Dornier 228 Earmarked For Medevac And Transport Of COVID-19 Vaccines
A new quick change medevac version of the Dornier 228 is being developed by the aircraft’s manufacturer RUAG, in response to demand from commercial operators and it is also developing a version that will include pharmaceutical fridges to transport COVID-19…
Interview: India’s Flybig To Play Problem-Solver For Regional Connectivity
New Indian regional airline Flybig plans to develop two niche markets: intercity travel between central India’s tier-three cities and services linking remote northeast India with major cities like New Delhi. Flybig CEO Srinivas Rao tells Smart Aviation APAC that its strategy leverages…
Royal Brunei Appoints New CEO
Royal Brunei Airlines has undergone a management change with its deputy chief operating officer replacing Karam Chand as CEO, a move that comes as the national carrier grapples low passenger volumes caused international travel restrictions caused by COVID-19. The airline…
China Aircraft Leasing Orders 30 ARJ21s, Plans to Lease Aircraft to Indonesian Airline TransNusa
China Aircraft Leasing (CALC) plans to lease 30 Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) ARJ21 regional jets to Indonesian regional carrier TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, representing a renewed push by China aircraft manufacturers to gain traction in the largest aviation market in Southeast…
Nauru Airlines Issues RFP To Buy Pre-Owned 737s
The 17th paragraph of this article has been edited to clarify that Exim refers to Taiwan’s Export and Import Bank. South Pacific national carrier Nauru Airlines has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase next generation 737 aircraft so…
Bangkok Airways Suspends Some Services, Delays Launch of New Routes Due to COVID-19
Bangkok Airways has delayed the launch of three new routes and suspended or reduced services on some existing routes because of a new outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. The airline says in a statement it is delaying the launch…
Buddha Air’s New Venture Yashodhara Air To Develop Ramechhap As An Alternative Hub In Nepal
Buddha Air’s new short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) subsidiary Yashodhara Air, which will be based at Ramechhap, is set to launch operations next year and offer airfare and accommodation packages. Yashodhara Air will start in 2022 with two STOL aircraft at Ramechhap Airport, 130km southeast…
Nepal’s Sita Air Focusing On Essential Air Services
The fast spread of the new COVID-19 variant across Europe is threatening to end hopes that the 2021 spring season could bring relief to Nepal’s hard-hit mountain flight operators, such as Sita Air. Operators of short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft rely on…
India’s SpiceJet Adds Logistics Partnerships in Anticipation of Vaccine
SpiceJet, which is transferring its cargo business into a wholly-owned subsidiary, is partnering with several logistics companies to develop its delivery capabilities in anticipation of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. These tie-ups include one with a new healthcare venture called SpiceHealth,…
Best on the Web | January 2021
Nepalese domestic aviation loses US$199 million in revenue over COVID-19 period https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/turbulence-remains-but-clearer-skies-ahead-in-countrys-aviation-sector/ Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal director general Rajan Pokhrel says Nepal’s domestic aviation market has lost over NPR23 billion (US$199 million) between March and November 2020, because of…
Bangkok Airways Launching Bangkok-Mae Sot Service
Bangkok Airways is launching a new service from Bangkok to Mae Sot, a city on the western border with Myanmar. The new daily service between Bangkok and Mae Sot, Tak Province, starts on 1 February using ATR 72-600s, the airline…
World Food Programme Partners With Asian Airlines For COVID-19 Relief
The UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) has been chartering relief flights with several Asian carriers as COVID-19 causes disruptions to transport systems and airlinks. In Myanmar, where domestic commercial flights were stopped for four months until 16 December, the UNWFP…
