22 Aug 2025
#4 August 2025: China Aviation Industry Newsletter
BOC Aviation Announces Appointment
BOC Aviation has announced that Mr. Yogesh Farswani has been appointed Head of OEM Strategy and Procurement, effective 1 July 2025. In this expanded role, Mr. Farswani will lead the Procurement department while continuing to oversee aircraft and engine procurement and OEM engagement activities. He will continue reporting to Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Thomas Chandler.
BOC Aviation Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Steven Townend, stated:
“Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Alistair for his 22 years of dedication to growing our fleet, which now exceeds 800 owned, managed, and on-order aircraft. With over 29 years of experience in the aviation industry, Yogesh will continue to drive portfolio growth and enhance our key relationships with the OEMs. As we enter a new phase of fleet expansion, Yogesh’s experience will ensure that we continue to achieve our growth ambitions.”
Shenzhen Airlines to Connect Shenzhen and Melbourne
Shenzhen Airlines will launch its first-ever Australian service with direct flights between Shenzhen and Melbourne. The route will operate three times weekly using two-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft, starting 22 December 2025.
The Cathay Group Orders More Long-Haul Aircraft
The Cathay Group has exercised purchase rights for an additional 14 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, bringing its total commitment to 35.
With a range of 7,295 nautical miles (13,510 km), the Boeing 777-9 will enable Cathay Pacific to efficiently serve high-demand long-haul markets.
Cathay Group Chair, Patrick Healy, said:
“Over the past few years, we have embarked on an all-encompassing fleet renewal and expansion plan, which includes orders for over 100 new narrowbody, regional widebody, long-haul widebody, and large freighter aircraft. This new order brings our total investment to well over HK$100 billion, which also includes new cabin products, lounges, and digital innovation—further strengthening the Hong Kong international aviation hub and elevating the customer experience to new heights.”
Acumen’s Take
On BOC Aviation’s Executive Appointment
The elevation of Yogesh Farswani to Head of OEM Strategy and Procurement reflects BOC Aviation’s continued emphasis on upstream engagement with OEMs to ensure competitive access to aircraft and engines. His appointment consolidates procurement and engine functions under a single leadership structure, a strategy that can yield cost advantages and strategic flexibility amid global supply chain constraints.
On Shenzhen Airlines’ Shenzhen–Melbourne Launch
Shenzhen Airlines’ launch of direct Australia services is a significant move for a regional Chinese carrier and reflects a growing demand for point-to-point international connectivity from second-tier Chinese cities. This development also signals the growing relevance of widebody deployments outside China’s traditional aviation hubs—a shift that will likely influence leasing interest in mid-life A330s across Asia-Pacific.
On Cathay’s Expanded 777-9 Order
Cathay’s latest 777-9 commitment underscores a bullish outlook for premium long-haul travel, particularly out of Hong Kong. This order is a key pillar in its broader fleet overhaul—over 100 aircraft strong—and validates Boeing’s twin-aisle programme amid ongoing recovery in Asia-Pacific long-haul sectors. For lessors and financiers, this adds weight to the case for new-generation widebody investment as demand gradually rebounds.
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