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


NOVEMBER 2018

Orient Aviation November 2018

DYNASTIC SHIFT GATHERS PACE AT KOREAN AIR
President and COO, Walter Cho, says the bruising years have passed at the carrier as political tensions ease

• Airline MRO industry unprepared for cyber attacks

• Region’s carriers predict bumps along the profit road in 2019

• Global air passenger growth continues to shift east

• INDUSTRY INSIGHT REPORT: OEMs build dominance in the MRO hangar of the future

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Cover Story

A steadying hand at Korean Air

Obviously, for Korean Air (KAL) president and chief operating officer, Walter Cho, the détente between his country and its northern neighbor is a welcome turn of events. Read More »


 

Main Story

Bumps ahead if trade war escalates

So far in 2018, business at Asia-Pacific airlines has been in rude health. Read More »


 

Main Story

The beating heart of the region’s airline issues

The Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) 62nd Assembly of Presidents strengthened the resolve of its members to be a strong voice in shaping global industry perspectives on safety, emissions reduction progress, expansion of infrastructure and airline passenger rights. Read More »


 

Industry Insight Special Report

MRO industry disruption continues as OEMs increase dominance in hangar

ISSUES CRITICAL TO ASIA-PACIFIC MRO PROFITS Read More »


 

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Industry Insight Special Report

MRO industry unprepared for cyber attacks

The Asia-Pacific airline MRO industry must urgently develop a comprehensive framework for mitigating and managing cyber risk, aviation risk analysts universally agree. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

New Istanbul Airport threatens Gulf hubs

“Welcome to the biggest and best airport in the world,” IGA CEO, Kadri Samsunlu, said when he welcomed global media to the Turkey’s Istanbul Airport last month. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

First casualty of Trump’s trade war?

While Boeing Commercial Aircraft vice president marketing, Randy Tinseth, was briefing media on the sidelines of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Jeju last month, word spread fast that an exclusive operator of Boeing aircraft, Xiamen Airlines, was talking to Airbus about potential orders. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Global air passenger growth moves east reports IATA

It is what we all knew. Read More »


 

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News Backgrounder

Airbus encourages investment in China as U.S tariffs bite on Mainland

As the trade war between the U.S. and China intensifies, Airbus is increasing its investment in the world’s biggest aviation market. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Thai’s Sumeth faces first leadership test

Thai Airways International (THAI) new president, 53-year-old Sumeth Damrongchaitham, received a dictum from Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Somkid Jatusripitak, when he took over at the carrier in September: complete a new rehabilitation plan for the airline within three months. Read More »


 

Leasing

SMBC Aviation Capital sets up in Hong Kong

Global aircraft lessor, SMBC Aviation Capital, has provided a win for the fledging Hong Kong aircraft leasing sector with the announcement that it would open an operating company in Hong Kong this month. Read More »


 

Leasing

CDB Aviation signs up Vietnam’s newest carrier, Bamboo Airways

CDB Aviation Aviation Lease Finance DAC (CDB Aviation), a 100% owned subsidiary of Irish lessor CDB Leasing, have signed a lease agreement with Vietnam’s newest carrier, hybrid start-up Bamboo Airways, for three new A320-200neo. Read More »


 

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Leasing: People

Wanchai beware. News has reached Orient Aviation a little late, but we can confirm Arthur Herrity, formerly of Willis Leasing, decided retirement was not much fun and that his old job was. Read More »


 

Addendum

King Power faces unknown future after founder’s death

Pundits in Thailand are speculating the adult children of recently deceased King Power billionaire, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, might not have the diplomatic chutzpah to negotiate renewal of the exclusive licences of the duty free chain that are the backbone of the family empire. Read More »


 

Addendum

Asia tops table for air passenger growth to 2037

Routes to, from and within the Asia-Pacific will accommodate an additional 2.35 billion passengers a year by 2037, reports the International Air Transport Association in its latest 20-year air passenger forecast. Read More »


 

Addendum

Juneyao Airlines going long-haul to Helsinki without Star

The Juneyao Group airline subsidiary told Orient Aviation last month that its maiden intercontinental route would be a daily Shanghai Pudong-Helsinki Vantaa B787-9 Dreamliner service to be launched next June in direct competition with Finnair. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

Singapore Airlines and Panasonic Avionics clinch top APEX award

APEX (Air Passenger Experience Association) has announced Singapore Airlines and the Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) are the winners of the “Best Personalisation Innovation award at the association’s 2018 annual awards ceremony. Read More »


 

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Industry Addendum

India’s Jet Airways extends agreements with Travelport and Sabre

Full service Indian international carrier, Jet Airways has announced five-year contracts with global travel commerce platform, Travelport, and leading technology provider, Sabre Corporation, commencing from April next year. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

Indonesia’ GMF and AFI KLM E&M form partnership

AFI KLM E&M and Garuda Indonesia MRO subsidiary, GMF, last month signed an agreement to jointly improve and develop the Indonesian company’s systems and strengthen the footprint of the European headquartered MRO in Asia. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

AAR introduces airvolution for component repair management

U.S. headquartered global aftermarket solutions company, AAR, last month launched a cloud-based solution for component repairs, AIRVOLUTION. Read More »


 

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Industry Addendum

Stellar Labs and Rockwell Collins launch next gen flight ops management solution

Silicon Valley aviation technology innovator, Stellar Labs and aviation systems conglomerate, Rockwell Collins, are jointly developing a suite of integrated cloud-based applications that will supersede Rockwell Collins’ ARINCDirect flight operations system (FOS). Read More »


 

Comment

Fighting creeping protectionism

When airline leaders met on South Korea’s Jeju Island for their 62nd Assembly of Presidents of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) last month, they universally agreed air traffic growth was robust but that business continues to be tough. Read More »