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


OCTOBER 2016

Orient Aviation October 2016

MALAYSIA AIRLINE’S MARKETING MAN
The first marketing campaign in recent memory is bringing back passengers to a re-invented Malaysia Airlines says the carrier’s boss, Peter Bellew

• IATA attracts two Asian budget carriers to its membership

• Delta Air Lines and Korean Air kiss and make up

• Destructive capacity war threatens full service Firefly

• Industry insight: Ascendancy of Chinese lessors in global aviation

 

Cover Story

Marketing the new Malaysia Airlines

Ask Malaysia Airlines (MAB) Irish-born group managing director and chief executive, Peter Bellew, where the carrier sits in its turnaround program and he turns to a football analogy to reply. Read More »


 

Main Story

Pandora’s box of air safety regulation

Lack of professional oversight. Staff shortages. European black bans. Federal Aviation Administration downgrades. International Civil Aviation Organization red flags. Read More »


 

Main Story

Turboprop accident rate concerns safety experts

In its analysis of the turboprop market, released at the Farnborough Air Show in July, European aircraft manufacturer, ATR, announced that in the next two decades sales of turboprop airplanes would be heavily tilted towards the Asia-Pacific. Read More »


 

Industry Insight Special Report

Chinese lessors on the global hunt

If anything reflected Chinese aircraft lessors’ appetite for a dominant role in the sector, it was Bohai Leasing’s consummation of the $2.6 billion deal to acquire 100% of Avolon. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Asia’s travel agents a lifeline for GDS?

As transaction network operators for travel service providers and agencies, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) are facing obsolescence, but they are not giving in to the forecasts of doom. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Destructive capacity war threatens Malaysia’s Firefly

Firefly CEO, Ignatius Ong, is full of optimism about his regional carrier’s long-term future, but for now he is putting network expansion on hold. Read More »


 

Addendum

IATA attracts two Asian low-cost carriers

Traditionally, cost-conscious budget carriers have shied away from joining the International Air Transport Association. But now, two of Asia’s fastest growing budget airline groups have become members of the global airline organization. Read More »


 

Addendum

Garuda moves closer to U.S. flights in 2017

Garuda Indonesia has begun a feasibility study of the U.S. market with the intention of launching flights across the Pacific, following the U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restoration of category one safety status to Indonesian carriers last August. Read More »


 

Addendum

Saved again: Merpati’s second coming?

Indonesia’s State Enterprises Ministry has said cash-strapped and state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines, which ceased flying in 2014, will re-start services next year after restructuring. Read More »


 

Addendum

Delta’s smooth talking Ed woos estranged Korean Air

They were founding members of the SkyTeam alliance in 2000, but relations between Korean Air (KAL) and Delta Air Lines have been frosty, to say the least. Read More »


 

Addendum

Airline profits may slow says IATA

The airline industry’s record forecast profit of US$39.4 billion for 2016, “a very good year”, may slow in the next 12 months, the International Air Transport Association cautioned in Singapore last month. Read More »


 

Comment

Airlines filling gap in safety oversight

Safety is every airline’s absolute priority. And in this region, the news is good. There were no fatal commercial jet accidents last year and none so far this year. Read More »