – which is Singapore-based, but ultimately controlled by ...
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NewsThai Airways approved for bankruptcy court-supervised restructuring
The Thai government has given its approval for Thai Airways International to reorganise under the supervision of the local bankruptcy court. “The Thai Cabinet approved the reform plan for [Thai Airways] which will be implemented through the business reorganisation chapter under the auspices of the Central Bankruptcy Court of Thailand ...
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NewsCebu Pacific reviews long-term fleet plans
Cebu Air, the parent company of Cebu Pacific, is reviewing its long-term fleet plans, and has begun discussions with suppliers “to establish flexibility to adapt to current events”. In line with anticpated lower aircraft utilisation in future, the company will also defer previously planned aircraft capital expenditures, it said in ...
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NewsAmedeo agrees rental deferrals with Thai Airways
Amedeo has agreed in principle to grant lease rental deferrals to beleaguered Thai Airways, though the lessor says the agreement has not yet been signed due to the Thai government setting up a special committee to handle a new business improvement plan for the airline. Amedeo Air Four Plus, Amedeo’s ...