Page 10 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2013 Online Magazine

NEWS

NEWS SHORTS

PAX up CAX down
Last month’s figures from
Association of Asia Pacific Airlines
(AAPA) show growth in passenger
traffic, but weakness in air cargo.
Asia Pacific airlines carried 20.1
million international passengers,
an 8.7% increase. However, freight
markets saw a 1.6% fall in the
average international freight load.

JAL goes Airbus
Asiana slide problem Safety Board (NTSB) had reported Japan Airlines (JAL) has given Airbus

When Asiana Flight 214 crashed in potential malfunction dangers too. The a massive boost with an order for
31 A350 XWBs - plus options for
San Francisco in July, two evacuation NTSB found that at least one evacuation a further 25 aircraft. This is JAL’s
slides failed to operate correctly, and slide did not function properly of the first ever order from Airbus aircraft,
even hindered the escape of panicking time when it looked at reports, way said Yoshiharu Ueki, President
passengers. According to the National back in 2000. Former FAA investigator of Japan Airlines. “We will utilize
Transportation Safety Board, only David Soucie told NBC news reporters the A350 XWB … for new business
two of the Asiana Boeing 777’s eight that FTSB recommendations for opportunities after slots at airports in
emergency slides deployed outside improvements were not acted on. “The Tokyo are increased,” he said.
the plane after the crash. Two slides FAA responded by saying it felt it had
partially inflated inside the cabin, enough recommendations in place to Taxing times for Emirates
According to India’s tax
trapping flight attendants who only make it safe already,” Soucie reportedly commissioner, Emirates Airline
escaped after chopping the slides with said. Even more worryingly, the FAA evaded US$28.7million in airline
an axe. Now it appears that the mal- issued an airworthiness directive for taxes over the last five years. The
functioning slides have been something slides on the same Boeing 777 as the missing tax, detected during an
the FAA had known about for some downed Asiana Flight 214 – but gave audit was “not intentional, but we
time. And equally worryingly, it appears airlines have three and half years to are verifying the claims,” said a
that the US National Transportation address any problems. spokesperson. Emirates has lodged
a payment for the shortfall, but the
Indian authorities are reported to be
Asia by the rapid expansion of regional claiming interest too.
aviation business. “We are keen to offer Aeroflot LCC
our one-stop shop service that covers Russian carrier Aeroflot Group has
aviation law and certification, as well as announced the launch of a budget
safety, technical, risk management and airline called Dobrolet. Dobrolet will
operational issues. Unlike major law run Boeing 737-800s out of Moscow,
firms that have to pull in a specialist starting Q1 2014. Aeroflot CEO Vitaly
consultant, we already have those Saveliev called it a “project of such
people on board,” he added. A former huge importance for Russia.”
head of safety for Qantas and former
AvLaw on the move head of CASA in Sydney, Bartsch says Garuda takes ATR turboprops
AvLaw International (ALI), a new ALI’s move to Singapore is a logical one. Garuda Indonesia is to lease up
network of aviation consultancies “That way we can keep in touch with the to 35 ATR 72-600s as part of its
upgrading initiative. Garuda has
and aviation law firms, is planning to local market, and bring our unique air committed for 25 72-600s, with
relocate HQ from Australia to Singapore law database to local operators too,” he options for 10 more. The aircraft
next year. Chairman Ron Bartsch said says. About to launch in Hong Kong and was chosen as “best choice for
the company’s unique network of both Singapore, the company already has short-haul flights and operations …
legal and technical experts is being affiliates in Indonesia, New Zealand and lowest operating costs.
drawn ever more strongly towards SE and India.

10 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM