Latest news with #JasonLiHanming
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
How China's aerospace rise is reshaping global skies
Date and time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 10.30-11.30am HKT Add to calendar: iOS | Android | Outlook The webinar will be live-streamed on this page on June 26, 2025, at 10.30am HKT. Bookmark this page or add it to your calendar to stay informed. You may also submit your questions to the panel and get them answered during the webinar. China's aerospace ambitions are taking flight, with the homegrown C919 narrow-body jet expanding commercial operations and plans for the wide-body C929 aircraft under way. This ascent, spearheaded by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), seeds a potential shift in a global aviation market long dominated by Boeing and Airbus. The implications speak to China's overall industrial development strategies, its quest for technological self-sufficiency and international trade dynamics. However, this rapid ascent also brings to the forefront complex challenges about China's ability to rival established players. How can Comac scale aircraft production when global supply chains are in flux, for example? How does it plan to attain Western certification and navigate fast-changing geopolitical currents? To address these critical issues, SCMP will host a webinar with external guest speaker Jason Li Hanming, a US-based aviation analyst, and SCMP reporters Frank Chen and Ralph Jennings. Submit your questions today and get them answered during the webinar. They will explore key areas including:
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Business Standard
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Once flying high, grounded Chinese pilots now deliver food to survive
A regional airline based in western China has suspended all flights amid deepening financial troubles, pushing some of its pilots to take up food delivery and ride-hailing jobs to survive, reported the South China Morning Post. Joy Air, headquartered in Xi'an and backed by the Shaanxi provincial government, abruptly halted all services, including during the busy Labour Day travel period. The airline's website shows no available flights or ticketing options, signaling a full operational shutdown. The Xi'an-based carrier operates a fleet of Chinese-built MA60 turboprop aircraft and mainly serves second- and third-tier cities across western and central China. But growing competition and a shrinking route network have pushed the company to the brink. High-speed rail takes off, flights stall A key factor behind Joy Air's collapse is a lack of profitable routes, according to Jason Li Hanming, a US-based aviation analyst. 'The internal routes within Shaanxi are gradually being replaced by the expanding high-speed railway network, which offers a cheaper, more affordable option,' Li was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post. 'That is constantly impeding Joy Air from building a healthy cash flow and eventually impacts the company negatively,' Li added. Industry observers have long warned that regional carriers in China face a tough environment due to low passenger volumes and higher costs. A February report by the Zhiyanzhan Institute also noted that remote regional airports come with steep infrastructure and maintenance expenses, further eroding airline profitability. 'Policy airline' with no commercial viability Jason Li further stressed that Joy Air's problems run deeper than market forces. Founded in 2008 as a 'policy-driven airline", its primary role was to promote the MA60 aircraft, rather than to function as a commercially viable carrier. 'Joy Air was never meant to be a fully competitive airline,' Li said. 'It has been restricted from operating more common aircraft, and the MA60 – which seats around 60 passengers – doesn't fit most route economics.' He added that the MA60 is primarily designed for export to developing nations and described Joy Air as essentially a 'show home' for the aircraft, with most of its financial resources drained by maintenance and operational costs. Passengers furious over cancelled flights Meanwhile, the airline's sudden shutdown has left passengers stranded and furious. Zoey Li, a 30-year-old finance professional from Changsha, Hunan, said she was shocked to receive a cancellation notice just two days before her family trip. 'There's only one direct flight between Changsha and Beihai,' she said. 'We had no alternatives. I never expected this to happen during the May Day holiday peak.' Li had planned the vacation for a month with her elderly parents, only to be forced into a last-minute scramble that doubled her travel costs. She's filed multiple complaints but hasn't received any response or refund. 'What was supposed to be a convenient journey has become mentally and physically exhausting, especially for my parents,' she said. Pilots turn to gig work Joy Air's troubles have been brewing for years. In November, reports from Chinese media revealed that employees, including pilots, ground crew, and flight attendants, had gone unpaid for extended periods and were taking on gig work to make ends meet. Some pilots now deliver food, drive for Didi Chuxing, or even sell goods on the street. According to another report, Joy Air has faced more than 50 labour disputes, with lawsuits over unpaid wages leading to compensation exceeding 300,000 yuan ($41,260).
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China Joy Air's joyless pilots forced into gig economy amid high debt, labour disputes
A regional airline in western China, entangled in multiple labour disputes and a debt crisis, has suspended all flights – with some pilots forced to make a living by delivering food. Advertisement All trips by Joy Air , including for the Labour Day holiday, have been cancelled, with no ticket sales information available for flights, the Xi'an-based airline website showed. Backed by the Shaanxi provincial government, Joy Air operates a fleet of Chinese-made turboprop-powered MA60 aircraft along domestic routes that connect second- and third-tier cities – particularly in western and central China – and regional hubs like Xi'an. The main issue behind the suspension is a lack of profitable routes, said Jason Li Hanming, a United States-based analyst. 'The internal routes within Shaanxi are gradually being replaced by the extending high speed railway network for a cheaper, more affordable price,' Li said. 'That is constantly impeding Joy Air from building a healthy cash flow and eventually impacts the company negatively.' Advertisement
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trade war: China calls Boeing ‘victim' of Trump tariff policy as jets return to US
China's Ministry of Commerce said both the country's domestic airlines and American aerospace firm Boeing were victims of US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes, a move analysts said was tacit confirmation Beijing does not blame the company for the White House's actions. Advertisement 'China is willing to continue supporting normal commercial cooperation between companies in both countries,' said an unnamed spokesperson in an online statement on Tuesday, adding the ministry 'hopes the US will listen to the voices of businesses to create a stable and predictable environment for normal trade and investment activities'. The statement came after Boeing confirmed some Chinese clients had stopped receiving deliveries of new jets. Beijing's comments on the Boeing situation can be taken as 'welcome assurance' for the company, analysts said, as Chinese airlines also have an interest in protecting normal business ties from the effects of the trade war 'Boeing has definitely made a serious statement that they can deliver aircraft [rejected by Chinese buyers] to other clients. But it is obvious that Boeing will suffer,' said Jason Li Hanming, a US-based aviation analyst. Advertisement Two Boeing jets allocated to China's Xiamen Airlines have been returned to the US, Reuters reported, citing flight data. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed last week that Chinese airlines have stopped receiving deliveries. According to Ortberg, Chinese airlines had planned to purchase 50 aircraft from Boeing in 2025. During the company's latest earnings call, he said the situation in China 'will take away some of the headroom we've built with our strong first-quarter deliveries'.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China calls Boeing ‘victim' of White House tariff policy as jets return to US
China's Ministry of Commerce said both the country's domestic airlines and American aerospace firm Boeing were victims of US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes, a move analysts said was tacit confirmation Beijing does not blame the company for the White House's actions. Advertisement 'China is willing to continue supporting normal commercial cooperation between companies in both countries,' said an unnamed spokesperson in an online statement on Tuesday, adding the ministry 'hopes the US will listen to the voices of businesses to create a stable and predictable environment for normal trade and investment activities.' The statement came after Boeing confirmed some Chinese clients had stopped receiving deliveries of new jets. Beijing's comments on the Boeing situation can be taken as 'welcome assurance' for the company, analysts said, as Chinese airlines also have an interest in protecting normal business ties from the effects of the trade war 'Boeing has definitely made a serious statement that they can deliver aircraft [rejected by Chinese buyers] to other clients. But it is obvious that Boeing will suffer,' said Jason Li Hanming, a US-based aviation analyst. Advertisement Two Boeing jets allocated to China's Xiamen Airlines have been returned to the US, Reuters reported, citing flight data. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed last week that Chinese airlines have stopped receiving deliveries. According to Ortberg, Chinese airlines had planned to purchase 50 aircraft from Boeing in 2025. During the company's latest earnings call, he said the situation in China 'will take away some of the headroom we've built with our strong first-quarter deliveries'.
