VOL 17, NO. 09 NOVEMBER 2019

Collaboration: The Way Forward NEW TECH MAY HELP DELIVER SEAMLESS ATM IN ASIA

MRO DOWN UNDER STILL ALIVE CROWDED KANSAI Australia ups its game A380 technology will live on One region in Japan plays in aviation maintenance after the plane leaves the air host to to 3 major airports WHEELS AND BRAKES IT’S THAT SIMPLE

TPAEROSPACE.COM

Untitled-1 1 17/02/2019 21.02 CONTENTS

16 19 24

FEATURES 14 COLLABORATION: 24 ONE REGION, ONE CONSORTIUM, THE WAY FORWARD THREE AIRPORTS The Asia-Pacific region is facing numerous Japan is a crowded country both in terms of challenges in its quest for seamless ATM, but residential real estate and how close airports are to further regional collaboration and new technology each other. AAV looks at three Kansai area airports are expected to help the region move forward. that are competing for traffic.

16 A380: HIT OR MISS? 26 EASTERN PROMISE The A380 has bought much to aviation and By 2038, air travel to, from, and within Asia-Pacific although the economics may not look pretty, its will have become the most important such market in On the cover: Air traffic controllers on duty. the world, according to Airbus' latest forecast. Photo courtesy of Airways New Zealand. legacy is better judged by the impact it has had on Airbus. 28 GLOBE-TROTTING MARVEL 4 VIEWPOINT 19 HEAVY MAINTENANCE Bombardier’s flagship, the Global 7500, is one of Plenty of blame to go around FINDS A NEW HOME the latest business jets to join the exalted ranks of business aviation’s ultra-long-range segment. Aircraft heavy maintenance has been shifting around the globe as operators cut costs but with NEWS BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES demand increasing and skilled labour becoming 30 The future is promising, but also challenging 6 BUSINESS AVIATION harder to find that picture is changing. according to the 2019 Aviation Benefits report from NEWS 22 ASIA TOPS IN CLEAN CABINS the Industry High Level Group (ILHG). 7 ROTOR/UAV NEWS East Asia stands out among world aviation AIR ASTANA EXTENDS markets for its fleets of newer aircraft, demanding 33 MRO NEWS 8 passengers and competition among airlines. These FLIGHT ENVELOPE Air Astana plans to expand in Asia with destinations INTERIORS NEWS trends combined this year to deliver a sparkling 9 including Shanghai, Tokyo and Singapore in the next outcome: Seven of the world’s cleanest cabins went two years. 10 INDUSTRY NEWS to Asian airlines in awards given by Skytrax.

Contributors Regional Manager: Raymond Boey Russia & CIS: Laguk Co. @AsianAviation Australia: Michael Doran, Emma Kelly, Block 729 #04-4280, Ang Mo Kio, Yuri Laskin, Sergei Kirshin Asian Aviation (AAV) Benn Marks Avenue 6, Singapore 560729 Phone: + 7 495 912 1346 Europe: Ian Goold Phone: +65 6457 2340 Fax: +65 6456 2700 Fax: + 7 495 912 1260 India: Neelam Mathews, Shelley Vishwajeet [email protected] [email protected] MICA (P) 198/02/2007 Japan: Keishi Nukina www.asianaviation.com Printer: Times Printers Pte Ltd Moscow: Vladimir Karnozov Editor: Matt Driskill Subscriptions: Rose Jeffree ISSN 0129-9972 Taiwan: Ralph Jennings [email protected] [email protected] Graphic Design: Elinor McDonald Managing Director/Publisher: Advertising Offices [email protected] Marilyn Tangye Butler & Representation April 2019, readership 9747 [email protected] Head Office — Singapore Worldwide: Kay Rolland © ASIAN PRESS GROUP Pte Ltd Asian Press Group Pte Ltd Phone/Mobile: +33 6 09 13 35 10 [email protected] Contributor’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by the publisher or editor for errors and omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Asian Press Group Pte Ltd (unless otherwise stated) and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibilityAsianAviation for loss or damage | June to 2016 uncommissioned 3 photographs, manuscripts or other media. VIEWPOINT

Plenty of blame to go around

READING THE FINAL REPORT issued by Indonesian authorities on hearing. He tried his best to spin Boeing’s work and time after the crash of Flight 610 that killed 189 people is sobering because of time talked about changes that Boeing has made to its “safety the light it sheds on just how fragile is the aviation ecosystem that culture” that includes setting up a special board committee on transports millions of people around the world every day. safety, realigning its engineering staff to report to the company’s The chain of events leading to the crash, and to a later crash of an chief engineer, and more. The question remains though, if Boeing Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX, is not really that complicated. In its rush was as committed to safety as Muilenburg claims, why weren’t to market a competitor to the Airbus A320, Boeing made mistakes these “safety improvements” already in place? Why did it take two in its design of the MCAS system on the 737 MAX by relying on a crashes for Boeing to change the way it views safety? In a word, single sensor, by not including MCAS information in the manual, and it was money. by gaming the system with the US Federal Aviation Administration This was brought home to me as I listened to Boeing’s earn- (FAA) that let it basically regulate itself and the MAX’s certification. ings call with Wall Street analysts in late October. Time after time The FAA shares blame by offloading oversight to Boeing as a way Muilenburg and his financial team said the company remained com- to save money. Lion Air shares blame too because its maintenance mitted to “safely returning the 737 MAX to the air”. They discussed crew should have grounded the downed how the company was coping with the plane the day before when it exhibited The question remains though, grounding of the global MAX fleet, how the same problems that doomed it, and much it cost, how it was working with the pilots share blame as well, according if Boeing was as committed suppliers and airlines and a couple of to the report, because their flying skills to safety as Muilenburg claims, times, they even spoke of the dead in the weren’t up to what they should be. why weren’t these “safety two MAX crashes. But most of the time Call me cynical, and you’d be right, but they spoke about getting “airlines com- at the bottom of this sad chain of events improvements” already in fortable with the MAX”, they talked about lies that old evil that we call money. Boe- place? Why did it take two possibly shutting down MAX production ing, which is in a mature industry wherein if the grounding continued and talked incremental improvements and not huge crashes for Boeing to change about how the MAX will affect Boeing’s changes in plane making are the order of the way it views safety? cash flow for years with one official saying the day, saw the A320 as a threat to its Boeing’s “number one use of cash is for 737 cash cow and needed to come up In a word, it was money. organic growth of the company.” with a way to compete and yes, make It was an earnings call after all so I sup- money, or at least not lose money to Air- pose I shouldn’t be surprised that the bus. Modifying a 50-year-old 737 design with more fuel-efficient dead passengers took a back seat to Wall Street. Boeing and its engines was cheaper than coming up with a clean-sheet design. customers need Wall Street to finance their planes and their airlines Shielding the MCAS system from regulators and pilots was cheaper so having the majority of questions and conversations be about than disclosing it and making pilots go through additional training money is to be expected, but it was disturbing because it made me that would cost its airline customers money. For Lion Air, keeping wonder where the priorities really are for the industry. And then I the plane in the air was paramount because a plane on the ground realised, the dead don’t pay dividends. does not make money. Boeing, for its role in the two crashes, is taking heat, as it should, in the public eye and on Capitol Hill in Washington. CEO Dennis Muilenburg took some heavy criticism from US officials including calls that he should resign. Muilenburg, an engineer by training, is Matt DriskillEDITOR probably not the best witness to put before a hostile congressional [email protected]

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW BAGGAGE HANDLING CYBER SECURITY A look at the technology on display Airlines continue to make great strides The entire aviation ecosystem is and sales outlook for Asia's top show in keeping bags on schedule paying big bucks to stop hackers

4 AsianAviation | November 2019 GET COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS FROM YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE…

Find out more at asianaviation.com Business Aviation News

EXECUJET MRO SERVICES INCREASES MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES IN AUSTRALIA ExecuJet MRO Services recently an- nounced it had increased its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) footprint in Aus- tralia with a new line maintenance facility opening at Queensland’s Brisbane Airport. ExecuJet MRO Services, which is a Das- sault Aviation company, already has main- tenance facilities in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. — BENN MARKS GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE

Gulfstream announces all-new G700 Gulfstream Aerospace unveiled its all-new Gulfstream G700 on the eve of the 2019 National OJETS Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas. The G700 will have the tallest, widest and longest cabin in the industry when it comes to market, with leading speed and range capabilities to match. The all-new large cabin business jet will be OJETS ADDS BOMBARDIER able to fly 7,500 nautical miles at Mach 0.85 or 6,400 nautical miles at Mach 0.90, allowing it GLOBAL 5000 TO FLEET to fly farther and faster than any competitor in the business-jet industry. With space for up to five living areas, the G700 will offer a range of passenger amenities including an extra-large OJets recently announced it had added a galley with a passenger lounge or crew compartment; a six-place dining or conference Bombardier Global 5000 to its fleet of charter room, and a master suite with shower. Further passenger-friendly features of the aircraft aircraft. OJets, which operates an all-Bom- will include the industry’s lowest cabin altitude, 100 percent fresh air and an extremely quiet bardier fleet of aircraft, now has four Global cabin. Customer deliveries of the G700 are expected to commence in 2022. Meanwhile, 6000s, a Global 5000 and a Challenger 650 Gulfstream announced it had delivered 25 Gulfstream G500 aircraft to customers just over in its inventory. The Global 5000 will operate a year after the aircraft entered service. — BENN MARKS under Elit’Avia’s Maltese AOC. — BENN MARKS

CITATION LONGITUDE ENTERS SERVICE, CONNECTIVITY ADDED

Textron Aviation recently announced it had the system will experience faster inflight Textron Aviation also recently announced received supplemental type certificate (STC) connectivity speeds and an enhanced net- that deliveries of its new flagship Citation approval for the Gogo AVANCE L5 connec- work to support on-the-go business needs. Longitude business jet had commenced. tivity system upgrade for its Cessna Citation The STC increases the company’s Approved The new clean-sheet super-midsize aircraft X+, Citation Sovereign+ and Citation Lati- Model List to include eight Citation business only received its FAA type certification on 21 tude business jets. Aircraft equipped with jet models. September 2019. — BENN MARKS

DASSAULT’S FALCON 6X PROGRESSES BOMBARDIER CELEBRATES TOWARDS FINAL ASSEMBLY ENTRY-INTO-SERVICE OF GLOBAL 6500 Dassault Aviation announced that its new Falcon 6X was nearing initial Bombardier recently celebrated the entry-into-service of the latest assembly with the first airframe expected to be fully assembled by addition to its Global family, the Global 6500 jet. The achievement is year end. The all-new ultra-wide-body twinjet is scheduled to conduct notable given the aircraft, and its Global 5500 sibling, only received its first flight in 2021 with a planned entry into service in 2022. their Transport Canada certification on 24 September.

6 AsianAviation | November 2019 Rotor/UAV News

Urban air mobility pioneers take their partners and make progress Pioneers in the urban air mobility sector are forming new partnerships to accelerate de- velopments in the fast-moving sector. In the latest collaboration, Boeing has partnered with Porsche, signing a memorandum of VOLOCOPTER understanding to explore the premium air mobility market. The partnership will see the agreement, Vodafone will be EHang’s forts to bring commercial air taxi services to Boeing, Porsche and Boeing subsidiary Au- exclusive partner to provide connectivity to the island city state. The flight involved a 2X rora Flight Services develop a concept for all EHang AAVs operating in Europe, with model of the company’s Volocopter test se- a fully electric vertical take-off and landing the vehicles to be fitted with Vodafone SIM ries flown by a pilot onboard. The flight cov- vehicle, with engineers from both compa- cards. EHang will use the 5G Vodafone net- ered a distance of 1.5km and lasted for two nies to develop and test a prototype. Both work for communications between the AAVs minutes at an average cruising height of 40m. partners will bring their respective expertise and command-and-control centres that reg- Prior to this flight, Volocopter had performed to study the future of premium personal ur- ulate their operations, as well as with each intensive testing in Germany, as well as un- ban air mobility, says Boeing. The partners other to ensure safe and efficient transporta- dertaking a rigorous flight test programme will establish an international team to ad- tion through urban airspace. Once approved at Singapore’s Seletar Airport to verify the 2X dress various aspects of urban air mobility, by regulatory authorities, EHang and Voda- performance under local conditions. including analysing the market potential for fone will collaborate on AAV test flights and Volocopter also unveiled its first VoloPort premium vehicles and potential use cases. further work on mobility platform services prototype in Singapore, on the floating dock Meanwhile, Chinese autonomous aerial that provide digital and streaming content in Marina Bay. The VoloPort, developed in vehicle (AAV) company EHang has part- to AAV passengers, support payments and conjunction with Skyports, is the only physi- nered with telecoms and technology com- identity verification. cal infrastructure required for the air taxis and pany Vodafone on developing an urban In further developments, German company are designed to provide a seamless air taxi air mobility ecosystem. The development Volocopter has successfully conducted a experience, fully integrated into existing in- will initially be centred in Germany before manned flight of its prototype vehicle over frastructure. Skyports, which develops, owns extending to other parts of Europe. Under Marina Bay in Singapore as part of its ef- and operates the VoloPorts, has identified a number of potential locations and air taxi KOPTER COOPERATES WITH KOREA routes across the city state. — EMMA KELLY

European helicopter manufacturer Kopter South Korea. The partnership could also lead Group has signed a memorandum of un- to sales to other Asian countries from South derstanding with South Korea’s Korea Aer- Korea, says Kopter. “The SH09 is the ideal LCI LAUNCHES ospace Industries. The MoU is designed to complement to KAI’s current helicopter port- CO-INVESTMENT VEHICLE lead to cooperation in the areas of local as- folio and fully meets Korea’s market needs,” Helicopter lessor LCI has launched a sembly, production, customisation and sales says Christian Gras, Kopter executive vice helicopter co-investment vehicle which of Kopter’s SH09 single-engine helicopter in president customers. — EMMA KELLY contains five aircraft all on long-term lease — three Leonardo AW139s and two Sikorsky AW139 REACHES 1,000TH MILESTONE S92s — valued at over US$100 million. The co-investment vehicle has been launched Leonardo has delivered the 1,000th AW139 orders for 1,100 of the type from more than in partnership with Flexam Tangible Asset helicopter to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza in a 280 customers in 70-plus countries. The Income Fund which has contributed to the ceremony at Leonardo’s plant in Vergiate in AW139 has flown almost 2.5 million flight capitalisation. Varese, Italy. The manufacturer has received hours since 2004. — EMMA KELLY

AsianAviation | November 2019 7 MRO News

TIGERAIR EXTENDS DEAL WITH AJW

Tigerair, a Virgin Australia company, an- AJW CEO Christopher Whiteside said: nounced in October it has extended its “I’m pleased that we are able to continue spare parts power-by-the-hour (PBH) and grow our partnership with Tigerair. To- contract with AJW Group. The original gether we share the desire to challenge ex- agreement was signed in 2014 and cov- isting practices and to innovate the industry. ers Tigerair’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft It is for this reason that our partnership has for material requirements across compo- continued to flourish over the years. Tigerair nents groups including airframe and engine was AJW’s first major contract in Australia line-replaceable units, wheels and brakes, and our work over the past five years has auxiliary power units, thrust reversers and demonstrated the group’s strength across LIEBHERR consumables. the Australasia region.” — MICHAEL DORAN

Liebherr making LUFTHANSA TECHNIK SUPPORTS CHINA CARGO AIRLINES' 747s moves in Asia Lufthansa Technik (LHT) and China Car- Liebherr Aerospace announced three new go Airlines have signed an agreement for agreements and expanded its involvement Total Component Support (TCS) for three in Asia-Pacific. In October it announced a Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft, covering 10-year agreement with aircraft manufacturer more than 400 part numbers. The five- ATR covering the supply of components, re- year agreement is the first between the pairs and associated services for more than two companies and LHT’s first TCS con- 300 aircraft covered by the ATR Global Main- tract with a direct service provision to a tenance Agreements. A new air management Chinese customer. “China Cargo Airlines system developed by Liebherr will enter into is very glad to sign the agreement with service in 2020 on ATR’s aircraft family, for Lufthansa Technik and we realise that Chi- LHT which Liebherr also supplies the cabin pres- na Cargo can obtain more professional and sure control system and anti-ice valves. stronger support from Lufthansa Technik,” further cooperation and good relationship Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA) has signed a said Ji Shuhu, vice president of China Car- with Lufthansa Technik in many fields.” long-term agreement for the overhaul of the go Airlines. “We are looking forward to the — MICHAEL DORAN landing gear systems of its 10 Embraer E170 aircraft. Takehiko Handa, general manager THAILAND MRO GETS A BOOST IN CHONBURI for maintenance of Fuji Dream, said: “We at Fuji Dream Airlines have been operating TurbineAero Asia has officially opened its have long-term contracts with TurbineAero Liebherr’s E170 landing gears for a long new 90,000 square-foot MRO facility in Asia for APU MRO.” time and are fully satisfied with the excellent Chonburi, Thailand. TurbineAero provides Also located in Chonburi is Triumph Avi- quality of Liebherr’s products as well as commercial, airline and military customers ation Services Asia who has been awarded their overhaul services.” with comprehensive maintenance solutions a two-year wheel and brake MRO contract Liebherr also signed a long-term agree- for their auxiliary power units, accessories from Starlux Airlines for their A320neo fleet. ment with Japan Airlines subsidiary J-Air and components. “This project represents Starlux is expected to commence operations for the maintenance of the landing gear another big step in the development of the in early-2020 and plans to grow its fleet to 10 systems on its fleet of 15 E170 aircraft. “In- aerospace industry in Thailand and confirms A320neo and 17 A350XWB aircraft by 2021. tense collaboration of the teams during the the country’s position of being the growth “We continue to expand our service offerings selection process has enabled us to find area within ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific and customer base across the Asia-Pacific customised solutions, optimised to J-Air’s region,” said Peter Gille, vice president and region and working with customers like Star- requirements,” said Ekkehard Pracht, gen- general manager of TurbineAero Asia. “We lux help with that expansion,” said William eral manager aerospace of Liebherr-Singa- are proud to announce that out of the top Kircher Executive Vice President Triumph pore. — MICHAEL DORAN 12 ranked airlines in the world, six of them Product Support. — MICHAEL DORAN

8 AsianAviation | November 2019 UPGRADED QANTAS A380S RETURN Interiors News The first of 12 Qantas Airbus A380s to be upgraded has returned to service. The aircraft features a revised configuration with 30 fewer Economy Class seats than before and a 27 percent increase in Premium Economy. The aircraft now feature 14 First Suites (the same as before); 70 Business Suites (six more); 60 Premium Economy (up by 25); and 341 Economy (down by 30), making a total of 485 passengers (up by one). The Qantas Business Suite replaces the previous Skybeds; new Premium Economy class seats (the same as on the Dreamliners); a larger lounge space; an update to the First Class Suites; and a new colour palette and in-flight entertainment in the economy cabin. A further two aircraft will undergo retrofit before the end of this year, with the fleet to be upgraded by the end of 2020.

VIETNAM LAUNCHES CONNECTIVITY QANTAS Vietnam Airlines has launched in-flight connectivity in conjunction with service provide SITAONAIR and Inmarsat operator Project Sunrise test flights provide VISHIPEL, becoming the first carrier in the passenger comfort and well-being insights country to offer connectivity. The airline will offer connectivity across its fleet, with an Qantas is expecting to gain new insights into in-flight passenger comfort and well-being initial four Airbus A350s currently offering on ultra-long-haul flights following the first of a number of planned test flights as part of the services. Project Sunrise. Cabin lighting, in-flight meals and beverages, and passenger movement, exercise and sleep patterns were all the focus of research on the record-breaking New York to Sydney Boeing 787-9 flight on 21 October. The data will be used to develop the in-flight product for AIR NEW ZEALAND UNVEILS the airline’s proposed direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to London and New York from 2023. ECONOMY STRETCH Some 49 passengers and crew on-board the test flight, which took 19 hours and 16 min- Air New Zealand will launch its new cabin utes, experienced a unique in-flight service, based on recommendations from researchers product, Economy Stretch, on its widebody from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre (CPC). Passengers were fitted with fleet from late 2020. Economy Stretch will wearable devices and followed a specially designed sleep, food and beverage and physical offer more comfort than standard economy, movement schedule. Food and beverage items and food service timings were all adjusted including a 35-inch seat pitch (31 inches in to encourage body clocks to adjust to the destination time zone, while specific times were standard Economy and 41 inches in Premium allocated for out of seat movement and activities. Economy), premium headset and a plush pil- Pilots and crew also participated in research conducted by the Cooperative Research low. Economy Stretch will feature the airline’s Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, with the results to establish optimum crew existing Economy seat, but with sculpted work and rest patterns. upholstery and flexible headrest. The airline Another research flight — between London and Sydney — is planned for November with is currently reconfiguring its long-haul fleet a third between New York and Sydney to follow in December. of Boeing 777-200s, 777-300s and 787-9s The findings from these flights will be added to research the airline has already conduct- with the new product. Economy Stretch will ed of passengers on long-haul flights in conjunction with the CPC to identify scientifically be located at the front of the Economy cab- backed methods to reduce fatigue. One study, involving 463 passengers across all cabin in, with up to 42 seats. The product will be classes on flights of 9-17 hours duration into and out of Australia, found that 54 percent of available for purchase from early next year people used ear plugs or noise cancelling headsets to help them sleep; 38 percent drank and will be onboard all long-haul flights from alcohol; and 10 percent used sleeping tablets. On arrival, only 47 percent went out into the late 2020. — EMMA KELLY sunshine which is a proven way to reduce jetlag. — EMMA KELLY

AsianAviation | November 2019 9 Industry News

BAA TRAINING BREAKS GROUND ON CHINA CENTRE BAA Training China has started work on a six full-flight simulator aviation training centre as part of its joint venture Avia Solutions Group and Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company (HNCA) signed in July, 2019. The facility is located in Zhengzhou city in Henan province and is set to open its doors in the second half of 2020 and as stat- ed previously will be designed to provide the capacity of 40,000 flight hours per year and train approximately 4,000 pilots. As aviation experts predict, Asia Pacific area demand for new commercial pilots will account for 38 percent of the global demand with more than half of it to fulfil China’s market. Boeing has just recently updated their forecast for the upcoming 20 years, stating that Chinese car-

MATT DRISKILL MATT riers will need 8,090 new planes until 2038, which exceeds the previously predicted fig- Cathay warns of downturn and IATA wants ure by 5.2 percent. — MATT DRISKILL Hong Kong to help protect aviation jobs SINGAPORE HOSTING AVIATION CARBON Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific recently released traffic figures for Cathay Pacific and TRADING EXCHANGE Cathay Dragon and the numbers were not good. The dire report coincided with an appeal by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to Hong Kong’s beleaguered govern- A digital platform that will allow airlines ment to consider some sort of financial aid package to the city’s aviation sector. All of this to trade carbon credits is being set up in comes as the anti-government protests that have been roiling Hong Kong since June look Singapore. The AirCarbon Exchange will set to continue, possibly threatening plans by Cathay to host the upcoming Assembly of be headed by Edwin Khew, the company’s Presidents of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines set for 21-22 November. Cathay for its chairman and co-founder, who said the ex- part released September traffic figures that showed a decline of 7.1 percent for September change will be the world’s first global block- 2019 compared to the same month a year ago. Total passengers carried were 2.42 million. chain-enabled, multi-stakeholder carbon Passenger load factors decreased by 7.2 percentage points, the company said, while capacity, trading hub, representing carbon trades measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), rose by 9.8 percent. In the first nine months worth more than US$100 billion. He said of 2019, the number of passengers carried grew by 1.3 percent and capacity increased by the new AirCarbon Exchange will provide a 6.9 percent, as compared to the same period for 2018. ready supply of credits called EEUs (eligible Meanwhile, IATA, which represents the global aviation industry, said “maintaining aviation emission units), for those in the transpor- connectivity is critical to Hong Kong” and called on Hong Kong’s government to “consider tation industry to acquire carbon dioxide financial relief measures to support the 330,000 jobs and 10.2 percent of GDP dependent (CO2) offsets for compliance and voluntary on the aviation and tourism sector…Airlines cannot immediately change their scheduled purposes when the list of compliant units services,” IATA went on to say. “Rather, the immediate impact is a combination of ad-hoc is approved. cancellations as well as a decline in the passenger load factor. Airlines have reduced the The carbon credits will be securitised into number of scheduled seats in the market, although the size of the reduction so far suggests tokens using blockchain technology, making that the downturn is expected to be of a temporary nature. However, any prolongation of them highly liquid, fungible and tradable, the disturbances may induce airlines to more drastically change the amount of services, said AirCarbon. Each tradable token will be either in terms of seats and/or frequencies. Maintaining aviation connectivity is critical to backed by one equivalent tonne of carbon Hong Kong. The government should consider financial relief measures…” — MATT DRISKILL credits. — MATT DRISKILL

10 AsianAviation | November 2019 INDIGO SIGNS FOR 300 A320NEO FAMILY AIRCRAFT India’s IndiGo has placed a firm order for 300 A320neo family aircraft in a deal worth US$33 billion at list prices and before cus- tomary discounts. This marks one of Air- bus’ largest aircraft orders ever with a sin- gle airline operator. This latest IndiGo order comprises a mix of A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR aircraft. This will take IndiGo’s total number of A320neo family aircraft orders to 730. “This order is an important milestone, as it reiterates our mission of strengthening air connectivity in India, which will in turn boost economic growth and mobility. India is expected to continue with its strong avi- EMBRAER SIGNS WITH FLEXJET ation growth and we are well on our way to build the world’s best air transportation FOR US$1.4 BILLION FLEET DEAL system, to serve more customers and de- Embraer announced that it has signed deal, Flexjet becomes Embraer’s Praetor liver on our promise of providing low fares a purchase agreement with Flexjet for a fleet launch customer. “We are very grateful and a courteous, hassle free experience to fleet of Embraer business jets, which in- for Flexjet’s renewed commitment to Em- them,” said Ronojoy Dutta, CEO of IndiGo. cludes the recently certified Praetor jets braer through this new agreement, which IndiGo is among the fastest growing car- and the Phenom 300. The announcement reflects the growth and the strength of riers in the world. Since its first A320neo was made at the 2019 National Business our partnership over the past 16 years and aircraft was delivered in March 2016, its Aviation Association’s Business Aviation symbolizes our ongoing support for their fleet of A320neo family aircraft has grown Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) journey ahead,” said Michael Amalfitano, into the world’s largest with 97 A320neo in Las Vegas and is valued at US$1.4 billion president and CEO for Embraer Executive aircraft, operating alongside 128 A320ceos. at current list prices. With the signing of the Jets. — MATT DRISKILL — MATT DRISKILL

AIR PREMIA ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT FOR FIVE BOEING 787 DREAMLINERS

Boeing and Air Premia announced the Ko- Dreamliner operator. The commitment, val- fleet,” said Peter Sim, CEO of Air Premia. With rean start-up airline plans to buy five 787-9 ued at US$1.4 billion at list prices, will be re- its base at Seoul Incheon International Air- Dreamliner airplanes, following an agree- flected on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries web- port, Air Premia announced its plan to launch ment to lease three 787-9 jets from Air Lease site when it is finalised. “This is an exciting operations in September 2020. The carrier Corporation earlier this year. Air Premia, decision for Air Premia as we look to deliver will initially operate regionally in Asia before which plans to launch operations in 2020 a world-class experience to our customers, expanding its network to Los Angeles and is poised to become South Korea’s second while also operating the most fuel efficient San Jose by 2021. — MATT DRISKILL

MITSUBISHI’S SPACEJET LOOKS TO BE DELAYED AGAIN, ORDER CANCELLED

Mitsubishi Aircraft is seeking a sixth post- aircraft do not comply with US union rules lation leaves the Japanese plane maker with ponement on delivering its rebranded Space- on regional jet use. The labour union scope only 163 firm orders. Parent company Mit- Jet regional passenger plane and the compa- clause governs what planes pilots can fly, re- subishi Heavy Industries has sought a review ny announced one of its biggest customers, stricting planes heavier than 86,000 pounds from outside experts to help set a delivery Trans States Holdings, has cancelled an or- (39,000kg) and with more than 76 seats from date beyond the standing mid-2020 target der for 50 of its SpaceJet M90s because the being flown on regional routes. The cancel- for the 90-seat-class jet. — MATT DRISKILL

AsianAviation | November 2019 11 Industry News

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg SHUTTERSTOCK SHUTTERSTOCK

Lion Air crash report blames Boeing design, pilots and maintenance The final report by air accident investiga- apply the corrective procedures.” briefing ahead of the release of a final report. tors into the Lion Air crash of a 737 MAX The report also found that a critical sen- Meanwhile in Washington, Muilenburg in Indonesia that killed 189 people a year sor, a second-hand unit repaired and sup- faced calls to resign because of perceived ago spread the blame among Boeing, the plied by a Florida company, was faulty, and shortcomings in Boeing’s “safety culture”. In US Federal Aviation Administration, Lion it found strong indications that it was not a sharp exchange with Rep. Jesus Garcia, Air’s maintenance crew and the pilots them- tested during installation by Lion Air main- (D-Ill), Muilenburg refuted claims that Boe- selves. The report came out just before Boe- tenance staff. And though similar faults had ing was only interested in profits and not ing CEO Dennis Muilenburg testified before occurred on the previous flight of the same people and said Boeing’s “business model both houses of the US Congress where he airplane, Lion Air’s maintenance staff failed is about safe airplanes.” faced calls to resign his position. to ground the airplane, says the report. Garcia pushed back at the CEO and said The report found that after Boeing changed The report also faulted the two pilots on “it’s pretty clear there has been a culture of the original MCAS design, increasing its au- Lion Air JT610, particularly the first officer, greed and compromising safety at Boeing… thority to move the horizontal tail, or stabi- who was unfamiliar with procedures and Mr. Muilenburg, you did everything to drive lizer, from 0.6 degrees to 2.5 degrees, “the had shown himself in training to have prob- profits over safety. You skirted certification higher limit caused a much greater move- lems in handling the aircraft. requirements or regulators at every corner, ment of the stabilizer than was specified in The report concludes with a long series and your employees even admit to lying to the original safety assessment document.” of recommendations including: the FAA…A culture of negligence, incompe- “The design and certification of the MCAS — A fail-safe re-design of MCAS. tence or corruption starts at the top and it (Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmenta- — Adequate information about MCAS starts with you. You padded your personal tion System) did not adequately consider to be included in pilot manuals and finances by putting profits over safety and the likelihood of loss of control of the air- training now 346 people, including eight Americans, craft,” the report states. “A fail-safe design — Closer scrutiny in future of any system are dead on your watch…I think it’s time that concept and redundant system should have capable of taking over primary flight you submitted your resignation, don’t you?” been necessary for the MCAS.” control actions from the pilot. Muilenburg replied, “Congressman, I re- The report also said Boeing failed to — Design consideration of the effect spectfully disagree with your premise on detect a software error that resulted in a of all possible flight deck alerts and what drives our company.” warning light on the MAX not working, as indications on pilot recognition and Garcia then concluded: “Ok, well whether well as Boeing’s failure to provide pilots any response. or not you or your colleagues are incriminat- information about the flight control system. Larger tolerance in Boeing’s designs to ed in the ongoing criminal investigation, the Both failures contributed to the crew’s ina- allow operation by a diverse population of facts remain: It was either gross negligence, bility to understand what was happening, pilots. Earlier this week, the families of the incompetence or corruption. You’re at the the report said. “The absence of informa- Lion Air crash victims were told mechanical top. I think it’s pretty clear to me, to the tion about the MCAS in the aircraft man- and design issues contributed to the crash families of the victims and to the American uals and pilot training made it difficult for of a Lion Air 737 MAX jet last October, Indo- public that you should resign and do it im- the flight crew to diagnose problems and nesian investigators told victims’ families in a mediately.” — MATT DRISKILL

12 AsianAviation | November 2019 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

AIRPORTS COUNCIL EMBRAER has named Victor was also named as acting chief operations INTERNATIONAL (ACI Vieira Dos Santos as its new officer (COO) of the LAMINAAR Group, WORLD) announced that marketing director for overseeing world-wide operations. Patrick Lucas has been Embraer Commercial Aviation appointed director for Asia-Pacific based in THE BOEING COMPANY has economics. Lucas is currently Head of the Singapore. Dos Santos has been working at elected retired Adm. John M. Airport Business Analytics Unit within the ACI Embraer for more than 10 years. Prior to the Richardson as its newest Economics Department, having joined the current position, he was the Head of Market member. Richardson, 59, organisation in April 2011. An economist by Strategy leading the development, served as the 31st chief of profession, Lucas has 18 years of experience in communication and execution for the Naval Operations from September 2015 until analytical economics. He has overseen ACI organisation’s global strategic planning. August 2019, when he retired from the U.S. World’s global airport data collection and has Navy after 37 years of service. led the authorship of major flagship INTERNATIONAL AVIATION publications, the World Airport Traffic Report, CONSULTANCY THE GILES THE BOARD OF AIRPORTS the World Airport Traffic Forecasts, and the GROUP has named Mark COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL Airport Economics Report. Rudo a senior associate. (ACI) ASIA-PACIFIC Rudo was recently vice announced it has appointed BURRANA announced the president Quality, ODA, and Product Support Stefano Baronci as director appointment of David Pook as at ALOFT AeroArchitects. general for Asia-Pacific. Baronci currently vice president, Marketing and serves as director of economics at ACI World Sales Support where he will SINGAPORE-BASED in Montreal, Canada. He will take up his new lead Burrana’s global marketing LAMINAAR AVIATION position in Hong Kong in December 2019. team focused on leveraging cabin technology to INFOTECH has appointed help airlines create unique passenger Jahan Alamzad as president of experiences and enhance their brands. LAMINAAR Americas and

Feb 24, 2020: Summit Conrad Dubai

Feb 25-26, 2020: Exhibition Dubai World Trade Center DESTINATION DUBAI (Za’abeel Halls 2&3) Attend the region’s leading conference and exhibition

Co-located with for commercial aviation maintenance. • 5,000+ attendees from airlines, manufacturers and the supply chain • 3 days of networking and learning with a 1 day summit and 2 day exhibition • 330+ exhibitors showcasing the latest technology

Register at mromiddleeast.aviationweek.com Collaboration: The way forward The Asia-Pacific region is facing numerous challenges in its quest for seamless ATM, but further regional collaboration and new technology are expected to help the region move forward. Emma Kelly reports. AIRWAYS NEW ZEALAND AIRWAYS

WHILE AIR TRAFFIC IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION continues procedures and concepts. The subsequent Beijing Declaration in to grow at a seemingly unstoppable rate and is forecast to continue early 2018 saw 36 governments commit to the timely implementation at 4.8 percent per annum through to 2035, progress towards imple- of the Asia-Pacific Seamless ATM Plan. menting the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Asia-Pacific Implementing the plan has proved easier said than done, how- Seamless Air Traffic Management Plan has been slow. ever, with the region’s DGs of civil aviation at their latest meeting The plan is intended to lead to seamless ATM operations throughout in Kathmandu, Nepal, earlier this year, acknowledging that slow the region, allowing it to cope with the booming traffic it is experienc- implementation of the seamless ATM plan is one of the four main ing and expected to face. The plan was devised based on research ATM challenges facing the region, all of which are closely connect- and development in the United States and Europe from their seamless ed. Other challenges they identified are civil-military cooperation; ATM initiatives — the US NextGen and Europe’s Single European Sky. issues like the Pakistan ATM contingency operation when Pakistan Both of those regions are very different to the Asia-Pacific, however. airspace was closed to civil air traffic due to tensions with India; The directors general (DG) of civil aviation from 34 Asia-Pacific and electronic air navigation flight information region data, with an states committed to the idea in 2009 with the release of the Kansai inadequate response from states. Civil-military cooperation — or a Statement, with an Asia-Pacific Seamless ATM Planning Group lack of — is a significant factor in the region’s relatively poor ATM established to develop a detailed plan for the region. The work cul- efficiency compared with other parts of the world, notes Raphael minated in the Asia-Pacific Seamless ATM plan which was endorsed Guillet, chief of ICAO’s Asia and Pacific regional sub office, with in June 2013 and set out timelines and requirements for regional regional progress “well behind”, he adds. air traffic flow management (ATFM), collaborative decision-making “Despite past commitments by states and DGs to implement the (CDM) and performance-based navigation (PBN), among other ATM Asia-Pacific Seamless ATM Plan, and also the expectation by the

14 AsianAviation | November 2019 AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

◀ The Asia-Pacific Seamless ATM Plan, which is now known as Benard Aliu, ICAO Council president. “We have always achieved the Seamless Air Navigation Service, has undergone considerable our greatest air transport progress when we have approached our change in order to help states implement the objectives. challenges together, as a single and unified sector,” he adds. The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) is also ministers of civil aviation in their Beijing Declaration to implement, stressing the need for collaboration in order to progress seamless in general the Asia-Pacific has failed to meet its objectives,” ICAO ATM in the region, along with new technology. “With passenger said at the Nepal meeting. ICAO revealed the wide gap between numbers around the world set to double by 2036, safeguarding and states in the region in terms of completed objectives. By July 2019, developing our airspace has never been so important. Asia-Pacific Singapore was leading the region in terms of completed objectives is forecast to be the fastest growing region over the next two dec- — although even the city-state had not met 100 percent of the ob- ades, and it is clear that it requires a specific and unique approach jectives — followed by Australia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, India, New to handling this demand to achieve truly seamless operations,” Jeff Zealand, North Korea, French Polynesia and Japan. At the other end Poole, director general of CANSO recently told attendees at the of the scale, however, are Bhutan and Papua New Guinea which CANSO Asia-Pacific Conference in Fukuoka, Japan. have failed to meet any objectives. “New tools and technologies are fast drivers of change in the “The significant gap noted between the expected and actu- industry. Digitisation, artificial intelligence, automation and data an- al achievement represented a major failure by states to conduct alytics are improving the safety and efficiency of ATM, while remote whole-of-government planning and to execute such plans,” says and digital towers and space-based surveillance are also enhancing ICAO. It adds: “In general, even the 10 priority regional targets planned performance,” says Poole. “With a strong culture of innovation and for Phase I — November 2015-November 2019 — had not yet been early adoption of technologies, Asia-Pacific is in a unique position achieved. Only Automatic Dependent Sur- veillance-Contract/Controller Pilot Datal- The significant gap noted between the expected and ink Communications [ADS-C/CPDLC] had actual achievement represented a major failure by states been largely successful.” The other nine priority areas — civil-military coordination; to conduct whole-of-government planning and to execute civil-military Special Use Airspace; ADS-B such plans. In general, even the 10 priority regional targets airspace; air traffic surveillance (ATS) with planned for Phase I … had not yet been achieved. data integrated; ATS inter-facility datalink communications (AIDC); PBN approaches; ICAO ATFM/CDM; and aeronautical information management (AIM) — have only been par- tially or “unacceptably implemented” across the region, laments to trial and implement such new technologies and pioneer change ICAO. ATFM/CDM, for example, has only been implemented at 20 in a way that can add value across the region and globally,” he adds. international high-density airports in the region, with 24 planning Poole points to successful joint regional ATM projects in the programmes by the end of 2020, according to Guillet. Asia-Pacific already under way and yielding results, including the “Given the poor progress of Seamless ATM implementation, the Asia-Pacific Distributed Multi-Nodal ATFM initiative; the adoption of need for greater emphasis on whole-of-government planning at the space-based ADS-B in the region; the implementation of a region- state level was a necessity,” says ICAO, calling for states to develop al system-wide information management (SWIM) model for data a National Air Navigation Plan (NANP) which should be of “robust exchange; the use of remote and smart control towers; long-range status”. Few states have reported to ICAO having developed a NANP, ATFM concepts of operations; and unmanned aircraft systems traffic says Guillet, pointing to Indonesia, Lao, Hong Kong, Singapore, management options. Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines as those that have. SWIM, for example, is seen as an important enabler for seam- The Asia-Pacific Seamless ATM Plan, which is now known as the less ATM in the region, allowing seamless information flow among Seamless Air Navigation Service (ANS) Plan, has undergone con- stakeholders. Its implementation requires a harmonised approach siderable change in order to help states implement the objectives, across multiple States to yield benefits. Singapore and Thailand, says ICAO. At the Nepal meeting, ICAO called on states to engage with the support of the United States and the International Air in regional discussions and efforts to accelerate the plan’s progress, Transport Association, initiated a SWIM demonstration project for emphasising the need for whole-of-government planning. ASEAN nations. The SWIM in ASEAN Demonstration was due to Cooperation and collaboration are key to making progress, ICAO take place in November and is designed to provide the region with believes. “Cooperation and collaboration have proven tremendously a better understanding of the concept. It is hoped that the demon- successful to helping all member States in the contemporary global stration could encourage greater interest in the region for further aviation system live up to their ICAO obligations,” says Dr Olumuyiwa such collaboration. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 15 REGIONAL AVIATION AIRBUS

16 AsianAviation | November 2019 AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY

A380: Hit or miss?

In the last 50 years, three aircraft have left indelible marks on commercial aviation, the Concorde, Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 and yet only one is universally judged a success. Michael Doran looks at how the A380 will live on even when the plane is no longer flying.

IN FEBRUARY 2019 when Airbus called time on producing A380s, appearing on an aircraft.” opinions were divided; some were captivated by its beauty and He says that increasing seats in Premium Economy is an indus- comfort while others pointed to the US$25 billion development cost try-wide trend and that in 2009 there were 10 airlines with dedicated to produce just 250 aircraft as a failure. Premium Economy seating, but this has grown to 61 today. “We get After 18 years Airbus will end A380 production in 2021 but the air- feedback from airlines that per square foot of real estate used by craft is set to continue flying into the next two decades with carriers that seat they are one of the most profitable seats they have in their such as Qantas and Singapore Airlines investing millions of dollars fleets,” he explains. in upgrading cabins. To get an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 575 tonnes The A380 has brought much to aviation and although the econom- and certified to carry up to 853 people off the ground Airbus had to ics may not look pretty, its legacy is better judged by the impact it develop new systems and incorporate advanced materials. has had on Airbus; a legacy that lives on in aircraft like the A350XWB “We needed to go into new technologies and that’s why we and the A321XLR. brought in a higher level of carbon composite relative to any other Airbus vice president for product marketing Antonio Da Costa aircraft that had appeared before,” says Da Costa. “At that time the says the A380 has made Airbus the company it is now and the A380 was the record holder with 25 percent of the primary structure DNA of the A380 can be seen in aircraft flying today. “The A380 was in composite material.” very much the aircraft programme that cemented the integration With the A380 an obvious choice for long-haul flying, Airbus de- of Airbus where previously we were working as four entities in a veloped cockpit technology to ease pilot workloads and build on the partnership,” he says. “The A380 acted as the glue that put these enhancements its fly-by-wire systems had introduced. Technologies four companies into one and that was what made Airbus the global such as integrated modular avionics, head-up displays, integrating entity it is today. The A380 taught us that we need to develop air- the traffic avoidance collision avoidance system into the autopilot craft as a family of different sizes for different needs,” he says. “And and an automated brake and vacate feature were unveiled. that’s why we have now designed the Airspace cabin for single-aisle Although the A380 has only been in production for around 16 aircraft to offer a consistent experience whether you are flying a years there have been improvements and modifications made as the 320, 350 or 380.” aircraft has matured and technology has advanced. Improved engine To understand the A380 legacy is to trace back many of the fea- technology has reduced fuel burn by up to 3 percent, new satellite tures that airlines now promote to their introduction in 2007, when navigation capabilities have been integrated into the avionics and the aircraft first flew with Singapore Airlines. The A380 brought IFE connectivity enhanced. the widest Economy Class seat, the quietest cabin, the freshest air, All Nippon Airways is a new A380 operator and for its aircraft the variable mood lighting and ground-breaking inflight entertainment rear staircase was re-designed from the iconic spiral shape into a systems that have made flying much more comfortable today. straight-line profile to improve access, an illustration of how Airbus “The beauty of the A380 is it brought a little something for every continues to evolve the design. passenger in every class,” Da Costa says. “It allowed a higher level “The A380 will be flying for decades to come and we are contin- of segmentation and this is where we started to see four classes uing to make sure this aircraft is at the top of the aviation market today and tomorrow,” says Da Costa. ◀ An A380 on the final assembly line. Qantas started flying the A380 in 2008 and uses its 12 aircraft to

AsianAviation | November 2019 17 AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY

carry more than 2 million passengers a year to Singapore, London, Airbus’ Da Costa says: “The world has moved on since the A380 Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Dallas. After 10 years in service the joined the skies and comfort standards have also moved. This is a fleet is progressively being refurbished and the first aircraft was way of actually making sure the 380 continues flying into the future returned to fly in October. and we have indications from other airlines who are looking at doing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the mid-life upgrade of the A380 similar cabin retrofits.” would ensure its status as one of the most popular aircraft with Emirates is the flagship A380 operator with 112 now in service customers. and another 11 to come. The A380 has been the cornerstone of the “The A380 is a crucial part of our long-haul fleet and this upgrade airlines network since 2008 and CEO Sir Tim Clark says its demise program will see customers enjoy everything the aircraft has to offer has led to a review of the total network. “We haven’t been growing for years to come,” Joyce says. It will also provide an increase in at the pace we used to because of geopolitical issues in the region business and premium economy seating to help match the demand and elsewhere,” he said earlier this year. “But that’s given us time we’re seeing on our long-haul routes.” to take stock of what the network is going to look like in five to ten years and what the fleet fit in that network and the type of aircraft is going to be. As far as Emirates is concerned, these aircraft will be flying until the mid-30s, so there is a long time to go before the aircraft disappears from Emirates fleet,” Clark said. Emirates have withdrawn two A380s from service and Clark indi- cated these will be used as a source of spares for major overhauls and that the aircraft had been fully written down. “Clearly, the de- mand in the second-hand market isn’t there so when we’ve got the life out of the aircraft that we had planned we’re indifferent to what happens to them in the sense we don’t have any value left in them and we don’t have to take any writedowns.”

This is a way of actually making sure the 380 continues flying into the future…

ANTONIO DA COSTA

A sobering financial issue for the aircraft is what is going to hap- pen with the aircraft that are retired or returned to lessors, as some airlines have already flagged? Aviation consultancy IBA reports that 38 percent of the A380 fleet is leased with a significant number of leases set to expire between 2023 and 2029. Transitioning the aircraft to new operators is not an easy task with prohibitively high costs for cabin reconfiguration and unlike SHUTTERSTOCK the Boeing 747 there is no possibility of converting the A380 into use as a freighter. ▲ Airbus developed cockpit technology to ease pilot workloads and IBA head of valuations Mike Yeomans says: “With key A380 op- build on the enhancements its fly-by-wire systems had introduced. erators selecting twin-engine aircraft for their future widebody fleet and limited apparent interest from potential secondary operators Overall seating will be increased to 485, with an extra six business placing used aircraft in the market will be challenging.” suites and 25 Premium Economy seats being added and 30 Econo- With significant numbers of A380s heading for heavy mainte- my seats removed. A new upper deck lounge for First and Business nance there will be a market for spare parts from retired aircraft and Class passengers has been added and Business Class suites have German A380 lessor, The Dr. Peters Group estimates components been upgraded and reconfigured to give direct aisle access for all revenue around US$45 million per aircraft. passengers. Like the 747, the A380 is loved by passengers and has changed the “Working with Airbus we’ve been able to use the cabin space more face of aviation. Viewed as an isolated program it has not lived up efficiently and improve the economics of the aircraft while also pro- to its financial objectives but as Da Costa says, “it has made Airbus viding a better experience in every part of the aircraft,” Joyce adds. the company it is today.” That’s got to be worth a lot. 

18 AsianAviation | November 2019 Heavy maintenance finds a new home ALLIANCE

Aircraft heavy maintenance has been shifting around the globe as operators cut costs but with demand increasing and skilled labour becoming harder to find that picture is changing. Now Australia wants to get involved. Michael Doran reports on new developments down under.

▲ Alliance Airlines aircraft to be maintained by Hawker Pacific in Cairns.

AsianAviation | November 2019 19 MRO

BRISBANE-BASED ALLIANCE AIRLINES operates the world’s larg- leaves ample capacity to fill. est fleet of Fokker aircraft and it has selected Hawker Pacific for its “The MRO market in our region is far greater than our capacity heavy maintenance needs, work previously done in Europe. The com- and traditionally our biggest challenge has been cost,” he says. ing together of Hawker Pacific, a Jet Aviation company, and Alliance is “Australia is not a cheap place to do work but that is starting to a case where excess MRO capacity meets an airline’s need at the right equalise quite a bit. There is a global shortage in these fields and time, supported by government investment and local skills training. people are recruiting skills globally which is enforcing a more level At its Cairns MRO operations, Hawker Pacific was doing heavy playing field in the cost of labour.” maintenance on a range of aircraft, including De Havilland Dash-8 and With the Fokker aircraft and the Alliance fleet being relatively new ATR turboprops but needed to fill excess capacity. Jason Burzacott, in the workshop there is a period of consolidation underway but with vice president MRO Services Hawker Pacific Australia, says one of good numbers of Fokker, ATR and Dash-8 aircraft in Asia-Pacific the biggest challenges for any MRO is actually keeping the facility full there is no shortage of opportunities. and that’s why they were looking for new opportunities. “Typically, we have taken in a lot of ATR and Dash-8s from around “We looked at the Fokker aircraft in the region and when we the region, including from Indonesia and some Dash-8s from Philip- assessed the numbers, we deemed it to be a viable opportunity,” pine Airlines,” he says. “All the other Fokker operators in the region he says. “But at the time our hangar facility did not give us the get their heavy maintenance done overseas so we are talking to confidence to be able to say yes to any major new opportunities.” them about bringing that work back here.” With significant financial support from the Queensland govern- With heavy maintenance moving offshore and an ageing work- ment Hawker Pacific expanded their Cairns hangar by 50 percent force, finding skilled labour is an issue, particularly with Cairns being and set-up the Fokker capability in 2018. 1,700 kilometres from Brisbane. The Queensland MRO community, supported by a government push to grow the aerospace industry, got together around 15 years ago to look for a solution. That solution was Cairns Aviation Skills Centre, managed by training organisation Aviation Australia, which provides engineering training from a location at Cairns Airport. “Over those 15 years there have been around 600 engineering students trained and 85 have been recruited by Hawker Pacific,” Burzacott says. “I am convinced we would not be here in Cairns if not for the school providing the good quality students into our facility.” Alliance Airlines is Australia’s leading provider of contract, wet- lease and charter services and operates the world’s largest fleet of Fokker aircraft. Today it owns 49 Fokkers, a mix of turboprops, F70 and F100 jets with 40 flying under the Alliance banner. It became the largest Fokker operator when it purchased 21 air- craft from Austrian Airlines in 2015 and at the same time reviewed its heavy maintenance needs for the expanded fleet. CEO Lee Schofield says that until then Alliance had handled its own heavy maintenance from bases in Brisbane and Adelaide. “It became a very large fixed cost and we were effectively driven to have two aircraft SHUTTERSTOCK in the hangar at all times in order to keep the workforce productive, which was not ideal,” he says. ▲ At its Cairns MRO operations, Hawker Pacific was doing heavy The aircraft acquired from Austrian were being maintained in maintenance on a range of aircraft, including De Havilland Dash-8s Slovakia by Austrian Technik which made an attractive pitch to do but needed to fill excess capacity. the heavy maintenance for the entire fleet, which Alliance accepted. “It was going pretty well but flying a regional jet to the other side “This was a new aircraft in our system, so we had to get all the of the world has a cost,” Schofield says. “When we had the lower tooling and do the training and Alliance has been very supportive of level checks we got to the point where the cost of the ferry flight us in that space,” he explains. “We have worked with Alliance right meant that European maintenance was not as attractive.” from the start and they entrusted us our first aircraft of that type for It was then that Hawker Pacific approached Alliance with a pro- heavy maintenance.” posal to bring the heavy maintenance back to Australia, an option Burzacott says they have since done another two Alliance aircraft not previously available. and expect to do nine aircraft in 2020 but the Alliance work still “What changed is that before Hawker Pacific approached us,

20 AsianAviation | November 2019 MRO ALLIANCE

there was previously no external Fokker maintenance provider in the ▲ Alliance Airlines is Australia’s leading provider of contract, country for us to consider,” he says. “Now they are doing it in Cairns, wet-lease and charter services and operates the world’s largest where we have a base, and having an externally based maintenance fleet of Fokker aircraft. provider is far more attractive than us doing it ourselves.” Alliance looks after its own line-maintenance and Schofield says “We believe there is an opportunity to launch an efficient light they will continue to use the European providers for some work and heavy maintenance facility in Australia as there has been too much have the option of Fokker Services in Singapore. off-shoring of heavy maintenance MRO beyond the financial logic,” Having a stable maintenance base is important to Alliance as it she explains. plans to operate its Fokker fleet for some time yet. “Alliance has set “It makes no economic sense to justify a ferry flight from say a very clear direction on our Fokker fleet where we have openly Melbourne to the Philippines or Singapore to perform light checks stated that we have got at least another nine to ten years in these there,” she says. “The flight itself will cost up to half of the check aircraft,” he says. itself and the man-hour rate gap is narrowing between Southeast Also based in Brisbane is Heston MRO, a business born in De- Asia and Australia. cember 2018 when Europe-based parent Heston Aviation acquired “The overall concept of maintenance is shifting from being ex- Aircraft Maintenance Services Australia from Singapore International tremely labour intensive to being more efficient, data-driven and Airline Engineering Company. technologically advanced. This shift creates opportunities for high While 2019 has been the first year of operation for Heston MRO, labour-cost areas like Australia and there is an open opportunity it launched with more than 25 years experience in maintaining air- to create MRO facilities differentiated not by labour-rate but by craft for international airlines from line-maintenance bases around technological leadership.” the country. The two mainline airlines Qantas and Virgin are showing no appe- Acting CEO Asta Zirlyte says that 2019 has been the start of its tite to either expand or commence heavy maintenance in Australia. journey “to become an independent total technical care partner for In a statement Virgin Australia says it is not currently considering airlines in the region.” Although the focus has been on the existing establishing a heavy maintenance facility in Australia and that it line-maintenance operations, Heston has added new services and “works with contracted MRO organisations in New Zealand and capabilities and has more to come in 2020. Asia to perform heavy maintenance on its aircraft.” “This year we made a number of steps under the updated strat- Qantas has its Australian heavy maintenance base in Brisbane egy,” she says. “We launched components solutions, applied for on where it maintains its B737 and A330 fleet. In 2017 it opened a new and off-wing engine repair certification, strengthened the team and engineering facility in Los Angeles at a cost of more than US$30 added new customers.” million to maintain A380, B747 and B787 aircraft. In January Qan- Looking to 2020, Zirlyte says they expect to see their first engine tas subsidiary QantasLink announced it was to cease the heavy service projects, an expansion in component solutions to add repairs, maintenance of its B717 fleet in Australia, placing the work with ST enlarged stock holdings and to add heavy maintenance support. Engineering in Singapore. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 21 REGIONAL AVIATION EVA AIRWAYS EVA Asia tops in clean cabins

In Asia, where flying is still a luxury to many, airlines sweep clean cabin awards. Ralph Jennings in Taipei takes a look at the winners.

EAST ASIA STANDS OUT AMONG WORLD AVIATION MARKETS Passengers shaped the ratings by submitting evaluations for for its fleets of newer aircraft, demanding passengers — some of cleanliness and “presentation”, Skytrax says on its World Airline whom still find flying a luxury — and competition among airlines Awards website. They specifically appraised the lustre of cabin including budget carriers. These trends combined this year to panels, carpets, seat areas, tables and lavatories. deliver a sparkling outcome: Seven of the world’s cleanest cab- Asian airlines probably assumed they needed to keep clean for ins went to Asian airlines in awards given by the British aviation business survival, aviation analysts say. Their younger fleets give consultancy Skytrax them a head start, as it’s relatively easy to keep a newer aircraft Eva Airways of Taiwan ranked No. 1 for cabin cleanliness. Japan clean, said Eric Lin, aviation analyst with the UBS investment bank Airlines and ANA All Nippon Airways took the number two and in Hong Kong. Asian passengers often demand more luxury than three spots, respectively. The next three, in the order ranked, were counterparts in the West, he added. Flying is new for a lot of pas- Singapore Airlines, South Korea-based Asiana Airlines and Hainan sengers in countries where the economies have flourished later than Airlines of China. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways came those of the West. “If you look at developed markets like Europe and in No. 8. Five airlines between the 10th and 20th spots are also the States, flying is like taking a bus,” Lin said. headquartered in East Asia. Asian airlines dominated the top 10 in In January, Taiwan-based StarLux Airlines will open its first three other recent years, as well. routes, all in Asia, and offer unusual amenities for First Class as well

22 AsianAviation | November 2019 AIRCRAFT INTERIORS

◀ Eva Airways imposed a stringent standard to sanitise aircraft might get a blanket and, separately, earphones wrapped in plastic. because it considers a clean and immaculate cabin environment as Floors, including those in lavatories, may to be cleaned after meals. an essential element of in-flight service. Eva Airways made a conscious decision when it started flying in 1991 to keep clean, a spokesperson for the company said. The air- as Economy Class passengers, a publicist for the new company said line at that time “imposed a stringent standard” to sanitise aircraft Monday. The airline’s chief executive officer has said he believes because “we considered clean and immaculate cabin environment more passengers should have access to in-flight luxury. as an essential element of our in-flight service and a comfortable Cultures in Asia prize product appearance as part of overall value, journey for our passengers.” The airline’s employees have beaten said John Grant, director of JG Aviation Consultants in the United the standards of other airlines through “intensive cleaning” of cabin Kingdom. “It’s I suspect partly cultural, very much about positive po- surfaces often touched by passengers, the spokesperson said, and sitioning and in many cases pride in what they are doing,” Grant said. “even the corners not noticed by travellers are cleaned regularly.” “As for consumer choice, there is no doubt that the soft factors are very Training for flight attendants includes lessons on keeping cabins much taken into account by travellers. Ultimately all aircraft tend to and lavatories always clean, the spokesperson added. travel at the same speeds, take the same time to get from A to B and Surfaces in Eva’s aircraft cabins are “never sticky,” said Nicholas therefore those softer aspects become key product differentiators.” Chen, an international lawyer based in Taipei who has flown the Inter-airline competition has grown fierce in Asia because budget airline regularly since its inception, largely to China, Europe and carriers have grown fast over the past decade. Low-cost carrier ca- the United States. “This is especially apparent with tables, armrests pacity in the Asia-Pacific more than quadrupled from 2008 to 2018, and seats,” Chen said. the CAPA Centre for Aviation market research organisation in Hong The lawyer recalls from his youth flying on a now defunct US-based Kong says. The gain translates to about 600 million seats flown last airline and an “erosion of the industry” in terms of offering quality flight year, the organisation says. The major budget airline markets are in experiences. “I believe that...sweating the details is the reason for the Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Budget cabins are not nec- widespread societal brand loyalty being both earned and deserved” essarily dirtier than higher-end rivals, Lin said, though some low-cost carriers fly so frequently Our goal is not only to provide an airline experience that that it’s hard to make time for clean-up while meets five-star standards but also to challenge ourselves planes are on the ground. Southeast Asian airlines may emphasise in providing the most caring and exquisite services. cleanliness to compete with the region’s EVA AIRWAYS standard bearer Singapore Airlines, said Song Seng Wun, an economist in the private bank- ing unit of CIMB. “When we have the likes of Singapore Airlines that among today’s airlines,” he said. “When one is in an enclosed space, set the standards, I suppose the rest would like to put that as one of in close proximity to many strangers for whatever length of time, if their KPIs,” said Song, who is based in the Southeast Asian financial the environment is not clean, everyone will notice it. In the era of centre. Singapore Airlines declined comment for this report. communicable diseases, this is one every traveller’s mind." Attention to cleanliness has also perked up following news reports Eva Airways also asks a supervisor from its ground services in major media outlets of unwashed passenger blankets and cabin provider EGAS to oversee cleaning jobs and “scrutinize” results, air left to spread disease, Lin said. To name one example, the World the spokesperson said. Another cleanliness inspection takes place Health Organisation called air travel one way that severe acute res- before every flight departs. piratory syndrome (SARS) spread in Asia in 2002 and 2003. The airline, which belongs to the Evergreen Group transport Keeping a cabin clean doesn’t cost an airline much compared to and logistics conglomerate, took second place in the 2018 Skytrax other maintenance and operation expenses, analysts point out, and clean cabin awards. “Eva’s employees worked hard to win the best labour for sanitation jobs runs cheaper in much of Asia compared cabin cleaning in the world award from Skytrax this year,” the airline to the West. Airlines that lease aircraft have another incentive to spokesperson said. “Our goal is not only to provide an airline experi- keep cabins clean, because the lessors usually demand planes be ence that meets five-star standards but also to challenge ourselves returned in the same condition received, Grant said. “Therefore, in in providing the most caring and exquisite services.” the long run, keeping that interior as fresh and clean as possible Other Asian airlines on the 2019 awards list declined comment. does provide a payback right at the end of the aircraft’s lease,” he The three non-East Asian carriers among the top 10 were Swiss In- said. ternational Air Lines in seventh place, Qatar Airways in ninth place Passengers on the award-winning Asian airlines might notice that and Lufthansa right behind it. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways seats and tray tables are dry and unblemished, with the levers to the “world’s best airline” this year among 100 contenders, with Sin- unlock and move them in perfect working order. Every passenger gapore Airlines in second place and ANA in third. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 23 One region, one consortium, three airports KEISHI NUKINA

Japan is a crowded country both in terms of residential real estate and how close airports are to each other. Japan correspondent Keishi Nukina takes a look three Kansai area airports that are competing for traffic.

LOCATED WITHIN 70 KILOMETRES OF EACH OTHER, Osaka two years later, on 1 April 2018, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the International (Itami), Kansai International, and Kobe serve primarily consortium, Kansai Airports Kobe, took over the operations of Kobe the second-largest metropolitan area of Japan, Keihanshin (Kyo- Airport, finalising the privatisation of the three Kansai-area airports. to-Osaka-Kobe). Until recently, all three of these airports were run Having opened in 1939, Itami airport is the oldest of the three. For by the Japanese government. However, on 1 April 2016, Kansai decades, it served as both the domestic and international gateway Airports - a consortium led by the Japanese financial services group to the area. However, due to, among other reasons, its proximity to Orix (40 percent) and the French airport operator Vinci Airports (40 residential areas and related concerns about noise pollution, the percent) - took over management of the two Osaka airports. Exactly airport faced challenges with growth. As such, the government de-

24 AsianAviation | November 2019 AIRPORTS

◀ Kansai International Airport was built on an artificial island off the The traffic growth at Itami and Kobe airports is, with the exception coast of Osaka Bay. of the recent Fuji Dream Airlines’ entry to Kobe, limited to the exist- ing carriers due to slot restrictions. Kansai airport, on the other hand, cided to diminish Itami’s role, and build Kansai International Airport has been able to fuel its growth by attracting a significant number on an artificial island off the coast of Osaka Bay. When Kansai airport of new foreign carriers, especially from China and Southeast Asia. opened in 1994, international flights were moved there, leaving Itami Among others, Juneyao Airlines (Qingdao), Sichuan Airlines (Xi’An), airport open to domestic flights only. Thai Lion Air (Bangkok), Vietnam Airlines (Da Nang), and Xiamen Kobe Airport, the newest of the three airports, attracted controver- Airlines (Hangzhou) launched new routes to Kansai airports in the sy not only due to its high costs to the local government, which was first three years under Kansai Airports’ management. In FY2018, already indebted due to having to recover from the Great Hanshin 23 percent of international passengers using the airport were from earthquake of 1995, but also due to its proximity to the other two China, 27 percent from Korea, and 16 percent from Southeast Asia. airports. In fact, when it opened in 2006, to protect the growth of The number of Chinese passengers using the airport increased by Kansai airport, only up to 60 landings and departures a day were 16 percent year-on-year in both FY2017 and FY2018. permitted at Kobe, international and charter flights were banned, The financial performance of Kansai Airports has been on an up- and operating hours were restricted. ward trajectory as well. In its first year of managing the airports, the In October 2019, those restrictions were slightly eased, and Kobe company has recorded revenues of 180.2 billion yen (US$1.6 billion) airport now allows up to 80 landings and departures a day until and a net profit of 16.9 billion yen (US$155 million). Those figures 23:00. Itami airport remains restricted to a maximum of 370 domestic have grown to 206.4 billion yen and 28.3 billion yen in FY2017, and landings and departures a day between 07:00 and 21:00. No similar 220.4 billion yen and 29.6 billion yen in FY2018. In fact, the year-on- restrictions are in place at Kansai airport which is open 24 hours a year growth of revenues and profits between FY2017 and FY2018 day both to domestic and international flights and thus presents the outpaced that of traffic. most significant growth opportunity of the three. One of the key drivers behind that has been the growth of Kansai The Japanese government started the process of privatising the Airports’ “non-aero” segment. It increased from 99.8 billion yen in country’s airports in 2013 when it enacted the Act on Operation of revenues in FY2016 to 130.1 billion yen in FY2018 and went from National Airports Utilising Skills of the Private Sector. The privatisa- contributing 55 percent of the total revenues to 59 percent. The tion of Itami and Kansai airports was the first major project of the majority of that growth can be attributed to duty-free sales at stores initiative, and after numerous bidders dropped out throughout the directly managed by the consortium which doubled from about 30 process, the Kansai Airports consortium won a 44-year concession billion yen in FY2016 to about 60 billion yen in FY2018. Of that, as lasting from April 2016 until March 2060 as the sole bidder. This much as 72 percent was spent by Chinese visitors. marked Orix’s entry into the airport management business and With 26.44 million passengers processed across the three airports Vinci Airports’ entry into Japan. Two years later, the consortium in the first half of FY2019 (April 2019 - September 2019), Kansai was selected as the preferred bidder for, and the eventual winner Airports’ growth shows no signs of slowing down. The record-break- of a 42-year concession agreement to operate Kobe airport as well. ing number represents an 11 percent year-on-year increase. Going In FY2015 (year ended March 31, 2016), the year before their forwards, however, the consortium faces three challenges: the privatisation, Kansai airport was used by 24.06 million passengers limited growth potential of Itami and Kobe airports, the significant and Itami airport by 14.63 million passengers. Since Kansai Airports reliance of Kansai airport’s growth on traffic from China, and the took over management of the airports, those numbers have grown to political tensions in the region. The ongoing dispute between Ja- 25.72 million and 15.1 million in FY2016, 28.8 million and 15.68 million pan and South Korea caused a 7 percent year-on-year decrease in in FY2017, and 29.41 million and 16.3 million in FY2018. Adding the South Korean passengers traveling to Kansai airport. At the same 3.19 million passengers that used Kobe airport in FY2018, the three time, a 52 percent increase in Chinese passengers has increased airports under the consortium’s management served a total of 48.9 the airport’s exposure to a potential slowdown of Chinese tourism million passengers in the last full fiscal year. growth even further. The numbers in FY2018 would have been even higher had it not All that said, Kansai Airports has been able to diversify its traffic by been for Typhoon Jebi which, in September 2018, severely limited attracting more passengers from other, even distant, regions of the operations at Kansai airport for a few days. With that in mind, world as well. Since the consortium took the airport over, AirAsia X Yoshiyuki Yamaya, representative director and CEO, and Emmanuel launched a route to Honolulu, Qantas to Sydney, British Airways to Menanteau, representative director and co-CEO of Kansai Airports, London, and Delta Air Lines to Seattle. In 2020, Swiss is expected to commented that “in order to welcome more passengers on the way return to Kansai airport for the first time in 18 years, Qatar Airways in to reaching our goal of serving over 50 million passengers at the four years, and Turkish Airlines in two years. On top of all of that, the three airports combined in FY2019, we are more than ever commit- three airports are also set to enjoy additional attention and growth ted to becoming disaster resilient airports.” thanks to EXPO 2025 which will be held in Osaka. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 25 MANUFACTURER FORCAST

Eastern promise

By 2038, air travel to, from, and within the Asia-Pacific region will have become the most important such market in the world, according to Airbus. European correspondent Ian Goold considers the manufacturer’s latest 20-year market forecast.

A 200 PERCENT INCREASE in the next 20 years will see Asia-Pa- While the average age of the global fleet has declined since 2004 cific leading world airline traffic (revenue passenger-kilometres from almost eleven years to less than ten, aircraft flying in Asia-Pa- (RPKs) by 2038. Services emanating from the region will include cific — less than a decade old, on average, 15 years ago — are now 10 of the world’s largest traffic flows, according to Airbus. The typically between six and seven years old, says Airbus. European manufacturer’s latest Global Market Forecast (GMF) indicates that, during the 2019-38 forecast period, the domestic China market will increase by 220 percent to generate the largest AIRBUS GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST traffic flow. —NEW DELIVERIES* Overall, Airbus analysts see 4.3 percent average annual traffic MARKET 2019-38 SHARE growth that will generate demand for 39,210 new passenger aircraft Africa 1,269 3% with 100+ seats and freighters with capacity for over 10 tonnes. Asia-Pacific 16,543 42% Some 36 percent (14,210 units) will be replacements, 64 percent CIS 1,543 4% (25,000) will provide growth, and these will be supplemented by Europe 7,539 19% 8,470 current machines remaining in service. Asia-Pacific will ac- Latin America 2,696 7% count for 42 percent of deliveries, ahead of North America and Middle East 3,245 8% Europe, each with 36 percent. North America 6,378 17% How does Airbus see the Asia-Pacific airline fleet and what will be traffic trends in the coming 20 years? The region operates the WORLD TOTAL 39,213 100% youngest passenger fleet of jetliners in service, excluding freighters. *Passenger and cargo aircraft. Source: Airbus GMF (2019).

AIRBUS GLOBAL MARKET FORECAST: NEW DELIVERIES 2019-38

NEW PASSENGER AIRCRAFT* — DELIVERIES BY REGION SIZE AFRICA ASIA/ PACIFIC CIS EUROPE LATIN AMERICA MIDDLE EAST NORTH AMERICA TOTAL Small 960 12,765 1,298 5,760 2,400 1,630 4,911 29,724 Medium 188 2,168 125 1,035 189 473 696 4,874 Large 101 1,391 75 639 95 1,097 362 3,760

TOTAL 1,249 16,324 1,498 7,434 2,684 3,200 5,969 38,358

NEW FREIGHT AIRCRAFT** — DELIVERIES BY REGION Small — — — — — — — — Medium 14 102 16 56 12 14 285 499 Large 6 117 29 49 - 31 124 356

TOTAL 20 219 45 105 12 45 409 855 *100+ seats (passenger aircraft); **10+ tonnes (freighters). Source: Airbus GMF 2019.

26 AsianAviation | November 2019 The fleet will almost treble in size by 2038, according to Airbus: SHUTTERSTOCK the current 7,105-strong force (as at 1 January) is seen as growing to 19,225 units. Of these, around 2,900 current machines are expected to remain in service. CARGO TO GO Asia-Pacific will see 16,325 new deliveries in the coming 20 Over the coming 20 years, Airbus expects global trade to grow years. Satisfying forecast traffic and route developments will at 3.3 percent/year, almost doubling to around US$45 trillion require 12,120 aircraft for market growth, supplemented by 4,205 by 2038. This demand is predicted to stimulate a 50+percent further machines to replace retired aircraft. increase in the 1,800-strong dedicated freighter-aircraft fleet to The great majority will be small, single-aisle designs flying up just over 2,800 aircraft. North America is forecast to continue to 3,000 nautical miles, of which operators in the region will need supporting the largest regional fleet (about 40 percent of all 12,765, says Airbus. These will be supported by 2,169 medium-size, cargo aircraft), while Asia-Pacific will employ nearly 30 percent, up-to-5,000 nautical mile-range aircraft. Finally, there will be de- says the manufacturer. However, Asia-Pacific will become the mand for 1,391 large, twin-aisle jetliners for which the manufacturer largest in international trade as its share increases from some does not nominate a maximum range. 36 percent to 43 percent by 2038. Intra-Asia-Pacific trade flow All this capacity is to accommodate Asia-Pacific airline traffic is forecast to grow by 140 percent over this period. growth that Airbus forecasters say will continue to comfortably exceed global expansion rates. After growing 6 percent annually during 2018-28, traffic is seen as increasing at a slightly slower 4.9 Having previously highlighted the socio-economic importance percent in the following 10 years (compared with global RPK growth of middle-class travellers, the 2019-38 GMF points out that in all of 4.6 percent/year and 4 percent/year, respectively). regions the growth of this market is most impressive in terms of its Overall, this will represent a 20-year compound annual increase speed of transition and the size of its share, as well as the sheer size of 5.5 percent (4.3 percent globally), says Airbus. Breaking down of the group. “In 2008, 32 percent [of people] — or 1.2 billion — in the predicted overall growth trend, Airbus says that Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific [was] middle-class. By 2018, this had expanded to nearly intra-regional and domestic traffic combined will increase at around 50 percent, or 2 billion people, and by 2038 is projected to grow to 5.8 percent/year, while inter-regional annual growth is expected to 72 percent, or 3.3 billion people.” be 4.6 percent. Over the past 20 years, the importance of intra-regional traffic be- As well as providing a crystal-ball’s view of perceived prospects, tween nations or states has risen, as has domestic travel, according the manufacturer offers a detailed picture of the current Asia-Pacific to the company. Since 1998, such local traffic has grown from 22 market. Despite a recent modest “slowdown,” the region will continue percent to 33 percent and together with other (unspecified) air travel leading global economies with the manufacturer expecting an aver- accounts for “nearly 60 percent of all Asia-Pacific traffic”. age 4.1 percent “real” compound annual growth in gross domestic The region’s domestic market has become highly concentrated, product (GDP) during 2019-38. with more than 90 percent of traffic accounted for by five nations: It notes that over the past 50 years, Asia-Pacific’s share of increased China (57 percent), India (11 percent), Japan (9 percent), Indonesia global GDP has gone from 21 percent in the 1970s to a 54 percent (8 percent), and Australia (6 percent). The dominant China and In- expansion in this decade. “Today, although India is now outpacing dia markets have grown at “impressive” rates since 1999, recording China in economic growth, Asia-Pacific remains linked to China and respective 12.4 percent and 11.1 percent annual growth rates. Japan, its transition to a service/domestic consumption based economy.” Indonesia, and Australia have seen “very strong” growth rates com- China’s economic transition to services will lead domestic and pared with the global level. regional sources of growth — “particularly private consumption” — But for intra-regional traffic flying between Asia-Pacific countries that will play a larger role in coming years, according to the GMF. the story is “quite different”, with a much more fragmented market “Concerns over slowing Chinese economic growth have eased portrayed. “Without looking at the data, it would have been hard to recently, but trade tensions with the USA are a downside risk at guess that the largest flow would have been between China and least in the short term.” Meanwhile, emerging manufacturing hubs Thailand, for example,” say Airbus market analysts. In 2018, that such as Vietnam and Indonesia could stimulate traffic growth, market represented some 6 percent of intra-Asia-Pacific market says Airbus. capacity, while that between Australia and Singapore provided a The region’s burgeoning wealth has been accompanied by grow- further 4 percent. ing air-transport importance, with its share of global capacity (avail- Reflecting airline industry performance also in Europe, Airbus says able seat-kilometres [ASKs]) increasing from 23 percent in 2000 at that growth in the “highly fragmented” intra-Asia-Pacific market has an average 6.5 percent/year — “significantly faster than Europe and been enhanced by the opening of new internal routes. Both regions North America”. By last year, Asia-Pacific was the leading region, have been stimulated by low-cost carriers (LCCs), which have played providing the focus for “a third of all air-travel capacity”. an important role in Asia-Pacific. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 27 BENN MARKS Globe-trotting marvel

Bombardier’s flagship aircraft, the Global 7500, is one of the latest business jets to join the exalted ranks of business aviation’s prestigious ultra-long-range segment. Benn Marks looks at the details.

THE MAJOR POINT OF DISTINCTION with the aerospace com- can confirm that with its extended range, the Global 7500 is the pany’s latest flying marvel is that it can fly farther than anything the only business aircraft that can connect New York to Hong Kong, competition can throw at it — an enormous 7,700 nautical miles — and Singapore to San Francisco. Some other notable city pairs in- making long flights a breeze for the elegant machine. clude Montreal-Bangkok; Montreal-Colombo; Toronto-Hong Kong; That makes the Global 7500 a game changer in the world of Toronto-Johannesburg.” endurance flying, as Matthew Nicholls, Bombardier Aviation com- But ultra-long-range bragging rights aside, the refined aircraft also munications and public affairs senior advisor, explains. packs serious real estate. The cabin alone is 54-feet 5-inches long “The Global 7500 aircraft is the largest and longest-range pur- (from cockpit divider to aft most cabin, excluding baggage compart- pose-built business jet in the world and has a range of 7,700 nautical ment), 8-feet-wide and 6-feet 2-inches high, providing a lot of space miles and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925 (982 km/h or 610 mph). for interior design flexibility. Throw in Ka-band worldwide Internet The aircraft was widely publicised as being able to connect some of connectivity, giving passengers the option to download, stream, video the world’s most expansive city pairings, including routes such as conference or share content to their hearts’ content and the Global New York to Shanghai, and Singapore to Seattle. Today, Bombardier 7500 is basically a well-equipped and appointed mobile apartment.

28 AsianAviation | November 2019 BUSINESS JETS

◀ The Global 7500 aircraft is the largest and longest-range purpose- credentials and spaciousness that are making it a hit with custom- built business jet in the world and has a range of 7,700 nautical miles ers. Its extensive use of the latest technology available in business and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925. aviation today is also bringing it the wider industry’s attention as well. For instance, the aircraft’s two latest generation General “Customer feedback for the Global 7500 has been very strong Electric GE Passport powerplants not only reliably generate an and there are several reasons it is making its mark in the industry. immense amount of power for the jet (something in the order of The Global 7500 aircraft is the industry’s first and only business 18,920lb of thrust per side), they’re also notable for cutting back jet to feature four distinct living areas, a dedicated Crew Suite, and heavily on the noise and emissions fronts; elements that make the industry’s largest, most well-appointed kitchen. In contrast to them ideal for operators, passengers travelling in the aircraft and conventional open-plan cabins, this modular concept allows for a the environment. true home and office in the sky. In-flight activities can take place Additionally, the Global 7500’s highly advanced wing design is both simultaneously and privately, so dinner can be prepared in another feature that provides considerable benefits in terms of the kitchen, served to guests in the Conference Suite, all while overall performance. Nicholls says the aircraft is more than capable passengers rest peacefully in the Master Suite,” Nicholls says. of accessing challenging airports with short runways located at high The Bombardier senior PR advisor points out there are 15 to 20 elevations, in hot temperatures such is its unique design. Global 7500 aircraft in production this year, which are currently in The Global 7500 is perfectly suited for customers flying in to chal- Bombardier’s completions centre in Montreal; and more than a lenging airfields. Its impressive long-range performance as well as dozen of the type are expected to be delivered this year too (from its short-field and steep approach capabilities allows it to operate Bombardier’s completions facilities in the same city). Also, sales out of demanding airfields such as Saanen Airfield and London City, figures for the new Global jet are impressive considering it only and connect key cities in the Middle East, Africa and the continental received its type certification from Transport Canada in September US. With its advanced wing technology, the Global 7500 generates 2018, followed shortly after by the US Federal Aviation Administra- unprecedented amounts of extra lift on take-off and approach due tion (FAA) in November 2018 (both within 24 months after the first to its sophisticated slats and flap system. It also maximizes aerody- flight of Flight Test Vehicle (FTV) 1. From there, the aircraft entered namic efficiency and increases performance all the while improving service in December 2018. That said, with its large spacious cabin, formi- The Global 7500 aircraft is the industry’s first and only business dable range and speed, plus the fine jet to feature four distinct living areas, a dedicated Crew Suite, legacy that previous models of the company’s highly successful Global and the industry’s largest, most well-appointed kitchen. product line has established with MATTHEW NICHOLLS, BOMBARDIER AVIATION customers worldwide, it’s hardly surprising to learn the Global 7500 is already operating with a number of happy customers. safety and offering a smoother ride. Its advanced wing also provides Nicholls says Bombardier’s new Global jet has been bought by the fastest cruise speed in the industry, unmatched short take-off ultra-high-net-worth-individuals (UHNWIs), private company/cor- and landing performance and the smoothest ride in the skies. porations and fractional ownership organisations — many of whom From a systems point of view, the aircraft comes equipped with are repeat Bombardier ultra-long-range jet customers. And, for those the latest Bombardier Vision flight deck, including elements such as residing in the APAC region, who could also be categorised as falling synthetic and enhanced vision systems, and advanced fly-by-wire into the above buyer demographic, and for whom long-range travel technology with side stick controllers; collectively making the large is par for the course, Nicholls says the Global 7500 has certainly Bombardier jet very safe and easy to fly. For passengers however, piqued their curiosity too, along with others. the Global 7500 also comes equipped with the much vaunted Nuage “We are thrilled with the worldwide response the Global 7500 has seat. This totally revamped seat design has no peer in terms of pas- received. The aircraft has garnered significant interest from existing senger comfort and is streets ahead of what can be found in most, customers as well as concept buyers worldwide for its industry-de- if not all, first class airline cabins. In terms of flights approaching fining design, performance, short-field capability and outstanding the 16-17-hour mark, the new Nuage seat is also perhaps the best reliability…With its outstanding range, smooth ride, and superb DVT-preventative innovation imaginable. Nicholls says the Global performance, the Global 7500 is perfectly suited for customers in 7500’s appeal lies in its uncompromising passenger comfort and the APAC region. While Bombardier does not disclose information amenity, performance and technological sophistication. He fur- regarding its customers, the Global 7500 has garnered plenty of ther adds that Bombardier’s latest offering to the ultra-long-range interest from potential APAC-based customers. segment is an industry game-changer — and one that’s certainly It’s not just the Global 7500’s record breaking ultra-long-range redefined what’s possible in it. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 29 ILHG Benefits and challenges Aviation’s Industry High Level Group (ILHG), which includes officials from top rules-setting bodies, released its Aviation Benefits report for 2019 recently. The report highlights the past 75 years since the founding of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and says the future is promising, but also challenging. Matt Driskill dug into the details.

RELEASED IN OCTOBER IN MONTREAL, the report is produced — The industry supports 65.5 million jobs; by the ILHG, which itself is made up of officials from the International — The industry carried 4.3 billion passengers in 2018, Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport a 6.4 percent increase over 2017; Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air — Airlines carried 58 million tonnes of freight in 2018, Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), and the International a 2.4 percent increase over 2017; Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA). — Scheduled commercial flights totalled 38 million in 2018, The 2019 version lays out 75 years of aviation success, but also a 3.5 percent increase over 2017; reports that for the industry to meet its expectations of doubling — There were 48,500 routes globally, an increase of 2,900 air traffic over the next 20 years and “de-carbonise” the industry, compared to 2017; governments and the private sector will have to step up their — Of the US$2.7 trillion in economic impact, tourism/catalytic investments. accounts for US$896.9 billion, “induced” accounts for As the title of the report indicates, the ILHG likes to point out the US$454 billion, indirect accounts for US$637.8 billion and good things aviation brings to the world. A few data points include: direct accounts for US$704.4 billion. — Today, 1,303 scheduled airlines operate over 31,717 aircraft, The report also highlights how the aviation industry drives global serving 3,759 airports with the support of 170 air navigation trade and e-commerce with an estimated US$6.8 trillion worth of services providers; goods transported internationally by air in 2018, representing 35 — If the global aviation sector were a country, its total contribution percent of world trade by value, despite representing less than (direct, indirect, induced and catalytic) of US$2.7 trillion to the 1 percent by volume. “Aviation’s advantage over other modes of gross domestic product (GDP); transport in terms of speed and reliability has contributed to the

30 AsianAviation | November 2019 AVIATION BENEFITS

◀ A rendering of the flights crisscrossing the world at any given time. the contribution of the air transport sector to world GDP would be US$820 billion lower, with an additional US$390 billion lost through market for same-day and next-day delivery services, ILHG said lower tourism activity. in the report. The ILHG says in the report that “a large number of investments If aviation continues to grow as projected, by 2036 the industry in the modernisation and expansion of quality aviation infrastruc- will account for 98 million jobs and generate US$5.7 trillion in GDP, ture are required over a long period. The global investment needs a 110 percent increase from 2016. The aviation industry in the Asia for airport expansion and construction, for example, are estimated and Pacific region has, in recent decades, become a success story at US$1.8 trillion from 2015 to 2030”. The group added that while with an impressive level of growth. Political commitments made to “aviation’s socio-economic benefits, its cross-cutting nature and the liberalisation of air services have helped to increase regional multiple links to other economic sectors are widely recognised, this and domestic connectivity and enhance intra-regional trade. Air has rarely translated into the level of investment which is necessary travel demand will also be stimulated by the growing population to truly derive these benefits”. They also said the aviation industry and middle class in the region. In Asia, the industry supports 30.2 has been paying for the “vast majority of its own infrastructure costs million jobs and US$684 billion in GDP. (runways, airport terminals, air traffic control), rather than being The projected growth however, will depend on sustainable world financed through taxation, public investment or subsidies. Infrastruc- economic and trade growth, as well as declining airline costs and ture costs are covered through payments of user charges, as well as ticket prices. Other factors, including regulatory regimes (such as other revenue sources. In addition, airlines and their customers are liberalisation of air transport), technological improvements and fuel forecast to generate US$136 billion in tax revenues in 2018. costs will also impact future growth. If growth were to slow due In order to level the playing field for the industry, the ILHG said in to restrictive trade, immigration, political factors and increasing the report that “it is necessary for states to take pragmatic meas- fuel price, the total number of jobs supported by the air transport ures, for example, by engaging multi-stakeholders, diversifying sector (including air transport supported tourism) could be 12 funding sources and elevating the role of the private sector, includ- million lower by 2036 than the base forecasts. In this scenario, ing through private investment, business reform, private finance AVIATION BENEFITS

initiatives, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and various incentive Outlook schemes. Where private capital is required, appropriate and targeted The wider trend of liberalisation is likely to provide a further boost to oversight delivering the right incentives needs to be put in place to the region’s expanding tourism industry, trade connections, and air guarantee capital injection into much needed infrastructure while connectivity. The increasing population and expanding middle class safeguarding consumer interests and increasing efficiency in the will also contribute to the surge in air travel demand. According to use of infrastructure. Such policy decisions will not only affect an ICAO’s long-term traffic forecasts, Asia and Pacific is expected to be infrastructure operator’s bottom line but also the overall services the fastest growing region in terms of passenger traffic, at an annual and choices that are offered to the travelling public.” rate of 5.3 percent up to 2045. For freight traffic, the region is projected The group also gave the industry a checklist for maximising the to grow 3.9 percent annually for the same period as passenger traffic, benefits of aviation. The list includes: the second highest growth rate among all regions. This increase will, — ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING: Mainstream the in turn, drive growth in economic output and jobs that are supported priorities of the aviation sector in States’ economic development by air transport in the next decade. By 2036, it is forecasted that the planning so that aviation can be used as an economic impact of air transport and the tourism it facilitates in Asia-Pacific will development driver; have grown to support 44 million jobs (46 percent more than in 2016) — AIR TRANSPORT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Establish and a US$1.7 trillion contribution to GDP (an increase of 151 percent). and apply good governance for air transport, i.e. the Being the engine of global growth, Asia-Pacific faces challenges institutional, regulatory, and policy frameworks, in which air during this phase of aviation development. In particular, it is proving transport is designed, implemented and managed; difficult to make aviation infrastructure improvements in the region — AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE: Develop quality aviation fast enough to keep pace with the accelerated growth in demand. infrastructure (including air navigation systems and airports) Among the world top 25 busiest airports by passenger numbers in commensurate with the level of predicted traffic growth and 2018, ten are from Asia-Pacific and their traffic levels continue to in- based on ICAO’s global plans; crease. Although some major hubs in the region are moving forward — RESOURCE MOBILISATION: Promote diversified funding and with robust expansion plans, many are already operating above their financing sources in partnership with states, international and planned capacity, resulting in an escalation of delays. In addition, regional organisations, the industry, as well as multi-lateral due to airport capacity constraints, it is estimated that in 2030 development banks and other financial institutions; around 33 percent of traffic at the region’s 22 busiest airports will — SAFETY AND SECURITY: Comply with ICAO’s global be lost or redirected to less attractive airports. Massive investment standards and policies, as well as the industry standards to is required to close infrastructure gaps and to adequately maintain continue enhancing civil aviation safety and security; and upgrade infrastructure already in place. The investment needs — ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Reinforce efforts toward for airport expansion and construction in the region are estimated minimising the environmental effects from civil aviation at US$6.51 billion per year to 2020. activities, especially the achievement of the aspirational goals With regard to public finance, governments must consider how of carbon neutral growth from 2020; to mobilise greater domestic resources, access new external re- — PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: Foster an informed and engaged sources and improve public expenditure management. Concerning public as a crucial partner to advance sustainable air transport private finance, public-private partnerships have already become a solutions. key mechanism for channelling private resources for infrastructure As mentioned earlier, in Asia-Pacific, the aviation industry sup- development in the Asia and ported 30.2 million jobs and US$684 billion in GDP. The report Pacific region. To attract investors, the legal and regulatory frame- said that “every person directly employed in the aviation sector work needs to be improved in terms of transparency and certainty. and in tourism made possible by aviation supported another nine The projected expansion of the aviation sector in the region will also jobs elsewhere in the region. The sector in Asia-Pacific directly bring the need for effective regulatory oversight that keeps pace with employed 3.3 million people in 2016. In addition to the US$148.7 this growth, as well as the recruitment and training of the necessary billion of direct impact in GDP, the sector, through the effect of skilled manpower. The most likely scenario is that airlines in the Asia the procurement of goods and services through the supply chain and Pacific region will need to train an average of 12,249 new pilots, has an impact of US$119.9 billion. The benefits that arise when 2,537 new air traffic controllers, 14,779 new maintenance technicians employees of the industry and its supply chain spend their wages and 20,142 new cabin crews a year until 2037. In addition, the Asia and in the local consumer economy account for another US$127.9 Pacific region has yet to achieve the kind of “seamless connectivity” billion in economic impact. Direct, indirect and induced, in total, that would allow countries to make the optimal use of air transport, contribute US$396.5 billion to the Asia-Pacific GDP. In addition, the and thereby bring down transport and logistics costs. The facilitation spending of foreign tourists arriving by air in the region accounts of transport and the improvement of logistics performance would for US$287.8 billion of the total economic impact. enhance the competitiveness of the region’s developing countries. 

32 AsianAviation | November 2019 AIRLINES

Air Astana extends flight envelope Air Astana plans to expand in Asia with destinations including Shanghai, Tokyo and Singapore in the next two years reports Neelam Mathews.

AIR ASTANA HAS LAUNCHED the first of seven ordered Airbus A321neoLR planes, also the first in Central Asia, with flights initially from Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport to Moscow. Destinations soon to be added include Prague, Mumbai and Jeddah. Three A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft will be added by June next year and three more by late 2020 or early 2021. The airline has ambitious plans to expand in the Asian region with its LR variant. The Airbus A321LR is on lease from US-based Air Lease Corp and is a long-range version of the A321neo, with increased maximum take-off weight and associated design modifi- cations. The aircraft is configured with 16 Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. “This aircraft gives us huge flexibility in terms of range and ca- pacity because it’s not too large,” said Peter Foster, president and CEO of Air Astana. Referring to the new aircraft “as the driver of change”, the LRs will replace the existing ageing B757s that fly on long-haul services to destinations including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. “The LR covers most of the routes which we aspire to fly in our network,” Foster explained. Asia is on the top of the list. Air Astana is looking to expand its Asian network over the next two years fol- lowing the delivery of the LRs. New destinations under consideration include Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Air Astana’s first international destination was Beijing in 2002 and China holds significance given economic ties are strengthening be- tween the two nations. Tokyo will be on the cards once a subsidy for NEELAM MATHEWS the route is confirmed by the government. “We have already applied for this,” said Foster. Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central ▲ The press and public got a look at Air Astana’s new A321neo Asia, accounting for more than half of the region’s GDP. long-range aircraft which the airline will use to expand its Asian When asked about flying to Singapore, where the only connection route network. to Central Asia was pulled out by Uzbeg Airlines in April this year, Foster said: “Singapore as a destination is expensive compared to With the Russian government having opened a fast e-visa route Malaysia and Thailand as the purchasing power of people in Ka- to the region surrounding St Petersburg for numerous countries in- zakhstan is less, resulting in an imbalance of traffic. The dynamics cluding Thailand, China and India, “this opens the door, particularly could change if more Singaporeans wanted to fly to Central Asia. from Delhi from where we will soon start double dailies. It will be the Presently there is a low level of promotion.” Foster said the PATA jewel in our crown,” said Richard Ledger, Air Astana’s vice president conference, comprising the travel trade meeting held in Nur-Sultan for marketing and sales. recently had generated a lot of interest in the region. “We will look A codeshare signed with the largest private Russian carrier, S7 at flying to Singapore (at a later stage) selling Central Asia as a Airlines, is key for Air Astana’s expansion plans into Russia. The multi-destination.” two carriers already have a maintenance agreement for the Airbus While business is down on flights to Hong Kong because of 320neo family, for which they share a fleet commonality. “Russia ongoing anti-government protests, “Kazakh visitors are resilient,” is an important market for passenger transportation from Kazakh- said Foster. A large number of travellers are on transit and are not stan. We see great advantages in widening our presence in Russia affected by the events, he said. through our partnership,” said Ledger. 

AsianAviation | November 2019 33 EVENTS

AAV Events Calendar

Send event submissions to: [email protected]

17-21 NOVEMBER 2019 24-26 FEBRUARY 2020 Dubai Airshow Dubai MRO Middle East Dubai +44 (0)20 8846 2927 +1 646 392 7864 [email protected] 11-16 FEBRUARY 2020 Singapore Airshow Singapore 08-10 MARCH 2020 31 MARCH-02 APRIL 2020 +65 6542 8660 Routes Asia Thailand Aircraft Interiors Hamburg [email protected] +44 (0)161 234 2730 +44 (0)20 8271 2174

18-19 FEBRUARY 2020 11-12 MARCH 2020 21-23 APRIL 2020 Aviation Festival Singapore MRO Australasia Brisbane ABACE Shanghai +65 6322 2707 +1-646-392-7864 +1 (202) 783 9252 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

SUBSCRIBE TO ASIAN AVIATION: ASIA’S ONLY COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

☐ Yes, please enter my subscription Rank/Title Initials Australia ☐ 1 year A$156 ☐ 2 year A$273 (Inc postage & GST) Family Name Asia & New Zealand ☐ 1 year US$127 ☐ 2 year US$219 (Inc airmail postage) India/Pakistan & Bangladesh ☐ 1 year US$267 ☐ 2 year US$498 (Inc registered post) Job Title Rest of World ☐ 1 year US$185 ☐ 2 year US$324 (Inc airmail postage) Organisation PRINT SUBSCRIPTION ALSO INCLUDES DIGITAL MAGAZINE Organisation’s main activity Please charge my ☐ Visa ☐ Mastercard for $ ______Address Contributors Regional Manager: Raymond Boey Russia & CIS: Laguk Co. @AsianAviation☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐☐ Australia: Michael Doran, Emma Kelly, Block 729 #04-4280, Ang Mo Kio, Yuri Laskin, Sergei Kirshin City Postcode Asian Aviation (AAV) Benn Marks Avenue 6, Singapore 560729 Phone: + 7 495 912 1346 Expiry Date Signature Europe: Ian Goold DatePhone: +65 6457 2340 Fax: +65 6456 2700 Fax: + 7 495 912 1260 India: Neelam Mathews, Shelley Vishwajeet [email protected] [email protected] MICA (P) 198/02/2007 Japan: Keishi Nukina www.asianaviation.com State Country Printer: Times Printers Pte Ltd PAYMENT BY DIRECT DEBIT or CREDITMoscow: CARDVladimir ONLYKarnozov NO CHEQUES ACCEPTED Editor: Matt Driskill Subscriptions: Rose Jeffree ISSN 0129-9972 Taiwan: Ralph Jennings [email protected] Bank Deposit: Please quote your reference ID# or Surname [email protected] ( ) Graphic Design: Elinor McDonald Managing Director/Publisher: Advertising Offices [email protected] MarilynAccount Tangye Butler Name: Asian Press Group Pte Ltd Bank: DBS US$ SWIFT DBSSSGSG& Representation April 2019, readership 9747 [email protected] Head Office — Singapore Worldwide: Kay Rolland Email © ASIAN PRESS GROUP Pte Ltd ABN Routing: 021000018 Account:Asian 0065 Press 003712 Group Pte01 4Ltd 022 Phone/Mobile: +33 6 09 13 35 10 [email protected] Contributor’sPhone, opinions fax or do email not necessarily your subscription reflect those of to: the ASIANpublisher PRESS or editor GROUPand while everyPTE precautionLTD. PO hasBox been 88 takenMiranda to ensure NSW that 1490 the information AUSTRALIA contained in this publication is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by the publisher or editor for errors and omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Asian Press Group Pte Ltd (unlessPhone: otherwise +61 stated)2 9526 and 7188 cannot Fax: be reproduced +61 2 9526 in any 1779 form withoutEmail: the [email protected] written permission of the publisher. The publisher Company cannot No. accept 200611219N responsibilityAsianAviation for loss or damage| June 2016 to uncommissioned 34 photographs, manuscripts or other media. SA2020_Visitor01_Ventura_235x275mm.pdf 1 7/8/2019 12:12:04 PM 愿意为你上天入地 WE KEEP OUR HEADS IN THE CLOUDS

www.avtrade.com

只为你能飞天遁地 TO KEEP YOUR FLEET OFF THE GROUND THE OFF FLEET YOUR KEEP TO