Bradley Perrett covered China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. He is a Mandarin-speaking Australian.
Before joining Aviation Week in 2006 he was a macroeconomics, politics and aerospace journalist with Reuters. Perrett holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Macquarie University, Sydney. He left Aviation Week in 2020.
Private Vietnamese airline Air Mekong plans to begin flying on Oct. 10 with four Bombardier CRJ900s supplied by U.S. carrier SkyWest. Air Mekong will connect Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Nha Tran and Da Nang. It has applied to the government to add Con Dao, Buon Me Thuot, Hai Phong and Vinh to destinations it serves from Ho Chi Minh City. The carrier will be based at Phu Quoc. Utah-based SkyWest has invested $7 million to acquire a 30% stake in Air Mekong.
Singapore will impose the death penalty or life imprisonment on hostage takers acting against governments of international organizations. The city/state’s new anti-terrorism law also strengthens the hand of authorities trying to stop ransoms being paid, giving them the power to freeze bank accounts. Murder, including killing a hostage, is already punishable by death in Singapore.
China Southern reported 33.9 billion yuan ($5 billion) in revenue for the first half of the year, up 40% from 24.3 billion yuan in the same period last year, helping the company record a net profit of 2.07 billion yuan ($304.7 million) for the first six months of 2010. The airline received a significant boost from a 1.08 billion yuan ($159 million) gain from the sale of its 50% stake in engine overhaul shop MTU Maintenance Zhuhai to parent company China Southern Air Holding Co. Last year, the airline had a tiny first-half profit of just 25 million yuan.
