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Aviation
Chinese aviation soars to new
heights
China's vast
aviation sector reached cruising altitude in
2004-5, with rapid growth in passenger numbers and
aircraft orders. Notable developments included
expanded cross-strait and international links and
low-cost and private carriers. Yet the world's
airlines face intense competition in China's
skies. Despite the lucrative growth figures,
hitting the pot of gold is not easy. - Mani
Goel (Mar 17,
'06)
China,
US deal to expand air traffic
In a landmark liberalization deal that is
expected to produce economic benefits on both
sides of the Pacific, Beijing and Washington will
increase the number of daily flights between the
two countries, allowing 11 additional daily
passenger flights and almost unlimited cargo
flights by 2012. - Edward Russell (May 30, '07)
China's Airbus A320 a step
closer
European aircraft maker Airbus has begun
construction of an assembly line for its A320
planes in China. The joint-venture plant in the
Tianjin Binhai New Area, the first for Airbus
outside Europe, is expected to start operating in
August next year and have an annual capacity of 44
aircraft by 2011. (May 16, '07)
China launches satellite for
Nigeria
A
satellite launched by China for Nigeria, the first
of its kind in Africa, is expected to
revolutionize telecommunications, broadcasting and
broadband multimedia services across the African
continent and create more than 150,000 jobs.
(May 14,
'07)
China draws
Africa into its orbit
China is emerging as a serious player in
the race to commercialize space, shrewdly
recognizing that while rich pickings are to be
found in managing outsourced projects on behalf of
Western corporations, there is enormous potential
in catering to the satellite needs of the
developing world, particularly Africa. -
Bright B
Simons, Evans Lartey and
Franklin
Cudjoe (Mar 30,
'07)
China's aviation sector gaining
altitude
Rapid
economic growth, increasing levels of wealth and
surging domestic, inbound and outbound tourism are
fueling skyrocketing demand for air services in
China. Foreign giants are rushing to tap the
lucrative sector, led by Airbus and Boeing.
(Jan 19, '07)
Large-plane project set for
takeoff
Foreign aeronautics firms Boeing and Airbus
will be competing with a new player in China in
the next 10-15 years as the country's first
domestically developed large planes take to the
skies. (Jan 10,
'07)
Boeing joint
venture takes off
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is
capitalizing on China's booming maintenance,
repair and overhaul market by taking a 60% stake
in a new operation in Shanghai. (Oct 26,
'06)
Flights needed for tourism to
take
off
Beijing says improving air service is
essential if South Pacific island states want to
attract Chinese holidayers. (Oct 19, '06)
Turbulence ahead for airline
stocks
Surging
aviation fuel prices are making Chinese passenger
carriers a bad bet for investors, say experts.
(Sep 15,
'06)
Airlines in dogfight for
scarce pilots
The expansion of China's aviation industry
has outpaced the training of pilots, which has led
to fierce recruitment competition and
opportunities for foreign pilots. - Robert
Hartmann (Sep 8, '06)
Foreign dominance seen in
air cargo market
More than 90 foreign airlines operate in China and
occupy 70% of the country's international air
cargo market, according to recent statistics
revealed by China Southern Airlines. (Jun 30, '06)
China Southern inks deal
to join Skyteam
China Southern, one of China's top three
domestic carriers, has signed a deal to join
SkyTeam, a key global airline alliance.
(Jun 29,
'06)
Cargo airline launched in
Shanghai
Great Wall Airlines, a Singapore-China joint
venture freight airline, has been officially
launched in Shanghai. Initially the airline will
serve Amsterdam, Singapore, Chennai and Mumbai.
(Jun 27,
'06)
Cathay Pacific makes
largest expansion
Cathay Pacific Airways has announced its
largest commitment for new freighter aircraft with
an order for six Boeing 747-400 ERF Extended Range
Freighters, as it continues to invest in
additional cargo capacity to meet aggressive
growth plans for its Hong Kong hub. (Jun 26, '06)
A380 delays set back
Airbus in Asia
The recent shock announcement of a
six-month delay in deliveries of the double-decker
Airbus A380 has sent Airbus into a crisis and may
have set back the company's prospects in Asia,
where it had found several customers for the jet.
Though launch customer Singapore Airlines should
get its first A380 on time, other Asian airlines
will expect compensation. - Duncan Freeman
(Jun 23,
'06)
A sign of hope on
cross-strait links
The spate of scandals shaking Taiwan's
President Chen Shui-bian is bringing smiles to the
leaders in Beijing. But it could be far more
important that the resultant shift in policymaking
authority in Taipei is already making a difference
in cross-strait business links, as evidenced by
Taipei's recent announcement on charter flights.
- Craig Meer (Jun 22, '06)
Air China to buy 24
Airbuses for US$1.74 bn
Air China has inked a deal with Airbus
to buy 24 Airbus A320 planes for delivery between
2007 and 2010, according to the Shanghai
Securities News. (Jun 19, '06)
Cathay-Dragonair deal to
strengthen HK hub
Hong Kong official Stephen Ip welcomed
Cathay Pacific Airlines' effective takeover of
Dragonair on Friday, saying the move would
strengthen Hong Kong's role as an aviation hub.
(Jun 12,
'06)
Airbus' selection of
Tianjin approved
The Chinese government has approved Airbus'
selection of Tianjin for the location of its A320
passenger jet assembly line, the first outside the
aircraft maker's European base. (Jun 9, '06)
Cathay Pacific, Dragonair
ponder merger
Rumors have emerged that Hong Kong-based
Cathay Pacific Airways may buy out another Hong
Kong carrier, Dragonair, greatly strengthening
Cathay's services in mainland China. (Jun 8, '06)
Tianjin to be site of
Airbus China plant
The north China city of Tianjin has
been selected as the site for Airbus's first
overseas assembly plant, which will build A320s
beginning later this year. (Jun 1, '06)
China plans 28 feeder
airports by 2010
China plans to construct 28 new feeder
airports in western China by 2010, in addition to
upgrading 27 existing airports. A Chinese aviation
official invited foreign investors to join the
airport construction drive. (May 30, '06)
Airlines challenged by
Sino-US agreement
With a new round of navigation rights
negotiations planned between the US and China in
2006, Chinese carriers have noted the competitive
pressure brought to bear on them by the previous
July 2004 agreement between the two sides.
(May 17,
'06)
Asia-Pacific a virtue for
Virgin
Richard
Branson's UK-based Virgin Group is an increasingly
ubiquitous presence in Asia, with its fingers in
many regional pies, ranging from radio programming
in Thailand to mobile telephony in China and
airlines in Australasia. In Hong Kong recently,
Branson even hinted at an Asian spaceport. -
Andrew Dembina (May 16, '06)
Aircraft fleet to double
by 2010
China is expected
to double its civil aviation fleet to more than
1,500 aircraft by 2010 and as many as 4,000 by
2025, according to a Chinese civil aviation
official. (May 8,
'06)
China to further open air
freight market
Officials have announced that China will
promote the development of the airfreight industry
by further opening the market to foreign
investors, pursuing hub construction and
supporting Sino-foreign joint ventures.
(Apr 24,
'06)
Hugs for Hu in 'the other
Washington'
Chinese president Hu Jintao concluded a
visit to the US state of Washington with a visit
to Boeing's plant, where he praised China-US trade
ties and even hugged a surprised Boeing employee.
As the president headed to Washington, DC,
analysts warned he might receive a less warm
welcome there. (Apr 20, '06)
Hu's
lunch: Rare but not
bloody
 President Hu
Jintao's White House lunch with President George W
Bush will provide a rare opportunity for the
leaders of two of the world's most powerful
nations to discuss their biggest bone of
contention: economic issues. While there won't be
much by way of bloodletting or tangible
results, Hu's visit is nonetheless important. -
Brian Wingfield (Apr 18, '06)
Iraq-China flights being
considered
Aviation officials in Iraq and China have
confirmed that direct flights between Baghdad and
Guangzhou are under consideration. The demand is
significant, mostly due to Iraqi traders flying to
Guangzhou to buy Chinese goods. (Apr 18, '06)
China to buy 80 Boeing
737s
China
has signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 80
additional Boeing 737 aircraft, valued at US$4.6
billion. (Apr
17, '06)
China-US trade hailed,
beef ban lifted
In advance of President Hu Jintao's visit to
the US, Chinese media reports hailed the growth of
China-US economic relations in recent years, and
China announced a variety of US trade-related
measures, including the lifting of a ban on US
beef exports to China and a large sale of Boeing
737s to several Chinese airlines. (Apr 12, '06)
UPS expands China air
network
Amidst spiraling demand for logistics services
in China, US parcel delivery firm United Parcel
Service is expanding its air operations with
several new flights from China to international
destinations. (Apr 7, '06)
Satellite insurers stake out
Asia
In the space
business, rocket and satellite makers may get all
the glamour, but insurers have an increasingly
important role to play in the high-risk,
high-return business of protecting satellite
owners and operators. In Asia, notably India and
China, the satellite insurance sector is poised
for liftoff. - Raja M (Apr 5,
'06)
Aerospace show flees
Singapore for HK
The move of Asia's most important aerospace
trade show from Singapore to Hong Kong is being
seen by some as a reflection of the importance of
China's aviation market, and implicitly, declining
US influence in the region. - Jaya Prakash
(Mar 30, '06)
Fedex to introduce three
new China flights
US logistics giant FedEx Corporation announced
on March 27 the introduction of three new flights
into China later this month, the latest in a
series of steps by FedEx to expand and consolidate
its China operations. (Mar 29, '06)
Two private airlines forge
partnership
Two Chinese private airlines, Junyao Group and
Okay Airways, announced March 27 they would unite
as strategic partners to seek better development
in the civil aviation sector. (Mar 28,
'06)
Demand for civil aviation
specialists to grow
Experts on China's civil aviation
sector are warning that the country could
experience a severe shortage of civil aviation
specialists as air travel booms over the coming
years. (Mar 28,
'06)
China renews airliner
manufacturing plan
China's 2006-10 five-year plan will include
a resumption of the project to domestically build
large-sized civilian aircraft, almost 30 years
after the first such attempt was aborted,
according to an announcement by Premier Wen
Jiabao.
China, US to resume air
services talks
China-US talks on civil aviation expected for
next month may allow one additional US carrier to
fly to China starting next year, according to an
American Airlines official. (Mar 13, '06)
Eurocopter to produce
helicopters in JV
European helicopter maker Eurocopter
has unveiled a plan to set up a helicopter joint
venture in northeast China with its Chinese
partner, AVIC II, to produce the 6-ton EC-175
model. (Mar 9,
'06)
China's first regional jet
to fly in 2008
China's
first self-designed regional passenger jet, the
ARJ21, powered by General Electric CF34-10A
engines, is expected to make its maiden flight in
2008, sources in Shanghai said March 1. (Mar 2, '06)
Boeing, China see huge aircraft
demand
Aircraft giant
Boeing has predicted China will order 2,600 new
airliners by 2025, a projection supported by
Chinese officials who anticipate more than 100
purchases each year through at least 2010, denying
claims by some experts that fleet expansion has
been overly rapid. (Feb
27, '06)
Orders lagging for Embraer China
venture
Brazil-based
Embraer, which has a venture in China to assemble
small regional aircraft, said orders have not
matched expectations due to a preference for
bigger planes by the country's airlines. (Feb 27,
'06)
Air
cargo business shaken by probe
Cathay
Pacific, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines,
Korean Airlines and many other carriers based in
Asia and elsewhere are waiting anxiously for the
other shoe to drop in a price-fixing scandal whose
widening global net has cast a pall over the $50
billion air cargo business. - Kent Ewing
(Feb 21,
'06)
EU shoots for China's arms
business
Beijing recently called on the European
Union to lift a 17-year arms embargo - and there
is no shortage of suppliers eager to cash in on
China's lucrative market. But with the US a
crucial political, strategic and economic ally,
the consequences may outweigh the business
opportunity. - Federico Bordonaro
(Feb 16,
'06)
Air China may hire foreign
pilots
Air China, China's flag carrier, said
it was planning an overseas recruitment drive
because it was suffering a severe pilot shortage.
(Feb 14,
'06)
Discriminating airlines:
No dragons allowed
 Asian airlines
are renowned - especially by male travelers - for
their lovely, youthful flight attendants. But the
beauty masks ugly age-discrimination policies that
force stewardesses to retire as young as 35. Hong
Kong is typical: with no laws on the books, and a
tacit acceptance of ageism as good business,
change isn't likely soon.
- Kent Ewing
(Jan 31,
'06)
Airbus to build assembly
plant in China
Airbus has confirmed plans to set up an
assembly line in China this year, which is
expected to build four A320 airplanes a month. The
feasibility study report for the assembly line, a
joint venture with China, is under assessment by
the related government departments. (Jan 30, '06)
Hello
Kitty crosses the strait
 Last November, Taiwan's
EVA Air began Taiwan-Japan flights using a special
Hello Kitty-themed aircraft. EVA is
sending the Kitty plane on a New Year charter
flight across the Taiwan Strait. But will the
plane win friends, or simply remind Beijing of
Taiwan's affinity for Japanese culture? -
Ting-I Tsai (Jan 27, '06)
Hong Kong airport
expansion plan
unveiled
Hong
Kong's Airport Authority on Friday announced a
US$580 million expansion plan for the city's
international airport. The plans include an
additional concourse, more taxiways and
modifications to prepare for flights of the
gigantic Airbus A380. (Jan 27, '06)
Cross-straits New Year
flights kick off
A TransAsia Airways' Airbus A321 flew from
Taipei to Xiamen in China's Fujian province Wednesday morning, marking the
start of Taiwan-Xiamen direct charter flights, which are
part of the 2006 Lunar New Year direct
cross-strait charter flight services. (Jan 26, '06)
8,400 flights to be added
during New Year
China's civil aviation regulator has given
the green light for eight airlines to add a
combined 8,400 flights around the Spring Festival
period, China's lunar New Year, in an effort to
relieve expected huge passenger flows.
(Jan 23,
'06)
Direct Taiwan-China
flights called
'essential'
The opening of direct flights between
Taiwan and China is essential if Taiwan is to
keep its foreign investors on the island,
Christine Malpricht, Director of the German Trade
Office in Taipei, said January 11. (Jan 13, '06)
$1.24bn
upgrade for Pudong airport
The
Shanghai region's primary airport, Pudong
International Airport, will expand its capacity to
60 million passengers a year by 2007, tripling its
current size. The $1.24 billion project includes a
third runway. (Jan 9,
'06)
Private airlines poaching state
airline staff
The
expansion of China's private airlines has put
increasing pressure on their state-owned
competitors, as shown by several recent instances
of managerial and pilot headhunting by the private
carriers. (Jan 6,
'06)
Business jet market set for new
heights
Business jets are
the latest item on the shopping list of China's
growing legion of super rich. "Over the next few
years, we anticipate steady growth in the demand
for business jets as more companies need fast
transportation for their business," a media
official from Airbus China told the China Daily.
(Jan 3,
'06)
CEA, Pratt
& Whitney in engine repair JV
China Eastern Airlines
Corporation Ltd (CEA) and Pratt & Whitney of
the United States have signed a memorandum of
understanding on launching an aircraft engine
overhaul joint venture in Shanghai.(Dec 22, '05)
Boeing set to establish Shanghai
base
Aircraft giant
Boeing is likely to set up an aircraft
maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) base in Shanghai in the first
half of next year, the first such
foreign-controlled facility in China. The US
aircraft manufacturer will initially invest over
US$100 million into the company, in which Boeing
will hold a 50% stake. (Dec 20, '05)
Airbus and
China: Less than meets the
eye
China's purchase
of 150 Airbuses grabbed the headlines, but its
commercial and political implications are less
sensational. Buying a few Boeings will not
fundamentally alter China's trade imbalance with
the US. Similarly, sales of Airbuses are unlikely
to make much difference to attitudes in France or
elsewhere in Europe.
- Duncan Freeman
(Dec 14, '05)
Taiwan welcomes direct air links
talks
A high-ranking
Taiwan official said December 5 that the opening
of direct air transport links across the Taiwan
Strait is government policy, and that Taiwan
welcomes talks without preconditions with China in
this regard. (Dec 8,
'05)
Giant deal for 150
Airbuses announced
On December 5, China signed an order
with European aircraft maker Airbus for 150
mid-range A320 planes, worth nearly US$10 billion.
Airbus described the transaction as the largest
single order it has received since entering the
Chinese market two decades ago. (Dec 6, '05)
Airbus plays a China
card
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has
upped the ante in its high-stakes battle with
Boeing for dominance of the China market: it
announced, during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to
Toulouse, that it is considering a final assembly
plant in China, which would be the first
established outside Europe. (Dec 5, '05)
Cathay
Pacific puts its trust in
Boeing
Cathay Pacific Airways has placed its
biggest-ever order for new aircraft, committing to
buying 16 wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The
Hong Kong flag carrier has also negotiated
purchase rights for 20 more craft. (Dec 2, '05)
China inks $4 bn deal to
buy 70 Boeing 737s
The China Aviation Supplies Import
& Export Group Corporation (CASGC) signed a
general purchase agreement with Boeing to buy
seventy B737-700/800 aircraft here on November 20,
the biggest single purchase agreement in China's
aviation history. (Nov 21, '05)
Airbus plans to open
Shanghai warehouse
Airbus plans to open a "satellite"
warehouse in Shanghai in the near future, a top company
executive said October 31. The European aircraft
giant will move the spare parts of its wide-body
airplanes to the new site and the current storage
unit in Beijing will only supply parts for the A320
single-aisle jet and the A380. (Nov 16, '05)
Sluggish takeoff for A380 in
China
Airbus' huge A380 "superjumbo"
double-decker passenger jet is drawing large
crowds around  Asia as it tours the region. But China
is conspicuous by its absence from the list of
planned destinations for the tour - perhaps
fittingly, since sales of the A380 to Chinese
airlines have been disappointing so far.
(Nov 14,
'05)
Xi'an company supplies parts to
Boeing
Xi'an Aircraft Industry
(Group) Company Ltd (XAC), one of the largest
aircraft manufacturers in China, delivered the
first shipment of specialized freight parts used
to convert Boeing 747-400s to freighters on
November 7. (Nov 8, '05)
China Eastern takes
delivery of 100th Airbus
China Eastern Airlines took delivery
of its 100th Airbus aircraft, an Airbus A320, on
October 27, becoming the first carrier to operate
a fleet of over 100 Airbus aircraft in the entire
Asia-Pacific region. (Nov 2, '05)
Okay Airways ditches
low-cost model
Okay Airways, China's first private airline,
has ditched its low-cost business operation model
due to various difficulties. "Given the current
conditions, it's impossible for Okay to really
succeed as a low-cost, budget airline," Liu
Jieyin, president of Okay, told Xinhua recently.
(Oct 31,
'05)
Mandarin Airlines launches
HK charter flights
Taiwan's
Mandarin Airlines is set to ply the first charter
flight from Taichung in central Taiwan to Hong Kong on October
20, with the plane 70% full, a spokesman for the
aviation company said October 19. Mandarin
Airlines was granted approval late October 18 to
run two charter flights to Hong Kong by civil
aviation authorities in the territory. (Oct 20, '05)
L15 jet trainer ready for
production
The China
Aviation Industry Corp II (AVIC II) has
successfully developed a third-generation jet
trainer, the L15. Designed and manufactured by the
company's Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, the
plane is expected to make its maiden flight before
the end of this year. (Oct 6, '05)
Agusta Westland to set up
helicopter JV
Jiangxi
Changhe Aviation Industrial Co Ltd in east China's
Jiangxi Province and Anglo-Italian helicopter firm
Agusta Westland Co have recently announced they
will set up a joint venture to produce advanced
light helicopters in China. (Sep 30, '05)
1.07 billion travelers
during "long vacations"
China has seen 1.07 billion travelers and
reaped tourism revenue of 429.2 billion yuan
during the past 14 seven-day vacation periods.
Seven-day vacation periods in China include the
Spring Festival, Labor Day and National Day
holidays. (Sep 29,
'05)
Stork
Aerospace to link up with
SAC
A Dutch aerospace firm,
Stork Fokker, has linked up with the Shenyang
Aircraft Corporation (SAC), a subsidiary of the
China Aviation Industry Corporation, to develop
and manufacture commercial and civil airplane
parts. (Sep 27,
'05)
China now second-ranked
aviation country
Aviation industry turnover in the PRC will
rank second in the world this year, according to
officials, who also expect more rapid development
of regional aviation. Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines
announced the planned purchase of eight Boeing 787
Dreamliner aircraft. (Sep 21, '05)
Jade Cargo buys six Boeing
freighters
The Boeing Company and Jade Cargo
International, the first cargo airline in China
with foreign ownership, have completed an order
for the carrier's purchase of six Boeing 747-400ER
air cargo freighters, with a list price of US$1.3
billion. (Sep
20, '05)
Hong Kong Express launches
CAN flights
Hong Kong Express (HKE), the fourth Hong
Kong-based passenger carrier, started services at
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) September 8
with four daily scheduled flights to Guangzhou,
the Air Authority of Hong Kong said. (Sep 13, '05)
Taiwanese carriers use
mainland airspace
Two Taiwan airliners flew through the
mainland's airspace on Monday, September 5: an EVA
Airways flight from Taipei to Paris and a China
Airlines flight from Taipei to Abu Dhabi. This was
the first time the airlines had flown over the
mainland as a routine practice, rather than a
special arrangement. (Sep 8, '05)
TW passengers mainstay of
Macau airport
Taiwan passengers made up the bulk of total
arrivals at the Macau International Airport in
July, as the airport braces for more and more
visitors from around the world with the opening of
new routes, airport authorities said August 23.
(Aug 25,
'05)
West welcomes private airport
construction
A new
regulation on domestic investment in civil
aviation has come into effect, clearing away the
legal obstacles for the participation of private
capital in airport construction in western China.
The aviation market in the region has been booming
in recent years. (Aug
19, '05)
Cheap
long-haul airlines take flight in PRD
A new
low-cost airline model is being tried in Hong Kong
and Macau by two new start-ups, Oasis and Wow!
Macau. In contrast to traditional no-frills
carriers like Southwest, these new ventures intend
to fly long-haul routes. - Mani Goel (Aug 10,
'05)
Business jets soar in China
 As the first
Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition
kicked off in Shanghai August 9, foreign aircraft
makers were salivating at the potential of China's
private aircraft market. The number of tycoons
able to afford aircraft is growing rapidly; even
business jets are not out of their reach. (Aug 10,
'05)
Yuan appreciation good
news for airlines
Beijing's strengthening of the yuan
provided badly needed cost relief for Chinese
airlines, which have to pay for aircraft, aviation
fuel and overseas landing fees in US dollars. But
whether the airlines can return their businesses
to the black by year's end depends on other
factors, especially jet fuel prices. (Jul 29,
'05)
Discount Air China tickets cause
stir
Unable to compete with
Air China's generous discount offers, a number of
smaller Chinese air companies are pressuring
travel agents to stop selling Air China tickets.
To make matters worse, most of the discounted
tickets were purchased by scalpers and
subsequently sold to unknowing buyers. (Jun 21, '05)
Chinese airlines gasp in
crowded skies
Air China is
upgrading its aircraft and service levels on
international routes in order to compete with
international airlines, whose presence on
international routes to China is already large,
and growing fast. Air Europa, British Airways,
Continental and Sri Lankan Airlines are just a few
of the foreign carriers who have recently added
routes to China. (Jun
11, '05)
Choppy air for China's private
airlines
The number
of private airlines in mainland China has reached
five, up from zero only three months ago. But the
continuing struggles of Okay Airlines, China's
first private airline, exemplify the many
obstacles they face, including crippling fuel
costs, overstaffing, sluggish government
cooperation, and the looming threat of competition
from low-cost operators. - Chen Qing (May 19,
'05)
Airbus likely to win more Chinese
orders
With the Beijing
Olympics on the way, China Southern Airlines is
eyeing any opportunity to expand its fleet. China
Air is also considering an expansion. With the
French Prime Minister's upcoming visit, these
companies have found the ideal time to buy from
Airbus. (Apr 22,
'05)
China's tourism gives as much as
it takes
Not only is China the most popular
destination for tourists in the Asia-Pacific, it
is also the region's biggest source of outbound
travelers. Europe is waking up to this lucrative
reality, and a number of companies have already
taken action. (Apr 13,
'05)
Okay, China's free to
fly
In a landmark flight,
China's first private airline Okay Airlines took
to the air on Friday, breaking free from
government control. A budget airline, Okay's
launch is only a beginning of more such services
and the prelude to the flurry of low-cost flying
that China will witness in coming months. (Mar 12,
'05)
Budget airlines rev
up in China
If last year belonged to Southeast Asia and
India in terms of low-cost airlines, this year
will be China's. At least seven new budget
airlines are being lined up for takeoff. But their
success will largely depend on their ability to
stave off the muscle power of the Big Three
airlines. - David Fullbrook (Feb 24,
'05)
China air travel booms, airports
struggle
China's 170
airports are potential money-making machines,
given that air travel is booming nationwide.
But with a few exceptions, most are old,
mismanaged and losing money. They have been
transferred to new local government
owners, in effect privatized, and the new
bosses need to take a crash course in modern
aviation. - David
Fullbrook (Feb 10, '05)
Jet fuel scandal deals China a
body blow
The
multimillion-dollar scandal that has rocked
Singapore-listed jet fuel import monopoly China
Aviation Oil is not just another case of
incompetence. It raises serious questions about
the corporate governance of Chinese firms and
deals a blow to Chinese stocks - just when the
world is becoming interested in them. Singapore's
authorities, too, have some answering to do. -
Kosuke Takahashi (Dec 6, '04)
Reforming Asia's friendly,
no-frills' skies
The
overcrowding and congestion found among the
streets in Asia has been launched into the skies
above, as the rapid expansion of no-frills
airlines takes off. Aviation policy and reforms
aren't moving quite as fast, though, and the
growing market's lack of fuel could cause the
bubble to burst. - David Fullbrook (Jun 15,
'04)
Taiwan airlines in the red, need
China
Taiwan's four air
carriers are deep in the red and ought to merge,
but they lack synergy and common sense and all
hold out for the big prize: access to mainland
China. The market isn't big enough for them
without access to China or other major markets -
and that's unlikely to happen soon. - David
Fullbrook (Jun 5,
'04)
Israel's role in China's
new warplane
China recently confirmed that it has
developed its first domestically designed fighter
jet, the Jian-10. However, the J-10 in fact
combines Russian propulsion with Israeli
technology developed with US aid as part of
program that has been a thorn in Washington's side
for decades. - David
Isenberg
(Dec 4,
'02)
Dragonair gears up for
expansion
Preparing for the
rapid growth of the East and Southeast Asian air
markets, Dragonair is purchasing engines and
equipment. It plans to double its fleet over the
next five years in an effort to meet the demand
and increase Hong Kong airport's regional clout.
(Feb 25,
'00)
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