https://www.scmp.com/rss/519689/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Aeroplane makers including Boeing and Airbus, the world’s two largest manufacturers, have faced increasing challenges in recent years, after reports of technical and safety concerns. Most recently, the engine of an Airbus A350 caught fire during a Cathay Pacific Airways flight while a rear door plug on a Boeing 737-9 Max blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight. Both companies are also involved in a US regulatory investigation into false paperwork related to the authentication of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3285171/china-can-be-force-global-aviation-if-comac-rises-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3285171/china-can-be-force-global-aviation-if-comac-rises-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Nov 2024 01:30:08 +0000 The European aviation regulator has ordered airlines using Airbus A350 aircraft to inspect the planes within one month in a bid to identify any faulty fuel hoses after Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways suffered a “serious” engine fire and cancelled 90 flights. In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it was taking precautionary measures to prevent any further similar occurrences. “We will require a one-time fleet inspection, which may be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3277378/hong-kong-investigation-prompts-europe-order-inspection-a350-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3277378/hong-kong-investigation-prompts-europe-order-inspection-a350-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 13:13:14 +0000 Rolls-Royce should explain what went wrong with its A350 aircraft engine component that forced Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways to cancel flights and advise other airlines whether they need to inspect their fleets, experts have said. Their calls came as a source told the Post deformed fuel lines used to transfer fuel to Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A350 fleet were the reason behind the failure of an engine part. Inspections found 15 of 48 of the airline’s fleet of A350s had engine issues, forcing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3277085/call-a350-engine-maker-rolls-royce-explain-parts-problem-after-hong-kong-flights-axed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3277085/call-a350-engine-maker-rolls-royce-explain-parts-problem-after-hong-kong-flights-axed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:30:07 +0000 Harvey Kong,Oscar Liu Harvey Kong,Oscar Liu Cathay Pacific Airways passengers were left scrambling to find alternative travel arrangements earlier this week after a faulty engine component prompted Hong Kong’s flag carrier to ground its entire fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft. The Post shares the latest developments and how the technical fault has affected the airline’s operations. 1. Why was Cathay’s A350 fleet grounded? Cathay Pacific grounded all of its Airbus A350 planes after an engine component failure was discovered on an aircraft... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3277072/engine-fault-forces-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-ground-airbus-a350-fleet-so-whats-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3277072/engine-fault-forces-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-ground-airbus-a350-fleet-so-whats-next?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:15:05 +0000 Deformed fuel lines used to transfer fuel to Cathay Pacific Airways’ fleet of A350 aircraft are behind an engine part failure that has forced Hong Kong’s flag carrier to cancel 68 flights this week, the Post has learned. Cathay Pacific completed inspections of its Airbus A350 fleet on Monday night and found 15 of the 48 aircraft had the Rolls-Royce engine part that required replacement. A well-informed source said on Tuesday that multiple small fuel manifolds surrounded an aircraft engine for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3276968/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-another-20-flights-a350-planes-bringing-total-68?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3276968/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-another-20-flights-a350-planes-bringing-total-68?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Sep 2024 05:50:50 +0000 Hong Kong passengers affected by Cathay Pacific Airways’ decision to cancel flights complained about poor customer service and confusion, even as the flag carrier’s check-in counters continued operating as usual on Tuesday morning. The airline’s check-in counters at the local airport ran smoothly, barely 12 hours after the flight cancellations were announced. The Post observed that nine Cathay Pacific flights deploying A350 aircraft were cancelled in the morning. They comprised three flights to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3276948/passengers-complain-about-poor-service-after-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-48-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3276948/passengers-complain-about-poor-service-after-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-cancels-48-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Sep 2024 03:47:44 +0000 With no end of the Ukraine war in sight, analysts said Western airlines are spending tens of thousands of US dollars per trip on extra flight time to reach China without the use of Russian airspace, blunting their competitive edge against their Chinese peers and prompting cuts in the number of flights. The trend, which emerged following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, has also posed a challenge to Beijing’s efforts to court foreign travellers, which have included visa waivers, easier... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3276417/us-european-airlines-pay-more-lose-out-chinese-carriers-amid-russian-airspace-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3276417/us-european-airlines-pay-more-lose-out-chinese-carriers-amid-russian-airspace-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Aug 2024 04:00:14 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has vowed to listen more to passengers’ views in the wake of controversial service-related incidents that cast the airline in a negative light. CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por said on Wednesday that Cathay would continue to improve its service unrelentingly. “We will continue to listen to our customers’ voices and we will address their various pain points. We are committed to making improvements,” he said. “We will continue to make an effort and constantly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3273613/cathay-customers-pain-points-will-be-addressed-ceo-says-after-toilet-door-luggage-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3273613/cathay-customers-pain-points-will-be-addressed-ceo-says-after-toilet-door-luggage-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:04:18 +0000 The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has put two types of civilian jets in the air and two bigger ones on the drawing board after 22 years of work. Comac aims to advance China’s goal of technological self-sufficiency and sell its aircraft overseas. The Shanghai-based manufacturer seeks to compete largely with Airbus and Boeing, because their aircraft have similar specs. Here is a dossier on each of the four aircraft types: 1. ARJ21 small aircraft The ARJ21 covers a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3272330/here-are-chinas-4-commercial-jets-arj21-and-c919-jumbo-c929-and-c939?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3272330/here-are-chinas-4-commercial-jets-arj21-and-c919-jumbo-c929-and-c939?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 23:00:17 +0000 Hong Kong’s civil aviation authority has told Cathay Pacific Airways to investigate and submit a report on a junior pilot who failed an alcohol breath test just before he was scheduled to fly to the city from Sydney, which caused a lengthy delay to the flight. The Civil Aviation Department on Thursday said aviation safety was of the utmost importance and that it was very concerned about the incident. The department emphasised that flight crew members must not be affected by psychoactive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3271808/hong-kongs-cathay-confirms-suspension-junior-pilot-after-failed-alcohol-test-probe-under-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3271808/hong-kongs-cathay-confirms-suspension-junior-pilot-after-failed-alcohol-test-probe-under-way?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:20:32 +0000 A junior pilot with Cathay Pacific Airways has been suspended from duty after he failed an alcohol breath test on Tuesday shortly before he was scheduled to fly from Sydney to Hong Kong, causing the flight to be delayed by two days, the Post has learned. Sources said on Wednesday that some aircrew with flight CX110 underwent alcohol breath tests in Sydney at the request of Australian authorities and the junior pilot failed the breath test, leading to immediate suspension and the flight delay. An... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3271720/junior-cathay-pacific-pilot-suspended-after-failing-alcohol-test-flight-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3271720/junior-cathay-pacific-pilot-suspended-after-failing-alcohol-test-flight-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:36:36 +0000 Passengers on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight were lucky not to have been hit by an unhinged toilet door as they were in their seats with seat belts on when the fixture fell during take-off, according to an engineer who said loose screws were likely to be the cause. Engineering experts shared their comments amid an investigation by Hong Kong’s flag carrier into the cause of the incident on flight 840 as the plane took off on a 16-hour journey bound for New York earlier in the week. “I believe... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3270859/hong-kong-experts-say-timing-door-coming-loose-cathay-flight-was-lucky-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3270859/hong-kong-experts-say-timing-door-coming-loose-cathay-flight-was-lucky-break?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:30:18 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has launched an investigation after a toilet door came off mid-flight. Photographs of the incident believed to have been taken by a passenger and circulating online showed a female flight attendant in a cabin crew seat with her hand holding the detached door. Another image shows two individuals standing beside the door on the Airbus A350, seemingly offering assistance. A caption accompanying the images said the door came off three minutes after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3270714/toilet-door-comes-during-16-hour-cathay-pacific-flight-hong-kong-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3270714/toilet-door-comes-during-16-hour-cathay-pacific-flight-hong-kong-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:01:19 +0000 Mark Gong Mark Gong Cathay Pacific and DB Schenker, the logistics arm of German state railway operator Deutsche Bahn, have teamed up to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and signed an agreement that will help cut more than 2,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. DB Schenker signed up on Thursday to Cathay’s corporate SAF Programme, an initiative aimed at tackling climate change by advocating the use of SAFs instead of conventional fuels. The programme encourages customers to contribute towards... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3270221/db-schenker-joins-cathays-sustainable-fuel-programme-pledging-cut-carbon-emissions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3270221/db-schenker-joins-cathays-sustainable-fuel-programme-pledging-cut-carbon-emissions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:02:58 +0000 With the rapid recovery of international air travel since 2023, Thai Airways – Thailand’s flag carrier – has taken steps to consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading airlines by embarking on a programme of expansion that includes additional routes, new aircraft and enhanced services. Earlier this year, one of the first moves was to announce direct flights from Bangkok to both Milan and Oslo. This added two popular destinations to a European network that already includes London,... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/fly-europe-thai-airways/article/3269257/thai-airways-european-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/travel-leisure/topics/fly-europe-thai-airways/article/3269257/thai-airways-european-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:00:14 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will launch direct passenger flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on October 28 in a bid to further increase connectivity, trade and cultural exchanges between the city and countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung called the aviation partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia a “significant milestone” as an agreement between the carrier and the Saudi Air Connectivity Programme... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3265672/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-launch-direct-flights-saudi-arabias-riyadh-october-28?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3265672/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-launch-direct-flights-saudi-arabias-riyadh-october-28?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:10:46 +0000 Near Shanghai’s Pudong Airport, mainland China’s busiest gateway for international aviation, a husk of a jet sits forlorn on a slope. It has been immobile for years, gathering dust and rust, only able to look on with longing as modern jets – mostly of Western make – roar overhead. This model of the ill-fated Y-10 – China’s first attempt at a home-grown airliner – has spent far more time on display at the main assembly site of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) than it ever did... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3264223/chinas-c919-after-year-domestic-flights-preps-its-pitch-western-endorsement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3264223/chinas-c919-after-year-domestic-flights-preps-its-pitch-western-endorsement?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2024 22:00:10 +0000 A spate of high-profile airline accidents this year have left a lasting impression on the public. There was the fiery Japan Airlines runway collision on January 2, followed days later by the Boeing Co. door-plug blowout. From lost wheels to a turbulent Singapore Airlines flight this week, the headline-grabbing events have left the flying public to wonder whether it’s still safe to fly. The reality, statistics show, remains that getting on a Boeing or Airbus SE jetliner is still exponentially... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3263873/boeing-mishaps-singapore-airlines-turbulence-spark-flight-safety-jitters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3263873/boeing-mishaps-singapore-airlines-turbulence-spark-flight-safety-jitters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2024 01:12:54 +0000 China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer this week rallied 280 “experts and scholars” from various industries to seek breakthroughs in building its C929 widebody long-haul passenger jet amid intensifying competition with Airbus and Boeing. The Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said through its official WeChat social media account on Wednesday that it had kicked off a conference with talent from 21 universities and seven civil aviation companies, among other... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3259340/china-rallies-aviation-brainpower-get-widebody-c929-ground-amp-airbus-and-boeing-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3259340/china-rallies-aviation-brainpower-get-widebody-c929-ground-amp-airbus-and-boeing-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:00:25 +0000 China’s home-grown C929 widebody passenger jet has entered “a crucial stage” of its development process, according to its manufacturer, amid Beijing’s continuous efforts for a strong presence in the aviation industry. “It’s a crucial stage in the development process, which indicates the overall technical scheme of the aircraft has been determined,” Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) marketing director Zhang Xiaoguang told a science and technology innovation conference in Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3256951/chinas-home-grown-c929-widebody-passenger-jet-enters-crucial-development-stage-amid-beijings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3256951/chinas-home-grown-c929-widebody-passenger-jet-enters-crucial-development-stage-amid-beijings?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:30:23 +0000 “I love the smell of jet fuel and the sound of those powerful jet engines,” says Hong Kong plane spotter Deepu Gurung. Like train spotters before them, plane spotters observe and track their chosen vehicles. The term can be traced back to the Second World War, when civilians were encouraged to scan the skies to look for enemy bombers. Gurung is one of a number of plane spotters who can be found with their eyes and cameras trained on Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok, Lantau... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3255788/how-be-plane-spotter-hong-kong-why-japanese-airports-offer-good-vantage-points-and-why-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3255788/how-be-plane-spotter-hong-kong-why-japanese-airports-offer-good-vantage-points-and-why-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2024 10:15:11 +0000 Singapore on Tuesday kicked off Asia’s biggest air show – the first in six years unaffected by pandemic restrictions – as the global aviation industry grapples with a full rebound in travel demand in the face of severe supply constraints. More than 1,000 companies from more than 50 countries are taking part in the biennial commercial and defence-focused Singapore Airshow, organiser Ravinder Singh said at the opening ceremony, led by Western industry giants such as Airbus, Boeing and Lockheed... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3252539/asias-biggest-air-show-kicks-singapore-israeli-firms-present-no-russians?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3252539/asias-biggest-air-show-kicks-singapore-israeli-firms-present-no-russians?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Feb 2024 07:16:08 +0000 A former flight attendant for Singapore Airlines is suing the carrier for US$1.3 million, saying it failed to provide a safe working environment that led to a career-ending injury. Durairaj Santiran, 36, appeared on Tuesday in Singapore’s High Court, where he said that he slipped and hit his head while working a 17-hour flight in 2019 because of a grease patch on the plane, local media reported. He was diagnosed with a cervical disc prolapse after the flight, which Durairaj said eventually... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3251960/singapore-airlines-sued-us13-million-flight-attendant-claims-he-slipped-hit-head-during-flight-san?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3251960/singapore-airlines-sued-us13-million-flight-attendant-claims-he-slipped-hit-head-during-flight-san?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:18:12 +0000 A Korean Air Lines plane collided with a stationary Cathay Pacific Airways aircraft on Tuesday at Japan’s New Chitose Airport, which serves Sapporo, but no injuries were reported. Cathay said its flight CX583 from Sapporo to Hong Kong would not operate as scheduled as a result of the incident but most customers would be moved onto another service on Tuesday and the rest on Wednesday. According to a Korean Air spokeswoman, flight KE766 was being pushed backwards from its parking position by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3248657/korean-air-jet-clips-cathay-pacific-aircraft-japans-sapporo-airport-no-injuries-reported?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3248657/korean-air-jet-clips-cathay-pacific-aircraft-japans-sapporo-airport-no-injuries-reported?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:08:26 +0000 Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world. Sign up now! Japan faced a stable of diplomatic, security and domestic challenges, even local domestic mishaps, as it wrapped up 2023 and headed towards 2024. Amid growing tensions in the South China Sea, Japan strengthened maritime security cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) during the commemorative summit... https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3248422/global-impact-earthquake-plane-collision-not-best-start-year-japan-it-faces-pressure-home-and-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3248422/global-impact-earthquake-plane-collision-not-best-start-year-japan-it-faces-pressure-home-and-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jan 2024 06:00:23 +0000 Japan’s transport ministry said on Tuesday it has introduced improved emergency measures for the country’s airports, a week after a fatal collision between a Japan Airlines jetliner and a coastguard plane at Tokyo’s busy Haneda airport that is seen as a result of human error. The measures – including more visible stop line markings on taxiways leading to runways and use of clearer language in traffic control communication – are to be implemented right away at Haneda while they are slated to go... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247834/japan-issues-improved-emergency-measures-following-fatal-plane-collision-haneda-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247834/japan-issues-improved-emergency-measures-following-fatal-plane-collision-haneda-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:39:48 +0000 Safety checks on some Boeing jets hit a snag over paperwork on Sunday, as US authorities searched for a missing panel that blew off a new Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet in midair on Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday ordered the temporary grounding of 171 Boeing jets installed with the same panel after the eight-week-old Alaska Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing with a gap in the fuselage. “They will remain grounded until the FAA is satisfied that they are safe,” the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3247600/boeing-checks-hit-paperwork-snag-us-investigators-search-missing-part?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3247600/boeing-checks-hit-paperwork-snag-us-investigators-search-missing-part?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jan 2024 23:12:35 +0000 Tuesday’s runway collision in Japan marks the first time a modern lightweight airliner has burnt down and is being seen as a test case for how well a new generation of carbon-composite aeroplanes copes with a catastrophic fire. The Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 crashed into a De Havilland Dash-8 coastguard turboprop plane shortly after landing at Haneda airport in Tokyo, bursting in to flames. All 379 people aboard the A350 were evacuated from the burning aircraft, but five of the six... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247344/japan-airlines-crash-puts-spotlight-carbon-composite-planes-ability-resist-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247344/japan-airlines-crash-puts-spotlight-carbon-composite-planes-ability-resist-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jan 2024 03:15:08 +0000 Japanese authorities said on Wednesday that a passenger jet that collided with a coastguard turboprop at a Tokyo airport was given permission to land, but the smaller plane was not cleared for take-off, based on transcripts of conversations with the control tower. All 379 people aboard the Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 had a miraculous escape after it erupted in flames following Tuesday’s crash with a De Havilland Dash-8 coastguard turboprop shortly after landing at Haneda airport. But five... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247170/tokyo-plane-collision-transcripts-shows-crashed-plane-entered-runway-without-permission-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247170/tokyo-plane-collision-transcripts-shows-crashed-plane-entered-runway-without-permission-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 11:56:20 +0000 Police are investigating whether a crash between an airliner and a smaller plane at a Tokyo airport may involve professional negligence, media reported on Wednesday, as transport authorities began inspecting the charred wreckage for clues. All 379 people miraculously escaped the Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 which erupted into flames after colliding with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop shortly after landing at Haneda on Tuesday evening. Five of the six Coast Guard crew, responding... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247120/did-human-error-cause-deadly-tokyo-plane-crash-japan-investigates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247120/did-human-error-cause-deadly-tokyo-plane-crash-japan-investigates?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:02:14 +0000 Five people aboard a Japan Coast Guard aircraft died on Tuesday when it hit a Japan Airlines passenger plane on the ground in a fiery collision at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. All 379 passengers and 12 crew on board the passenger plane, which burst into flames, were safely evacuated, Japanese transport minister Tetsuo Saito told reporters. But five of the six crew members from the smaller plane – bound for central Japan after Monday’s huge earthquake – died, Saito said. The captain escaped and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247023/plane-catches-fire-runway-japans-haneda-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3247023/plane-catches-fire-runway-japans-haneda-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jan 2024 09:34:57 +0000 China Airlines is choosing between Boeing’s yet-to-be certified 777X and the largest variant of Airbus’ A350 as it looks to retire existing long-haul jets, its president Kao Shing-Hwang said. “We are looking for a new fleet” to replace the 10 Boeing 777-300ER it currently operates, Kao told Bloomberg Television in an interview. Taiwan’s main airline is exploring Boeing’s upgraded 777 or the Airbus A350-1000, Kao said, without specifying a timetable for the upgrade. Boeing previously won a deal... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3232772/taiwans-china-airlines-studies-airbus-boeing-wide-bodies-renew-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3232772/taiwans-china-airlines-studies-airbus-boeing-wide-bodies-renew-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Aug 2023 03:46:09 +0000 How much would you be prepared to pay to ensure there are no screaming babies, tearaway toddlers or whining tweens on your next long-haul flight? One airline is testing the water, with a large adults only seating area on one of its key routes. Europe’s Corendon Airlines will pilot the no kids area on its 10-hour flights between Amsterdam and the Caribbean island of Curacao, charging passengers an additional 45 euros (US$49) for a standard seat or US$100 for an XL seat, for the privilege of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3232694/european-carrier-corendon-airlines-launching-child-free-zones-its-flights-us49?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3232694/european-carrier-corendon-airlines-launching-child-free-zones-its-flights-us49?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:00:16 +0000 Jenny Lau Wan-ching, 15, was thrilled when she boarded a plane at Hong Kong’s airport on Sunday to fly for the first time in her life, which she predicted would feel like riding a roller coaster. “Today is like a dream come true,” she said. “I am excited. My family has never taken me out of town.” Jenny and about 84 other students were taking part in a programme run by Cathay Pacific Airways, the city’s flag carrier, that allowed children from low-income families to enjoy the thrill of flying,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3221325/dream-come-true-hong-kong-students-poor-families-given-lift-free-flight-mentorship-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3221325/dream-come-true-hong-kong-students-poor-families-given-lift-free-flight-mentorship-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 May 2023 13:40:27 +0000 On April 26, Taiwanese luxury carrier Starlux Airlines will launch its first-ever flight from Taipei to Los Angeles. The route, which will compete with established Taiwanese carriers Eva Air and China Airlines, will fly five times a week until June when it will ramp up to daily service. A fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft will power the transpacific trek, journeying 12 hours across some 11,000km. Starlux also flies the Airbus A330neo and the Airbus A321neo aircraft – the narrowbody plane being... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3214729/inside-starlux-airlines-new-luxury-flight-taipei-la-taiwans-stylish-carrier-launched-eva-airs-former?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3214729/inside-starlux-airlines-new-luxury-flight-taipei-la-taiwans-stylish-carrier-launched-eva-airs-former?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:09 +0000 Well, Hong Kong seems to be popular doesn’t it! Reports suggest the free tickets given out by Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines in the first tranche under the “Hello Hong Kong” scheme were snapped up within minutes in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Such was the demand that thousands of would-be travellers got lost in online limbo while trying to get into the airline websites, many eventually logging off in disappointment. This isn’t the first time Cathay has dangled this type of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3212770/hong-kong-dangles-free-flights-taiwan-us160-discount-cards-draw-international-travellers-after-covid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3212770/hong-kong-dangles-free-flights-taiwan-us160-discount-cards-draw-international-travellers-after-covid?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:45:11 +0000 Under its founder – aviation pioneer and Tata Group scion JRD Tata – India’s first airline once had an impeccable reputation, which it lost from the late 1970s onwards after being brought under government control. But Air India’s hopes are now soaring again after Tata Group placed the world’s largest aviation order for 470 aircraft this month, a year after the conglomerate took over the debt-ridden state-controlled carrier. The airline has not disclosed the value of the deal, but observers say... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3211146/air-india-faces-slow-return-glory-despite-worlds-largest-order-airbus-boeing-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3211146/air-india-faces-slow-return-glory-despite-worlds-largest-order-airbus-boeing-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:45:33 +0000 Air India is close to placing landmark orders for as many as 500 jetliners worth tens of billions of dollars from both Airbus and Boeing as it carves out an ambitious renaissance under the Tata Group conglomerate, industry sources said on Sunday. The orders include as many as 400 narrow-body jets and 100 or more wide-bodies, including dozens of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s and 777s, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity as finishing touches are placed on the mammoth deal in coming... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3202911/air-india-close-sealing-historic-order-500-jets-costing-us100-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3202911/air-india-close-sealing-historic-order-500-jets-costing-us100-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Dec 2022 13:52:07 +0000 Qantas announced on Monday it will launch the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight, with passengers set to spend 19 hours in the air travelling from Australia to London by the end of 2025. After five years of planning, the airline said it was ordering 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to operate the “Project Sunrise” flights to cities including London and New York. Non-stop flights will start from Sydney by the end of 2025, it said, with the long-haul flights later planned to include... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3176203/qantas-launch-non-stop-sydney-london-new-york-flights-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3176203/qantas-launch-non-stop-sydney-london-new-york-flights-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 May 2022 01:06:01 +0000 India’s civil aviation minister urged Indian airlines on Friday to add more long-haul aircraft to their fleets and to increase flights abroad, as air travel rebounds from a two-year slump due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Domestic passenger numbers are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels within one year, Jyotiraditya Scindia said during an air show in the Indian city of Hyderabad. But foreign carriers dominate international routes to and from India, which industry experts say is partly because... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3171925/indias-aviation-minister-urges-airlines-add-more-long-haul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3171925/indias-aviation-minister-urges-airlines-add-more-long-haul?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:17:24 +0000 Countries throughout Asia are climbing out from under the economic rubble of Covid-19 and looking for cost-effective ways to upgrade their militaries, defence companies said on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow this week. On the eve of the show, Indonesia said it would order 42 Dassault Rafale fighter jets in a US$8.1 billion deal, making Jakarta the biggest French arms client in the region. Southeast Asia countries in particular will most likely address important – if basic – needs in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3167284/singapore-airshow-asian-countries-seek-upgrade-militaries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3167284/singapore-airshow-asian-countries-seek-upgrade-militaries?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Feb 2022 12:30:14 +0000 China’s aviation administration said its planned 5G infrastructure for the country's airports will not affect aircraft safety because it uses aviation-specific frequencies that operate separately from public 5G mobile networks. A 5G-based aeronautical mobile airport communications (AeroMACS) system to provide enhanced connectivity between planes, tarmac vehicles and other airport infrastructure will be built by 2025, according to a plan announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3164550/china-roll-out-dedicated-5g-network-airports-plays-down-frequency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3164550/china-roll-out-dedicated-5g-network-airports-plays-down-frequency?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:00:28 +0000