All Asia Pacific articles – Page 256
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News
Thai 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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Air 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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Flight 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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Crashed 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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Return-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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Philippine 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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Virgin 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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Zipair 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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India 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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Cambodia 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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Changi 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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IHI 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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Major 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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Thai 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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Cebu 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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Amedeo 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 ...
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GAMECO begins 737 freighter conversions
Chinese MRO provider GAMECO has begun work on Boeing 737 passenger-to-freighter conversions, and is mulling plans to open a second production line. The Guangzhou-based company inducted the first aircraft - a 737-800 registered as N520AM and painted in AeroMexico’s colours - on 18 May. Source: GAMECO ...
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Saab 2000 lands secretive AEW&C deal
Saab has secured an SKr1.6 billion ($165 million) order for an undisclosed number of its Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system aircraft.
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Thai Airways quashes bankruptcy rumours
Thai Airways International indicates that reform plans are still underway and dismisses recent bankruptcy rumours. “[Thai] has clarified that it has no intention to file for bankruptcy, responding to rumours [that] appeared in the news and online about the consensus of its board of directors meeting on 15 May 2020 ...
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Air travel restart differs in India and Pakistan
India is taking a more cautious approach than neighbouring Pakistan, which is looking to restart air travel. There will be no commercial flights in India until at least June, after the government extended a lockdown until the end of this month. A circular posted on the official Twitter account of ...