https://www.scmp.com/rss/325335/feed Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on aviation, with a particular focus on the industry in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A United Airlines jet with 231 passengers and crew escaped a major disaster on Sunday after one of its wheels clipped a light post and truck on a highway while on final approach to land in New Jersey. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said the Boeing 767 landed safely at Newark Liberty International Airport after arriving from Venice, Italy, and the agency would investigate the incident. A preliminary investigation from New Jersey State Police said “while a United Airlines Aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352305/united-airlines-boeing-767-jet-hits-light-pole-truck-while-landing-newark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352305/united-airlines-boeing-767-jet-hits-light-pole-truck-while-landing-newark?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 02:23:49 +0000 Reuters Reuters Bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, the industry’s first casualty linked to the Iran war, after failing to secure creditor support for a US government bailout plan. The collapse of the carrier following a doubling in jet fuel prices during the two-month-old Iran war will cost thousands of jobs. It is a blow to US President Donald Trump, who had proposed US$500 million to save Spirit despite opposition from some of his closest advisers and many Republicans in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352244/us-carrier-spirit-airlines-shuts-down-industrys-first-iran-war-casualty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352244/us-carrier-spirit-airlines-shuts-down-industrys-first-iran-war-casualty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 16:42:36 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After being forced to check his Academy Award on a transatlantic flight, recent winner Pavel Talankin’s Oscar went missing before an airline tracked it down two days later. Talankin, who co-directed the best documentary winner Mr Nobody Against Putin, did not expect to have to check his statuette for a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport bound for Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday. But a Transportation Security Administration agent said it could not go on board. “At the airport, a TSA... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352194/oscar-goes-missing-after-director-forced-check-it-flight-could-be-used-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352194/oscar-goes-missing-after-director-forced-check-it-flight-could-be-used-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 17:55:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A small plane crashed in Texas Hill Country, killing all five people aboard, officials said on Friday. The crash happened on Thursday night in Wimberley, a city about 40 miles (65km) southwest of Austin, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said on social media. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna 421C crashed around 11.25pm with five people on board. It said the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The plane took off from Amarillo, Texas, about two... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352190/plane-crash-us-texas-state-kills-all-5-board?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352190/plane-crash-us-texas-state-kills-all-5-board?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 15:48:06 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s national aviation regulator has signed new partnership deals with its counterparts in Hong Kong and Macau to accelerate type certification for the country’s widebody airliner, the C929, which is being developed to take on mainstream models from Boeing and Airbus. Building on the cooperation framework established for the home-grown narrowbody C919, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department on Thursday outlined a plan to further collaborate... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352008/china-forges-new-aviation-alliances-fast-track-c929-certification?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352008/china-forges-new-aviation-alliances-fast-track-c929-certification?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:38 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Sri Lanka’s loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport will need a complete overhaul if it wants to attract investors, analysts warn, after a 30-year lease agreement with an Indo-Russian joint venture failed commercially. The nation’s second international airport, built with Chinese loan, is located near a wildlife sanctuary on the island’s southern coast. It has no regular flights. Since opening in 2013, the small airport has failed to generate enough revenue to cover even its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351962/sri-lankas-investor-call-worlds-emptiest-airport-struggling-get-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351962/sri-lankas-investor-call-worlds-emptiest-airport-struggling-get-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:03:44 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Airbus secured an order for 137 A320neo jets from Chinese airlines, extending the European company’s edge in one of aviation’s most contested markets as US rival Boeing waits on a long-speculated deal with Beijing. China Southern Airlines, one of China’s three major state-owned carriers, announced the deal on Wednesday. The airline, based in the southern city of Guangzhou, will purchase 102 aircraft, while its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines will acquire the remaining 35. The orders carry a combined... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351900/china-southern-airlines-orders-airbus-jets-worth-us21b-boeing-deal-remains-rumour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351900/china-southern-airlines-orders-airbus-jets-worth-us21b-boeing-deal-remains-rumour?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:57:06 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore ground handler SATS has apologised after one of its employees was filmed tossing passengers’ luggage onto a conveyor belt at Changi Airport, in a video that drew scrutiny partly because Changi has long been ranked among the world’s best airports. SATS is a separate aviation services company that provides ground-handling services at Changi, which is operated by Changi Airport Group. The minute-long video, posted on social media on Sunday, showed a worker in a blue shirt moving large... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351792/singapore-firm-sorry-after-changi-airport-baggage-handler-caught-tossing-luggage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351792/singapore-firm-sorry-after-changi-airport-baggage-handler-caught-tossing-luggage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:05:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg India’s major airlines warned of a potential suspension in services unless the government lowered jet fuel prices. “The airline industry in India is under extreme stress and on the verge of closing down or of stopping its operations,” the Federation of Indian Airlines, representing carriers including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, said in a letter to India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, seen by Bloomberg. They sought a return to pandemic-era cost caps on aviation turbine fuel and a reduction or... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351782/indias-major-airlines-verge-closing-down-high-fuel-costs-sting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351782/indias-major-airlines-verge-closing-down-high-fuel-costs-sting?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:03:25 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Thousands of Japanese are defying rising prices at home and the pain of the feeble yen to have one final foreign holiday over “golden week” before airlines increase fuel surcharges. The operator of Narita International Airport anticipates that 1.59 million travellers will pass through the airport on the outskirts of Tokyo between last Friday and May 10. That would be an increase of around 2 per cent from last year’s golden week holiday season, which in Japan refers to a cluster of national... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351741/japanese-travellers-rush-abroad-golden-week-fuel-price-increases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351741/japanese-travellers-rush-abroad-golden-week-fuel-price-increases?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Canada plans to allow more flight connections to China, as it seeks to rebuild ties with Beijing and capitalise on rising demand for Canadian travel among Chinese tourists, but airlines may be reluctant to add new routes due to soaring jet fuel costs and a lack of access to Russian airspace. Steven MacKinnon, Canada’s transport minister, announced last week that Ottawa would permit an “incremental” increase in direct passenger combination flights to China and up to 20 cargo flights per week. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351717/canadas-push-rebuild-ties-china-hits-snag-lack-direct-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351717/canadas-push-rebuild-ties-china-hits-snag-lack-direct-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian British industrial conglomerate Rolls-Royce is strengthening its presence in China via a newly launched engine maintenance joint venture with Air China, as domestic demand for commercial air travel grows. The joint venture, Beijing Aero Engine Services (BAESL), which became operational in December, provides engine maintenance services for Chinese airlines. The company said it planned to leverage this partnership to serve overseas carriers in future. “China is an important market for Rolls-Royce,... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3351594/rolls-royce-boosts-china-presence-engine-maintenance-venture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3351594/rolls-royce-boosts-china-presence-engine-maintenance-venture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A small plane crashed on Monday in South Sudan near the capital Juba, killing all 13 passengers and the pilot, local officials said. On top of instability, conflict and poverty, South Sudan also lacks reliable transport infrastructure with frequent plane crashes attributed to overloading and bad weather. The plane was a Cessna that departed Juba International Airport at 9.15am local time and crashed about 20km (12 miles) from the capital with no survivors, the South Sudanese Civil Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351612/14-killed-plane-crash-outskirts-south-sudans-capital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351612/14-killed-plane-crash-outskirts-south-sudans-capital?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:23:04 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Once a niche destination, Central Asia is quickly emerging as a key market for Chinese travellers, supported by robust traffic growth, expanding air links and deeper economic ties under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, according to analysts. Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed that passenger traffic to Central Asia grew 59.3 per cent in 2025 from a year earlier, marking one of the fastest growth rates among all regions tracked, said Mayur Patel, commercial and industry... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351340/chinese-travellers-flock-central-asia-flight-bookings-soar-120-pre-covid-levels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351340/chinese-travellers-flock-central-asia-flight-bookings-soar-120-pre-covid-levels?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Cathay Pacific Airways has raised HK$2.08 billion (US$265.4 million) by selling Hong Kong dollar-denominated bonds to boost its working capital, tapping the Hong Kong dollar public bond market for the first time. Hong Kong’s flag carrier said on Friday that the bond issuance was the biggest of its kind by a locally based, non-public sector company. The three-year bonds, which carry a fixed interest rate of 3.78 per cent, were sold mainly to professional investors such as asset managers, banks... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351358/cathay-raises-hk208-billion-after-tapping-public-bond-market-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351358/cathay-raises-hk208-billion-after-tapping-public-bond-market-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:57:46 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A 51-year-old cancer patient who collapsed on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight to Hong Kong from the United Kingdom was pronounced dead on Friday morning. Flight CX216 took off from Manchester and landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 6.52am on Friday, with police receiving a report about the man’s condition at 6.16am. The passenger, Shum Chung-lai, had suffered from pancreatic cancer since June last year. He emigrated to the UK in 2022 with his wife and two children but had to fly back to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3351228/man-dies-after-fainting-cathay-pacific-flight-uk-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3351228/man-dies-after-fainting-cathay-pacific-flight-uk-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:41:29 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit The signal is clear. In the first quarter of this year, just three C919 aircraft were delivered – two to China Southern Airlines and one to Air China. For a Chinese programme expected to deliver more than 30 of these home-grown narrowbody airliners this year, the gap between ambition and reality has opened up quickly. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) delivered 15 C919s last year, far short of the target of 75 set before supply disruptions forced a reset. Even the modest reported... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350858/engine-dilemma-lies-heart-successful-take-chinas-c919?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350858/engine-dilemma-lies-heart-successful-take-chinas-c919?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea’s air force apologised on ⁠Thursday for a ⁠2021 mid-air collision involving two ⁠fighter jets, a day after auditors said pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident. “We sincerely apologise to the public ‌for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021,” an air force spokesman said in a press briefing, adding that one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3351175/south-koreas-air-force-apologises-after-audit-blames-2021-jet-collision-mid-air-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3351175/south-koreas-air-force-apologises-after-audit-blames-2021-jet-collision-mid-air-selfies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:57:47 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Southeast Asia’s tourism sector takes a hit from the Iran war, a pivot to serving as alternative flight hubs may help to save the industry. The region’s major airlines are seeing rising demand for European routes as travellers avoid Middle Eastern hubs amid disruptive drone and missile attacks, according to Reuters. Singapore Airlines has joined other major Asian carriers, such as Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and Qantas Airways, in posting strong performances on Europe flights in March. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351081/how-southeast-asias-aviation-hubs-are-capturing-traffic-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:55:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Peru’s foreign and defence ministers resigned on Wednesday in protest over the interim president’s decision to stall a US$3.5 billion deal for the purchase of 24 US F-16 fighter jets. The ministers said the deal had already been signed and that to cast doubt on it now jeopardised Peru’s reputation as a trading partner. Despite the president’s declared wish to suspend the purchase, the Ministry of Economy announced late Wednesday that it had transferred US$462 million as part of an initial... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3351057/top-peru-ministers-resign-protest-over-stalled-us-fighter-jet-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3351057/top-peru-ministers-resign-protest-over-stalled-us-fighter-jet-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters The United States is concerned that several African countries revoked overflight clearances for Taiwan’s leader at mainland China’s behest, the US State Department said on Wednesday, calling the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system. Taiwan this week said the Seychelles, Mauritius ‌and Madagascar unilaterally revoked flight permits for leader William Lai Ching-te’s aircraft to cross airspace they manage on a planned trip to eSwatini, one of Taiwan’s allies. It is the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351056/us-slams-china-after-african-countries-block-taiwan-leaders-eswatini-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351056/us-slams-china-after-african-countries-block-taiwan-leaders-eswatini-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:40:29 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Flights between China and Japan faced even more cancellations in March – with further cuts expected during the coming Labour Day holiday – as political tensions between the Asian neighbours continue to simmer. A total of 2,691 China-Japan flights were scrapped last month, according to figures from the data platform DAST cited by Chinese media outlet Yicai. That brought the cancellation rate to nearly 50 per cent, 1.1 percentage points higher than February. Only 2,711 flights between the two... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350995/2700-china-japan-flights-axed-march-rift-between-asian-powers-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350995/2700-china-japan-flights-axed-march-rift-between-asian-powers-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:17 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Deliveries of China’s home-grown C919 narrowbody airliner, billed to challenge mainstream models from Boeing and Airbus, appear to be delayed, with only three units shipped to Chinese carriers in the first quarter of 2026. Observers point to several factors holding back the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac). While some C919s are said to be stuck on the tarmac waiting for engines, analysts also say prioritising quality over speed is the right bet for the planemaker. Only three C919... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349112/chinas-c919-sees-delivery-delays-2026-3-units-shipped-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349112/chinas-c919-sees-delivery-delays-2026-3-units-shipped-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Sleep on a long-haul flight in economy class has always been a fantasy for many travellers. Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed wearing special socks. The airline will soon open bookings for four-hour stints in the Skynest sleep pods and says they will be the first lie-flat beds for budget air travellers. Fliers will get cosy with their fellow passengers, however, so crumbs, strong perfumes and bed-sharing are forbidden. The curtained... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350551/air-new-zealand-invites-economy-passengers-join-mile-high-sleep-club-world-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350551/air-new-zealand-invites-economy-passengers-join-mile-high-sleep-club-world-first?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:23:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm carried more passengers in March than a year ago, despite the impact of the US-Israel war against Iran. Cathay Group also said on Friday that it aimed to restore all flights after June. The company earlier announced it was cutting the number of Cathay Pacific flights by 2 per cent and HK Express services by 6 per cent between mid-May and the end of June. The group attributed the passenger growth to a spate of mega-events in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350510/cathay-pacific-hk-express-passenger-counts-despite-impact-mideast-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350510/cathay-pacific-hk-express-passenger-counts-despite-impact-mideast-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:19 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asian airlines are cutting flights, raising fares and reshuffling networks as the Iran war sends jet fuel prices soaring, leaving carriers across the region scrambling to protect their margins and preserve key routes. The shock has hit Asia especially hard because many economies depend heavily on fuel flows from the Middle East, according to aviation analysts, and some regional carriers are less protected from sudden price spikes than their counterparts in Europe or the US. “The impact has been... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350497/asian-airlines-face-major-headwind-jet-fuel-costs-forcing-flight-changes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350497/asian-airlines-face-major-headwind-jet-fuel-costs-forcing-flight-changes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:49:33 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Vietnamese budget carrier VietJet Air has agreed to lease as many as 10 Chinese-made C909 regional passenger jets, giving a lift to their manufacturer’s goal of vying with Airbus and Boeing in overseas civil aviation. VietJet said in a statement on Thursday night it had agreed with SPDB Financial Leasing, a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank in China, to finance the aircraft through operating leases. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) makes the jets that are the subject... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350431/vietnamese-airline-lease-10-c909-jets-boost-chinese-aircraft-maker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350431/vietnamese-airline-lease-10-c909-jets-boost-chinese-aircraft-maker?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:31 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Two crew members and six passengers were killed when a private helicopter crashed in dense forest on Indonesia’s Borneo island, the transport ministry said on Friday. The Airbus H130 helicopter, owned by local firm Matthew Air Nusantara, lost contact with air traffic control about five minutes after take-off from an oil plantation in the West Kalimantan province on Thursday morning. It was on its way to another plantation in Kubu Raya district. All eight on board were men and one was a Malaysian... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350430/malaysian-man-among-8-dead-indonesian-helicopter-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3350430/malaysian-man-among-8-dead-indonesian-helicopter-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:56:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Dubai has completed its first flying taxi station, with commercial operations expected to begin by the end of the year, authorities in the Gulf emirate announced on Thursday. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, crown prince of Dubai and United Arab Emirates deputy prime minister, visited Dubai’s “first purpose-built electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) Air Taxi Station”, the emirate’s media office said in a statement. The facility, described by the emirate’s authorities as the “first of its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350378/first-its-kind-flying-taxi-station-completed-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350378/first-its-kind-flying-taxi-station-completed-dubai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:34:26 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Europe has “maybe 6 weeks or so [of] jet fuel left”, the head of the International Energy Agency said on Thursday in a wide-ranging interview, warning of possible flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA executive director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced”, stemming from the pinch-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. “In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350352/europe-running-low-jet-fuel-stoking-fears-flight-cancellations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350352/europe-running-low-jet-fuel-stoking-fears-flight-cancellations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:44:20 +0000 CNA CNA A man was charged in Australia on Tuesday with sexually assaulting a female passenger on board a Scoot flight from Singapore to Perth on Monday. The 52-year-old Indian national committed “non-consensual sexual acts” on a woman he was seated next to during the flight, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police Force said in a joint statement on Monday. The woman sought help from airline staff members and was later moved to another seat, the police said in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350324/indian-man-charged-sexual-assault-passenger-singapore-perth-scoot-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3350324/indian-man-charged-sexual-assault-passenger-singapore-perth-scoot-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:42:19 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Greater Bay Airlines has suspended most of its flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok for more than four months amid surging fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East. The airline’s website showed that as of 8pm on Thursday no flights were available between Hong Kong and Bangkok for most of the dates between May 12 and September 22. The carrier said it had adjusted its services due to rising fuel prices and apologised to affected travellers. “Due to the continued rise in fuel prices... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350268/greater-bay-airlines-suspends-bangkok-flights-over-4-months-amid-fuel-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350268/greater-bay-airlines-suspends-bangkok-flights-over-4-months-amid-fuel-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:08:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s aviation authorities have mobilised a range of resources to support European certification of the C919, the home-grown airliner aiming to take on Boeing and Airbus, with steady progress made in recent months, multiple sources said. Technicians and pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have set up shop in Shanghai for more checks and in-flight tests in recent months, according to a source who took part in some technological exchanges with the agency. “They now stay... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349669/eu-tests-chinas-c919-speed-pilots-stay-shanghai-permanently-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349669/eu-tests-chinas-c919-speed-pilots-stay-shanghai-permanently-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Buffeted by six weeks of war in the Middle East, airlines have scrambled to trim routes and costs as fuel bills explode and wary clients think twice about their travel plans, a situation that could persist even if a fragile truce holds. Carriers have largely halted flights in the Gulf region, with Air France announcing this week that it was extending its suspensions until May 3 – a decision a source said was made before this week’s ceasefire between the United States and Iran. With no certainty... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349544/why-us-iran-truce-may-not-end-high-airfares-and-flight-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3349544/why-us-iran-truce-may-not-end-high-airfares-and-flight-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok The Strait of Hormuz blockage is being felt far and wide. While the world struggles with higher pump prices, key energy exporters such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar face severe economic setbacks. In Gulf states serving as air hubs, expats and affluent locals are scrambling for the exit. The discovery of oil transformed Arabian deserts into rich petro-states. Knowing this wealth would not flow forever, the states leveraged their strategic locations to become air traffic hubs.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349044/gulf-states-geography-both-generous-and-treacherous-patron?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349044/gulf-states-geography-both-generous-and-treacherous-patron?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong International Airport has been flying high for decades, winning numerous world titles for its services, facilities and efficiency. Another jewel in the crown is this year’s Global Travel Award for “Best Airport in the World”. It is a fitting tribute to an aviation hub that has consistently delivered top performance amid fierce regional and global competition. In an era where many airports strive to stand out with flashy new infrastructure, Hong Kong’s success stems from its enduring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349126/travellers-recognise-strengths-hong-kong-international-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349126/travellers-recognise-strengths-hong-kong-international-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost carrier AirAsia X said on Monday it was raising ticket prices by as much as 40 per cent and cutting routes to cushion the impact of the war on Iran, but stressed demand for flights remained high. The Malaysia-based no-frills airline said about 10 per cent of its overall flights had been cut so far. It has raised fuel surcharges by about 20 per cent, while fare prices have increased between 31 per cent and 40 per cent. Average jet fuel costs have soared to about... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349143/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-40-cut-capacity-10-iran-war-hits-fuel-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349143/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-40-cut-capacity-10-iran-war-hits-fuel-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:41:39 +0000 Liu Zhen,Victoria Bela Liu Zhen,Victoria Bela One crew member from a US fighter jet shot down over Iran has been rescued by US forces, multiple news outlets reported on Friday, citing two US officials, while a second crew member remains missing. A separate US aircraft was also hit near the Strait of Hormuz, though its pilot was rescued safely, according to the reports. Iran claimed on Friday to have shot down the American jet, releasing photos of apparent wreckage of an F-15E. The United States reportedly launched a search-and-rescue... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349006/one-us-pilot-rescued-another-missing-after-iran-says-it-downed-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3349006/one-us-pilot-rescued-another-missing-after-iran-says-it-downed-fighter-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:47:43 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen From controlling the weight of aircraft to sending more flights to Europe via Russian airspace, Chinese airlines have adopted a range of measures in response to the surge in oil prices resulting from the Middle East conflict that threatens to crimp their razor-thin margins. A number of carriers, including China Eastern Airlines, have been enforcing more precise and complex cost management measures in recent weeks to save fuel, according to industry insiders. They include stricter load and weight... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348919/chinese-airlines-shed-weight-add-flights-over-russia-trim-fuel-costs-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348919/chinese-airlines-shed-weight-add-flights-over-russia-trim-fuel-costs-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:02:09 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Korean Air said on Friday it will faithfully respond to legal procedures in the United States, where a lawsuit was filed in Virginia on behalf of the estate of Porscha Tynisha Brown, who died at age 33 in March 2024, during a flight from Washington to Incheon operated by the airline. Burns Charest, the law firm representing the complainants, claimed her death resulted from a series of critical failures by Korean Air flight personnel. According to the complaint, Brown experienced sudden... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348875/i-cant-breathe-korean-air-sued-over-flight-death-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348875/i-cant-breathe-korean-air-sued-over-flight-death-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:40:20 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan could get a boost in its push for a next-generation fighter jet if Canada joins a multinational consortium backing the aircraft’s development, as Tokyo aims to narrow the gap with China’s fast-modernising air force. The Canadian government said it intended to take part in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), currently involving Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy, the Asahi newspaper reported on Tuesday. Japan is planning to replace its ageing F-2 fleet with a sixth-generation stealth... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348709/why-japans-advanced-fighter-project-may-get-canadian-tailwinds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348709/why-japans-advanced-fighter-project-may-get-canadian-tailwinds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Chinese airlines are mulling the introduction of higher fuel surcharges, as authorities strive to balance the impact of surging oil prices with the need to preserve airline margins and at the same time avoid dampening consumer demand. Although a formal announcement from the national regulator is pending, at least two domestic airlines released notices on Wednesday about plans for sixfold surcharge increases, after another airline rescinded a similar notice on Tuesday. According to notices put... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348653/eyes-chinese-airline-regulator-it-seeks-difficult-balance-fuel-surcharge-rises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348653/eyes-chinese-airline-regulator-it-seeks-difficult-balance-fuel-surcharge-rises?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:00:19 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong International Airport has been voted the world’s best airport, along with accolades recognising its security standards and facilities. An Airport Authority spokesman said on Wednesday that the city’s airport had been named “Best Airport in the World” at the Global Travel Awards this year. Organiser International Media & News Group, based in Britain, said the awards recognised the best hotels, airports, airlines and destinations based on votes cast by 2.5 million travellers from more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348649/hong-kong-airport-named-worlds-best-global-travel-awards-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348649/hong-kong-airport-named-worlds-best-global-travel-awards-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:10:07 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong China’s exports of jet fuel have declined sharply in recent weeks amid the US-Israel war on Iran, leaving countries including Australia and Japan facing a supply crunch and scrambling to find alternative sellers. China is Asia-Pacific’s largest jet fuel and kerosene exporter, but shipments from the country fell nearly 40 per cent month on month in March to 204,000 barrels per day, figures from trade data provider Kpler showed. The cutback is likely to hit hardest in Australia and Japan, which... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348642/australia-and-japan-face-jet-fuel-supply-crunch-china-cuts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348642/australia-and-japan-face-jet-fuel-supply-crunch-china-cuts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:22:29 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Flight bookings in China have grown 20 per cent year on year ahead of the annual Ching Ming Festival holiday that starts this weekend and follows public school breaks in much of the country – despite higher airfares on account of rising fuel prices. Holiday bookings had reached 2.04 million flight tickets as of Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing figures from data provider TravelSky Technology. CCTV’s Sunday report said cross-border holiday flight bookings inbound and outbound stood at... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348367/chinese-flight-bookings-rise-20-ahead-april-holiday-break-despite-soaring-airfares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348367/chinese-flight-bookings-rise-20-ahead-april-holiday-break-despite-soaring-airfares?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The latest power-bank restriction on air travellers comes less than a month after a major nighttime crash and rescue drill at Hong Kong airport in which an airliner’s take-off was aborted after smoke was reported coming from a passenger’s power bank. But that was a simulation, involving more than 1,000 personnel plus hundreds of volunteers, aimed at optimising airport emergency response. There was therefore no connection with the ban imposed without warning by the Airport Authority on Saturday... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348409/restriction-power-banks-flights-should-not-have-come-surprise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348409/restriction-power-banks-flights-should-not-have-come-surprise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:45:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters Wars, including a widening conflict in the Middle East, are heightening risks for aviation as flight corridors are squeezed and drones become more widespread, Europe’s top aviation safety regulator has said. The month-old Iran war is reshaping airspace across the Middle East and increasing disruption to flights, including clogging routes between Asia and Europe that previously transited or ‌flew over the region. On top of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict and fighting between Pakistan and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348364/iran-war-rogue-drones-force-european-aviation-safety-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3348364/iran-war-rogue-drones-force-european-aviation-safety-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:28:23 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Air passengers departing from Hong Kong have said they were unaware of a new rule limiting the number of power banks they can carry to two, with few reminder signs visible at the airport on the first day of its enforcement on Sunday. The concerns were raised after Hong Kong International Airport announced on Saturday night that departing passengers were restricted to carrying no more than two power banks each on flights. Citing new regulations from the International Civil Aviation Organization... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348275/hong-kong-passengers-caught-guard-new-airport-limit-2-power-banks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348275/hong-kong-passengers-caught-guard-new-airport-limit-2-power-banks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:24:51 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Shandong Airlines, a subsidiary of flagship carrier Air China, has announced plans to lease 10 Boeing 737 aircraft, signalling China’s continued demand for the American jets as it looks to refresh an ageing fleet. The airline will pay a total fee of 2.88 billion yuan (US$405 million), with the aircraft to be delivered in batches over the coming two years, according to a notice Air China issued to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Thursday. The deals include 10-year leases for three Boeing 737-800... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348170/air-china-subsidiary-lease-10-boeing-jets-deals-worth-about-us400-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348170/air-china-subsidiary-lease-10-boeing-jets-deals-worth-about-us400-million?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Greater Bay Airlines has become the latest Hong Kong-based carrier to raise its fuel surcharges by 34 per cent amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the fee for destinations other than mainland China set to hit HK$389 (US$50). China’s largest courier, SF Express, also said on Friday it would switch to adjusting its fuel surcharge rates from a monthly to a weekly basis beginning in April because of the “continuous and frequent fluctuations” of international oil prices. Global fuel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:14:56 +0000