Latest news with #HainanAirlines
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Airlines flight ends up facing other aircraft on Taiwan runway
A Hong Kong Airlines plane had a close encounter with another aircraft on the runway after landing at Taoyuan airport in Taiwan on Friday in what appears to have been a blunder by air traffic controllers. The Hong Kong-based carrier later denied some Taiwanese media reports that its aircraft had landed on the wrong runway. Hong Kong Airlines flight HX252 was carrying 161 passengers and seven crew members and left the city at about 9.15am for Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan. The aircraft was taxiing on the runway after landing at about 11.10am but encountered Hainan Airlines flight HU7987, with the two planes facing each other. The Hong Kong aircraft, an Airbus A320, eventually had to be towed to the right parking space. In a statement in the afternoon, Hong Kong Airlines said its flight was using the runway as instructed by Taiwanese air controllers. 'Hong Kong Airlines confirms that [Friday's] flight HX252 from Hong Kong to Taipei Taoyuan Airport was taxiing in accordance with the air control tower's instruction after landing, during which it was changed to use a tow truck to assist in towing the aircraft to the designated parking space following the air control tower's new instruction,' it said.
South China Morning Post
17-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chen Feng, founder of Chinese conglomerate HNA, sentenced to 12 years in prison
Chen Feng, a founder of the defunct Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and is subject to a penalty of 221 million yuan (US$30.8 million), nearly four years after he was detained by police. The 72-year-old businessman was charged with harming the interests of a listed company, fraudulently obtaining loans and a breach of duty through misappropriation, according to a court document. The government said 40 million yuan in personal assets were ordered to be confiscated. Also sentenced were Sun Mingyu, former chairman of HNA Group's supervisory board, and Bao Qifa, former chairman of Hainan Airlines Group, which was previously controlled by HNA. Both received prison terms of three and a half years. Sun was fined 9 million yuan and Bao was fined 4.5 million yuan. Chen Feng, who founded Hainan Airlines in 1989 in Haikou and grew it into the sprawling conglomerate known as HNA Group, was detained for suspected crimes in 2021. The detention came a few months after the group declared bankruptcy following struggles to pay off debts that once totalled more than US$100 billion. In the mid-2010s, HNA Group went on an acquisition spree , fuelled by bank loans and profits from its aviation business. Initially focused on airlines, the group expanded into areas including tourism, hospitality and financial services, amassing stakes in companies like Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Deutsche Bank and Ingram Micro.
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Terrified pilots heard panicking as near-miss sees planes come within FEET of each other
The Air China and SF Airlines pilots both appeared to blame the Russian air traffic control officer for "making a fuss" after they nearly collided in mid-air Terrified pilots were heard in a state of panic when they almost collided with each other over Russian skies. The Chinese cargo jet was flying over Tuva, a mountainous region near Mongolia, in the early hours of July 7 when the pilot of an Air China plane performed an "unexpected manoeuvre" and came within 300ft of the Boeing 767. The Air China Flight - which was bound for Milan - and the SF Airlines cargo plane bound for China should have been at least 1,000ft apart. As the cargo jet coasted at 35,000ft, the Air China pilot mysteriously started increasing altitude, taking the plane from 34,100 to 36,000ft, putting it on a near-collision with the Chinese cargo aircraft. Audio recordings have emerged on social media in China, which captures the frenzied moment the pilots tried to communicate with air traffic control. The close call saw both planes trigger their Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems. The Air China pilot is heard asking control why this had happened. The controller asked: "Are you climbing with instruction or without instruction? Confirm, please." The pilot replied: "No. Thank you." It's currently unknown why the pilot performed the irregular manoeuvre, with him mishearing instructions being one theory offered. He may have picked up instructions given to two other aircrafts, an Air China and Hainan Airlines plane, which were told to maintain altitude. The terrifying moment can be seen in flight tracking data, which shows the two jets on a direct collision course. They were both ordered to veer off in opposing directions, which managed to help avert another mid-air disaster. A separate recording has also emerged of the two Chinese pilots communicating in Mandarin after switching to a different channel. At one point the cargo pilot is heard saying: "I saw your plane climbing. Did [air traffic control] instruct you to? I saw that there was a plane ahead and it was only 20 nautical miles [37km] away and still climbing. Such a crossing altitude is very inappropriate. I guess you also heard me saying 'request traffic information'." It comes after another aviation disaster struck in the UK on Sunday. Four people were killed when a plane crashed into the tarmac before exploding into a "fireball" at Southend Airport. Witnesses reported seeing a huge plume of smoke billowing into the sky after the medical transportation aircraft crashed at 4pm yesterday. The plane had arrived in the UK in the morning and was due to fly on to the Netherlands, where its operator, Zeusch Aviation, is said to be based. One of the victims has been identified as Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, a 31-year-old Chilean nurse who was on her first day working on a private medical jet.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jeddah airport launches first Hainan Airlines flights
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has welcomed the inaugural flight of China's Hainan Airlines, marking the launch of the first direct route between Jeddah and the Chinese city of Haikou. The new service will operate three times per week, positioning the airport as the first in the Kingdom to offer direct connectivity to Haikou, reported SPA. The launch of this route boosts air traffic between Saudi Arabia and China, reinforcing King Abdulaziz International Airport's growing role as a global logistics hub and expanding the Kingdom's direct air links with China. The inaugural flight was received by Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar; Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Jeddah Wang Qimin; and several officials from the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, and various government and security sectors operating at the airport. Hainan Airlines, ranked among the world's top ten airlines by Skytrax, brings a new level of service to the airport. Its entry is expected to enhance the quality of air travel services and contribute to providing a superior travel experience. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin commented: 'We are proud of our strategic partnership with Hainan Airlines and look forward to expanding this collaboration through targeted initiatives and promotional campaigns led by the Saudi Tourism Authority.' He noted that the number of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom grew by 52 per cent compared to last year, and that air connectivity between the two countries now includes six airlines operating 29 weekly flights. The Kingdom aims to attract five million Chinese tourists annually by 2030. Johar stated: 'This significant milestone aligns with our strategy to increase the number of international destinations served by King Abdulaziz International Airport to 150 by 2030, in line with the National Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030.' He added that integrating Hainan Airlines into the airport's network strengthens Saudi–China air connectivity and supports infrastructure and service expansion efforts to meet growing global travel demand. The CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan described the occasion as an important step toward enhancing the Kingdom's global connectivity. 'Welcoming Hainan Airlines in Jeddah reflects growing demand for travel between Saudi Arabia and China and helps foster tourism, cultural exchange, and economic ties,' he said. He emphasised the role of Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, who also oversees the Air Connectivity Program, in positioning Saudi Arabia as an approved and attractive destination for Chinese tourists. The Chinese market is targeted to become the Kingdom's third-largest source of inbound tourism by 2030. This development is part of the ongoing efforts by the General Authority of Civil Aviation to strengthen international air connectivity and expand the Kingdom's air transport network. It also supports Vision 2030's broader objective to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global logistics platform and open new horizons for travel and trade. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Asharq Al-Awsat
29-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Int'l Airport Launches First Hainan Airlines Flights
Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah welcomed on Saturday the inaugural flight of China's Hainan Airlines, marking the launch of the first direct route between Jeddah and the Chinese city of Haikou. The new service will operate three times per week, positioning the airport as the first in the Kingdom to offer direct connectivity to Haikou. The launch of this route boosts air traffic between Saudi Arabia and China, reinforcing King Abdulaziz International Airport's growing role as a global logistics hub and expanding the Kingdom's direct air links with China. The inaugural flight was received by Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar; Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Jeddah Wang Qimin; and several officials from the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, and various government and security sectors operating at the airport. Hainan Airlines, ranked among the world's top ten airlines by Skytrax, brings a new level of service to the airport. Its entry is expected to boost the quality of air travel services and contribute to providing a superior travel experience. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin commented: 'We are proud of our strategic partnership with Hainan Airlines and look forward to expanding this collaboration through targeted initiatives and promotional campaigns led by the Saudi Tourism Authority.' The number of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom grew by 52 percent compared to last year, and that air connectivity between the two countries now includes six airlines operating 29 weekly flights. The Kingdom aims to attract five million Chinese tourists annually by 2030, he added. Johar stated: 'This significant milestone aligns with our strategy to increase the number of international destinations served by King Abdulaziz International Airport to 150 by 2030, in line with the National Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030.' Integrating Hainan Airlines into the airport's network strengthens Saudi–China air connectivity and supports infrastructure and service expansion efforts to meet growing global travel demand, he remarked. CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan described the occasion as an important step toward boosting the Kingdom's global connectivity. 'Welcoming Hainan Airlines in Jeddah reflects growing demand for travel between Saudi Arabia and China and helps foster tourism, cultural exchange, and economic ties,' he said. He underlined the role of Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, who also oversees the Air Connectivity Program, in positioning Saudi Arabia as an approved and attractive destination for Chinese tourists. The Chinese market is targeted to become the Kingdom's third-largest source of inbound tourism by 2030. The development is part of the ongoing efforts by the General Authority of Civil Aviation to strengthen international air connectivity and expand the Kingdom's air transport network. It also supports Vision 2030's broader objective to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global logistics platform and open new horizons for travel and trade.
