HKCAD freezes Hong Kong Airlines' fleet expansion plans
The latest from Air Transport World yesterday:
"The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Dept. (CAD) has frozen the fleet expansion plans for Hainan Airlines subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines (HX) due to safety concerns.
According to CAD, the Hong Kong-based carrier would have to meet all safety requirements for operating a larger fleet as well as stricter conditions to HX’s air operator’s certificate (AOC) limiting the types of aircraft the carrier can fly.
This means HX cannot add any aircraft without prior approval from CAD.
“With a very rapid expansion of aircraft fleet in recent years, CAD considers that it is time for HX to catch up with its current fleet size by consolidating their existing operations,” CAD said.
HX operates a fleet of 21 aircraft, comprising seven Airbus A330-200s, one A320, three A330-200 freighters, eight Boeing 737-800s and two 737-300Fs.
The carrier said it has no plans to cancel any aircraft orders but instead would phase out its older aircraft.
HX in 2010 finalized an order for 25 Airbus aircraft, comprising 15 A350-900 and 10 A330-200s. The 15 -900s are scheduled to be delivered in 2018; the 10 -200s are expected to begin delivery this year (ATW Daily News, Oct. 14, 2010).
HX also placed a $3.8 billion order for 10 A380s, which are scheduled for delivery from 2015 (ATW Daily News, Jan. 10). However, the A380 order is in jeopardy as the Chinese government protests the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme tax (ATW Daily News, March 9)."