Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific

AirGuide Business, Jan 21, 2008

Jan 21, 2008

Australia hopes to attract U.S. defense firms. An Australian official will meet with executives from U.S. defense firms to encourage them to establish a presence in Australia. South Australian Deputy Premier Kevin Foley will meet with representatives from Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and BAE. Jan 19, 2008

Despite the impressive growth, the Chinese regulator intends to maintain its policy of slowing commercial aviation's rapid development this year out of concern that the industry is "overheated." It will do so through tighter control of aircraft deliveries and its commitment to suspend the approval of new airlines until 2010. Li said, "Chinese carriers are not allowed to introduce new aircraft if the ratio between the number of cabin crew and an aircraft doesn't meet the standard as required." In addition, airlines must limit ad hoc deliveries and withdraw leased aircraft when leases expire. The total fleet numbered 1,131 on Dec. 31. About 700 new aircraft are expected to be delivered in the next five years. Meantime, Li reiterated that CAAC will continue to encourage foreign investment in Chinese airlines. But he noted that "Chinese carriers need to improve the quality of foreign investment and be creative in the way to use foreign investment." Jan 15, 2008

Air India, Boeing

Air India Wants Compensation For 787 Delay. Air India wants compensation from Boeing for a delay in the delivery of its 787 Dreamliners because the postponement hurts its growth plans, the Indian firm's chairman said on Friday. The 787 suffered its second setback when Boeing said on Wednesday it was pushing back the program a further three months, putting the aircraft about nine months behind schedule. Jan 18, 2008

Air India, Boeing

National Aviation, which was formed through the merger of domestic state-run carrier Indian Airlines with Air India, has 112 aircraft which fly under the Air India brand, and has 111 Boeing and Airbus planes on order. Air India, which plans to divest up to 15 percent of its equity in an initial public offer, has been asked by the federal government to prepare details for the share sale, Thulasidas said, but did not disclose the value and timing of the offer. Before the deal, the company plans to offer stock options to employees this year, Thulasidas said. Jan 18, 2008

Air Pacific, Boeing

Fiji's Air Pacific converted three Boeing 787-9 options into firm orders for delivery in 2016 and 2017. The new aircraft add to the five 787-9s the airline ordered in 2006 that are scheduled to arrive in 2011-12. Air Pacific also added three purchase rights to its commitment, Chairman Nalin Patel said in a statement. Those aircraft will be available after 2019. The GEnx-powered 787-9s will replace the airline's two 747-400s and one 767-300ER. Jan 17, 2008

BOC Aviation, Boeing

BOC Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of China, announced 10-year lease agreements for five Boeing 737NGs with India's Jet Airways. Aircraft will be delivered to Jet by Boeing between March 2010 and November 2011. BOC currently owns 76 aircraft flying with 29 airlines worldwide and has 40 more 737NGs on firm order, 37 of which already have been leased. Last month BOC announced deals to lease four 737-800s to Hainan Airlines, two -800s to Shandong Airlines and one -800 to Skymark Airlines. Jan 15, 2008

CAE, AirAsia

CAE said Kuala Lumpur will be the location of its new training center, which will be developed in partnership with AirAsia. In November, CAE signed a contract to manage AirAsia's TRTO at the AirAsia Academy and provide pilot training services. The center also will train technicians and cabin crew across Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur will serve as CAE's regional hub for MPL and Airbus OEM training. Jan 15, 2008

Jet Airways, Boeing

A spokeswoman for private carrier Jet Airways, which has ordered 10 Boeing 787s, said they were not likely to be affected by the delays. "Our deliveries only start in mid-2011, so we don't believe we will be affected," she said. Jan 18, 2008

Lion Air, Boeing

Lion Air To Buy More Boeing 737-900s. Indonesia's largest private airline, Lion Air, plans to buy more Boeing 737-900 series jets, to support its regional expansion to a number of countries, including Australia, its top executive said on Tuesday Jan. 15. Rusdi Kirana, Lion Air's president director, said the purchase would be in addition to 122 jets of the same type that the company had previously ordered from Boeing. Lion Air recently ordered an additional 22 Boeing 737-900 series planes as part of its expansion plans, lifting its total orders to 122 jets, with a total list price of USD$7 billion. Jan 16, 2008

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines insists US flights to continue despite FAA downgrade. Philippine Airlines said it will continue to operate flights to the US despite FAA's downgrading of the country to a Category 2 safety rating. Philippine Airlines said it will be restricted by FAA to the 33 weekly flights it currently operates to the US and will not be able to change aircraft types used on the routes, meaning that six Boeing 777-300ERs scheduled to begin delivering next year will not be able to be deployed as planned unless FAA upgrades the country's status. Jan 17, 2008