25 Feb 2019

China Aviation Industry Newsletter 25 February

Airbus inaugurates its Innovation Centre in China Airbus inaugurated 21 February its Innovation Centre in China at an office opening ceremony in Shenzhen. The China Innovation Centre has been operating since early 2018 and currently focuses on designing, testing, and certifying new technologies relating to five areas: Hardware Lab, Cabin Experience, Connectivity, Manufacturing Innovation and Urban Air Mobility. BOC Aviation Delivers First Boeing 737 MAX 9 Aircraft BOC Aviation announced 24 February that it has delivered its first Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to its newest customer, Icelandair. The aircraft will be powered by CFM LEAP-1B Engines. Steven Townend, Chief Commercial Officer (Europe, Americas, Africa), BOC Aviation said “Following the successful induction of the Boeing MAX 8 into our fleet last year, we are delighted to add the first of our MAX 9 aircraft and to assist Icelandair with its expansion and re-fleeting programme”. Budapest Airport edges further east with Shanghai Airlines Budapest Airport confirmed that Shanghai Airlines, in partnership with China Eastern Airlines, will launch a three times weekly service between the Hungarian gateway and China’s largest city, Shanghai. Set to launch on 7 June, the 9,645-kilometre sector to Shanghai Pudong Airport will be operated by the Boeing 787-9. Chinese company delivers 100th 777 empennage tip to Boeing AVIC SAC Commercial Aircraft Company (SACC), based in the northeast Chinese city of Shenyang, started delivering 777 empennage tips to Boeing on May 25, 2016 and is the only global provider of the component to the U.S. airplane manufacturer. The recent delivery of the 100th 777 empennage tip showed that the strategic cooperation between SACC and Boeing. China-developed ARJ21 delivered to 2nd operator China's home-developed regional jet, the ARJ21, was delivered to the newly established Genghis Khan Airlines based in Inner Mongolia. It is expected to start commercial operation by the end of March with Genghis Khan, the second operator of the ARJ21 following Chengdu Airlines, said Bai Yimeng, vice president of Genghis Khan. Chinese Government Commits To Bizav in Greater Bay Area An outline of a development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) released by the central committee of the Communist Party of China and the country’s State Council includes several provisions to expand and develop general and business aviation (GA/BA) in the region. Notably, the government is backing the construction of a third runway at Hong Kong Airport and the reconstruction and expansion of Macau Airport, the latter of which also supports its development as a business aviation hub. The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) welcomed this news Acumen Aviation © 25 February 2019 All Rights Reserved.