Manila Standard Today
March 6, 2012
by Lailany P. Gomez
Cebu Pacific has secured permits from the Civil Aeronautics Board to fly to two destinations in the Middle East, as part of a plan to offer budget long-haul operations beginning the third quarter of 2013.
The country’s leading budget airline said it was granted flight re-allocation entitlements to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Cebu Pacific was given seven of the 14 frequencies to the United Arab Emirates previously allocated to Philippine Airlines Inc.
The regulator also granted Cebu Pacific the designation official Philippine carrier to Saudi Arabia and approved the re-allocation of flight entitlements in favor of the low-cost airline.
Cebu Pacific, the airline unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc., had announced it would serve cities where large Filipino communities reside such as those in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the United States.
The airline had also signed operating lease agreements with CIT Aerospace, a unit of the CIT Group Inc., for four Airbus A330-300 aircraft that would be delivered from 2013 to 2014 in preparation for its plan to serve new markets.
CIT Aerospace provides financing solutions to operators of commercial and business aircraft, manufacturers and suppliers in the aerospace and defense industries as well as financial institutions. CIT owns or finances a fleet of 300 commercial aircraft.
Cebu Pacific currently flies to 19 international destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon (Seoul), Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei and Xiamen.
It also operates the most extensive network in the Philippines with 33 domestic destinations and hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao.
The airline has flown over 60 million passengers since it was established in 1996. It also posted a good track record in stimulating short-haul travel of passengers around Asia, with a 14-percent systemwide passenger growth in 2011.
The airline currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 20 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 38 aircraft, with an average age of 3.6 years, is one of the youngest aircraft fleets in Asia.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Hong Kong Air Reviews Order For A380s On EU Levies
Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2012
Jasmine Wang
Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. is reviewing its order for 10 Airbus SAS A380s, partly because of Chinese opposition to Europe's introduction of an emissions levy on aviation.
"It is possible that China's purchase of Airbus planes will be affected by the carbon-emission program," Yang Jianhong, the president of Hong Kong Air, said today. "Any company has to go along with its nation policy."
The carrier, backed by China's HNA Group, also has business reasons for re-considering its A380 plans, Yang said, without elaboration. China, home to the world's fastest growing aviation market, and countries including the US, Russia and India have opposed the EU's emissions levies because of concerns it extends the bloc's regulations beyond its border.
Hong Kong Air ordered the A380s as it tries to break Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.'s grip on the city's businesstravel market.The airline expects to start recieving the double-decker planes in 2015, it said earlier this year. The recent discovery of cracks in wing parts of the superjumbos operate by Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd. isn't a factor in Hong Kong Air's review, Yang said.
The carier has a total of 64 Airbus aircraft on order, including 15 A350-900s and 29 A320s, based on data listed on the planemaker's website.The Toulouse, France-baseed company decline to comment in an e-mailed reply to Bloomberg News questions. Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders told reporters last month that the EU levies may spark a trade war.
Yang said it was too early to say whether the airline would have to compensate Airbus for a canceled order as no decision had been made. The South China Morning Post reported the order review earlier today.
The EU added aviation to its emission-trading system this year as part of a wider push to pare pollution. Overseas governments have objected as carries are charged for instance on the first leg of a flight from Asia.
China last month banned mainland carried from providing emissions data to the Eu. The EU hopes to resolve the issue through negotiations or it may ultimately be ruled on by the courts, Markus Ederer, its ambassador to China, said at the time. Hong Kong airlines are regulated by the city's authorities rather than the government in Beijing.
March 6, 2012
Jasmine Wang
Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. is reviewing its order for 10 Airbus SAS A380s, partly because of Chinese opposition to Europe's introduction of an emissions levy on aviation.
"It is possible that China's purchase of Airbus planes will be affected by the carbon-emission program," Yang Jianhong, the president of Hong Kong Air, said today. "Any company has to go along with its nation policy."
The carrier, backed by China's HNA Group, also has business reasons for re-considering its A380 plans, Yang said, without elaboration. China, home to the world's fastest growing aviation market, and countries including the US, Russia and India have opposed the EU's emissions levies because of concerns it extends the bloc's regulations beyond its border.
Hong Kong Air ordered the A380s as it tries to break Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.'s grip on the city's businesstravel market.The airline expects to start recieving the double-decker planes in 2015, it said earlier this year. The recent discovery of cracks in wing parts of the superjumbos operate by Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd. isn't a factor in Hong Kong Air's review, Yang said.
The carier has a total of 64 Airbus aircraft on order, including 15 A350-900s and 29 A320s, based on data listed on the planemaker's website.The Toulouse, France-baseed company decline to comment in an e-mailed reply to Bloomberg News questions. Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders told reporters last month that the EU levies may spark a trade war.
Yang said it was too early to say whether the airline would have to compensate Airbus for a canceled order as no decision had been made. The South China Morning Post reported the order review earlier today.
The EU added aviation to its emission-trading system this year as part of a wider push to pare pollution. Overseas governments have objected as carries are charged for instance on the first leg of a flight from Asia.
China last month banned mainland carried from providing emissions data to the Eu. The EU hopes to resolve the issue through negotiations or it may ultimately be ruled on by the courts, Markus Ederer, its ambassador to China, said at the time. Hong Kong airlines are regulated by the city's authorities rather than the government in Beijing.
HKIA Unveils HK$2.2-B Apron Developement
Manila Bulletin
March 6, 2012
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has unveiled the HK$2.2-billion west apron development, which will help Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) meet its mediumterm demand for additional parking stands.
Located at the western end of the airport island and adjacent to the midfield, the 430,000-square-metre site will be eqquiped with 16 parking stands for common use.
A cross-runway tunnel linking the west apron to the cargo area, built during the construction of HKIA in the 1990s for future growth needs, will also be commissioned to facilitate efficient apron vehicle traffic.
Major construction is expected to start mid-year in two phases. The first phase, which includes the construction in nine aircraft parking stands, related supporting facilities and the connection of the western airfield tunnel to the cargo area, is slated to be complete by the end of 2013.
At the end of the second phase in end-2014, the remaining seven stands will be ready for operation.
C K Ng, deputy director for airport operation said: "We are seeing rising demand for aircraft parking spaces due to growing air traffic, continues fleet expanssion by airlines and the introduction of new types of aircraft."
"Currently, passenger and cargo throughput , as well as aircraft movements, have outstipped our baseline growth projections, with both passengers trips and flight movements setting new records in 2011.
"The new parking stands at the West Apron will help accommodate the need for parking spaces in the medium term. Meanwhile, three stands that can cater for new types of aircraft with longer fuselages, such as the B747-8F freighter, have been planned at the West Apron."
The West Apron development will accommodate HKIA's expected growth in aircraft traffic as the Civil Aviation Department gradually raises the hourly handling capacity of the airport's two runways from the current 62 flights per hour to 68 by 2015. (EHL)
March 6, 2012
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has unveiled the HK$2.2-billion west apron development, which will help Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) meet its mediumterm demand for additional parking stands.
Located at the western end of the airport island and adjacent to the midfield, the 430,000-square-metre site will be eqquiped with 16 parking stands for common use.
A cross-runway tunnel linking the west apron to the cargo area, built during the construction of HKIA in the 1990s for future growth needs, will also be commissioned to facilitate efficient apron vehicle traffic.
Major construction is expected to start mid-year in two phases. The first phase, which includes the construction in nine aircraft parking stands, related supporting facilities and the connection of the western airfield tunnel to the cargo area, is slated to be complete by the end of 2013.
At the end of the second phase in end-2014, the remaining seven stands will be ready for operation.
C K Ng, deputy director for airport operation said: "We are seeing rising demand for aircraft parking spaces due to growing air traffic, continues fleet expanssion by airlines and the introduction of new types of aircraft."
"Currently, passenger and cargo throughput , as well as aircraft movements, have outstipped our baseline growth projections, with both passengers trips and flight movements setting new records in 2011.
"The new parking stands at the West Apron will help accommodate the need for parking spaces in the medium term. Meanwhile, three stands that can cater for new types of aircraft with longer fuselages, such as the B747-8F freighter, have been planned at the West Apron."
The West Apron development will accommodate HKIA's expected growth in aircraft traffic as the Civil Aviation Department gradually raises the hourly handling capacity of the airport's two runways from the current 62 flights per hour to 68 by 2015. (EHL)
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