Latest news with #CivilAviationAdministrationofChina
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar, China sign MoU to increase air transport rights
The civil aviation authorities of both the State of Qatar and the People's Republic of China held a meeting in Beijing, on Thursday. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation in operational matters for the national carriers of both countries, and to develop capabilities in this field with the aim of ensuring the continuity of air traffic efficiently, in addition to a host topics of mutual interest. The Qatari delegation was headed by آ In Charge of Managing Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), Mohammed bin Faleh Al Hajri, while the Chinese side was headed by Director General of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Chen Wei. The discussions resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at increasing transport rights for passenger and cargo flights between Qatar and China, and cooperation in the field of code-sharing between designated carriers, which opens new horizons for cooperation between them in the field of air transport, in addition to the positive outcomes that will be reflected in economic and investment activities and trade exchange in both countries.
The Star
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Uncertified power banks banned on flights: Chinese aviation regulator
A sign reminds passengers that their power banks must have a 3C certification mark to be allowed on planes at an airport in Beijing on July 1, 2025. - Photo: Tao Ran for China Daily BEIJING: China's aviation regulator has banned uncertified power banks on domestic flights, citing urgent safety concerns over fires and other hazards linked to lithium batteries, State media reported on Wednesday (July 2). The Civil Aviation Administration of China told People's Daily that quality issues with lithium batteries in power banks have threatened aviation safety, prompting the move. The ban, which took effect on Saturday (June 28), applies to power banks without valid China Compulsory Certification — known as 3C — those with unclear 3C labels or those subject to product recalls. The 3C certification is a mandatory safety and quality standard for products sold in China. For power banks, it ensures they do not pose risks of fire, electric shock or other hazards. The country began 3C certification for power banks on Aug 1, 2023, and sales of products without the certification have been prohibited since Aug 1 last year. The administration said the measure follows a surge in incidents globally involving fires and smoke from lithium batteries on aircraft, including 15 cases in China's aviation sector this year. In one incident on Jan 28, a fire broke out on an Air Busan flight due to a passenger's power bank, damaging the aircraft. Lithium batteries are prone to risks under external factors such as high temperatures, pressure and collisions, which can lead to internal short circuits and excessive heat. This can trigger thermal runaway in the battery, resulting in fires or explosions that are difficult to extinguish, the regulator said. A recent report from China's market regulation authority found that out of 149 batches of power banks inspected, 65 were substandard, the administration noted. A staff member at Beijing Capital International Airport told China Daily that passengers carrying power banks must now show 3C marks at security checks, and devices under recall will not be allowed through. Power banks under 100 watt-hours can be carried onboard, while those between 100 and 160 watt-hours require airline approval. Devices exceeding 160 watt-hours are prohibited. Noncompliant power banks found during checks will be handled according to passengers' preferences, the administration said. Airports will provide areas for passengers to abandon or temporarily store their devices, along with mailing services for those who wish to send them home. Power banks abandoned or left beyond storage deadlines will be destroyed or recycled after consultation with battery recovery companies, the administration said. Records will be maintained throughout storage, transfer and recycling to ensure traceability and prevent unauthorised devices from reentering the market. - China Daily/ANN
Filipino Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
China bans uncertified power banks on domestic flights over fire safety concerns
China has enforced a nationwide ban on uncertified and recalled power banks on all domestic flights in an effort to curb safety risks linked to lithium battery fires. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced that only power banks with an official China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark will be allowed onboard. Devices with unclear, faded, or missing certification labels, as well as those listed in product recall notices are prohibited. According to the CAAC, the stricter regulation is part of a broader push to enhance flight safety and prevent mid-air hazards, following a string of fire-related incidents involving lithium battery-powered devices on flights in recent months. Major Chinese electronics manufacturers such as Anker and Romoss have recalled over 1.2 million portable chargers due to battery issues. Other brands, including Baseus and Ugreen, have had their CCC certifications suspended or revoked due to safety concerns. Airport authorities have also been urged to install clear signage and make public announcements about the new policy. Some airports have increased access to public charging stations to reduce passengers' reliance on personal power banks. 730 million people flew domestically in China in 2024, according to the CAAC.
Business Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
China considers ordering hundreds of Airbus jets in major deal
[HONG KONG] China is considering placing an order for hundreds of Airbus aircraft as soon as next month, when European leaders visit Beijing to celebrate the countries' long-term ties, according to sources familiar with the matter. Deliberations are underway with Chinese airlines about the size of a potential order, said the sources, who asked not to be named discussing confidential matters. A deal could involve about 300 planes and include both narrowbody and widebody models, they said, with one source saying the order could range between 200 and as many as 500 aircraft. Negotiations are fluid and could fall apart or take longer to reach a conclusion, the sources said. Airbus declined to comment. Representatives for the Civil Aviation Administration of China did not respond to a faxed request for comment. French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany are among the leaders that may visit Beijing in July to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Their countries are the two biggest owners of Airbus, and a high-profile deal with the planemaker would allow Chinese President Xi Jinping to send a message to US President Donald Trump over trade. China and the US – the world's two biggest economies – are at loggerheads over trade rules that Trump is determined to reset during his second presidential term. Should the two sides resolve their differences, Airbus rival Boeing could potentially win big – the US planemaker is America's biggest exporter and a jet sale was featured in a US-UK trade deal in May. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up To date, however, Boeing has been penalised in China. In April, authorities in Beijing told airlines to stop taking deliveries of Boeing jets. Trade tensions and the crises that befell the 737 Max jet date back years, and have given Airbus an upper hand in what was once a carefully balanced market between the two dominant plane makers. Widebodies would be a significant portion of a new Airbus order, the sources said, with one source saying the A330neo, the planemaker's smallest twin-aisle model, could win some sales. The number of twin-aisle jets in backlog for China's state-run and privately operated carriers has dwindled, as Boeing has traditionally sold more in the market. Should the order run to 500 planes it would rank as one of the biggest ever and certainly the largest for China, eclipsing an order for about 300 single-aisle Airbus jets made in 2022 that was then worth around US$37 billion. Air India inked an order for 470 Airbus and Boeing planes back in 2023 and another Indian airline, IndiGo, placed a record-breaking order with Airbus in mid-2023 for 500 narrowbody aircraft. Boeing has not won a major order from China since at least 2017 due to trade tensions and self-inflicted issues. In 2019, China became the first nation to ground the 737 Max following two deadly crashes. Trade disputes with the Biden and first Trump administrations also helped tilt Chinese orders towards Airbus. Then in 2024, Boeing suffered a quality crisis when a door plug blew out mid-flight in January. Any deal would likely be carried out through China's state-run aircraft procurement body, which typically negotiates on behalf of the country's airlines. BLOOMBERG
CNBC
18-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Pilotless planes are taking flight in China. Bank of America says it's time to buy
While startups around the world have tried to build vehicles that can fly without a pilot, only one is certified to carry people — in China. U.S.-listed Ehang received this certification from China's aviation regulator in late March, and the company plans to begin operating flights for tourists along a few designated routes by the end of June . The vehicle, known as an eVTOL aircraft, carries two passengers and uses electric power for vertical take-off and landing, similar to a helicopter. "Ehang should maintain 100% market share in China over 2025-27, as the strict [the Civil Aviation Administration of China] airworthiness process poses a high entry barrier to new entrants," Bank of America Greater China industrials stock analysts said in a May 14 report. They initiated coverage of the stock with a "buy" rating, and predict the stock can reach $26 — 36% above Friday's close. The stock is up more than 20% for the year so far. The analysts expect Ehang to benefit from national policy support and faster-than-expected delivery to tourism customers. Ehang also ranked first among global players as the most likely to reach the thousand-unit-a-year milestone through widespread certification and adoption, according to a recent report from U.S.-based SMG Consulting. U.S.-based rival Joby Aviation , whose shares have dropped 9% year to date, ranked fourth. Fifth in the rankings was Archer Aviation . Its shares are up 36% for the year. The company on Thursday announced it will be the official air taxi provider for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 . Bank of America does not currently cover either stock. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has been working on certification rules for allowing the companies to fly their vehicles with passengers in the U.S., although initial focus is on piloted flights. In contrast, China has accelerated its efforts in the last two years to develop what it calls the "low-altitude economy." About 300 local Chinese governments have announced related plans as of April 2025, which include investment in infrastructure for eVTOL operation and business subsidies, the Bank of America analysts said in a separate May 14 report about the overall industry. Ehang's certified model, the 216-S, sells for about 2.39 million yuan ($330,000) in China, and $410,000 outside China, the report said. It noted that the larger, 4-seat Joby S4 sells for $1.3 million. "We conclude that the central gov't sees the development of low-altitude economy as the crucial strategic industry to China's economy in the coming few years," the analysts said. The policy also covers support for using drones to deliver food and supplies to tourist sites in the mountains. Such tests gained popularity over the May 1 Labor Day holiday in China. Several Chinese companies from Xpeng to Volant are also working on flying devices that carry people. Short-haul aerial vehicles can also help with firefighting and emergency services. For Ehang, the Bank of America analysts predict each tourist attraction will want to buy five to 10 eVTOLs, supporting a total potential China market of 80,000 units. In the near term, they estimate Ehang's delivery volume will reach 442 units this year, and 813 next year. "This will translate into 103%/82% revenue growth in 2025/26E," the report said. Another, more distant, area of potential growth is the urban air taxi market. While the analysts expect tourism to be the main driver of demand in the near term, they expect air taxis to grow their share starting from the year 2035. Based on the current taxi and ride-hailing car market, Bank of America estimates total demand for eVTOL air taxis could reach 200,000 units in the future. "If the annual revenue per air taxi could reach RMB1.5mn by 2035, the air taxi operation will be profitable and … should bring incremental revenue and earnings to Ehang in the long term," the analysts said. But the Bank of America analysts cautioned that any accident or passenger injuries could result in reputational damage for Ehang, on top of potential legal claims. Significant incidents could also slow the pace of eVTOL adoption, the analysts pointed out. — CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
