Terminal WA gets nod
Westralia Airports Corporation, which operates Perth Airport, has received approval for a Major Development Plan, clearing the way for work to start on its new intrastate terminal, Terminal WA.
The $136 million terminal, which will be located adjacent to the current international terminal, will cater for charter and regional flights operating within Western Australia, particularly the [...]
Air NZ best at managing reputation
Company CEOs and members of the media in New Zealand have voted the national airline as the best at managing its reputation according to a survey by Senate Communications.
“Air New Zealand is top of mind as a company that deals well with situations that threaten its reputation. Survey participants said Air New Zealand’s public handling [...]
Virgin launches Sydney-Ayers Rock
Virgin Blue has announced that it will operate services from Sydney to Ayers Rock from August 2.
The daily flights will be operated with a 104-seat Embraer E-190, with launch fares starting from $149 one way. Regular fares will start from $199.
“The timing is right for us to launch a new route as we take delivery [...]
Fokker 100 to be reborn?
Long held plans to put the Fokker 100 back into production have gained a boost, with the Dutch government providing a loan to fund the development of a prototype new generation version of the aircraft.
NG Aircraft, which is a successor to the Rekoff company which has been planning to restart production of the Fokker 100, [...]
Jetstar makes changes after go-around mishap
Jetstar says that a serious incident at Melbourne Airport in 2007 which was initially not reported to the ATSB has seen it change its procedures for handling go-arounds and training of its A320 crews.
The ATSB released its final report on the incident on March 5, which occurred on July 21 2007 at Melbourne Airport. While [...]
New Canberra Airport terminal 2nd stage approved
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has approved a Major Development Plan for the western concourse extension at Canberra Airport.
The western concourse extenstion is the second of the two-phase $350 million new multi-level passenger terminal project. The existing terminal will be demolished in stages to make room for the new facility, with the project being [...]
First LAN flight after earthquake to arrive on March 6
LAN Airlines has announced that it will operate its first service on the Santiago-Auckland-Sydney route since a major earthquake struck the country on February 28, with the inbound service arriving on March 6.
The airline had temporarily suspended operations on the route due to damage to the international terminal at Santiago Airport, and has now erected [...]
ATR 42-600 commences flight testing
The first ATR 42-600 made its first flight at Toulouse on March 4, kicking off a 75 hour flight test campaign ahead of the type’s expected entry into service in 2011.
The two hour maiden flight saw the aircraft undergo tests of the engines, avionics, hydraulics and electrical systems, as well as blade balancing.
The flight of [...]
Somon Air orders 737s
Tajikistan based carrier Somon Air has ordered two Boeing 737-900ERs, valued at US$163m (A$181m) at list prices.
Somon is Tajikistan’s first private full service airline and operates two 737-800s from Dushanbe to cities in Russia, Germany, Turkey and the UAE.
Qantas Group makes changes to Mackay, Rockhampton services
QantasLink has announced that it will add additional frequencies on its services from Brisbane to Mackay and Rockhampton, while Jetstar will also make changes to its services on the same routes, including withdrawing from Rockhampton.
From April 6, QantasLink will operate an additional eight services per week between Mackay and Brisbane, taking the total number of [...]
Vic opposition blasts government on airports
The Victorian opposition coalition has attacked the Brumby government for failing to ensure the viability of a number of regional airports around the state.
Citing the Engineers Australia 2010 Infrstructure Report Card for Victoria, Shadow Aviation Industry Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips said that the Labor government had not supported the network of more than 80 public use [...]
