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Tag: flying

  • Bamboo Airways to launch first US route this month

    Bamboo Airways to launch first US route this month

    Startup airline Bamboo Airways has completed the necessary procedures to begin its first direct flight to the U.S. starting Sep. 23, set to be the first Vietnamese airline to do so.

    The airline stated it has received licenses from U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct 12 return flights between the two countries from this month until November.

    It will connect Hanoi and Da Nang City with San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle-Tacoma.

    Also starting Sep. 23, the airline of real estate developer FLC will begin a series of events in the U.S. including signing memorandums with San Francisco and Los Angeles airports and opening its first representative office in the U.S.

    Bamboo Airways in May received permits for charter flights from Vietnam to the U.S.

    The U.S. is considered one of the most difficult aviation markets in the world with stringent safety regulations from the TSA.

    Bamboo Airways is the second Vietnamese airline to have acquired permits from the TSA, with the first being Vietnam Airlines which is set to start its first U.S. route next month.

    Vietnamese authorities first wanted to open direct services to the U.S. 18 years ago. However, concerns about profitability have kept airlines from realizing the goal.

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  • AirAsia extends unlimited flights

    AirAsia extends unlimited flights

    As IATF Resolution 136-F allows interzonal travel from GCQ to GCQ or GCQ to MGCQ areas subject to restrictions of the local government unit of destination and strict health and safety protocols such as the presentation of a negative RT-PCR test upon arrival, AirAsia Philippines is giving its 12,000 UNLI Flight Pass holders great value for money and great ease especially with the return of leisure travel in the National Capital Region.

    Beginning September 8-30, 2021, AirAsia will start to fly travelers to Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga, Panglao, Tacloban and Caticlan.

    UNLI Flight Pass’ is extended until 17 January 2022.  Consequently, the travel period has been extended from 30 October 2021 to 31 January 2022.

    In a press release, AirAsia Philippines said UNLI Flight Pass was tremendously welcomed by travel enthusiasts, mostly young professionals and families during its launch in November 2020.  It has also become the travel partner of essential travelers and Authorized Persons Outside Residence such as medical frontliners and members of the uniformed services like different branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

    More than 5,400 flights have been booked using the UNLI Flight Pass to leisure destinations such as Boracay, Cebu and Bohol.  However, AirAsia reminds the public that the promo is also open to all their domestic destinations including Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and General Santos City.

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  • Vietnam Airlines aims to start first US route in October

    Vietnam Airlines aims to start first US route in October

    Vietnam Airlines is planning to operate regular flights between Vietnam and the U.S. starting October, seeking to fulfill a dream of nearly two decades.

    The state-owned carrier will use either Boeing 787 or Airbus SE A350 aircraft for its inaugural U.S. route from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco with one refueling stop, CEO Le Hong Ha said.

    Since last year, the airline has been operating irregular charter flights to repatriate Vietnamese from the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The airline will rely on transporting cargo to offset initial low passenger demand, Ha said.

    Vietnam Airlines has been the worst-Covid-19-hit carrier in Vietnam. It has recorded a loss of about VND7 trillion ($306.65 million) in the first half this year, Ha commented.

    The airline in 2003 was ordered by the Ministry of Transport to begin direct services to the U.S. by 2005. However, concerns about profitability kept the airline from realizing the goal.

    Other Vietnamese airlines like budget carrier Vietjet and startup Bamboo Airways have all voiced interest in flying directly to the U.S.

    Bamboo Airways in May acquired slots to operate regular direct flights from HCMC to San Francisco and Los Angeles starting Sep. 1. But it is unclear whether flights would commence given the current severity of Covid-19 in Vietnam.

    In the first seven months of this year, Vietnamese carriers served 13.7 million passengers, down 32 percent year-on-year, according to General Statistics Office

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  • Philippines AirAsia to resume international flights by 1Q22

    Philippines AirAsia to resume international flights by 1Q22

    Philippines AirAsia intends to restart international flights by the first quarter of 2022 after resuming domestic services in the fourth quarter of 2021, says chief executive officer Ricky Isla.

    He told The Philippine Star newspaper that the airline’s priority is to rebuild its domestic network from Manila Ninoy Aquino Int’l, manage capacity, and control costs. “What is important is (that) we have to maintain our cost of operations. That’s the reason why we’re concentrating right now mostly on our Metro Manila hub.”

    The airline will look to restart flights from its hub at Clark in mid-to late 4Q21. “We will most likely reopen with our Clark trips towards the peak season of November and December,” he told The Philippine Star. “The best time is when there is already what you call a good herd immunity in Manila and Central Luzon like Clark. Then we will be confident that we will be extending also our Clark hub as our point of destination,” he said.

    The AirAsia Group unit has been conducting only essential flights recently in light of the government’s directive to place the capital Manila, officially called the National Capital Region (NCR), under quarantine with heightened restrictions from July 30, 2021, to August 5, 2021, and enhanced quarantine from August 6 to 20, 2021. This has meant that only people authorized to be outside their residences were allowed to travel into and out of the NCR, including Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal. Inbound travel to Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, and Cagayan de Oro City was also suspended from August 1 to 7, 2021, to manage the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

    From August 21, 2021, the airline is scheduled to resume domestic services from Manila to 12 domestic cities, namely Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro Laguindingan, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Panglao, Tacloban, and Zamboanga, the ch-aviation schedules module shows.

    From October 1, it is scheduled to resume services to seven domestic points from Clark, including Cagayan de Oro Laguindingan, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, and Tacloban, according to ch-aviation data.

    Isla said the company also sought to strengthen its cargo business. “Cargo also has to expand its customer experience. Before, it was just airport to airport, now you have airport to your point-of-destination, and airport up-to-the-household,” he said.

    Before the latest lockdown, AirAsia had carried 171,543 passengers between April and June 2021, an increase from 168,527 passengers carried in the first quarter of 2021. Year on year, this represented a 489% jump from the 29,111 passengers carried in the second quarter of 2020. The carrier has operated more than 600 chartered repatriation flights since last year.

    Philippines AirAsia reported that 92% of its flight operations team, including pilots and cabin crew, plus 86% of its ground staff, have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

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  • Drone maker DJI to shut Hong Kong flagship within a week

    Drone maker DJI to shut Hong Kong flagship within a week

    Shenzhen-headquartered drone maker DJI is to close its Hong Kong flagship store in Causeway Bay – but the company says the move is unrelated to strict new laws restricting drone use in the territory.

    The three-story, 930sqm store, which displays the brand’s range of aerial and handheld devices and includes a space where people can carry out test flights, will close from next Monday.

    A sign affixed to the storefront says DJI remains committed to its customers and partners in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the world and that the company would continue to develop the industry’s most advanced drones and creative camera technology.

    Responding to an inquiry from the South China Morning Post, a DJI spokesperson said the flagship’s closure reflected the company’s evolving needs and had “no connection” with the new regulations requiring drone operators to be trained and licensed to fly the devices. That law takes effect next June.

    After the store’s closure, the company’s drones will remain on sale online and through authorized dealers.

    DJI opened the store in September 2016. At the time it was the brand’s third retail store, following one in Shenzhen and another in Seoul.

    A flight cage on the ground floor showcases drones in action and a SkyPixel Gallery on the first floor features international aerial photography. A technical support center and space for workshops, seminars, and special events are located on the second floor.

    Under the new Hong Kong law, drones weighing between 250gm and 7kg must be registered, and pilots must undertake online training. Insurance will become mandatory.

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  • Thai AirAsia suspends flights, cuts pay packets

    Thai AirAsia suspends flights, cuts pay packets

    Thai AirAsia (TAA) has suspended all flights this month and deferred paying its staff either wholly or partially until September.

    The airline, regarded as one of the most robust domestic carriers, has faced a financial crunch from consistently low passenger volumes since the Covid-19 pandemic began early last year. All domestic airlines including this one also suffer from a lack of cash flow.

    The airline stopped flying after the restrictions were launched last month. It says all flights will stay grounded for now after efforts to secure loans were in vain.

    Another factor in the decision to keep flights grounded is that the latest lockdown order includes travel restrictions. The wider aviation business in the country is also facing depleted liquidity and cash flow.

    TAA announced a deferment of the whole or part of the salaries of its employees as part of an effort to ease cost pressures.

    The July salaries for executives will be paid in September. Active employees at operational levels will be paid 50% of their July salaries this month and the rest in September. Inactive employees will receive 25% of their salaries in September as well.

    The TAA said it will temporarily cease operations this month and hopes the situation will turn around next month. Once the airline has secured a loan, operations will resume.

    Also, Thai Lion Air, another budget carrier, said it is looking to offer financial assistance to its staff after it suspended flights on July 21.

    Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to take action to address the high cost of Covid-19 tests in many jurisdictions.

    It also urged flexibility in permitting the use of cost-effective antigen tests as an alternative to more expensive PCR tests.

    According to IATA’s most recent traveller survey, 86% of respondents are willing to get tested. But 70% also believe that the cost of testing is a barrier to travel, while 78% believe governments should bear the cost of mandatory testing.

    “The IATA supports Covid-19 testing as a pathway to reopen borders to international travel,” said IATA Director-General Willie Walsh.

    In addition to being reliable, testing needs to be easily accessible, affordable, and appropriate to the risk level. Too many governments, however, are falling short on some or all of these, he said.

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  • AirAsia group says Q2 was improved

    AirAsia group says Q2 was improved

    AirAsia Group said its operating statistics for the second quarter of the 2021 financial year were improved during the quarter. All four key operating entities of AirAsia posted year-on-year (YoY) improvements during the quarter, on the back of a low base in the corresponding quarter last year as the group’s fleet were hibernated for the most part of 2Q2020 following the hit of the COVID-19 pandemic since late 1Q2020.

    As for quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) performance, AirAsia Philippines saw a 2 percent increase in number of passengers carried and 4 percentage points (ppts) increase in load factor to reach 78 percent, while AirAsia Indonesia’s load factor increased by 11 ppts QoQ. AirAsia said it remains committed to strengthening its domestic foothold while awaiting positive developments on international air travel. Expectation of high vaccination rates in ASEAN countries by the end of this year is lending confidence on upcoming recovery, enhanced by the group’s short-haul model in addition to leaner and more stabilised operations.

    AirAsia Malaysia’s operations remained constrained QoQ due to a lockdown and interstate travel restrictions imposed from January 2021. AirAsia Malaysia carried 64 percent higher number of passengers YoY on 54 percent higher capacity, subsequently resulting in a 4 ppts increase to a healthy load factor of 64 percent. The ongoing subdued operations are expected to persist until Malaysia reaches herd immunity by the fourth quarter of this year. The government has recently set a new target of vaccinating all adults by October 2021.

    AirAsia Indonesia posted substantial YoY growth against the same quarter last year. Though the number of passengers carried showed a mild 1 percent dip QoQ, load factor grew by 11 ppts to 67 percent in 2Q2021 due to more stringent capacity management. AirAsia Indonesia was operating approximately 70 percent of pre-pandemic domestic capacity in May 2021 and demonstrated strong signs of recovery before it had to enter hibernation mode in early July in support of the containment efforts by the government as infection cases increased.

    AirAsia Philippines’ strong rebound seen in 1Q2021 further increased in 2Q2021, posting a 2 percent higher number of passengers carried QoQ and 4 ppts higher load factor to record a solid 78 percent. Monthly breakdown showed that load factor was as high as 83 percent in June 2021, boosted by active capacity management. This was despite running a limited number of charter and passenger flights due to community quarantine restrictions and despite flying only from its Manila hub.

    AirAsia Thailand more than doubled the number of passengers carried YoY and reported a 9 ppts increase in load factor to 61 percent in 2Q2021, boosted by higher demand during the Songkran festival in April 2021 and on the back of low base effect in the same quarter last year. On a QoQ basis, despite having successfully resumed all domestic routes by the end of 1Q2021, AirAsia Thailand’s recovery was short-lived due to the new COVID-19 wave that began in mid-April 2021. AirAsia Thailand posted a 26 percent QoQ decline in passengers carried, most significantly in June. Nevertheless, load factor was held firm at 78 percent in June, attributed to active capacity management.

  • Philippines AirAsia to revive Clark hub end this year

    Philippines AirAsia to revive Clark hub end this year

    Philippines AirAsia plans to strategically restore its hub at Clark International Airport, northwest of the capital Manila, in October 2021, pending the easing of travel restrictions and an increase in travel demand, says Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla.

    “Once travel restrictions ease and demand picks up soon, we are eyeing to strategically restore AirAsia’s Clark hub hopefully by Q4 of 2021,” he said in a statement, after joining Philippines President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte and other government and industry representatives in witnessing the inspection and dry-run of the airport’s new second passenger terminal (Terminal 2) building on July 19, 2021. Isla said the new terminal would boost the airline’s drive towards a stronger rebound post-COVID-19. Government representatives echoed his sentiment saying they hoped AirAsia Philippines would make a strong come-back in 4Q21.

    According to the ch-aviation schedules module, the AirAsia Group unit will restore flights from Clark on October 1, 2021, to the following domestic destinations:

    • 4x weekly to Cagayan de Oro Laguindingan;
    • daily to Caticlan;
    • daily to Cebu;
    • 4x weekly to Davao, increasing to daily frequencies by January 1, 2022;
    • 4x weekly to Iloilo (from October 2);
    • 4x weekly to Puerto Princesa; and
    • 4x weekly to Tacloban.

    AirAsia began its Philippines operations at Clark in March 2012, a move that helped push connectivity in northern and central parts of Luzon, the country’s largest and most populous island that also includes Manila. Before the pandemic, AirAsia Philippines flew to 10 destinations from Clark, including the domestic points being restored, and internationally to Seoul Incheon (South Korea), Kaohsiung and Taipei Taoyuan (Taiwan).

    Punted as Asia’s next premier gateway for North and Central Luzon, the new terminal is expected to relieve congestions at Manila Ninoy Aquino Int’l (NAIA), which has an annual capacity of eight million passengers. The new terminal will increase capacity at Clark to 12 million passengers annually and boost air transport capacity for the Greater Capital Region, including the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat within the Clark Freeport Zone in the province of Pampanga.

    Operated by the Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, the second terminal has been constructed at a cost of PHP12.55 billion peso (USD243 million). It forms part of the so-called “Build, Build, Build (BBB)” program of the Philippines government. Under the model, the infrastructure was built by the government using its own funds, while the operations and maintenance are handed over to the private sector.

    Spread across 110,000 sqm, the new terminal features 18 passenger boarding bridges, 3,881 parking spaces, and 20 bus parking bays. It also facilitates an end-to-end contactless passenger experience from the bus ride, check-in, bag drop, and even when ordering meals.

    Clark International Airport currently serves 27 destinations in 10 countries, involving six airlines, according to ch-aviation data. The airport has two runways (02R/20L and 02L/20R) both measuring 3,200 x 60 metres at an elevation of 148 metres MSL.

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  • AirAsia Indonesia To Suspend Flights For One Month

    AirAsia Indonesia To Suspend Flights For One Month

    On Saturday, July 3rd, AirAsia Indonesia announced that it would be suspending its operations for at least a month due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country. The airline has called its suspension a form of support for the Indonesian government’s efforts in tackling the virus.

    According to a statement issued by the AirAsia Group subsidiary, all scheduled flights on the airline’s domestic Indonesian and international routes will temporarily stop operating from July 6th to August 6th, 2021.

    “AirAsia remains committed to serving charter and cargo flights to support repatriation missions, delivery of goods and other essential interests by implementing strict health and safety protocols.”

    AirAsia is taking a flexible approach to existing bookings and reservations on canceled flights. For bookings on flights during the suspension period, passengers can convert tickets into a credit account which is valid for up to 730 days (two years). They can also change their flight schedule to another date until 31 October 2021, which can be done an unlimited number of times at no additional cost.

    While new daily case counts had been ‘stabilizing’ around five to six thousand during the month of May, this figure has significantly jumped over the month of July. New daily case counts are now exceeding 20,000 and continue to climb. Indeed, case counts began to climb in late May and early June – weeks after many Indonesians traveled and celebrated in marking the Islamic holiday Eid al-Fitr.

    A prominent epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia, Dr. Pandu Riono, describes the situation in the country as “herd stupidity.”

    This label was given due to what Dr. Riono calls mixed messaging and poor decision-making from the government, combined with the general public’s refusal to follow health protocols and reluctance to receive jabs.

    As we’ve seen in many other cases around the world, the suspension of flights could be extended further, depending on the country’s COVID situation. If case counts and hospitalizations continue to rise, we can expect more canceled flights in an effort to contain the situation.

    “AirAsia always puts the safety and security of every passenger and all of its employees first. We will continue to evaluate the development of the situation and are ready to re-open our scheduled flight services at any time if the situation improves.”

    With this in mind, AirAsia customers are advised to periodically monitor the airline’s travel advisory information, available on the AirAsia app, as well as on the airline’s social media channels.

  • Vivo files a patent application for a detachable flying smartphone camera

    Vivo files a patent application for a detachable flying smartphone camera

    Vivo has filed a patent for a flying smartphone camera. You read that right, the camera disconnects from the phone and takes to the air to provide the user with unusual photo opportunities to take snapshots and video from. The camera module features four propellers, two dual cameras, three infrared proximity sensors and an extra battery.
    While in flight, the proximity sensors are used to prevent the flying camera module from crashing into other items that have escaped gravity by calculating the distance from a possible hazard to prevent mid-air collisions. Once in the air, the “flight camera” will be able to change positions and we expect to see one camera at the front of the module with another at the top.
    The patent application was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and while camera drones are not new, Vivo is the first manufacturer to have a flying camera drone fit into the body of a smartphone. But there is a caveat. To make the camera module fit inside a phone, it has to be made smaller and lighter which means that it can be blown off track because of the wind which can also make images appear shaky.
    The vast majority of smartphone innovations have been coming from Chinese-based smartphone brands. But keep in mind that just because Vivo seeks to patent a flying camera for a smartphone, that doesn’t mean that such a product is coming soon.
  • Cebu Pacific increases flights to Boracay, Bohol ‘to support recovery’

    Cebu Pacific increases flights to Boracay, Bohol ‘to support recovery’

    Budget carrier Cebu Pacific said Monday its flights between Manila and Boracay will now be five times daily, while flights to Bohol will also operate daily.

    The additional flights to Boracay and Bohol, which started on Monday, should “support recovery efforts,” the budget carrier said in an e-mailed statement.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the airline said: “We gradually increased our flights to Boracay weekly — from only two times daily on June 4, three times daily on June 7, four times daily on June 11, and now five times daily beginning yesterday, June 21.”

    “Bohol was at four times weekly in the second week of June and now it’s already one time daily,” it added.

    Cebu Pacific said it currently operates the “widest network” in the country covering 32 destinations, on top of its six international destinations.

    Candice A. Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing and customer service, said: “With the arrival of more vaccines and the pace at which vaccines are being rolled out, we are hopeful that in due time, our networks will recover to pre-pandemic levels.”

    “We remain cautiously optimistic as we prepare for the bounce back and will do everything that is within our control to support and aid that,” she added.

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said recently that “over the last months, the recovery of air passenger demand has been mainly driven by domestic markets that have mostly remained unaffected by travel restrictions.”

    “In the meantime, international travel was restricted by most countries and governments are only starting to relax those restrictions as they vaccinate their populations and stabilize the epidemiological situation,” it added.

    Cebu Pacific, operated by Cebu Air, Inc., said it had flown six million coronavirus vaccine doses from China as of June 17, “on top of more than 1.4 million doses carried to 15 Philippine provinces.”

    The number of flights Cebu Pacific had in 2020 was 71% lower at 41,804. The number of passengers it carried last year also dropped 78% to five million.

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  • AirAsia boss says industry could return to normal next year

    AirAsia boss says industry could return to normal next year

    AirAsia Group Bhd’s chief executive officer said the aviation industry could return to normal next year as international borders gradually reopened, state news agency Bernama reported on Saturday.

    Tony Fernandes also called for better government policies to avoid disruptions when travel resumed, and decisions on what would be required to open up borders, including documents needed to travel.

    “I think that will be sorted out by September or October when we allow interstate travel and some international flying,” he was quoted saying in a webinar.

  • Vietjet raises $43.6 mln from bonds

    Vietjet raises $43.6 mln from bonds

    Budget airline Vietjet has raised VND1 trillion ($43.61 million) from a domestic company to expand operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The bonds are without collateral with a maturity of five years starting from May 24.

    Revenues in the first quarter fell 56 percent year-on-year to VND4.05 trillion. In the same period, the company reaped post-tax profit of VND123.32 billion.

    The profit came from its other investment to make up for the loss in its main business that is taking hits from social distancing.

    It managed to lower operating costs by half and sales and administration costs by 39 percent.

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  • Vietnam Airlines to sell 11 aircraft

    Vietnam Airlines to sell 11 aircraft

    National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has said it will auction 11 Airbus A321 CEO aircraft manufactured in 2004, 2007 and 2008.

    The sale, which is set to take place this year, is part of its program to replace old-generation aircrafts that have been used for over 12 years. It also aims to increase its cash flow at a time of trouble for the pandemic-hit aviation sector.

    The carrier had sold nine aircraft last year and five in 2019. It had a fleet of 107 aircraft at the end of last year, including 51 Airbus A321 CEO aircraft.

    The carrier posted its largest quarterly loss ever in Q1 at VND4.97 trillion ($216 million), pushing its accumulated loss to VND14.22 trillion, marginally surpassing its charter capital.

    If its performance continues in the same vein, the airline’s HVN ticker on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) might be delisted. It has already received a warning from the bourse on April 15.

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  • Karen Chan to relinquish role as CEO of AirAsia.com

    Karen Chan to relinquish role as CEO of AirAsia.com

    Karen Chan, CEO of AirAsia.com, is stepping down from her position more than a year after she was appointed. A+M understands that chief commercial officer Amanda Woo will be taking over her position and that today is Chan’s last day. A+M has reached out to Chan (pictured) and AirAsia for a comment.

    Chan joined AirAsia in 2019 as a group chief commercial officer during which she was responsible for driving profitability and growth across markets it operates in, her LinkedIn said. During that same year, AirAsia redesigned its mobile app to include features such as new booking flow and interactive search map; flight chat rooms; exclusive content and deals; and seamless access to boarding pass via the Apple e-wallet. At the start of 2020, Chan was promoted to CEO of AirAsia.com to lead the business transformation of the airline into a travel and lifestyle platform.

    Close to a year later, the airline launched its super app and Chan told A+M previously that a super app is more than just a digital marketplace of products. It is where commerce meets the community. Having expanded its core identity as an airline into over 15 product lines, Chan explained that it is prepared to take on the incumbents of the online travel agency and lifestyle players.

    Before joining AirAsia, Chan was SVP of digital, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Clarks for close to two years. Prior to that, she led regional digital marketing efforts for Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza and Coca-Cola.

    AirAsia’s super app claims to offer a simpler, faster and more convenient user experience with over 15 types of products and services under three main pillars – travel, eCommerce and fintech. The list of categories included flights, hotels, SNAP, activities, insurance, Big Rewards, unlimited deals and wifi. Separately, it also entered the food delivery scene last year, expanding to various cities within Malaysia and even to Singapore.

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