03 Dec 2018

China Aviation Industry Newsletter 3 December

BAA Training and Chinese HNCA to Open Pilot Training Centre BAA Training has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Company (HNCA) announcing the start of cooperation for Henan-based Joint Venture aviation training company in People's Republic of China (PRC). BAA Training and HNCA enter a mutual agreement to contribute to the aviation community preparing the highest quality aviation professionals. According to the CAAC the country’s civil aviation industry experiences an extreme growth: the annual flying time has soared to 10.5 million hours up from 6.19 million hours over the past five years. As the Boeing and Airbus predict up to 325,000 pilots will be needed between today and 2037 in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific regions. While China’s fleet alone will more than double reaching 18% share of the world’s fleet. Boeing Delivers Its 2,000th Airplane to China Boeing 30 November delivered its 2,000th airplane to a Chinese operator, a 737 MAX for Xiamen Airlines. The milestone and the pace at which it was reached reflect the accelerating growth in the world's largest commercial aviation market. Boeing delivered its first 1,000 airplanes to Chinese airlines over four decades. The next 1,000 Boeing jets have now been delivered over the past five years. The rapid pace continues as one in four Boeing-made commercial jet goes to a Chinese operator, either through direct purchase or lease. CDB Aviation and Evelo Airlines Sign Lease Agreement for One A330-300 Aircraft CDB Aviation announced 27 November that the company entered into a lease agreement with Palma de Mallorca-based Evelop Airlines covering one Airbus A330-300 aircraft. “We are pleased to welcome our new customer, Evelop Airlines, to CDB Aviation’s rapidly expanding European customer base,” said CDB Aviation Chief Commercial Officer Patrick Hannigan. “This widebody aircraft will bolster the airline’s fleet as it continues its ambitious growth and expansion of its flight network connecting European passengers to destinations in the Caribbean.” China Eastern Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first A350-900 in Toulouse, becoming the latest operator of this efficient twin-engine widebody aircraft. The Shanghai-based carrier now operates an Airbus fleet of 356 aircraft, including 306 A320 Family aircraft and 50 A330 Family aircraft (figures at the end of October 2018). China Eastern is the largest Airbus operator in Asia and second largest in the world. Chinese Investors Invest €150M into Dornier Seastar Dornier Seawings has raised an additional €150 million in funding from shareholders for further research and development of its Seastar program, construction of manufacturing facilities, and expansion of production. The Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany-based company’s Seastar CD2 amphibious aircraft is currently undergoing some design changes and certification tests, following the prototype’s rollout in August 2017. The company’s investors include two state-owned enterprises of Jiangsu Province, China. This province has been supportive of Dornier Seawings and has selected it to be one of the provincial key development projects, it said. Ethiopian Airlines to facilitate visa acquisition for Chinese travelers Ethiopia’s national airline is set to facilitate a visa hub service starting January 2019 for Chinese travelling to 35 African countries. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said “The plan is to have a visa hub in Addis Ababa, where Chinese visitors can directly travel from our five Chinese destinations to Addis Ababa and be able to apply for visas of 35 African countries through their embassies in Ethiopia.” Thai Teams Up with Spring Airlines to Woo Chinese Tourists Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is teaming up with China's largest low-cost airline to help bring back tourists from the mainland over the next three months. THAI president Sumeth Damrongchaitham said under the agreement, Spring Airlines will help promote Thailand and carry more tourists into major airports -- Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phukets -- via its scheduled and charter flight operations. Vallair Delivers First Boeing 737-400F to Chinese Operator Longhao Vallair has completed delivery of their first B737-400F to Guangdong Longhao Aviation Group of China for a Boeing 737CL The aircraft (MSN27916) was previously operated by Japan Transocean Airlines and was converted at Gameco in Guangzhou under a Pemco STC.* Guangdong Longhao Aviation Group operates five B737-300F using its own fleet, as well as leased aircraft. Its mission is to become southern China’s preferred neutral asset provider of freighter aircraft capacity. Acumen Aviation © 3 December 2018 All Rights Reserved.