2009-05-25 Shijiazhuang
Construction of Schiller’s aircraft manufacturing facility started in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province on 16 May. With an investment of US$80 million, the aircraft manufacturing facility is expected to be put into operation by 2010. The manufacturing facility’s initial annual production capacity will reach 200 aircraft and then will expand to 600.
2009-05-25 Hong Kong
China Aircraft Services Limited (CASL) announced the opening of its new aircraft maintenance hangar yesterday. With an investment of HK$400 million on the hangar compound building, tools and equipment, the new hangar occupies an area of about 10,000 square meters to accommodate one wide-body and one narrow-body aircraft at the same time. Five airlines have decided to become customers of the new hangar including United Airlines and China Airlines.
2009-05-15 Guangzhou
China Southern Airlines recently reported its provisions for impairment of fixed assets and foreign exchange option contracts for last year. According to the Guangzhou-based carrier, it plans to dispose of some less profitable aircraft, in a move to reduce its operating costs and optimize its fleet, which is in line with its strategic development plan. The 23 aircraft include four Boeing 777-200As, six Airbus A300-600s and 13 MD-90s. In accordance with China’s accounting regulations and the International Financial Reporting Standards, the airline recorded approximately 1.791 billion yuan (US$0.3 billion) in provisions for impairment of the fixed assets last year.
2009-04-29 Tianjin
The first Airbus A320 aircraft assembled in China is scheduled to make a test flight during the last two weeks of May. The aircraft is expected to be delivered to Sichuan Airlines for operation through Dragon Aviation Leasing at the end of June. By the end of this year, the Airbus final assembly plant in Tianjin is expected to deliver a total of 11 Airbus aircraft, including six A320 planes and five A319 planes.
2009-04-21 Tianjin
Dong Weizhong, director of Tianjin airport-based industrial zone, recently said that Airbus (Tianjin) Final Assembly has recently received an order for 284 A320s from the mainland market. Shang Luguo, General Manager of Airbus (Tianjin) Final Assembly, stated that the worldwide financial crisis has not significantly impacted the company although the crisis has had a negative impact on the global civil aviation market. According to a report of Tianjin airport-based industrial zone, China has now become the second largest aviation market in the world following the US, with passenger aircraft demand expected to total 2,670 over the next 20 years.
2009-04-16 Harbin
Following introducing an Airbus A319 on 9 April, China Southern Airlines Heilongjiang Branch introduced an additional Airbus A319 yesterday. This marked the third Airbus A319 aircraft introduced by the airline in half a year. The three aircraft will be used for flights from Daqing to major Chinese cities such as Harbin.
2009-04-15 Harbin
The Airbus A319 that will be put into operation by China Southern Airlines in Daqing, Heilongjiang province, as the city's first aircraft recently flew to the Taiping Airport in Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang, from Hamburg, Germany. A new airport in Daqing is also scheduled to be put into use by September 2009.
2009-04-09 Beijing
The Modern Ark 60 (MA60), China's self-developed commuter aircraft, has received total purchasing or leasing orders of 136 aircraft from both home and abroad. MA60 is the most successful civil aviation aircraft developed by China so far. With a maximum take-off weight of 21,800 kg and a seating capacity of up to 60 passengers, the plane has been designed and developed according to the requirements of CCAR-25 and FAR-25. Its safety, reliability, comfort, economy and maintainability have reached to or are close to the level of similar advanced commuter aircraft in the world.
2009-03-26 Beijing
China Eastern Airlines has denied its rival, China Southern Airlines, will buy out its Wuhan branch. It was reported the Wuhan branch became CEA’s biggest loser to book RMB1.6 billion (approx. US$194 million) loss for 2008 and the parent was contacting ZNH to sell it. Top officials of ZNH Hubei branch said they never heard the issue and did not believe CEA Wuhan branch lost as much as US$194 million.
2009-03-20 Shanghai
China Eastern Airlines recently announced that its China Cargo Airlines has entered into an agreement with GE Commercial Aviation Services to sell and lease back some freighter aircraft. The freighters are scheduled for delivery by the end of this month. China Eastern Airlines expects to make a profit of 77.8 million yuan (US$11.4 million) from the deal, which will help improve the carrier’s cash flows. Proceeds will be used for the purpose of daily operation.
