Page 8 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2013 Online Magazine

NEWS

NEWS SHORTS

Turbulent times
Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) and Thai
Airways were both hit recently
by turbulence severe enough to
injure passengers and crew. A HKA
A320 hit “sudden turbulence” as it
landed at Phuket, injuring six, and
around 20 people suffered minor
ESMA-Hainan Group SpiceJet CEO Resigns injuries as a Thai A380 approached
takeover Neil Mills has stepped down as CEO of Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong.

After a 15-month period under Chapter SpiceJet, sparking speculation that the ying Toulouse
11, European training organisation ESMA Indian airline’s promoters are looking at Ying Communications, a Singapore-
has been rescued by China-based HNA bringing in a foreign airline as a strategic based agency has been signed
(Hainan) Group Europe. In a release, investor. The resignation comes nearly by Airbus as its PR agency in
HNA said the takeover would allow it to 18 months before his contract ends. In Singapore. “We believe that the
“pursue its marketing strategy focused January, SpiceJet confirmed that some agency has the right specialist
on the domestic market and the North foreign investors have shown interest skills and experience … on the
African market (Maghreb).” It will also in the airline. There were rumours that issues related to our business in
take charge of some Hainan group Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways were the important Singapore market,”
said Sean Lee, Communications
cadets in addition to Hainan Aviation showing interest in a stake, though there Director – Asia, Airbus.
Academy students. Offering pilot, cabin was no official confirmation. Mills is
crew, maintenance and ground staff the second major exit from the airline Still expanding
training, the company is a strategic in recent times. One month previously, The latest edition of Boeing’s
partner of Airbus, ATR and EADS, and Harish Moideen Kutty, SpiceJet COO annual Current Market Outlook
also diversifies its competences by handed in his papers.The company hasn’t (2013-2032) predicts that demand
offering international consultancy. yet announced Kutty’s replacement. (in RPKs – Revenue Passenger
Kilometres) in Asia-Pacific will
grow by 6.3% a year for the next 20
years, and that by 2032 Asia-Pacific
airlines will make up around 33%
of all commercial aircraft, up from
around 24% now.
Tony tops
AirAsia has overtaken Japan
Airlines to break into top five Asian
airlines measured on seat capacity.
According to Innovata, Hainan
Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines
have both moved up a place in the
top 10. China Southern is still top
placer, and 10 on a global ranking
th
too with almost 11% more traffic
Qantas hires Jetstar MRO staff than last year.
Qantas is to invest US$100 million into an MRO and training facility at Melbourne’s SuperJetpanese
Airport West as support for Jetstar, it said in a recent release. Jetstar has ordered Yakutia Airlines has flown the
Dreamliners, and the new centre will house a 787 flight simulator and other training first Sukhoi Superjet 100 flight
equipment. The facility is now being fitted out with the required equipment and from Japan. It has also started
tooling, and a widebody hangar will be leased for use as a dedicated facility for line operations to China, and specialises
maintenance, part of the new MRO operation. To date, 48 engineers have already been in operating flights in Yakutia’s
trained, with more to follow says Jetstar CEO Jayne Hrdlicka. “Cabin crew will be the extremely cold winter conditions.
next group to be trained to operate on the aircraft using … Airport West,” she said.

8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM