China’s Xi’an Aircraft Industry (XAC) will deliver the first set of fully equipped wings to Airbus’ A320 aircraft final assembly line in north China’s Tianjin in the first quarter of next year, the China Daily reported. The wing equipping work will start next month in Tianjin at a site close to the final assembly line, the newspaper said, citing Laurence Barron, president of Airbus China. Airbus will also create a logistics center in Tianjin to … [Read more...] about CHINA: A320 to get China-made wings next year

China and Pakistan’s free trade zone service agreement, signed earlier this year, is set to take effect on 10 October, according to the People’s Daily. The agreement will cover goods, trade, service trade, and investment between China and Pakistan. … [Read more...] about CHINA: China, Pakistan FTA to take effect next month

China’s domestic air traffic is expected to expand at an annual growth rate of 8.2 per cent over the next 20 years, state media reported, citing the country’s largest aircraft manufacturer, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). AVIC said China will need 3,798 new aircraft over the next two decades, including 2,922 jumbo jets and 874 regional jets. “As some air routes already run flights every 30 minutes to handle the huge passenger traffic, we expect more … [Read more...] about CHINA: China traffic to grow 8.2% over next 20 years

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (HAECO) has opened a new two-bay hangar for Boeing 747-sized aircraft. It is also planning to open a new narrow body heavy maintenance joint venture with Sichuan Airline Group (42 per cent) and Sichuan Haite High-Tech (nine per cent), called Taikoo Sichuan Aircraft Engineering Services, in the second half of 2010. The joint venture will carry out Airbus A320 heavy checks for Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines. Mid-2010 also will see Taikoo (Xiamen) … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: HAECO, TAECO both expand ops

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) announced today its air cargo tonnage throughput for August 2009 indicated that overall cargo volume was picking up gradually. A total of 206,810 tonnes were handled in the month, representing a relatively milder year-on-year drop of 6.2 per cent. Cumulative tonnage from January to August was 1.4 million tonnes, down 17.9 per cent compared with the same period last year. … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: HK sees milder cargo declines in August

Asia Airfreight Terminal Co Ltd (AAT) announced today its tonnage throughput for August 2009 was 43,232 tonnes, down 16 per cent compared with the same month last year. Export cargo registered 28,945 tonnes, a decline by 18 per cent against same period last year. Import cargo volume for August was 13,815 tonnes, recording a decrease of 13 per cent from last year. Transhipment cargo volume was 472 tonnes, representing a year-onyear growth of 27 per cent. The cumulative tonnage throughput … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: AAT sees improving throughput for August