CAPA · 01:15
Although China does not exactly invite external participation in its own airport development programmes, and finances them publicly at a regional and national level, it is very keen to be involved in other countries' projects around the world, where - and this is the key point - that wins it kudos and the 'soft power' that paints it as a benefactor. That way it can assert economic influence in other fields, and particularly the mining of resources, including critical rare earth elements that are essential for its ever growing industrial expansion. Africa is full of those elements, which is why it is one of the most popular regions for Chinese bank loans (not investments - Africa is still considered too risky for those, by many countries) to build airports, or expand existing ones. A case in point is the new Bishoftu Airport in Ethiopia, which is already established as the most advanced aviation community on the entire continent, and where Bank of China is in negotiations to provide ext
CAPA · 01:30
Asia Pacific airlines are pulling every lever within reach in their efforts to counter the unpredictable swings in fuel prices that are continuing to complicate their planning. Short-term measures include trimming flights, redeploying capacity and hiking ticket prices and fuel surcharges. But the speed at which fuel prices are changing mean that these moves are generally not sufficient to offset the cost increases. Whether more drastic and longer-term structural measures will be needed depends on how long it takes to resolve the Middle East conflict, and the prospects for this are shifting constantly. So far, the cost increase has been the major problem Asia Pacific airlines are addressing. But they are well aware that fuel supply constraints remain a threat that draws closer the longer the crisis lasts. The Asia Pacific region's capacity is being pulled down by flight suspensions on routes to the Middle East, the temporary dip in service from Gulf carriers, and broader cost-related ca