Boeing, Xiamen Airlines celebrate airline's 100th airplane

By BA Staff

Boeing and Xiamen Airlines celebrated the 100^th airplane to join China's only all-Boeing carrier.

Formed in 1984 as China's first joint venture between CAAC and a municipal government, Xiamen Airlines started services in 1985 with two Boeing 737-200s serving three cities. The carrier has grown into China's sixth largest carrier serving 218 domestic routes and 26 international and regional routes. With today's delivery of a Boeing 737-800, Xiamen Airlines' fleet now consists of 100 airplanes – 17 737-700s, 77 737-800s and six 757-200s.

Che Shanglun, President and Chairman of Xiamen Airlines said:

"Having an all-Boeing fleet is a key component in our growth strategy and our ability to achieve 26 consecutive years of profitability. With excellent reliability, operational efficiency and range, the Boeing airplanes enable us to expand our network internationally." 

As part of Xiamen Airlines' 12^th five-year plan ending 2015, the carrier plans to grow its operational fleet to 136 airplanes, including six 787s.

Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

"Xiamen Airlines is a valued customer of The Boeing Company and we are delighted to see the remarkable growth of Xiamen Airlines over the past 29 years. We look forward to continuing such a longstanding partnership by providing more value with our industry-leading products and services."

Boeing projects investments of nearly $800 billion in China for 5,580 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years. That would account for 16 percent of global demand, and reflects a requirement of nearly 200 single-aisle and over 60 twin-aisle airplanes each year on average.

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Qatar Airways increases China presence with flights to Hangzhou

By BA Staff


Qatar Airways announced it will begin flights to Hangzhou, China beginning 20 December 2013. The non-stop service from Doha to Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, will fly four-times-weekly.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said:

“This year we celebrate 10 years of flying to China. The addition of our seventh route in China will provide additional connectivity for business and leisure travellers connecting from Asia, the Middle East and GCC countries. Just two months after the launch of the Chengdu service, we are able to offer our passengers even more options for flying into China with the addition of Hangzhou.”

An Airbus A330 will be operated on the Doha – Hangzhou route. The aircraft will feature 260 seats with 24 seats in Business Class and 236 seats in Economy. Selected aircrafts will feature seatback TV screens.


Qatar Airways began operations to China in 2003 with the launch non-stop flights to Shanghai, with the airline further expanding its portfolio over the past decade with the addition of Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing and Chengdu.

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American Airlines to commence Dallas-Fort Worth to Hong Kong and to Shanghai daily services

By BA Staff

American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.

American Airlines will launch new international services from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Hong Kong (HKG) and to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) in the summer of 2014, the first flights between the cities.

American will operate its Boeing 777-300ER (B77W) aircraft on the Hong Kong route and a Boeing 777-200ER on the Shanghai route, both with a daily frequency.

The service will be American's first-ever service into Hong Kong, and will connect two of the busiest and largest hubs of two of the original oneworld® alliance members American and Cathay Pacific.

Robert Hsueh, Chair, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors explained:

"American's new flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai will begin an exciting era for DFW and are among the most significant air service development announcements in DFW Airport's history. These direct routes connect DFW to major destinations in Asia and will play a key role in further strengthening ties between our region and Asia."

Tom Horton, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines, said:

"Today's news underscores our commitment to strengthen American's global network in the most important markets around the world. This is just another example of how we're taking a fresh look at everything we do to provide what our customers value most -- from new planes, products and services, to new destinations around the world. Simply put, we're building an even stronger foundation to succeed in our pending merger with US Airways."

The new American flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai extend the most prolific period of international air service expansion in DFW Airport history.  DFW has now added 17 new international destinations to its flight portfolio over the past three years, giving the airport a total of 204 destinations, including 56 international markets and 148 domestic airports.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price mentioned:

 "We've been working hard on building our international relationships, and our work continues to pay off for North Texas. Today's news is great for the Metroplex and a landmark development for the state of Texas, whose residents will have direct access to Hong Kong and Shanghai for the first time in our history. The Asian market is ripe for Texas business and tourists alike."

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said:

"DFW Airport, Mayor Price and I have been advocating for more direct access to the Asian market because it's critical for businesses here and across the state. These new routes will represent more than $360 million in annual economic impact for our region and launch Dallas and Fort Worth into a new dimension of international business and cultural engagement."

Image courtesy American Airlines

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Boeing, South African Airways launch sustainable aviation biofuel effort in Southern Africa

By BA Staff

Boeing and South African Airways (SAA) announced that they will work together to develop and implement a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa, a first for the continent.

Courtesy of Boeing

The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding for sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain development at The Corporate Council on Africa's 9th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business, attended by executives from leading U.S. and African firms and government representatives from several countries.

This collaboration between Boeing and SAA is part of the companies' broader efforts to support environmental sustainability for the airline's operations and the commercial aviation industry overall, in addition to advancing South Africa's social and economic development.

Ian Cruickshank, SAA Head of Group Environmental Affairs said: 

 "South African Airways is taking the lead in Africa on sustainable aviation fuels and, by setting a best practice example, can positively shape aviation biofuel efforts in the region. By working with Boeing's sustainable aviation biofuel team, which has a history of successful partnerships to move lower-carbon biofuels closer to commercialization, we will apply the best global technology to meet the unique conditions of Southern Africa, diversify our energy sources and create new opportunities for the people of South Africa."

Boeing has collaborated extensively with airlines, research institutions, governments and other stakeholders to develop road maps for biofuel supply chains in several countries and regions, including the United States, China, Australia and Brazil. The aerospace company's plan to work with SAA is the first such project in Africa.

Julie Felgar, managing director of Environmental Strategy and Integration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

 "Sustainable aviation biofuel will play a central role in reducing commercial aviation's carbon emissions over the long term, and we see tremendous potential for these fuels in Africa. Boeing and South African Airways are committed to investigating feedstocks and pathways that comply with strict sustainability guidelines and can have a positive impact on South Africa's development."

Flight tests show that biofuel, which is derived from organic sources such as plants or algae, performs as well as or better than petroleum-based jet fuel. When produced in sustainable ways, biofuel contributes far less to global climate change than traditional fuels because carbon dioxide (CO2) is pulled out of the atmosphere by a growing plant-based feedstock.

Boeing and SAA believe that new developments in technology will enable the conversion of biomass into jet fuel in a more sustainable manner without competing with other sectors for food and water resources. The World Wildlife Fund-South Africa will monitor and ensure compliance to sustainability principles that would ensure that fuel is sustainable and would lead to genuine carbon reductions.

Aviation biofuel refined to required standards has been approved for a blend of up to 50 percent with traditional jet fuel. Globally, more than 1,500 passenger flights using biofuel have been flown since the fuel was approved.

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Air China to commence Beijing Chiang Mai service

By BA Staff

Air China Limited will introduce a new thrice a week service between Beijing and Chiang Mai from November 7, 2013.

Located in Thailand's northern mountainous region, Chiang Mai is Thailand's second largest city and also northern Thailand's political, economic and cultural centre. This city, celebrated for its Buddhist traditions, is also called "Rose of the Northern Thailand".

Air China will deploy a Boeing 737-800 on this route with flight numbers CA823 and 824.

On Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays the flight departs Beijing at 18:30 arrives Chiang Mai at 22:40. The return flight leaves Chiang Mai at 23:45 arrives Beijing at 05:00, the next morning.

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SilkAir joins Virgin Australia Velocity frequent flyer programme

By BA Staff

SilkAir (MI), the regional airline of Singapore Airlines, will become the latest airline partner to join Virgin Australia's Velocity frequent flyer program.

From October 10, 2013 onwards, Velocity members will be able to earn points and status credits or redeem their Points on the SilkAir network across South East Asia, India and China. This includes the ability to redeem points for reward seats or any seat up to 331 days in advance on any Virgin Australia marketed flights.

Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Neil Thompson said:

“Today’s announcement builds on our existing offering with Singapore Airlines. Asia is a very important market for business and leisure travellers and we now offer the ability to earn Points and Status Credits to more destinations than ever before.”

Velocity’s Gold and Platinum members will also be able to use their Elite Benefits across the SilkAir network including priority check-in, priority boarding and complimentary lounge access for the member and a guest on day of travel.

SilkAir is Singapore Airline’s full service regional subsidiary flying to over 44 destinations across 12 countries. SilkAir flies from Darwin to Singapore, connecting the Northern Territory with Singapore Airlines’ global hub.

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Boeing Forecasts Growing Need for New Pilots in Asia Pacific Region

By BA Staff

Boeing projects that the Asia Pacific region will continue to lead the globe in demand for hundreds of thousands of new commercial airline pilots and maintenance technicians to support expanding demand for new airplane deliveries over the next two decades.

The 2013 Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook calls for 192,300 new commercial airline pilots and 215,300 new technicians in the Asia Pacific region through 2032.

Bob Bellitto, the global sales director for Boeing Flight Services said

"There is a very real, urgent demand for competent aviation personnel globally, and the Asia Pacific region is particularly impacted. While Boeing is investing in cutting-edge technologies to attract and retain young people interested in careers in aviation, this is an industry-wide issue that can only be solved with industry-wide solutions. Aviation is a great field to be in. We have a responsibility to make sure it's a viable career option for the world's youth. Tomorrow's aviation workforce is going to be very different than their present-day peers. We need to focus on their expectations for learning, moving away from paper and chalkboard-based techniques to incorporate tablets, eBooks, gaming technology and three-dimensional models."

Leading the region in projected demand for new pilots and technicians:

• China – 77,400 pilots and 93,900 technicians
• Southeast Asia – 48,100 pilots and 50,300 technicians

Other parts of the region will also continue to see long-term demand in the tens of thousands of pilots and technicians:

• Southwest Asia will need 30,900 pilots and 28,500 technicians
• Northeast Asia will need 18,500 pilots and 25,500 technicians
• The Oceania region will need 17,400 pilots and 17,100 technicians

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Harbin Composite Manufacturing Centre delivers 1st major A350 part

By BA Staff

Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (HMC), a joint venture between Airbus and its Chinese partners, has started to deliver elevators for the Airbus A350 XWB programme. A ceremony was held today in Harbin for the delivery of the first ship set of elevators. The elevators manufactured at HMC are delivered to Spain-based Aernnova Aerospace (ANN), who will deliver them to the Airbus plant in Getafe, Spain, where they will be integrated into the A350 XWB horizontal tail plane. ANN is a major supplier of aerostructures to Airbus.

Based on a contract signed by HMC and ANN in 2010, HMC is responsible for manufacturing and assembling the complete set of carbon fibre elevators (an elevator is a movable control surface in the horizontal tail plane that makes the aircraft pitch up or down to increase or reduce its flight altitude).

According to an agreement signed in 2007 between Airbus and the Chinese government, Airbus agreed to allocate five percent of the A350 XWB airframe to be manufactured in China. The work packages to be carried out by HMC are a significant part of the five per cent. 

Rafael Gonzalez-Ripoli, Airbus' China Chief Operating Officer had this to say about the A350: 

“The delivery of the first ship set of A350 XWB elevators by HMC is an important milestone in our long-term partnership with the Chinese aviation industry. The A350 XWB has taken to the sky and the programme is progressing on track. The Chinese have every reason to be proud of the contribution they are making to the A350 XWB."

Geng Ruguang, Executive Vice President of AVIC, the parent company of the majority shareholding Chinese partners of the HMC, said: 

“It’s inspiring for the Chinese aviation industry to be involved in the development and production of the A350 XWB, which is the world’s most advanced and most efficient aircraft, and to become an integrated part of Airbus’ global supply chain. The delivery of the first A350 XWB elevator demonstrates one more step forward of HMC towards its set target. The development of HMC will also constitute a pulling force for the relevant local industries.”

Pedro Fuente, Chief Operating Officer of ANN, said: 

“We at Aernnova are really satisfied with the very effective teamwork model developed together with the Harbin Manufacturing Centre to industrialize and progressively transfer the A350 XWB Elevators. We are impressed by the fast growing capabilities we are seeing every day. Clearly these are great pillars for a long term collaboration and mutual success.”

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Embraer Releases China Executive Aviation Market Outlook 2014-2023

By BA Staff

Photo Courtesy Embraer Executive Jets

Embraer Executive Jets presented its China Executive Aviation Market Outlook 2014-2023 during the press conference held today at the Chinese International Business Aviation Show (CIBAS) 2013, in Beijing, China. The Company forecasts that a total of 805 executive jets will be in demand the Chinese market over the next decade. The large-cabin business jet class is expected to represent 51% of this demand, accounting for 78% of the total value of deliveries.

Guan Dongyuan, Senior Vice President of Embraer and President of Embraer China had this to say about this release:

“Over the past 12 years, Embraer has built a strong position as one of the top business jet manufacturers, with a full line of state-of-the-art products that meet and exceed the expectations of customers worldwide,” said Guan Dongyuan, Senior Vice President of Embraer and President of Embraer China. “Embraer’s decade-long investment in China’s commercial aviation market has resulted in a fleet of 120 commercial jets in service, and we are now building our presence in the Chinese executive aviation market, affording our executive jet customers the high quality service and support that our airline customers already enjoy.”

Embraer has positive hopes about its future in Chinese aviation because of its recent economic studies. China’s fleet of executive jets has experienced an average annual expansion of 27%, fueled by a 26% growth of the wealthiest population, from 2008 to 2012, according to the data released by Hurun Report, which is considered to be one of the most influential publications of the luxury genre in the country.

Since 2004, when its first executive jet was delivered to this region, Embraer has booked orders for 38 executive jets in China, including five options. The company has several Authorized Service Centers for executive jet customers in the Greater China region, an accomplishment that they achieved because of their efficient service network and facilities.

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Analysis: SpiceJet to launch Delhi-Macau

by Vinay Bhaskara

A report in the Macau Business Daily states that Gurgaon based low cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet is planning on launching nonstop flights between Delhi and Macau. SpiceJet has already won approval from the Indian government to launch Delhi-Macau, likely using Boeing 737 equipment. But it has not yet filed for approval from the Macau government. A Macau airport statesman had this to say about a potential SpiceJet application:

We have been aware of communications [about the route] between the Macau International Airport Company Ltd and the airline. SpiceJet had previously contacted us to obtain some initial information on the application procedures, which is a common practice for any interested airlines.

No airline currently serves Macau nonstop from India. The current bilateral air service agreement (ASA) between India and Macau allows each side's airline to operate up 600 seats per week with 2 return flights per week. However, both governments have agreed in principle to negotiate an expansion of the ASA later this year.

Macau, China's largest gambling center in the vein of Las Vegas in the United States, is an important and growing leisure destination for the increasingly affluent Indian upper middle class, and India's wealthy. However, demand for Macau is more concentrated in Bangalore and Mumbai than in Delhi, which may bode poorly for SpiceJet's chances on the route. The Macau international market is currently dominated by flag carrier Air Macau, a subsidiary of China's national carrier Air China, who serves 22 destinations on a fleet of 15 aircraft.

If the reports are true, it would mark just the latest step in SpiceJet's international growth track. The carrier now serves five international destinations from Delhi (Dubai, Guangzhou, Kabul, Kathmandu, and Riyadh) with 32 flights per week. Overall, SpiceJet serves nine international destinations (the aforementioned five plus Colombo, Muscat, Sharjah, and Male) with 87 flights per week. And along with the regional operation using Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprops, the international growth has been an important contributor to SpiceJet's swing to profitability.

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Qatar Airways commences Doha Chengdu flights

by BA Staff

Doha-based Qatar Airways commenced scheduled thrice a week flights to Chengdu, the airline’s 130th destination and sixth in China, after Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Chongqing. The airline now operates 41 flights a week to the country. The Chengdu route is operated with an Airbus A330 in a two-class configuration of up to 248 seats in Economy and 36 in Business Class. 

Qatar Airways A330 receiving the traditional water cannon salute on its first flight to Chengdu

Flight QR884 arrived at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to an impressive water salute, following its non-stop journey from the airline’s operational hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.

Chengdu is the economic hub of western China, and the nation's electronics manufacturing and information technology hub. Chengdu is also growing in aerospace, metallurgy and petroleum. Qatar Airways flights will improve access especially from the mineral rich African nations China has been wooing for ore supplies, etc., and the flight schedules reflect the connectivity the airline is aiming for.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
QR884 departs Doha at 02:00 arrives Chengdu at 14:30 hrs

Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
QR885 depart Chengdu at 01:00 hrs arrives Doha at 03:50 hrs

Over the next few months, the network will expand with the addition of further destinations – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 18), Ta’if, Saudi Arabia (October 2), Clark International Airport, Philippines (October 27), and Philadelphia, PA, USA (April 2, 2014).

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Videos: Singapore Airlines launches its new ad campaign "The lengths we go to"

by Devesh Agarwal

Iconic national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched a new global brand campaign named “The Lengths We Go To”, showcasing the airline’s commitment to putting the customer at the heart of everything it does.

Explaining the thinking behind Singapore Airlines service experience, and the brand campaign, Singapore Airlines’ Executive Vice President Commercial, Mr Mak Swee Wah, said

“Making every customer feel at home when they fly with us has always been the cornerstone of our service philosophy. Our customers’ preferences have always been the foremost consideration in the curation process for our new products which are sourced from all over the world. This new campaign sets out to reaffirm this commitment.”

Tan Pee Teck, Senior Vice President of Product and Services at Singapore Airlines, along with three of his colleagues explain the customer centric focus of Singapore Airlines in this video which also shows insights on the rigorous training regime that goes to make the iconic Singapore Girl cabin crew.



Mak further explains

“The scenarios in the advertisements are examples of our commitment to delivering a special experience to our customers, with the Singapore Girl symbolising the lengths we go to. Despite the progression of time, the essence of the Singapore Girl and her gentle, caring ways remain especially relevant today, in an increasingly competitive environment where service excellence is the key differentiator,”

And the Singapore Girl, plays the protagonist in all three commercials which were filmed on location – Fujian in China, Glasgow in Scotland, and Venice in Italy – and involved local production crews of hundreds of people.

The first commercial depicts how SIA tailors quality products to suit the needs of its customers. A tea plantation and teahouse in Fujian were selected as the setting as this is the region from which SIA sources Jasmine tea.



The second commercial illustrates how SIA delivers the comforts of home through innovative products and services. Renowned Glasgow-based Andrew Muirhead and Son, Europe’s oldest tannery, was used as the filming location as it is where the leather used in SIA’s Business Class seats is produced.



The third commercial demonstrates SIA’s focus on curation to offer customers the best entertainment from around the world. It is set in Venice and features the Venice Film Festival, for which SIA is the Official Airline this year.



The commercials will be released progressively over three weeks, with the first being broadcast from today. A combination film, incorporating all three advertisements, will be released later this month.

The airline has also made a video showing the making of the advertisements.

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Air France launches A380 flights to Shanghai

by BA Staff

European SkyTeam member Air France has launched Airbus A380 flights to Shanghai's Pudong International Airport today (2nd September 2013), beating Star Alliance rival Lufthansa as the first European carrier to offer A380 services from Shanghai by 24 days. The flight is currently (as of 8:00 am Bangalore time) in the air as the following screen cap from Flight Aware shows.

Air France plans to operate its A380s, configured with 516 seats in a 4-class configuration (9F / 80J / 38Y+ / 389Y), on three of its fourteen flights per week to Shanghai. Flight schedules for the two daily flights are as follow:

AF 116: Leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 23:20, arrives in Shanghai-Pudong at 16:20 the following day AF 111: Leaves Shanghai-Pudong at 23:20, arrives in Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 5:35 the following day

Flight 116, the red-eye, will have A380 services on three of seven days each week.

Frédéric Gagey, Chairman and CEO of Air France, had this to say about the launch:

The arrival of our superjumbo in Shanghai illustrates Air France’s intention to continue its expansion in China, a strategic and fast-growing region. With the A380, our customers can enjoy an optimum travel experience in all cabin classes, as well as services specially adapted to the Chinese culture

Air France-KLM group has the largest European presence in China amongst European carriers, with 93 flights per week from its two European hubs at Paris and Amsterdam to nine Greater Chinese destinations: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong,Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen and Taipei.

Shanghai becomes the sixth A380 destination for Air France, after New York JFK, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles in the US, Johannesburg in Africa, and Tokyo Narita in Asia. Air France operates a fleet of 8 Airbus A380-800s as part of its passenger fleet of 245 aircraft, used to serve 199 destinations around the globe. 

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United Airlines applies for San Francisco - Chengdu

by BA staff

A United 787 Dreamliner - Image Credit: United Airlines

Chicago-based full service carrier United Airlines announced today that it has applied with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for the authority to serve San Francisco - Chengdu, China nonstop from 9th June, 2014.

The proposed flights to Chengdu, China's fourth largest city and home to China's fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic, would be served three times per week using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner equipment. Subject to government approval, the proposed schedule for the flights is as follows. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, flights will depart San Francisco at 1:35 pm, arriving in Chengdu the following day at 6:50 pm the following day. The return flights from Chengdu will depart at 10:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving back in San Francisco at 8:50 am the same day, in time for connections throughout the United States.

Chengdu becomes the eighth trans-Pacific destination served by United at San Francisco - already the single largest US carrier trans-Pacific gateway. Chengdu and San Francisco have strong business links owing to Chengdu's status as China's electronics manufacturing hub, and San Francisco's status as the world's largest technology business hub through nearby Silicon Valley. Chengdu also offers United the potential for connections throughout Central, Southern, and Western China via Star Alliance partner Air China, for whom Chengdu is the second largest hub. 

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Xiamen Airlines finalizes orders for 6 787 Dreamliners

Chinese full service carrier Xiamen Airlines has finalized an order for six Boeing 787 Dreamliners that was initially announced in May of 2011. Find more details below.

Image Credit: Boeing

26th August 2013

Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Xiamen Airlines have finalized an order for six 787-8s. Originally announced by Xiamen Airlines in May 2011, the order is valued at $1.3 billion at list prices. 

"Adding 787s to our all-Boeing fleet is a strategic decision to facilitate our international expansion plans," said Che Shanglun, president and CEO of Xiamen Airlines. "The range and efficiency of the 787 makes it an ideal fit in our new, non-stop international routes."

As China's only all-Boeing fleet carrier, Xiamen Airlines has earned a profit for 27 consecutive years, one of the most consistently successful financial performances in the industry.

"Xiamen Airlines has been a dedicated operator of Boeing airplanes since it was established. We are honored to have earned the trust and confidence that such a longstanding partnership requires," said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "I believe the 787s will further strengthen Xiamen Airlines' network, providing their customers more travel options."

The airline's expanding international network currently focuses on southeast and northeast Asia. With the introduction of the 787 Dreamliners beginning in 2014, the airline plans to launch new long-haul routes from Fujian to Europe, North America and Australia. 

Xiamen Airlines currently operates a fleet of 97 airplanes, including 17 737-700s, 74 737-800s and six 757-200s. The flight network is comprised of 218 domestic routes and 26 international and regional routes.  The airline will take delivery of its 100th Boeing airplane in November 2013. 

Founded in 1984, Xiamen Airlines is headquartered in the coastal city of Xiamen in the province of Fujian. The area boasts a thriving and diverse industrial economy as well as a growing tourism market. 

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High resolution photos: Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules lands at Daulat Beg Oldi

by Devesh Agarwal

Yesterday, we wrote about the world record breaking effort of the Indian Air Force landing one of its C-130J Super Hercules strategic air transporters at the world's highest airfield at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO). Read the story here.

With a hat-tip to Shiv Aroor, we present some high resolution pictures of the 'Herc' at DBO. The aircraft was on the ground for 30 minutes and kept its engines on the entire time it was on the ground.

-- Story continues below the fold --

The C-130J is part of the six aircraft that India ordered from the U.S. Government, and is based at Hindon near the capital New Delhi, with the newly raised 77 Squadron IAF named ‘Veiled Vipers’, and is used by the special forces, including the famous NSG Black Cats.

The squadron's motto “Kill with Stealth”, signifies the all-weather, stealthy 'black-ops' mission capabilities in deploying the special forces to deal with many varieties of threats. India has realised the capabilities of this great aircraft and is ordering another six.

The important of Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Ground (ALG)

The Aksai Chin region of Ladakh is hotly contested by both India and China. India and China fought a border war in 1962 and in 1993 accepted the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the de-facto international border.

Daulat Beg Oldi is located just 4.5 kms away from the Karakoram pass and supports Indian troops on the Siachen glacier, which a major thorn in China's strategic interests in the region. This map shows a clearer picture.

Western borders of India and China with Aksai Chin region. Image courtesy Wikipedia

While the Chinese side of Aksai Chin is easily approachable from the east, for India, it is extremely difficult, and involves traversing the highest motor-able road in the world, the Khardung La pass.

This paper in PDF format from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis gives significant insight on why this high altitude desert called DBO is so important.



Chinese troops have been repeatedly violating agreements with India, and have crossed the LAC (Line of Actual Control) more than 150 times this year alone.

On April 15th, Chinese troops blatantly crossed the border near DBO and pitched tents right in the face of the Indian army. This infographic shows what happened.

Instead of fighting back the aggression, the UPA2 government took no action, and even sent its foreign minister Salman Khurshid to Beijing, pretending nothing had happened. At that time, Parliament had to be adjourned when the government was cornered by the opposition for its spineless tactics.

The landing of the Hercules today with its ability to carry in 20 tons, is a definite signal to the Chinese of the unmuzzling of the Indian armed forces and their ability to respond.

In the longer term, expect India to upgrade the landing strip to accommodate the big daddy, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy airlifter.

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IAF achieves landing of C-130J Hercules at world's highest airstrip Daulat Beg Oldie

by Devesh Agarwal

DBO near the top of the map. Image: Wikipedia

In a significant capability demonstration move by the Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved a world record when it landed a C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft landed at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), the highest airstrip in the world at 06:54 hrs today.

The Commanding Officer Group Captain Tejbir Singh and the crew of the “Veiled Vipers” along with senior officer of Air Headquarters touched down on the DBO airstrip located at 16,614 feet (5,065 meters) in the Aksai Chin area after taking off from their home base at Hindon, near the capital New Delhi.

DBO is a very important and highly strategic post for India. DBO is located a stone's throw from the Karakoram Pass which links China with Pakistan.

The base was built during the Indo-China conflict in 1962. The IAF operated a Packet aircraft between 1962 and 1965. In recent years, China has become increasingly belligerent in the Aksai Chin area, with repeated violations of the border.  The IAF along with the Indian Army re-operationalised the DBO ALG and landed a twin engine AN 32 aircraft from Chandigarh in 2008 after a gap of 43 years.


However, the AN-32 has a limited payload at these extreme altitudes, and India does not have road connectivity in to this area. This limits the ability of the Indian armed forces to react to repeated Chinese provocations.

The IAF decided to land the C-130J-30 Super Hercules which is capable of lifting up to 20 tonnes of load, to improve supply lines. With this enhanced airlift capability the IAF will now be in a better position to meet the requirements of Indian land forces who are heavily dependent on the air bridge for sustenance in these higher and inhospitable areas.

The tactical airlift C-130J-30 Super Hercules of the special operations squadron the “Veiled Vipers” is capable of undertaking quick deployment of forces in all weather conditions, including air-drops and landings on unprepared or semi prepared surfaces created history today by landing at this altitude and hostile terrain conditions.

This achievement qualifies for the world record for the highest landing by an aircraft of this class. The Super Hercules was the same aircraft and crew that operated at Dharasu during “Op Rahat” for the Uttarakhand flood relief.

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Air China ends Shanghai-Chengdu-Bangalore

by Vinay Bhaskara

Yesterday, Sunday, August 4th, marked the final nonstop flight for Air China limited, the world’s 10th largest airline by passenger traffic, between Bangalore and Chengdu. Flights have been zeroed out from the global distribution system (GDS) and are no longer bookable via AirChina.com. The nonstop flights, which began in early 2010, had actually been increased in frequency by Air China from twice to thrice weekly on March 31st, and had been planned to operate as thrice weekly flights until late October. Service was offered on 128 seat Airbus A319 equipment in a 2-class configuration (8C/120Y), and was structured as Bangalore-Chengdu-Shanghai Pudong and return. Flights departed Bangalore Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday and arrived in Bangalore on those same days of the week after departing Shanghai Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The same plane journey from Shanghai to Bangalore took over 7 hours and 40 minutes to complete in either direction.

It is surprising that Air China elected to cancel services between Bangalore and Chengdu given the strong business ties between the two cities. Bangalore is India’s information technology (IT) hub, while Chengdu is China’s electronics manufacturing center; and several multinational tech corporations have major operations in both cities. In particular, this route was often dubbed the "Cisco-Huawei Express". Networking Equipment Manufacturer Cisco’s “East” Headquarters are located in Bangalore while their largest manufacturing base in China is located in Chengdu. Meanwhile, electronics manufacturer Huawei has a major IT research and development (R&D) center in Bangalore and massive manufacturing operations in Chengdu (as does rival Chinese telecom firm ZTE). These firms often formed the base of demand for the nonstop services, and when combined with the incremental demand between Bangalore and China’s financial capital of Shanghai, the route seemed to be a strong performer for Air China.

But global macroeconomic conditions have certainly shifted in the past few months. Both India and China are seeing slowdowns in growth that are causing tapering in travel demand between the 2 nations – as firms scale back expansion plans and begin to curtail employment growth. India’s projected GDP growth for 2014 has fallen to a new low of 5.2% (after running at 8% or above for nearly the last decade; even through the global financial crisis) tied to a similarly projected GDP growth for China of just 6.9% in 2014, the lowest total in more than 20 years. In addition to these macroeconomic factors, Cisco, a major US manufacturer of Telecom equipment, is also facing a major slowdown in its core market, the US, as firms increasingly turn away from its services and put off purchasing new network equipment due to uncertain economic conditions. Even in India, the economic slowdown is contributing to a reduction in demand for telecom equipment. All of these factors certainly contributed to a reduction in demand for the route.

Beyond the macroeconomic forces, there is increasing tension between China and India thanks to labor disputes and border issues in India’s Northeast. Additionally, ZTE and Huawei are coming increasingly under suspicion of playing a role, if only indirectly, in increased Chinese hacking of Indian government web servers, thanks to their close ties to the Chinese government. The added security concerns have led to increased scrutiny for ZTE and Huawei – and forced the two firms to cut back on their Indian operations. Given the relatively close ties between the Chinese government and Air China, these political disputes may have also played a role in the cancellation of the route.

Air China will continue to service India with 7 flights per week; 4 weekly Mumbai-Chengdu-Shanghai Pudong on board the same Airbus A319 equipment, and 3 weekly Beijing-Delhi on-board 301 seat Airbus A330-300 equipment in a 2-class configuration (30C/271Y). Beijing-Delhi had previously been increased to 4 weekly till October 26th, but those plans appear to have been scrapped.

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Boeing delivers first Dreamliners to China and UK

US airframer Boeing made deliveries of the first Dreamliners to China and the United Kingdom when it delivered 787-8 aircraft to China Southern Airlines and UK's Thomson Airways on May 31.

China Southern has 10 Dreamliners on order. The airline will follow the patterns of other 787 operators and first operate the aircraft on shorter domestic flights before introducing the Dreamliner on its long-haul international passenger service. China Southern is the tenth customer worldwide to take delivery of the 787 Dreamliner.

Thomson, part of the TUI Travel group, is the UK's third largest airline operating 58 aircraft. It has eight Dreamliners on order which are configured in a two class layout, with 244 economy and 47 premium club seats.

On July 8, Thomson's first long-haul Dreamliner flights will operate from Manchester to Florida and from Glasgow to Cancun. Thomson will also operate services from London Gatwick and East Midlands airports. Later this year, the airline will introduce direct flights to Phuket, Thailand from the UK.

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AirAsia X to increase services from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne, Taipei and Chengdu

AirAsiaX the long distance arm of Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia will increase its frequencies from its Kuala Lumpur hub to Melbourne, Australia, Taipei, Taiwan, and Chengdu, China from next year.

Melbourne services will see frequencies increase from the current daily flights to nine flights weekly by May 1, 2013 and to twelve flights weekly by July 1.

Taipei will go from daily flights to ten weekly flights from May 1, and double daily from July 1.

Chengdu will go from the current five flights weekly to six flights weekly by May 1, and daily flights by July 1.

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