Category: Asia News (Page 5 of 30)

Emirates ramps up Seoul service to 10 flights a week

January 4, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Dubai, UAE, January 4, 2024 – Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, reinforces its commitment to South Korea by ramping up its operations in Seoul with three additional weekly flights starting 19 February 2024.

The new flights will operate as EK324/ EK325 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, Emirates’ flight EK324 will depart Dubai at 4:45 am, landing in Seoul Incheon International Airport at 6:05 pm. The return flight EK325 will depart Seoul at 10 pm, arriving in Dubai at 3:15 am the following day.

Emirates’ additional services will increase the capacity on flights between Dubai and Seoul by more than 1,000 additional seats per week, helping to alleviate the suppressed demand for international travel to one of the most popular East Asian destinations and supporting South Korea’s inbound and outbound tourism. The airline’s ramped-up operations will further serve the need for adding more flights between UAE and Korea, in line with the strong bilateral relations between the two nations.

Through the three weekly Boeing 777 flights, Emirates will provide 45 tonnes of additional cargo capacity between Dubai and Seoul, boosting the trade and economic ties between South Korea and the UAE as well as through Dubai and beyond to more global destinations in Emirates’ network, further contributing to Korea’s economy and facilitating convenient air connectivity for the Republic’s imports and exports.

Emirates launched services to Seoul in 2005 and currently operates a daily Airbus A380 service from Dubai. With the additional services, the airline will serve Seoul with 10 weekly flights operated by a mix of its signature Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, guaranteeing more flexibility and choice for its customers to and from Dubai, as well as beyond to its global network of over 130 destinations.

Agreement for Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Hotels brands at China National Convention Center

January 3, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Marriott International Signs Agreement to Bring the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Hotels Brands to China National Convention Center in Beijing

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Beijing North Star Company Limited to open the third The Ritz-Carlton and the first Marriott Marquis Hotel in Beijing. Expected to open in 2026, The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, North will provide its legendary service and elegant design to travelers in and abroad, while Beijing Marriott Marquis Hotel will deliver a perfect blend of heartfelt service and modern style at China National Convention Center Phase II, a large complex with hotels, retails, offices, leisure facilities, and spacious venues for high-level conferences, exhibitions, and events.

China National Convention Center Phase II is a large complex with a total of approximately 780,000 square meters that includes hotels, retails, offices, leisure facilities, as well as extensive spaces for high-level conferences, exhibitions, and events. As a key component of China National Convention Center Phase II, the hotels are approximately 20 kilometers away from Beijing Capital International Airport. Leisure and cultural attractions such as the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube), and China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum are within walking distance.

Designed by the internationally acclaimed interior design firm Yabu Pushlberg Inc., The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, North is expected to feature 282 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites. Guests will be able to enjoy refined dining experiences across its six distinct venues. Reactional facilities are expected to include an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, as well as The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Additionally, the hotel will offer well-equipped conference and event facilities totaling 968 square meters.

Beijing Marriott Marquis Hotel is anticipated to offer 671 guestrooms and suites, together with a range of culinary venues including an all-day dining restaurant, specialty restaurant and a relaxed lobby bar and lobby lounge (The Greatroom). Planned facilities also include a swimming pool and fitness center, as well as 3,207-square –meters of conference and event spaces including a Grand Ballroom, two Junior Ballrooms, three meeting rooms, and an executive club lounge – M Club. Guests can expect Marriott Hotels’ signature heartfelt service, with modern design, comfortable spaces and enriching experiences that blends leisure and business.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Boom selects Honeywell Anthem Integrated Flight Deck for Overture

January 3, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Today Boom announced it has signed a supplier agreement with tier-one aerospace leader Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ: HON), joining a growing network of global suppliers for Overture. As part of the agreement between the two companies, Honeywell’s next-generation flight deck and its modular avionics platform will be incorporated into Overture.

As a pioneer in integrated modular avionics, Honeywell has successfully matured multiple generations of flight deck technology. Honeywell’s unmatched expertise in the development and certification of large and complex avionics systems provides a foundation for the development and certification of a new generation of integrated avionics onboard Overture.

The Honeywell Anthem flight deck will be tailored for Overture’s specific mission requirements, helping to enable exceptional situational awareness and enhanced safety. The advanced avionics interface provides continuity to Boom pilots from initial flight training in a simulator, through to physical test flights. Anthem empowers pilots with advanced and intuitive features and capabilities that dramatically improve aircraft operability, including:

Enabling display and control customization, allowing pilots to modify their flight path, review the changes, and initiate the new path with ease.
Prioritizing improved situational awareness, streamlining the pilot’s primary tasks of aviating, navigating, and communicating. The platform leverages proven technologies, like conformal Synthetic Vision, to further integrate the pilot with the flight deck avionics. From visualizing energy management to increasing terrain awareness, the high resolution displays combine flight symbology with perspective terrain to make flying easier and safer.
Next-generation touchscreen interfaces that grant ready access to features like the radio interface and graphical flight planning on the map.

Forward-Looking Statements

Fiery plane crash at Tokyo Haneda Airport kills 5 Coast Guard crew members

January 2, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France, January 2, 2023 – Airbus regrets to confirm that an A350-900 operated by Japan Airlines was involved in an accident during flight JAL516 from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Haneda International Airport shortly after 17:47 (local time) on 02 January 2024. All 367 passengers and 12 crew members on-board evacuated the aircraft.

The A350 collided with a DHC-8 aircraft at landing in Haneda. The Japanese authorities have since confirmed that sadly five of the six people on board the DHC-8 did not survive. The exact circumstances of the event are still unknown. The aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number JA13XJ, was MSN 538, delivered to Japan Airlines from the production line on 10 November 2021.

In line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 recommendations, Airbus will provide technical assistance to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of France and to the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) in charge of the investigation. For this purpose, Airbus is presently dispatching a team of specialists to assist the Authorities.

Korean Air CEO says 2024 will be a year of change and innovation

January 1, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

In a New Year’s message to the Korean Air team, Korean Air Lines Co Ltd (Seoul: 003490) Chairman and CEO, Walter Cho, shared that he expected 2024 to be a big milestone for the aviation industry with various changes and innovations shaping the year. Cho emphasized safety and service, and asked his colleagues for their full support to successfully complete the acquisition of Asiana Airlines in 2024.

In his message, Cho anticipated geopolitical risks, global supply chain disruptions, economic slowdowns and prolonged inflation to persist through 2024. He also expected intensified industry competition in regaining market share, and a slowdown of the lucrative cargo business.

Cho further underscored that Korean Air’s operations hinges on commitment to safety, and encouraged his colleagues to take an active role in cultivating a strong safety culture.

QANTAS receives latest freighter conversion to meet increased demand

January 1, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Melbourne, Australia, December 31, 2023 – Qantas Airways Ltd (Sydney: QAN) has received its newest Airbus A330 freighter touching down today. The aircraft departed the fleet following its last commercial passenger flight back in February of this year.

This was the second Qantas aircraft to be converted this year following a freighter delivery this past October into the fleet. The conversions were performed by EFW in Dresden, Germany, a joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering.

Qantas is also planning to convert another nine aircraft to freighters, bringing the carriers total freighter fleet to 12.

Silk Way West Airlines expands its fleet and cargo capacity

December 30, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Silk Way West Airlines, the leading cargo airline in the Caspian and Central Asian region, announces the expansion of its fleet with the addition of two Boeing 777 freighters. This investment comes in response to the increasing demand for air cargo services, and underscores the airline’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable transportation solutions around the world.

These twin-engine aircraft feature the latest innovations in technology and fuel efficiency, enhancing Silk Way West Airlines’ capacity to deliver cargo with speed and reliability. The expanded fleet represents a substantial increase in cargo capacity, allowing the carrier to meet the growing needs of its customers across various industries, including e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. With the new additions, the airline further strengthens its position as one of leading global air cargo carrier, providing comprehensive coverage and efficient connections between key air cargo markets.

This expansion also reflects Silk Way West Airlines’ commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint. The new aircraft are equipped with advanced eco-friendly technologies, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with ongoing efforts to contribute to a greener aviation industry.

JAL becomes first airline in Japan to register as TNFD adopter

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Tokyo, Japan, December 28, 2023 – Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (President and Group CEO: Yuji Akasaka) has achieved an important milestone by becoming the first airline in Japan to register as the TNFD Adopter *2, an adopter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) *1.
In March 2023, JAL participated in the TNFD Forum and in August 2023, became the first airline in Japan to disclose information based on the TNFD recommendations in advance. Moving forward, based on the final recommendations released in September of this year, JAL is committed to further enhancing its disclosure practices and accelerating efforts to realize Nature Positive *3 together with all other early adopters.

Click the link below to read the full story!

JAL TNFD adopter

*1 International initiative that provides a framework for assessing and disclosing information on impacts on the natural environment and biodiversity.

*2 Companies and organizations that have decided to make disclosures based on the final recommendations by fiscal year 2025 or 2026. The registered companies will be announced at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (Davos Meeting) in January 2024.

*3 To Stop the loss of biodiversity and put the natural environment on a recovery track.

NYK conducts trial use for full scale introduction of biofuels

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Starting in fiscal 2024, NYK line [Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo: 9101)] will conduct full-scale trials of long-term use of biofuels*, which are considered to have net-zero CO₂ emissions, in navigating its existing heavy oil-fired vessels. Moving forward from the previous short-term trials, NYK will comprehensively verify the safety and stable procurement of biofuels when used over a long period. Through this trial, NYK will establish a safe navigation system using biofuels and promote biofuel development to achieve the Group’s goal of a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by fiscal 2030 compared to fiscal 2021.

In this trial, NYK will use biofuel continuously for three months on multiple vessel types. After that, NYK will gradually extend biofuel use for a longer period for further validation.

Since fiscal 2019, the NYK Group has conducted short-term biofuel trials on about 10 vessels. While NYK has confirmed the safety of short-term biofuel use, NYK has not verified the impact of biofuels on the ship’s main engine, generator, motor, fuel supply system, etc., and the quality of biofuels after a certain storage period. NYK also needed to ensure the stability of biofuel procurement when used in more vessels.

NYK announced the NYK Group ESG Story 2023 on November 6, declaring a new target to reduce the NYK Group’s GHG emissions by 45%** from the fiscal 2021 level by fiscal 2030. NYK will promote this trial to achieve the goal.

* Biofuels are produced from biological sources (biomass), such as waste cooking oil, and are considered to have net-zero CO₂ emissions during combustion. Biofuels, also usable in heavy oil–fired engines, are one of the critical solutions to reducing GHG emissions during the transition from heavy oil to zero-emission fuels.

** Reduction ratio on absolute corporate emissions for scope 1 and 2.

Forward-Looking Statements

Ocean Network Express (ONE) announce new Japan Taiwan Cat Lai service

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Ocean Network Express (ONE) is pleased to announce a newly launch service – Japan Taiwan Cat Lai (JTC) into ONE’s service network.

JTC will provide our customers with new direct connections as well as quicker transit-time with only 4 days from Tokyo to Taipei/Taichung.

The first sailing will commence with the MV INTERASIA PURSUIT V. S060 arriving at Tokyo on the 22nd January 2024 with the following details.

Port Rotation : Tokyo – Yokohama – Taipei – Taichung – Ho Chi Minh
Frequency : Weekly service

For more information, please refer to the attached advisory

Archives