Orient Aviation’s Week in the Asia-Pacific
By Dominic Lalk
It’s been a frustrating time for Thai Airways International (THAI). The flag carrier confirmed to Orient Aviation that “three to four” of its B787-8s remain parked at Suvarnabhumi Airport as they undergo Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 replacement works. THAI is claiming compensation from Rolls-Royce.
In Taiwan, former EVA Airways chairman, Chang Kuo-wei, re-emerged this week, announcing he will launch his own tier-one luxury carrier, StarLux, later this year. The start-up will go head-to-head with EVA and China Airlines.
In the Middle East, Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, engaged in a little comedy routine when he told a Dublin audience they no longer needed to fly on those “crap American carriers” where you will be “served by grandmothers” when he was in Ireland to launch the carrier’s service to Dublin.
Separately, American Airlines said it had terminated its code share agreements with Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways because of illegal subsidy issues, with the change in policy taking effect in March next year. American, which has been most unimpressed with Qatar Airways' planned investment in the listed U.S. carrier, said it did not make sense to sell tickets for the two Gulf airlines on its website or to share revenue.
In India, Jet Airways has cancelled its partnership with American Airlines, a potential precursor to a Delta Air Lines investment in Jet and/or SkyTeam membership. Separately, India’s Vistara has announced a new CEO from October.
THAI grounds Trent 1000-powered B787s Read More »
News
Chang Kuo-wei to launch StarLux Airlines
Evergreen Group heir and former EVA Airways chairman, Chang Kuo-wei, is readying to launch his own airline later this year. Read More »
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Al Baker takes a step too far at Dublin launch
“Wide seats, plenty of legroom, as well as award winning service from our international cabin crew. Read More »
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Cathay Cargo signs MoU to take full ownership of Air Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific Airways last Friday announced it intended to acquire DHL’s 40% holding in the cargo carrier, Air Hong Kong (AHK). Read More »
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Jet Airways ends American Airlines partnership
India’s Jet Airways and U.S. major, American Airlines, this week announced the cancellation of their partnership, following last week’s unconfirmed news that Delta Air Lines is interested in acquiring up to 24% of the Mumbai-based airline. Read More »
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Asian budget carrier interested in ex-Singapore Airlines A380s
The aircraft leasing unit of Dr. Peters Group, DS Aviation, is vetting applicants who have expressed an interest in taking over the four A380s Singapore Airlines (SIA) no longer wants. Read More »
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Skymark considering international destinations
Skymark Airlines, the carrier that almost went belly-up two years ago, is back. Read More »
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Boeing wins first half order and delivery race
Chicago-headquartered Boeing has outperformed arch rival, Airbus, in orders and deliveries for the first six months of 2017, to June 30. Read More »
People
Vistara, the Gurgaon-headquartered full-service carrier launched as a joint venture between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Tata Group, has announced that Leslie Thng will succeed Phee Teik Yeon, as CEO in October. Read More »
Short Takes
Airlines: Yangtze River Airlines, a HNA Aviation carrier, has been rebranded as Suparna Airlines. Lucky Air, another HNA Aviation airline, will lease four B737 MAX 8s from SMBC Aviation Capital with deliveries in 2018-19. Read More »
