Short Takes
September 9th 2014
Airlines: Indonesian authorities have approved an AirAsia X joint venture – Indonesia AirAsia X – although its first routes and launch date have not yet been announced. Cathay Pacific Airways has received regulatory approval to allow passengers to keep their digital devices on during take-off and landing. Read More » Hong Kong Airlines has filed for the city's first-ever dual currency initial public offering, looking to tap a massive pool of yuan deposits in local banks. Japan Airlines (JAL) will introduce the B787 on its Tokyo – Beijing and –Delhi services from October 26. Qatar Airways’ first of 80 ordered A350s has rolled out of the paint shop and is set for delivery in October. Meanwhile, the airline has introduced the B787-8 on the Doha-Vienna route, replacing an A320.
Airport: Abu Dhabi International Airport has reported a 22% increase in passenger numbers and a 6% increase in cargo volume in July. Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport has experienced a 12% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers in June, while cargo was up 23%. Dubai International Airport has reported a 6.2% growth in first-half 2014 despite the refurbishment of two runways, which resulted in a 26% reduction in flights in May and June.
Cargo: All Nippon Airways and Lufthansa Cargo will launch a cargo joint venture on routes between Japan and Europe, following antitrust approval from the relevant European Union regulators and the Japanese Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport. China Southern Cargo will launch a Shanghai – Tianjin – Los Angeles B777F service starting September 5. Air freight carriers in the Asia-Pacific have boosted global cargo volume 5.8% in July, the best July performance in four years, according to IATA’s July air freight market analysis.
Routes: Air Arabia has begun a thrice-weekly Ras Al Khaimah – Chittagong service on September 2. Cebu Pacific has launched a thrice-weekly Manila – Kuwait service on September 2 and will begin a four-weekly Manila – Sydney rotation from September 9. China Airlines (CAL) will start a thrice-weekly Taipei – New York (JFK) service from October 2 using B747-400s. CAL used to operate the service via Osaka. Hainan Airlines has launched a twice-weekly Hangzhou – Xi’An – Paris (CDG) service using two-class A330s. Jet Airways has announced a daily New Delhi – Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh City service from November 5. China’s LCC Spring Airlines will launch a Hangzhou – Bangkok service from September 9. United has received its first stretched B787-9 and will launch a daily Los Angeles – Melbourne service from October 26, the longest Dreamliner route to date. The aircraft has 252 seats – 48 in ‘BusinessFirst’ and 204 in economy, including 88 in ‘Economy Plus’.
