Global News on Nostr: Air Canada's new Hong Kong jet maintenance deal amid China discord raises security ...
Air Canada's new Hong Kong jet maintenance deal amid China discord raises security concerns
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Air Canada has awarded a major contract to Hong Kong company HAECO to perform heavy maintenance on 56 of its wide-body jets. The deal, signed in September 2023, has raised security concerns due to the political and military tensions between Canada and China. Critics worry about the potential for Chinese spies to bug the planes and the risk of the aircraft becoming trapped in China in the event of a military conflict with Taiwan. The value of the deal is unknown. Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick stated that HAECO was selected for its track record of safety and reliability, and because it is certified by Transport Canada, EASA, and FAA regulatory authorities. However, concerns remain about Chinese intelligence agents potentially conducting eavesdropping operations on the planes. The decision to outsource maintenance to China is at odds with the Canadian government's policy of decoupling trade with China and engaging in friend-shoring with democratic partners. Canadian aerospace workers have expressed disappointment with the decision, arguing that the maintenance jobs should be kept in Canada. HAECO is an affiliate of Swire Pacific, which owns a stake in Cathay Pacific and has business interests across mainland China.
#AirCanada #Haeco #China #HongKong #JetMaintenance #SecurityConcerns
https://globalnews.ca/news/10384348/air-canada-hong-kong-aircraft-maintenance-deal-boeing-787-airbus-a330-china-discord/
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Air Canada has awarded a major contract to Hong Kong company HAECO to perform heavy maintenance on 56 of its wide-body jets. The deal, signed in September 2023, has raised security concerns due to the political and military tensions between Canada and China. Critics worry about the potential for Chinese spies to bug the planes and the risk of the aircraft becoming trapped in China in the event of a military conflict with Taiwan. The value of the deal is unknown. Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick stated that HAECO was selected for its track record of safety and reliability, and because it is certified by Transport Canada, EASA, and FAA regulatory authorities. However, concerns remain about Chinese intelligence agents potentially conducting eavesdropping operations on the planes. The decision to outsource maintenance to China is at odds with the Canadian government's policy of decoupling trade with China and engaging in friend-shoring with democratic partners. Canadian aerospace workers have expressed disappointment with the decision, arguing that the maintenance jobs should be kept in Canada. HAECO is an affiliate of Swire Pacific, which owns a stake in Cathay Pacific and has business interests across mainland China.
#AirCanada #Haeco #China #HongKong #JetMaintenance #SecurityConcerns
https://globalnews.ca/news/10384348/air-canada-hong-kong-aircraft-maintenance-deal-boeing-787-airbus-a330-china-discord/