Page 11 - AAA MARCH-APRIL 2012 Online Magazine

NEWS

JETSTAR gOES TO Hk

China Eastern Airlines and Qantas (which
owns Jetstar) have inked a deal to set up
Jetstar Hong Kong. Subject to regulatory
approval Jetstar Hong Kong will launch
a three Airbus A320 fleet in 2013. “We
believe there are huge opportunities for
the Jetstar low fares model throughout
Asia, including Greater China, and are
excited to be the first major Chinese
EyES ALOfT carrier to bring this travel option to the China Eastern as equal partners. Alan
region,” said Mr Liu Shaoyong, Chairman
Joyce, Qantas CEO, said the deal would
ORBIS International, a non-profit, of China Eastern Airlines. build a strong base for accessing the
humanitarian organisation dedicated Jetstar says it will leverage its low cost world’s largest, fastest growing and
to saving eyesight operates a flying carrier model and networks together with most profitable aviation market. “We
hospital to developing areas across China Eastern’s local knowledge to be the see tremendous potential for the Qantas
the world. ORBIS Partner, Lufthansa first low fares airline based in Hong Kong. It Group in Asia and we’re looking forward to
Technik Philippines (LTP), has been plans to service short haul routes to China, working more closely with China Eastern
helping ORBIS by offering non- Japan, South Korea and South East Asia. Airlines to deliver on it,” he added. Jetstar
destructive testing (NDT) services for With market cap of up to US$198million, says its fares will be 50% less than existing
the Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-10 kitted the new carrier will see QANTAS and full service carriers.
out to function as a travelling ophthalmic
hospital and teaching facility. Dedicated
to combating preventable and treatable growth according to a report published by
blindness, the organisation works Embraer. India has 55 of the 332 billionaires
across the world enabling experts and in Asia-Pacific and the second-largest
trainers to get to areas that would business jet fleet of 154 in the Asia-
otherwise see hundreds of thousands Pacific region, after China’s 215. “The US
going untreated. GDP in 2011 was US$15 trillion. Within
It is literally a hospital with wings the space of a single generation, India’s
- one that brings together dedicated economy could grow to be as large as the
eye care professionals and aviators US economy is today,” said Kapil Kaul,
to deliver training to local eye care CEO India and Middle East of the Centre
providers and treatment to underserved for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), a Sydney-
patients. Locally, it landed at Subic, based aviation think tank. The report says
Angeles City, Cebu, Davao, and more. INdIA : gROWTH Indian corporations that run domestic and
During stints in Dubai and Indonesia, LTP IN SIgHT global operations are looking at medium-
sent two NDT experts from its Engine and long-range aircraft for senior executive
& Component Overhaul department to India may be suffering from limited transport. This could drive up to 50 aircraft
perform a critical inspection to enable infrastructure, regulatory hurdles and transactions during the next three to four
the hospital to keep flying. high taxation. But potential remains for years, CAPA estimates.

SAID WHAT?!

“This is us, we screwed that up. We will fix it as quickly as

possible and whatever it costs, that is something too early
to say at this point.”

Tom Enders, Airbus CEO explaining to an astonished audience at the Singapore Airshow that the cracks in brackets
inside the A380 wing were being attended to. We could hear the PR groans from the other side of the room.
WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM MARCH / APRIL 2012 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS 11