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


JUNE 2020

 

Main Story

The rules of flying post COVID-19

As an increasing number of Asia-Pacific airlines announce re-launches of domestic and international flights it is becoming clear the region where the coronavirus pandemic originated is leading the recovery charge. Read More »


 

Main Story

Asia-Pacific carriers are gradually welcoming passengers on board while scrambling for funds to remain in the air

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has unveiled Takeoff, its comprehensive blueprint for risk-based temporary measures for air transport operations during COVID-19 and the restarting of global flying. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

No silver linings for India’s airlines beyond the virus

This year opened on a grim note for India’s airlines. As the Indian economy slowed in 2019, there was a sharp drop in passenger traffic for the year. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

Strength of numbers

In January, when the coronavirus pandemic began to spread beyond China, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) quickly warned that most airlines would run out of cash within two months. Read More »


 

News Backgrounder

THAI hauled back from financial precipice

Lawyers representing Thai Airways International (THAI) will make their first appearance before Thailand’s Bankruptcy Court on August 17 to plead the carrier’s case for rehabilitation. Read More »


 

Addendum

Cathay Pacific too important to fail decides Hong Kong government

A year ago, they would have been words a Cathay Pacific chairman would never have expected to utter. Read More »


 

Advertisement


 

Addendum

Malaysia Airlines appoints oil and gas boss as non-executive chairman

A Petronas president and CEO, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee, is the new non-executive chairman of Malaysian Aviation Group (MAG). Read More »


 

Addendum

Star performer promoted to president Airbus Asia-Pacific

After less than two years with Airbus, Anand Stanley, 43, will take up the role of president Airbus Asia-Pacific on July 1, succeeding Patrick de Castlebajac. Read More »


 

Addendum

At press time, Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the best medicine for Virgin Australia’s (VA) revival was to restart flying, shifting the emphasis in the battle to keep the airline alive to Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. “We need to open up these borders,” he said. Read More »


 

Addendum

THAI’s most successful recent president returns as board director

Dr. Piyasvasti Amranand, a former energy minister, arrived at Thai Airways International in 2009 armed with a considerable reputation for mental toughness and political nous. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Air Traffic Management

CANSO accepts complimentary access to Metron’s Horizon flight prediction software

The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) said Metron’s commercial demand prediction tool, Horizon, will be offered free to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) until October 31, this year. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

Baggage worries eased with new tracking system at Seoul Incheon airport

Members of Korean Air’s (KAL) SKYPASS frequent flyer program can now learn when their baggage is loaded on their flights in real time using push notifications on the KAL mobile app. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

GroundStar Optimization Software to update LCC IndiGo’s equipment and resource management

India’s IndiGo Airlines has chosen INFORM’s GroundStar software suite to “optimally plan, schedule and allocate its manpower and equipment resources”, the German-headquartered company said last month. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

SITA unveils new leadership team and renames SITAONAIR

Global IT provider to the airline industry, SITA, has moved CEO SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, David Lavourel, to the run the IT provider’s SITA AT AIRPORTS AND BORDERS. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Technology

Sabre axes more jobs as it completes a two-year restructuring of its global business

U.S. headquartered travel software and technology provider, Sabre Corporation, has announced approximately 800 employees at 43 of its offices worldwide will be made redundant as part of the company’s “strategic realignment”. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Finance

SMBC Aviation Capital defers deliveries of 68 737MAXs to 2025-2027

SMBC Aviation Capital has reported a profit before tax of US$364.5 million for the fiscal year to March 31 and revealed it had deferred orders for 68 737MAXs to 2025-2027. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Finance

Investors add US$60 million to Nordic Aviation Capital war chest as lessor seeks debt “standstill”

When Patrick de Castlejabac joins the Ireland-headquartered Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) as CEO in quarter three this year, he will be immediately tested by his management of company’s decision to seek a “possible debt standstill and deferral” of loan commitments to “counteract the negative impact COVID-19” has had on its business. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum: Training

CPaT wins distance learning contract with Korean flag carrier

U.S. pilot distance learning specialist, CPaT, has won a contract to provide distance learning for Korean Air (KAL) flight crew. Read More »


 

Industry Addendum

ST Engineering U.S. subsidiary suffers cyber assault

At press time, Singapore’s ST Engineering revealed its U.S subsidiary, VT San Antonio Aerospace, had been hacked by cyber security criminal ring, Maze group, which had gained unauthorised access to the aerospace conglomerate’s IT network and instigated a ransom attack. Read More »


 

Comment

Dream of an aircraft defeated by market forces

As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc across the globe it will have one very sad outcome for the aviation industry. Read More »