04 Apr 2022

China Aviation Industry Newsletter 4 April

China Airlines selects Inmarsat’s inflight broadband for new A321neo fleet China Airlines introduced into service its first Airbus A321neo aircraft offering passengers with Inmarsat’s GX Aviation inflight broadband powered by SITA ‘s Internet ONAIR solution. The 25 aircraft will be equipped with Inmarsat’s GX Aviation and SITA’s Internet ONAIR, alongside other new cabin features such as fully-flat seats in Premium Business Class, the latest inflight entertainment system, and 4K high-solution displays. Fraport divests stake in China’s Xi’an Airport Fraport Airport Group announced it has decided to sell its entire 24.5% stake in Xi’an Xianyang International Airport in Central China to Chang’an Huitong for $174m (RMB1.11bn). Fraport CEO Dr Stefan Schulte said: “We reflect on our activity in Xi’an with great satisfaction, but also some disappointment. On the one hand, the Xi’an subsidiary gave us an opportunity to showcase our expertise in airport management. Indeed, over the past 14 years, Fraport successfully developed Xi’an from a medium-sized regional airport with about 10 million passengers annually to one of China’s largest aviation gateways, serving more than 40 million passengers per year.” IATA moves AGM from Shanghai to Doha The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit will take place 19-21 June 2022 in Doha, Qatar, originally planned for same dates in Shanghai, China. The decision is due to continuing COVID-19 related restrictions on travel to China. IATA DG Willie Walsh stated “It is deeply disappointing that we are not able to meet in Shanghai as planned. In the meantime, we are pleased to be returning to the dynamic aviation hub of Doha and the warm hospitality for which Qatar Airways, our host airline, has become famous. This year’s AGM will be an important opportunity for aviation’s leaders to reflect on the shifting political, economic, and technological realities facing air travel as the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic gathers pace.” SSP named master F&B concessionaire at new Huaguoshan International Airport SSP Group announced it has been awarded a new contract to develop the F&B offering at the new Huaguoshan International Airport, serving the port city of Lianyungang in Jiangshuregion.  As the master concessionaire, SSP assumed a central role in the development of Huaguoshan Airport’s food & beverage portfolio. SSP CEO Asia-Pacific Jonathan Robinson stated “Our partnership with Huaguoshan Airport enables us to demonstrate our expertise and commitment to adapting to meet changing customer expectations. Over the past two years, we have seen a marked shift in the way customers wish to interact with F&B outlets. With this latest contract win, we endeavour to elevate the experience that customers have come to expect from us through the implementation of digital ordering services. Passengers that visit Huaguoshan Airport can now order from their favourite local and international brands in the way that suits them.” Acumen Aviation © 4 April 2022 All Rights Reserved.