Vol. 24 No. 8 October 2017 orientaviation.com THAILAND’S SMARTEST AIRLINE Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Biljeveld rolls over opponents in a cutthroat LCC market Airbus strengthens Asia leads Etihad names new group China ties with world in LCC CEO to resurrect its A330 Tianjin centre connectivity airline business INDUSTRYSPECIAL INSIGHT REPORT faster MRO Digital era delivers turnarounds ENGINE INTELLIGENCE. HUMAN EXPERTISE. Powered by advanced analytics, Pratt & Whitney experience, and your fleet expertise. Our shared insights become your most valuable assets. ALL TOGETHER, SMARTER. enginewise.com GB_EngineWise_Aftermarket_OrientAviation.indd 1 9/19/17 9:39 AM Client: Pratt & Whitney One Company Ad Title: EngineWise Publication: Orient Aviation - October 2017 Trim: 202 x 273 mm • Bleed: 212 x 283 mm • Live: 182 x 253 mm CONTENTS Volume 24, Issue 8 COVER STORY 22 PUBLISHED BY THAILAND’S ORIENT AVIATION MEDIA GROUP Mailing address: GPO Box 11435 Hong Kong SMARTEST Office: 17/F Hang Wai Commercial Building, 231-233 Queen’s Road East, AIRLINE Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel: Editorial (852) 2865 1013 Thai AirAsia CEO, E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.orientaviation.com Tassapon Biljeveld, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief rolls over opponents in Christine McGee a cutthroat LCC market E-mail:
[email protected] Chief Correspondent Tom Ballantyne Tel: (612) 9638 6895 Fax: (612) 9684 2776 E-mail:
[email protected] Greater China Correspondent Dominic Lalk Tel: (852) 2865 1013 COMMENT MAIN STORY E-mail:
[email protected] 5 Airlines must be warned of missile threats 16 Airlines build arsenal against cyber assault North Asia Correspondent Geoffrey Tudor ADDENDUM Tel: (813) 3373 8368 E-mail:
[email protected] 6 Former Abu Dhabi airports boss to chart Etihad’s future course India Correspondent R.