https://www.scmp.com/rss/35196/feed Airbus is an aircraft manufacturing unit of the European aerospace group, EADS. The A300 made its maiden flight in 1972, and the launch of the A320 in 1981 reinforced Airbus as a challenger to the two major incumbents, Mcdonnell Douglas and Boeing. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Reuters Reuters Aluminium Bahrain, which runs one of the world’s largest smelters, said on Sunday it was assessing the damage following Iranian strikes on the facility and another major aluminium producer in the United Arab Emirates. Two employees at Aluminium Bahrain were hurt in Saturday’s attack, the state-controlled company said, while regional peer Emirates Global Aluminium’s site sustained ‌significant damage from missile and drone strikes the same day. Most Gulf aluminium producers, which account for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348314/iran-targets-bahrain-aluminium-2-injured-amid-hormuz-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3348314/iran-targets-bahrain-aluminium-2-injured-amid-hormuz-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:22:06 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China Eastern Airlines said on Wednesday it placed a multibillion-dollar order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, marking another success for the French company after it raked in big orders from Chinese airlines in December and amid uncertainties related to a widely speculated potential deal between its rival Boeing and Beijing. While the list price of the deal would be US$15.8 billion, China Eastern said Airbus had granted it “a significant price discount” which was “more favourable than the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347905/airbus-wins-chinese-airlines-101-plane-order-victory-over-boeing-key-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347905/airbus-wins-chinese-airlines-101-plane-order-victory-over-boeing-key-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:43 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Emirates is operating flights to Dubai that are near-empty in some cases as travellers avoid the Persian Gulf, highlighting the challenges for the world’s largest international airline to restore its network amid a protracted war. Flights from destinations in the US and continental Europe have been hit the hardest, with planes returning from Prague or Budapest only about 5 to 10 per cent occupied, according to data compiled by the Dubai-based airline. Several aircraft returning from New York... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346799/emirates-flies-full-flights-out-dubai-near-empty-ones-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346799/emirates-flies-full-flights-out-dubai-near-empty-ones-back?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:46:50 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The increasing military use of drones has raised questions about the future role of helicopters as countries such as China and the United States increasingly pivot towards the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Traditionally, helicopters have been used for a wide range of functions ranging from transport to surveillance, but these functions are now increasingly being taken over by pilotless aircraft. Both the Chinese and US armed forces are increasingly building up their UAS fleets –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346602/how-are-military-helicopters-evolving-adapt-age-drone-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346602/how-are-military-helicopters-evolving-adapt-age-drone-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing aims to accelerate the rise of China’s home-grown airliner fleet, including the C909 regional plane, C919 narrowbody and C929 widebody, through 2030. This push to challenge the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus comes as a national five-year plan calls for aircraft production, development and the roll-out of a domestically developed engine. The next five years will prove vital to the success of the three aircraft models and the continued localisation of critical parts such as engines,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346236/chinas-five-year-jet-goals-target-c919-output-new-engine-and-reduced-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346236/chinas-five-year-jet-goals-target-c919-output-new-engine-and-reduced-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has concluded his first visit to China, hailing the “good cooperation” with Beijing as Berlin seeks to rebalance ties with its biggest trading partner amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration. Merz characterised the visit as “worthwhile”, noting that China would buy up to 120 additional aircraft from Airbus SE. The company operates two assembly lines in the northern port city of Tianjin that mainly produce A320 jets for Chinese carriers. In his... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344777/merz-leaves-china-bargaining-chips-looming-trump-trade-battle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:25:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Premier Li Qiang has called for deeper technological cooperation with Germany and highlighted opportunities under China’s latest five-year plan – a move that could help ease tensions with the EU over the war in Ukraine and years of trade disputes. “We support bilateral flows of innovation resources between enterprises and research institutions in both countries,” Li told a symposium attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and more than 60 business representatives from both sides. “We can... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344735/china-eu-trade-ties-are-crossroads-could-tech-bridge-divide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344735/china-eu-trade-ties-are-crossroads-could-tech-bridge-divide?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Beijing with a delicate brief: vouch for a shrinking slice of big German firms still bullish on China, while defending the growing number being squeezed. On day one of his first official visit, Merz trod the line carefully – voicing openness to resetting beleaguered bilateral ties, even while gently nudging his hosts on bugbears including subsidies, currency devaluation and Russia. A day of meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, President Xi Jinping... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344661/merzs-china-tightrope-warm-words-hard-questions-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344661/merzs-china-tightrope-warm-words-hard-questions-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau As commercial aviation giants converge in Singapore this week for a biennial air show, the region’s robust aviation growth and supply chain delays remain top of mind for the sector. Experts and industry insiders at the air show told This Week in Asia that bottlenecks remained a bane for commercial aviation giants Boeing and Airbus, with airlines in the region eager for more supply to tap the region’s potential. According to Reuters, the Asia-Pacific region is the world’s fastest-growing region... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342703/singapore-airshow-airlines-crying-out-loud-planes-amid-supply-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3342703/singapore-airshow-airlines-crying-out-loud-planes-amid-supply-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:27:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen The maker of China’s expanding family of civilian aircraft has announced new orders for a regional jet and secured a crucial “brain” for its ambitious C929 widebody jet, coinciding with the Singapore Airshow. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said on Tuesday that it signed a letter of intent for cooperation with Aviage Systems for the C929’s core avionics processing system, according to a Yicai news report. Avionics refer to an aircraft’s electronic systems, including... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342392/new-brainer-chinas-c929-widebody-lands-partner-power-next-gen-flight-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342392/new-brainer-chinas-c929-widebody-lands-partner-power-next-gen-flight-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:16:39 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s civil aviation authority has floated a regulatory change that would allow its home-grown passenger jet, the C919, to use narrow runways typically found in smaller airports, a move that could help the plane expand its presence at home and break into the Southeast Asian market. The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on Friday that it had set “special conditions” for the C919 to use narrow runways based on the jet’s design features, releasing a draft proposal for a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342252/china-plans-regulatory-change-help-c919-jet-compete-airbus-and-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342252/china-plans-regulatory-change-help-c919-jet-compete-airbus-and-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:01:30 +0000 Frank Chen,Yeon Woo Lee Frank Chen,Yeon Woo Lee When the first cohort of elite foreign captains parachuted into Chinese airlines in the 2000s, their sky-high pay – sometimes reaching 1 million yuan a year – raised eyebrows among their Chinese counterparts. These hotshot aviators, with their international exposure and qualifications, enjoyed a stratospheric level of success in the burgeoning Chinese market. Facing a shortage of experienced pilots, Chinese carriers embraced them with open arms, granting generous benefits and speedy paths to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342101/chinas-expat-pilots-arrived-red-carpet-now-theyre-taking-red-eye-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342101/chinas-expat-pilots-arrived-red-carpet-now-theyre-taking-red-eye-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is revving up the design and testing phase of its widebody C929 airliner, marshalling its resources and mobilising its stakeholders to roll out the indigenous jet on schedule – or, potentially, ahead of earlier estimates. Specialists from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have proactively involved themselves in the C929’s development, the South China Morning Post has learned, with personnel from the national regulator assessing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342069/chinas-widebody-c929-could-arrive-early-revved-development-plan-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342069/chinas-widebody-c929-could-arrive-early-revved-development-plan-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Aviation leaders tackled barriers to growth and the impact of geopolitical tensions on the eve of the Singapore Airshow on Monday, while reaffirming pledges to reduce emissions. Supply chain problems were hurting global airlines and would remain for some time to come, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned industry leaders and regulators. “This disruption continues to have a major ⁠impact,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said at the Changi Aviation Summit,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342050/aviation-chiefs-warn-turbulence-ahead-supply-chains-remain-grounded?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342050/aviation-chiefs-warn-turbulence-ahead-supply-chains-remain-grounded?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:05:55 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese humanoid developer UBTech Robotics has struck a deal to supply European aviation giant Airbus with robots for its manufacturing facilities, the latest step in efforts to expand industrial applications of its robots outside China. Airbus purchased UBTech’s Walker S2 robot as part of a plan to jointly explore robotics applications in aviation manufacturing, Shenzhen-based UBTech said in a statement on Sunday. The deal follows a similar partnership last month with US semiconductor maker... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340379/chinas-ubtech-partners-airbus-bring-humanoid-robots-aviation-manufacturing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340379/chinas-ubtech-partners-airbus-bring-humanoid-robots-aviation-manufacturing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:05:49 +0000 Shaoshan Liu Shaoshan Liu Europe’s debate over its technological future is both timely and necessary. The centre of gravity for platform technologies, advanced semiconductors, hyperscale cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) has undeniably shifted towards the United States and China. While the US boasts giants like Microsoft and Nvidia, and China has cultivated powerhouses like Huawei and Tencent, Europe has seen its share of the digital platform market shrink. However, viewing this shift as inevitable... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3339748/europes-tech-strength-lies-deployment-not-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3339748/europes-tech-strength-lies-deployment-not-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse German Chancellor Friedrich Merz left for India on Sunday for a visit to bolster economic and security ties between the top EU economy and the Asian population giant. Both Berlin and New Delhi face a turbulent world order and a set of economic and geopolitical challenges from the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China. Merz’s visit from Monday – his first to an Asian country since he took office last May – comes two weeks ahead of a planned EU-India summit and as India and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3339515/indias-modi-host-german-leader-bolster-trade-defence-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3339515/indias-modi-host-german-leader-bolster-trade-defence-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:13:46 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu European aviation giant Airbus won another two major orders from Chinese clients for a total of 90 A320neo aircraft on Tuesday, just a day after receiving orders for 55 passenger jets of the same model from two other Chinese airlines. Also on Tuesday, China Express Airlines announced it was purchasing three A320 planes at a list price of between US$390 million and US$420 million. The orders came weeks after Airbus’ CEO accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron on a state visit to China and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338237/airbus-scores-major-win-china-orders-145-a320-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3338237/airbus-scores-major-win-china-orders-145-a320-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 03:01:27 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China has appointed its first female pilot to exclusively captain flights on its home-grown C919 jet, with more aspiring women waiting in the wings as the nation expands its talent pool and systemically transitions elite pilots who used to fly Boeing and Airbus jets to operate the narrowbody airliner. Yu Yue, who made a high-stakes switch from her decade-long career flying the US-made Boeing 737 to be a C919 captain this year, has become a source of inspiration for many in the country. According... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s state-owned planemaker intends to supersize its flagship jet through a partnership with a major domestic carrier to meet rising market demand for bigger narrowbody types, according to sources. The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines last week to deepen cooperation, including on a stretched variant of the single-aisle C919 that would be able to seat at least 200 passengers, the Post has learned. The deal positions China Eastern, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran An Italian defence company’s push to sell Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Philippines could open the door to broader cooperation between Rome and Manila, with analysts calling the aircraft a promising choice for the country’s military modernisation. Leonardo, a government-linked company, said it was committed to investing in the Philippines’ defence capabilities for the long term and offered to provide training, technology transfer and related facilities as part of the deal. The company is... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336282/will-philippines-favour-eurofighter-typhoon-its-military-upgrade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336282/will-philippines-favour-eurofighter-typhoon-its-military-upgrade?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Gerui Wang Gerui Wang French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day visit to China last week signals a recalibration in how China and Europe engage at a moment when technological competition, trade disputes, climate imperatives and geopolitical fragmentation threaten global stability. Macron met enthusiastic students at Sichuan University; French first lady Brigitte Macron visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The trip fostered economic collaboration between the two countries and deliberately... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3335838/france-and-china-are-testing-alternative-zero-sum-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3335838/france-and-china-are-testing-alternative-zero-sum-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:30:09 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India’s largest airline is experiencing its toughest crisis in years after cancelling thousands of flights amid a severe pilot shortage – a result of its failure to hire enough staff to meet new government rules designed to combat pilot fatigue. Analysts say the turmoil at IndiGo highlights the structural challenges faced by a fast-growing aviation market currently dominated by just two carriers. About 3,000 IndiGo flights were cancelled last week, including more than 1,000 on Friday, accounting... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3335742/indigo-flight-chaos-exposes-risks-indias-aviation-duopoly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3335742/indigo-flight-chaos-exposes-risks-indias-aviation-duopoly?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Chaos gripped Indian airports on Thursday after the country’s largest airline IndiGo cancelled more than 1,200 flights, stranding thousands of passengers. The company blamed the disruption on “unforeseen operational challenges” including technical glitches, adverse weather and new rules for workers. India’s aviation watchdog ordered an investigation and demanded that IndiGo respond with plans to ease the interruptions, which have persisted since Monday. Passengers vented their anger online, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3335226/airport-chaos-india-after-indigo-cancels-1200-flights-stranding-thousands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3335226/airport-chaos-india-after-indigo-cancels-1200-flights-stranding-thousands?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:24:41 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma French President Emmanuel Macron sought to improve relations with Beijing as he started a three-day trip amid Europe-China tensions over trade, rare earth minerals and the Ukraine war. “Sometimes there are differences, but it is our responsibility to overcome them for the greater good,” Macron told Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks in Beijing on Thursday. Xi said China was ready to work with France “to exclude any interference” and “make the comprehensive strategic partnership between... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3335185/macron-bypasses-eu-bid-boost-france-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3335185/macron-bypasses-eu-bid-boost-france-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:00:53 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for his three-day visit to China on Wednesday – and he is not coming alone. Alongside his wife Brigitte, the French leader is bringing a delegation of more than 80 people, including multiple ministers and nearly 40 CEOs from across the corporate world. Despite rising trade tensions between China and Europe, the long guestlist signals that Macron is travelling to Beijing looking to do business – and hints at France’s likely priorities. From... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3335036/pandas-nuclear-power-what-macron-wants-his-trip-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3335036/pandas-nuclear-power-what-macron-wants-his-trip-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:47:38 +0000 Reuters Reuters India’s aviation regulator said on Tuesday it was investigating Air India after the airline operated an aircraft eight times without a valid airworthiness review certificate, a document issued annually that ensures compliance with safety standards. The regulator did not name the aircraft type but its news release’s title referenced the registration code of an Airbus A320, and a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed the case in fact concerned the single-aisle jet. Airbus did not... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3334954/air-india-probed-flying-airbus-a320-without-valid-safety-certificate-amid-crash-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3334954/air-india-probed-flying-airbus-a320-without-valid-safety-certificate-amid-crash-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:58:41 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg AirAsia Aviation Group, one of Airbus’ largest customers of single-aisle jets, says testing protocols for aircraft software need to be re-examined in the wake of the weekend glitch that required an urgent update. Tony Fernandes, the founder of the Southeast Asian carrier, said it was likely the software was not thoroughly tested. “It seems a bit bizarre, it is something it has to look at, it’s obvious it wasn’t tested,” Fernandes said in an interview on Tuesday. “I’m not an expert but it failed... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334876/airasia-boss-says-bizarre-airbus-software-glitch-good-warning-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3334876/airasia-boss-says-bizarre-airbus-software-glitch-good-warning-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:55:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters Europe’s Airbus said on Friday it was ordering immediate repairs to 6,000 of its widely used A320 family of jets in a sweeping recall affecting more than half the global fleet, threatening upheaval during the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States and disruption worldwide. The setback appears to be among the largest recalls affecting Airbus in its 55-year history and comes weeks after the A320 overtook the Boeing 737 as the most delivered model. At the time Airbus issued its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3334593/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3334593/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:13:25 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s leading aircraft manufacturer, determined to carve out a share of the lucrative but technologically complex civil aviation market, has obtained a timely round of financial support from its state backers, greatly expanding its registered capital as the firm aims to overcome a production bottleneck and remount its challenge to the Boeing and Airbus duopoly. As competition from the two Western giants for contracts heats up amid a supply chain crunch that has slowed turnaround rates for the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334094/maker-chinas-c919-receives-massive-capital-injection-amid-supply-chain-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334094/maker-chinas-c919-receives-massive-capital-injection-amid-supply-chain-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:27 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse With Nasa’s International Space Station set to come out of service in 2030, American aerospace firm Vast has stepped into a frenzied race for the world’s first commercial space station. Haven-1 - a mini station scheduled for launch in May 2026 - has been designed for comfort, according to Andrew Feustel, a former Nasa astronaut now an adviser at Vast. “It has a three-year lifespan, and over that period of time, we plan to visit the spacecraft with multiple crews of four, four at a time,” he said... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332762/race-first-private-space-station-heats-nasa-plans-2030-iss-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332762/race-first-private-space-station-heats-nasa-plans-2030-iss-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:28:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Brunei has officially adopted China’s civil aviation certification standards, easing access for Chinese-built aircraft such as the narrowbody C919 jet into the wealthy Southeast Asian market while serving as a potential model for how the planes could expand their international reach. Brunei accepted the airworthiness code of the Civil Aviation Administration of China earlier this month, the Chinese embassy in Brunei said on Monday on its website, citing the equatorial country’s Department of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330920/international-win-chinas-c919-brunei-accepts-chinese-aviation-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330920/international-win-chinas-c919-brunei-accepts-chinese-aviation-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong will play a pivotal role in pushing for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in an effort to raise the city’s status as an international aviation hub, the transport chief has pledged. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also said on Tuesday that the government’s green fuel usage target of 1 to 2 per cent by 2030, announced after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address, was “pragmatic and realistic”. “It is of utmost importance that we join hands to scale up... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329816/hong-kong-will-lead-push-green-fuel-elevate-status-aviation-hub-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329816/hong-kong-will-lead-push-green-fuel-elevate-status-aviation-hub-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:12:09 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings The delivery delays appearing to hit China’s C919 – the home-grown narrowbody jet intended to compete with leading Western models – may lead some domestic carriers to consider more orders with US aerospace giant Boeing, industry insiders said. With financial reports from major airlines suggesting C919 units have not been arriving as scheduled, manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) may lose a share of its home market to its American rival, they said, despite the safety... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Deliveries of China’s first narrowbody passenger jet to the top three domestic airlines could be falling behind schedule, according to company financial reports, raising market speculation regarding potential disruptions to the model’s engine supply. Air China and China Eastern Airlines received one C919 aircraft each in the first half of the year despite their stated goals of adding 10 apiece in 2025, according to the reports. China Southern Airlines’ reports said the carrier expects 12 of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:00:20 +0000 Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia has shown strong interest in acquiring the Chinese C919 passenger jet, its executive said, as part of its strategy to tap into Southeast Asia’s 700 million-strong population and capitalise on growing China-Asean business ties. “We’re in active discussions to buy the C919,” Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A – an investment holding company of AirAsia – told the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on Wednesday. “We’re the first foreign airline to be working with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325061/china-eyes-c919-jet-breakthrough-malaysian-airline-confirms-talks-buy-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325061/china-eyes-c919-jet-breakthrough-malaysian-airline-confirms-talks-buy-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia’s bid to become Southeast Asia’s top aircraft maintenance hub hinges on how fast it can ramp up capacity, industry players say, as the country races to secure a greater share of the region’s booming aviation support market. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government has set a high bar: it wants Malaysia to capture 50 per cent of Southeast Asia’s aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market by 2030 – overtaking current leader Singapore. The target is seen as ambitious but not... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325074/can-malaysia-unseat-singapore-become-southeast-asias-top-aircraft-maintenance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325074/can-malaysia-unseat-singapore-become-southeast-asias-top-aircraft-maintenance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 11:42:19 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Born blind and abandoned on the streets of China, Wei Min Patrick discovered a new life after being adopted by an American family. He later earned degrees in piano performance and engineering, eventually building a career as an aircraft engineer. Patrick, who now lives in Alabama, recently shared his story on mainland social media, revealing how his biological grandfather attempted to abandon him three times, including a final instance where he was pushed into a lake before being rescued and... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3324159/blind-china-orphan-turned-us-aircraft-engineer-recalls-being-pushed-lake-grandpa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3324159/blind-china-orphan-turned-us-aircraft-engineer-recalls-being-pushed-lake-grandpa?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is training representatives from Southeast Asia this month in an effort to promote its home-grown civilian aircraft, as the region leads the world in accepting Chinese deliveries despite Airbus and Boeing’s dominance. Twenty participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are taking part in the 2025 China-Asean Civil Aviation Management Capacity Enhancement Workshop in Beijing, which started Monday. Organised by the Civil Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324260/china-starts-aviation-training-southeast-asia-it-pushes-c919-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324260/china-starts-aviation-training-southeast-asia-it-pushes-c919-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 02:15:07 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow For decades, both New Zealand and Australia have been “pretty slack” on military spending, Wellington’s defence minister recently conceded in a striking admission that analysts say was aimed as much at Washington as at a sceptical public at home. Judith Collins told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on August 14 that she sympathised with the United States’ demands for its allies to share more of the defence burden, adding in an interview in Wellington that American taxpayers had carried... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322851/new-zealand-seeks-shed-its-pretty-slack-defence-image-will-it-placate-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3322851/new-zealand-seeks-shed-its-pretty-slack-defence-image-will-it-placate-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The steady passing of ageing relatives of the victims of the 1985 Japan Airlines jumbo jet crash has been sad to watch for Kuniko Miyajima, a leading advocate for those who lost loved ones in the world’s deadliest single-aircraft accident. But on its 40th anniversary, Miyajima’s dedication to remembering the tragedy in Japan through her support group remains steadfast, especially in the interest of future air safety. In its first essay collection in a decade, her group self-published a booklet... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3321523/not-forgetting-deadly-japan-airlines-crash-families-are-still-mourning-40-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3321523/not-forgetting-deadly-japan-airlines-crash-families-are-still-mourning-40-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:15:21 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s aviation regulator has been surveying the country’s airlines to gauge their need for commercial jets made by Boeing, suggesting a possible area in which trade ties between Beijing and Washington might flourish if a broader deal is hammered out. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has requested carriers to update their fleet purchase and renewal plans for 2025 and beyond, according to a source close to the matter. The agency specifically asked whether the carriers’ plans... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319899/boeings-orders-china-may-rise-beijing-surveys-airlines-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319899/boeings-orders-china-may-rise-beijing-surveys-airlines-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:00:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Air India has been warned by India’s aviation regulator that it could face enforcement action for breaching safety standards related to crew fatigue management and training, government notices to the airline showed. The airline self-reported the problems, which occurred this year and last year, to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last month, just days after one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners crashed in Ahmedabad city, killing 260 people. Four government notices, dated July 23,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3319477/air-india-warned-over-systemic-safety-lapses-days-after-fatal-boeing-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3319477/air-india-warned-over-systemic-safety-lapses-days-after-fatal-boeing-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 11:43:39 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Airbus has signed a new cooperation deal with its Chinese partner that will see the company localise more production of its A321 jet in China, with the announcement coming just a week ahead of a key China-Europe leaders’ summit. The European aviation giant will work with its partner AVIC Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group to start fuselage equipping – installing components onto the front and rear parts of an aircraft – for the A321 at its factory in Tianjin under the agreement. The programme is an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318393/airbus-signs-fresh-deal-chinese-partner-amid-talk-massive-china-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318393/airbus-signs-fresh-deal-chinese-partner-amid-talk-massive-china-order?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A preliminary finding into last month’s Air India plane crash has suggested the aircraft’s fuel control switches were turned off, starving the engines of fuel and causing a loss of engine thrust shortly after take-off. The report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday, also found that one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel in the flight’s final moments. The other pilot replied that he did not do so. The Air India... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3317982/air-india-crash-what-black-boxes-can-tell-investigators-about-plane-accidents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3317982/air-india-crash-what-black-boxes-can-tell-investigators-about-plane-accidents?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 08:43:42 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Malaysia’s biggest airlines sealed Airbus deals worth US$20 billion as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wrapped up his European tour. AirAsia reached a tentative agreement to purchase as many as 70 extended-range Airbus single-aisle jets that could reach US$12.3 billion. Malaysia Airlines ordered 20 more A330neo widebody planes, in a deal worth US$7.5 billion, according to calculations before industry discounts are applied. With aircraft diplomacy taking centre stage, the Malaysian government also... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3317061/us20-billion-airbus-shopping-spree-caps-europe-tour-malaysias-anwar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3317061/us20-billion-airbus-shopping-spree-caps-europe-tour-malaysias-anwar?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 03:41:58 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Most Chinese exporters to stay in Vietnam after US tariff deal, analysts say Chinese manufacturers in Vietnam breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday, after Washington and Hanoi agreed a “better than expected” trade deal that will... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3316785/china-reacts-us-vietnam-trade-deal-philippines-tourism-woes-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3316785/china-reacts-us-vietnam-trade-deal-philippines-tourism-woes-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China may be on the verge of placing another lucrative order with European aerospace giant Airbus, potentially for at least 100 to 200 new aircraft – even as some Chinese airlines remain heavily reliant on US rival Boeing’s jets. Europe has emerged as China’s go-to source for overseas commercial aircraft in recent years. Boeing, once a major supplier, has not secured a major order from China since 2017 – casting a shadow over its future in the world’s second-largest economy amid turbulent trade... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316476/china-edges-closer-airbus-mega-deal-leaving-boeing-out-cold-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316476/china-edges-closer-airbus-mega-deal-leaving-boeing-out-cold-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:00:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji When nearly 300 lives were lost in a fiery crash outside Ahmedabad earlier this month, the future of Air India – and faith in Indian aviation itself – was thrown into turmoil. Now, Tata Group’s chairman has assumed direct command of the embattled airline’s day-to-day operations, determined to chart a path out of the crisis following one of modern aviation’s deadliest disasters. On June 17, just five days after the crash, Natarajan Chandrasekaran stood before 700 sombre Air India employees in New... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3316135/tata-takes-helm-air-indias-fight-rebuild-trust-after-deadly-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3316135/tata-takes-helm-air-indias-fight-rebuild-trust-after-deadly-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 07:30:08 +0000