Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) reported (20-Jun-2018) visitor arrivals to Japan for May-2018. Details include:

• Total foreign visitors: 2.7 million, +16.6% year-on-year;
  • South Korea: 640,400, +14.6%;
  • China: 668,600, +29.3%;
  • Taiwan: 440,100, +8.0%;
  • Hong Kong: 190,500, +4.9%;
  • US: 140,500, +12.7%;
  • Thailand: 103,600, +16.6%;
  • Philippines: 59,000, +34.1%;
  • Australia: 39,600, +23.6%;
  • Singapore: 39,400, +14.8%;
  • Australia: 39,600, +23.6%;
  • Malaysia: 36,400, +1.1%;
  • Indonesia: 31,500, +26.5%;
  • United Kingdom: 30,300, +17.2%;
  • France: 29,600, +18.6%;
  • Vietnam: 28,200, +27.5%;
  • Germany: 20,400, +17.4%;
  • India: 17,300, +11.0%;
• Japanese departures: 1.4 million, +5.0%. [more - original PR - Japanese]

Qantas Group released (22-Jun-2018) a shortlist of the nine regional cities in the running to be home to the new Qantas Group Pilot Academy. The academy, due to open in 2019, is part of the Qantas Group's plans to build a long term talent pipeline for its airlines and meet the increasing need for skilled aviation professionals. More than 60 regional cities put forward a proposal and nine regional cities across Australia, strongly supported by state and territory governments, have now been selected to move to the next phase of the process:

• Alice Springs, Northern Territory;
• Bendigo, Victoria;
• Busselton, Western Australia;
• Dubbo, New South Wales;
• Launceston, Tasmania;
• Mackay, Queensland;
• Tamworth, New South Wales;
• Toowoomba, Queensland;
• Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

The academy management team will visit these cities and meet with community leaders, suppliers and airport operators to further evaluate the feasibility of each location. A final decision on the location is expected to be made in 3Q2018. Qantas Group is in separate discussions with several training providers, and will be releasing a formal tender process "in coming weeks". [more - original PR]

Tourism Australia reported (21-Jun-2018) visitor arrivals to Australia for Apr-2018. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 679,700, -2.9% year-on-year;
• • New Zealand: 111,400, -3.3%;
  • China: 109,100, +7.1%;
  • US: 57,400, -12.0%;
  • UK: 52,600, -8.2%;
  • Singapore: 28,300, -17.5%. [more - original PR]

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Singapore Airlines fleet strategy: 737 transfers from SilkAir to Scoot', stated (21-Jun-2018) Boeing 737-800 aircraft are not ideal for Scoot, but offers the best solution for the Singapore Airlines Group (SIA Group). According to the report:

• Transferring 737-800s to Scoot is hardly ideal as operating two narrowbody aircraft types will add costs and complexity. It is very unusual for an LCC to operate both 737s and A320s, particularly an LCC that also operates long haul and has a total fleet of less than 50 aircraft.
• Adding A320ceos or accelerating A320neo deliveries would be a more attractive option, specifically from Scoot's perspective. However, this would not have resolved the wider group challenges with the 737 fleet and order book. Retrofits are also costly, and should always be avoided when possible.
• The SIA Group could have potentially allocated new 737 MAX 8s to Scoot to save on retrofit costs. However, SilkAir is better off focusing on the MAX from a product and range perspective.
• Ultimately, it is clear that Scoot needs additional capacity in order to take over more SilkAir routes, and the transfer of 737-800s was the best solution for the SIA Group. [more - CAPA Analysis]
  

PNG Air announced (20-Jun-2018) the appointment of William Lamur as a director and chairman of the board, effective 19-Jun-2018. Prior to this appointment, Mr Lamur was the Group MD and CEO of ENB Development Corporation Group of Companies, a post he held since 2013.

Thai Airways reported (21-Jun-2018) the following traffic highlights for May-2018:

• Passengers: 1.6 million, -1.4% year-on-year;
• Passenger traffic (RPKs): -1.0%;
  • Domestic: -5.6%;
  • Regional: -1.8%;
  • Australia: +1.7%;
  • Europe: -0.4%;
• Passenger load factor: 72.0%, -3.6ppts;
  • Domestic: 67.9%, +1.8ppts;
  • Regional: 73.4%, -2.7ppts;
  • Australia: 74.0%, -1.5ppts;
  • Europe: 69.6%, -6.7ppts;
• Cargo: 58,739 tons, +12.6%;
• Cargo load factor: 61.9%, +2.4ppts. [more - original PR]