Business Times Online - Aviation

Changi Airport's retail sales hit high of $1.5b

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

CHANGI Airport's retail business hit a record high last year with concession sales of over $1.5 billion, placing Changi firmly among the top four airports in the world in terms of annual sales.

Aviation's emissions solutions must be global

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

NO country should be marginalised in the search for a solution to reduce the aviation industry's carbon emissions, Assad Kotaite, president emeritus of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, said yesterday.

Dreamliner glitch will not delay output goals: Boeing

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SINGAPORE) Boeing Co, the world's second-largest plane maker, is frustrated with the latest 787 Dreamliner production glitch, but it shouldn't delay output goals, a top executive said yesterday.

Aviation integration poses tech challenges

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

AS aviation continues to expand, individual airspace boundaries will blur into an integrated aviation space, which presents new challenges for management systems.

Plans to draw aviation capital to S'pore

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

THE maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years, with a substantial portion of that growth being driven by Asia.

Holistic plan to boost aerospace sector

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

THE government, through the Economic Development Board (EDB), will continue to roll out a holistic support package for global aerospace companies wanting to locate in Singapore or boost their existing operations here.

AirAsia X to list in H2 if units' IPOs succeed

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia-based long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X is planning to list in the second half of this year if two other group units list successfully, despite recently cancelling some routes, the Edge Financial daily reported yesterday.

Checks on A380s won't affect SIA, Qantas flights

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SYDNEY) Singapore Airlines, Qantas Airways and Korean Air Lines, Asia's three largest operators of Airbus SAS A380s, said flights would be unaffected by a new order for checks on the superjumbos.

Boeing keeps closer eye on suppliers as jet output rises

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SEATTLE) Boeing Co is scrutinising its supply chain's capacity and quality more closely than ever as the planemaker ratchets up commercial jet output to record levels.

Cebu Pacific bullish about long-haul sector

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

PHILIPPINE-based Cebu Pacific sees a huge potential market for low-cost long-haul flights, given that there are at least 11 million Filipinos living abroad, with the majority in markets beyond the five-hour flight radius for short-haul operations.

Airbus may offer wider A320 aisle seats

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SEATTLE) Airbus SAS, the world's biggest commercial-jet builder, is starting to market a new seating concept for its narrow-body planes that could provide more hip room in aisle seats for larger passengers, an executive said.

EU may relax its new airline emissions rule

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(BRUSSELS) The European Union could suspend parts of a new law requiring airlines to account for their greenhouse gas emissions if countries were to make clear progress this year toward establishing a global emissions control system, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Brazil airport licence auctions fetch premium bids totalling 24.5b reais

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(BRASILIA) Some of the world's biggest airport operators came away empty-handed after Brazil auctioned licenses to run three of its busiest hubs. With the concessions fetching five times the minimum bid, their caution may have been wise.

Jetstar Japan to start domestic flights in July

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(TOKYO) Jetstar Japan Co, the budget carrier part-owned by Qantas Airways, said it will start flights in July with services to four domestic cities from Tokyo as it gears up for competition with two other new low-cost carriers.

Airlines told to check for wing cracks on A380s

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(LONDON) Airlines operating the Airbus SAS A380 aircraft will be required to perform wider inspections of the superjumbos after Europe's air safety regulator extended the checks to the entire fleet of the double-decker jetliner.

Korean Air predicts 'hard, tough year' for cargo mkt

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SEATTLE) Korean Air Lines Co, the world's second-largest international freight carrier, expects a cargo slump to continue as economic concerns stymie world trade.

Qantas credit risk climbs on rising fuel costs

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SYDNEY) Qantas Airways Ltd, one of two airlines in the world with debt ranked investment grade by more than one of the major ratings companies, is losing favour among bondholders after it was downgraded because of rising fuel prices and competition.

Air France cancels half of long-haul flights on strike

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(PARIS) French flag-carrier Air France cancelled up to half of its long-haul flights yesterday as aviation workers pursued a strike against plans to require them to give 48 hours notice of a walk-out.

JAL sees later Dreamliner delivery date

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(TOKYO) Flag carrier Japan Airlines said yesterday that it no longer expects its first Dreamliner from Boeing Co by the end of February, as a fresh manufacturing glitch is seen adding pressure to an already-tight 787 production timetable.

Scoot chooses Gold Coast as 2nd destination

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SINGAPORE) Singapore Airlines' long-haul low-cost unit, Scoot, has chosen Gold Coast in Queensland as its second destination after Sydney.

Aviation strike kicks off in France

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(PARIS) French airports announced some cancellations and delays on the first day of a four-day strike by aviation workers on Monday but flight disruptions were limited.

Heathrow returning to normal after disruptions

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(LONDON) London's Heathrow Airport returned almost to normal yesterday after heavy snow forced hundreds of flight cancellations over the weekend, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

China bars airlines from EU emissions levy plan

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(HONG KONG) China, home to the world's fastest growing aviation market, banned airlines from taking part in a European Union carbon-emissions system designed to curb pollution, saying the program violates international rules.

Boeing orders checks on Dreamliners

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(DALLAS) Boeing ordered inspections of 787 Dreamliners after finding signs of delamination on the fuselage of the first passenger jetliner built chiefly of carbon-fibre composites.

Qantas warns of rating cut if law is changed

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SYDNEY) Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia's biggest carrier, said it may be forced to sell its Jetstar unit and could lose its investment-grade credit rating if Australia changes laws affecting the company.