Preflight

“For the financial year-to-date ending 31 December 2014, this equates to an underlying profit before tax of $10. 3 million,” Virginsaid in a statement.

It reported a pre-tax loss of $49. 7 million in the first half of 2013/14.

“We are seeing some improvement in domestic trading conditions compared to the first quarter,” Virgin chief financial officer Sankar Narayan said in the statement.

“However, consumer sentiment has been relatively weak and international yield recovery has been constrained by continued pressure in the South East Asian and Europe/ United Kingdom markets. ” Virgin said yields – an industry term measuring average airfares per passenger – for both the Australian market and across the airlinegroup rose in the second quarter of 2014/15.

There was also a $7 million reduction in fuel costs compared with the prior corresponding period due to weaker oil prices, which Virgin described as a “small benefit”.

Virgin said net profit after tax was $11. 3 million for the three months to December 31 2014. It did not provide a comparable figure for the prior year.

However, an analysis of its results from the first half of 2013/14 and the first quarter of 2014/15 indicates the airline was likely to report a

We are seeing some improvement in domestic trading conditions. sankar narayan

statutory net loss in the vicinity of $47 million for the six months to December 31 2014.

This compared with a statutory net loss of $83. 7 million in the 2013/14 first half.

“This result represents a continued turnaround on the prior corresponding period and the seasonally weaker first quarter,” Narayan said.

“We are delivering on our plan to maintain our cost advantage through the disciplined execution of our cost reduction program, while continuing to drive revenue growth from the corporate, government and charter market segments. ” Virgin has moved to quarterly reporting of its financial results,in line with one of its major shareholders Singapore Airlines.

Meanwhile, Virgin said it has completed the its takeover of Tigerair Australia and now owned 100 per cent of the low-cost carrier.

Virgin said Tigerair Australia posted an underlying profit before tax of $0. 5 million in the second quarter, an improvement from the $15. 5 million underlying loss in the prior corresponding period.

“This result was driven by both improved unit revenues and greater cost efficiencies and represents the first quarterly profit for the airline since December 2010,” Virgin said.

Narayan said completing the purchase of the remaining 40 percent of Tigerair Australia that it did not own from Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings was an “important step in its pathway to sustainable profitability”.

“We remain focused on maintaining Tigerair Australia’s lowcost business model and a separate brand, whilst ensuring there is a viable low-cost alternative in the market for consumers,” Narayan said.

In other Virgin news, Etihad Airways lifted its stake in Virgin Australia to 24. 2 per cent after buying a fresh parcel of shares in the airline for the second time in two months in January.

The Abu Dhabi-headquartered carrier forked out $22. 2 million to purchase 45. 8 million ordinary shares at 48. 4 cents per share in an off-market trade, according to a regulatory filing to the Australian stock exchange on January 23.

It was the second time in two months Etihad has upped its stake in the Australian flag carrier, having lifted its stake to 22. 9 per cent in November when the airline purchased 60. 6 million shares at 43. 5 cents per share.

Bye-bye Blue – Virgin Australia completes repaint program

Transformation from Virgin Blue to Virgin Australia now complete

From VH-VUC in December 2013 to VH-VUL in February 2015, Flying Colours has played a significant role in the transformation of Virgin Australia from a low-cost carrier to what it is today.

The Townsville-based paintshop has removed the red, white and blue Virgin Blue livery on 23 of the 56 aircraft that were repainted after the airline rebranded in May 2011.

The last of the 23 repainted aircraft to leave Flying Colours wasBoeing 737-800 VH-VUL, which emerged from the hangar named Ocean Grove Beach on February 9 sporting its new Virgin Australia livery.

Flying Colours managing director Linda Armstrong said the Virgin contract to repaint 23 Virgin 737s allowed the company to employ 20 extra staff at its Townsville base over the past couple of years, raised its profile in the sector and provided an economic boost to North Queensland.

cent of Tigerair Australia that it did not own from Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings was an “important step in its pathway to sustainable profitability”.

“We remain focused on maintaining Tigerair Australia’s lowcost business model and a separate brand, whilst ensuring there is a viable low-cost alternative in the market for consumers,” Narayan said.

In other Virgin news, Etihad Airways lifted its stake in Virgin Australia to 24. 2 per cent after buying a fresh parcel of shares in the airline for the second time in two months in January.

The Abu Dhabi-headquartered carrier forked out $22. 2 million to purchase 45. 8 million ordinary shares at 48. 4 cents per share in an off-market trade, according to a regulatory filing to the Australian stock exchange on January 23.

It was the second time in two months Etihad has upped its stake in the Australian flag carrier, having lifted its stake to 22. 9 per cent in November when the airline purchased 60. 6 million shares at 43. 5 cents per share.

“The benefits of the Virgin contract to our business was that it has helped to enhance our reputation in the aviation industry, not just in Australia but overseas as well,” Armstrong told Australian Aviation on February 10.

“We are a prime example I think of the benefits that can be gained by small businesses when you have got larger corporations like Virgin and other operators keeping the work in the country.

“That is a really importantmessage that we have been trying to get out during the Virgin contract and it has led to other things for our business. ” The first aircraft to be repainted by Flying Colours, VH-VUC, broke cover from the paintshop in December 2013.

Some 14 months later, Virgin’s final aircraft to be repainted, VH‑VUL, ferried to Brisbane late on February 9 and returned to revenue service the next day, operating VA605 from Brisbane to Mackay.

“The painting of the last red aircraft into the contemporary Virgin Australia livery signals the completion of the brand repositioning,” Virgin said in a statement on February 9.

The Virgin aircraft was painted with what is known as the “basecoat, clear coat” process, which required fewer layers of paint and produced a result that was longer lasting and therefore helped reduce maintenance.

“All the logos, all the livery, all the safety placards actually go on the white base coat and the last thing to be applied is the clear coat which gives everything underneath protection from the elements,” Armstrong said.

“It helps reduce logos peeling or delaminating and coming off and that is a constant maintenance task for many of the airlines. ” Armstrong said Virgin was the first client Flying Colours had painted aircraft for using the “base coat, clear coat” method.

“Base coat, clear coat had been used overseas for many years but there wasn’t anyone in Australiadoing it,” Armstrong said.

“So we made the recommendation to Virgin that if they did move over to the base coat, clear coat paint system that will enable us to reduce the turnaround time by at least two or three days. ” The 11-day process for each aircraft required 1,200 man hours, 18 painters and 260 litres of paint and Armstrong said the turnaround time was non-negotiable, given the disruption it would cause the airline’s schedule should an aircraft be unavailable at short notice.

“There is no such thing as a delay,” Armstrong said. “It is simply not allowed. ” “No matter what happens during a repaint, it was our job to make sure that the aircraft was still delivered on that 11th day. ”

Airbus launches long-range A321neo variant

Airbus has officially launched its long-range Airbus A321neo (new engine option) with an order for 30 of the narrowbody aircraft from launch customer Air Lease Corporation.

This latest version of the A320neo Family, which was flagged in October 2014, will have a 97-tonne maximum takeoff weight and a range of 4,000 nautical miles, Airbus said on February 10, with first delivery from 2019.

The aircraft, to be called the A321LR, also represented the closest either Airbus or Boeing have come to designing a true replacement for the Boeing 757 which is no longer in production but remains popular on routes across theAtlantic between Europe and North America.

Winglet-equipped 757-200ERs have a range of 3,800nm, while the standard A321neo’s range is 3,650nm.

Designed to carry 206 passengers in a two-class configuration, Airbus said the A321LR option would also allow airlines to open new longhaul markets.

While the A321LR is pitched at the transatlantic market, locally the new aircraft opens up new nonstop options such as Auckland- Honolulu, Melbourne-Phuket, Brisbane-Tokyo, Cairns-Beijing and Perth-Shanghai, according to an analysis by John Walton in the December 2014 edition of Australian Aviation. Air New Zealand already has the standard A321neo on order, while Jetstar could conceivably convert some of its order for 99 A320neos to the new longer-range member of the A320neo family.

The standard A320neo, on which the A321neo is based, is due for certification and first delivery in the second half of 2015. The A320neo first flew in September 2014 and is currently in flight test.

Separately, Airbus has flown the first 242-tonne maximum takeoff weight variant of its popular A330 twin. The aircraft, built on order for Delta Air Lines, took off on a 3 hour 30 minute test flight from Toulouse on January 12.

The 242-tonne MTOW increases the A330’s range by 500nm.

Embraer’s KC-390 military transport aircraft has completed its first test flight

The maiden flight of Embraer’s new military transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft took place at São José dos Campos in Brazil on February 3.

Embraer said the aircraft flew for 85 minutes with test pilots Mozart Louzada and Marcos Salgado de Oliveira Lima, as well as flight test engineers Raphael Lima and Roberto Becker, at the helm.

The pilots conducted a series of system tests and performed various manoeuvres to evaluate the flight characteristics of the aircraft.

“The KC-390 behaved in a docile and predictable manner,” Captain Louzada said in a statement on February 10.

“The advanced fly-by-wire flight control system and the latestgeneration avionics make flying easy and render a smooth and precise flight. ” The KC-390 has garnered 28 orders from the Brazilian air forceas well as 32 “purchase intentions” from other countries such as Argentina, Colombia and Chile.

First delivery was expected in 2016.

“The KC-390 is the result of a close cooperation with the Brazilian air force and international partners, representing what is most likely the greatest technological challenge that the company has ever encountered in its history,” Embraer chief executive Frederico Fleury Curado said.

Brazilian aeronautics commander Lieutenant-Brigadier General Nivaldo Luiz Rossato said the KC-390 would be the “backbone of transport aviation” for the country’s air force.

“From the Amazon to Antarctica, the fleet of 28 aircraft will play a key role in the diversity of projects of the Brazilian state, from scientific research to the maintenance of sovereignty,” he said.

The KC-390 is powered by International Aero Engines (IAE)V2500-V5 engines, which were rated at 31,330lb (139. 3kN) of thrust and a variant of the power plants used on the Airbus A320 family of aircraft.

The engine supplier offered its congratulations following the first flight.

“We are incredibly proud to support our partner Embraer in the development of this cutting-edge, world-class military aircraft,” IAE said in a statement.

“We look forward to closely collaborating with Embraer through the next phase of testing to ensure on-time entry into service.

“While Embraer and its customers desire maximum commonality with the V2500 engine, changes have been made to optimise installation with the new airframe. ” Embraer defence and security chief executive Jackson Schneider said the KC-390 would “set a new standard in the category of tactical military transport”.

Airbus A350 begins commercial service with Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways flight QR67 has marked the commercial debut of the Airbus A350.

The aircraft – registered A7-ALA – took off from Doha Airport at 0810 local time on January 15, landing at Frankfurt a little under six hours later at 1206.

Qatar is the launch customer of the A350 and has 80 of the type on order. This oneworld alliance member took delivery of the A350‑900 on December 22 2014 and unveiled it to the world in front of about 500 invited guests and media at its Doha hub on January 8.

The aircraft was then put through it paces with a number of training flights, including a trip to London for noise testing in the week leading up to the inaugural flight.

Qatar has fitted 36 fully flat business class seats, all with direct aisle access, as well as 247 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration in its A350-900.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the arrival of the A350 into the fleet was a “moment of absolute national pride for Qatar Airways and the State of Qatar”.

“I believe that the State of Qatar has an airline to be truly proud of and one that is globally renowned and regarded,” Al Baker said on January 8.

Having taken delivery of the first A350 in late 2014, Qatar was expected to pick up the next four frames to come off the Airbus production line, with Singapore and New York the next two destinations in line to receive A350 services from the airline.

Finnair, which has 19 A350s on firm order, was scheduled to receive its first A350 in the second half of 2015. Skyteam carrier Vietnam Airlines was also due to receive the first its 10 A350-900s on order before the end of the year.

At December 31 2014, Airbus had booked 780 firm orders for the A350 – 18 for the smaller A350-800, 595 for the A350-900 and 169 for the stretched A350-1000 – from 40 customers.

New Commander Air Combat Group

The former commander of the RAAF’s Air Task Group currently conducting combat operations over Iraq, Air Commodore Steve Roberton, has assumed command of Air Combat Group, taking over from the retiring Air Commodore Tony Grady.

Command of Air Combat Group, which operates the RAAF’s fast jet combat aircraft fleet of F/A‑18F Super Hornets and F/A‑18A/B classic Hornets plus the Hawk leadin fighter trainer and PC-9s used for FAC/JTAC training, was formally transferred to AIRCDRE Roberton during a change of command ceremony and parade at RAAF Base Williamtown on February 6.

Prior to commanding the Air Task Group, ‘Zed’ Roberton, who joined the RAAF in 1989 as a direct entry pilot trainee, was director general aerospace development. Other career highlights include commanding officer of 75 Squadron and head of the RAAF’s Air Combat Transition Office, which oversaw the Super Hornet’s introduction into service.

Aircraft noise ombudsman responsible for military aircraft

Australia’s Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Ron Brent has been given an expanded role to handle and review complaints about military aircraft noise.

The addition of military aircraft to the ombudsman’s current responsibility for civil aircraft is part of a new memorandum of understanding signed by Brent’s office, Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence.

In a joint statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss and Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said the ombudsman would “monitor and report on the effectiveness of community consultation processes relating to civil and Defence aircraft noise, and on the effectiveness of information to the community”.

“The Ombudsman can make recommendations to the Board of Airservices or the Chief of the Air Force for improvements to the handling of aircraft noise matters.

“In improving civil and Defence aircraft noise inquiry outcomes, lessons learnt from one agency could potentially be transferable to the other. ” The statement said the new memorandum of understanding, which was signed on January 19, was in line with the “evolving partnership” between Defence and Airservices as the nation’s air navigation service providers.

It would also “foster a consistent, whole-ofgovernment approach” to managing aircraft noise issues in Australia.

New $13m aeromedical base for Adelaide Airport

It’s been four years in the making but the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the South Australian government and Adelaide Airport Ltd have reached agreement on a new $13 million aeromedical base at the airport.

The project, on which preliminary work has just started to prepare the site, will bring together all South Australia’s air medical services on one airport site.

These include the now-separated, airport-based aviation activities and the suburban administration of RFDS Central Operations and the State emergency medical retrieval service, run by the SA Ambulance Service through its MedSTAR road and air services.

MedSTAR’s three rescue helicopters already operate from a base close to the new RFDS site.

The new centre will be built near the south-western end of the airport’s main runway, and house the RFDS’s emergency service facilities and six of its Pilatus PC‑12s.

Operations will include fixed-wing hospital patient transfer and retrieval flights for the SA government.

The RFDS gained a nine-year contract for the government air medical work in 2013, replacing annual extensions since the partnership began in 1991. The longterm contract helped to underwrite the project for the new base.

The chief executive of Central Operations, John Lynch, said the SA government’s decision to award the long-term contract to the RFDS enabled the organisation to move forward with its investment in strategic projects.

Apart from the new aeromedical base, investments include a new $6 million Pilatus PC-12, due in May or June, which will take the Central Operations fleet to 15 PC-12s, and upgrades to medical equipment. Lynch said another four PC-12 aircraft would be required from 2016-17 to replace older ones in the present fleet.

The move to build the new Adelaide base, on which negotiations began in 2011 with a proposal to the SA government for larger premises, follows updating of the Alice Springs and Port Augusta bases.

Lynch said the project would be financed by the RFDS from its own resources, including fund raising. It would gain some income from the sale of its administration building at nearby suburban Mile End but the RFDS would walk away from its present, constrained base in the airport’s general aviation section, relinquishing it to AAL.

Construction work on the new base is expected to begin in March and be completed by the middle of next year.

The medical aviation facilities will include a streamlined patient transfersystem, with patient management bays incorporating resuscitation equipment, multiple undercover ambulance bays and two-way tarmac access for RFDS and ambulance crews.

The aviation section will have hangar capacity for up to six aircraft, apron parking for up to nine aircraft, workshop facilities and a maintenance store.

“First and foremost, the new base will enable us to provide enhanced patient care,” Lynch said. It also would increase operating efficiency, including faster access to both runways at the airport, and provide a modern workplace for staff and RFDS partners.

South Australia’s Health Minister, Jack Snelling, said the new base and the streamlined retrieval service would help to ensure that “patients receive rapid medical assistance in an emergency, wherever they are in the state”.

Meanwhile, Lynch said the RFDS Central Operations was planning ahead for fourreplacement PC-12s and considering the possible purchase of a twin-jet Pilatus PC-24 for fast transfers on the Alice Springs-Adelaide route.

The present fleet of 14 aircraft includes six based in Alice Springs, with two used for the NT clinic charter contract servicing remote settlement, five in Adelaide and three at Port Augusta. The 15th aircraft will be added to the Adelaide fleet.

Lynch said that in SA alone, the RFDS was carrying out an average of 15 aeromedical flights every day, many of which were transfers from rural and regional hospitals to Adelaide for emergency or specialist treatment.

It was providing emergency aeromedical and primary health services to about 24,000 people in SA annually, he said.

Central Operations employs about 190 people in SA and the NT. The new Adelaide base will not add to employment numbers.

First flight for Falcon 8X

Dassault Aviation says its Falcon 8X is on track for certification and delivery in 2016 after the long-range jet completed its maiden flight.

The Falcon 8X took off from Dassault’s Mérignac plant near Bordeaux on Friday February 6 and was in the air for about an hour and 45 minutes, the company said.

The aircraft, s/n 01, raised its landing gear at 5,000ft, before conducting some flight handling manoeuvres and system tests at 15,000ft. The business jet reached Mach 0. 8 and an altitude of 40,000ft during the flight, Dassault said.

“Throughout the flight, the Falcon 8X demonstrated excellent handling qualities, the hallmark of all Dassault Aviation aircraft,” one of the test pilots of the flight, Eric Gérard said.

“We reached each of the performance objectives set for the first mission and, in a few cases, surpassed target goals.

“I am confident that the remainder of the flight test program will proceed just as smoothly and feel extremely honoured to fly such a handsome and well-engineered aircraft. ” The Falcon 8X, which was designed to enable nonstop flights such as Sydney-Mumbai, Hong Kong-London or Beijing-LosAngeles, was unveiled to media, operators and industry figures on December 17 at the company’s Bordeaux-Merignac facility.

A total of three Falcon 8X aircraft – including one with a full cabin interior – were expected to be used during the 500-hour flight testing and certification phase, with the second and third frames expected to take to the air “in the coming months”.

The aircraft, which was an update of Dassault’s existing Falcon 7X and launched in May 2014 at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, was expected to undergo final assembly and testing at Dassault’s Charles Lindbergh Hall at Merignac.

The Falcon 8X trijet was powered by an updated version of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307 engine currently on the Falcon 7X.

Jetgo drops Sydney-Gladstone

Jetgo says a lack of support from corporate clients is behind its decision to stop flying between Sydney and Gladstone less than three months after launching the route on December 1 2014.

The regional carrier operated its last flight to and from Gladstone on February 8.

Jetgo managing director for airlines Paul Bredereck said passengers on the flights to Gladstone were mainly locals and leisure passengers.

“Unfortunately, we just couldn’t make any sizeable dent into the corporate market,” Bredereck said on February 5.

“We were told that even if we could save them a couple of hundred dollars and save them two hours in transit times they were not interested.

They would rather get the status credits with the frequent flyer programs. ” Jetgo, which was flying 36-seat Embraer ERJ -135 jets on the route, was the only operator offering nonstop flights from Sydney to the Queensland port city about 550km north of Brisbane.

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia served Gladstone from Sydney via Brisbane.

While passenger load factors were building and the local council had thrown its support behind the flights, Bredereck said the airline’s modelling showed the time it would take to bring the route to breakeven was “more than we are prepared to invest in it”.

“If we had deeper pockets we would hold out but we are not interested in going broke on it,” Bredereck said.

“At the end of the day a broke airline is no good to anybody. ” It was the second time Jetgo has dropped a RPT route. In November, the airline decided against commencing Sydney-Roma services two weeks from the scheduled first flight

Virgin Australia to relinquish NZ AOC

Virgin Australia plans to relinquish its New Zealand air operator’s certificate (AOC) and transfer its New Zealand-based fleet of 10 Boeing 737‑800s onto the Australian register as part of plans to streamline the airline’s operations.

The 10 ZK-registered narrowbodies currently under Virgin’s NZ AOC will be progressively brought onto the airline’s Australian AOC and given VH- registrations. The first of these, ZK-PBA, was re-registered VH‑VOO on January 30, according to a search of the CASA civil aircraft register database.

Once Virgin’s NZ AOC has been relinquished, Virgin will have three remaining Australian AOCs.

A search on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) website showed Virgin’s three Australian AOCs were for Virgin Australia Airlines, Virgin Australia International Airlines and another for Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

The 10 aircraft will also soon be reconfigured from their current 180-seat, premium economy/economy layout to the standard eight-seat business and 168- seat economy cabins on the Virgin’s Australia-based 737-800 fleet. Virgin chief executive John Borghetti flagged the integration of the airline’s New Zealand operations “into the rest of our international business” in a bid to streamline operations at its 2013/14 full year results presentation in August 2014.

The initiative was part of Virgin’s efforts to take out $1 billion of costs over the five years to June 2017.

“Cost will be a major focus over the next three years,” Borghetti said at the time.

It is understood there will be no change to Virgin’s New Zealandbased cabin crew and pilot numbers.

However, functions such asflight planning will be transferred to Virgin’s Brisbane operations centre. Those New Zealand-based staff affected by the change were expected to be offered alternate roles and/or job placement services.

It is also anticipated there will be no changes to both Virgin Australia’s trans-Tasman services and flights from NZ to a number of Pacific Island destinations as a result of the relinquishing of the NZ AOC.

Under an open skies agreement, civil aviation regulators of Australia and NZ recognise AOCs issued by either country. This mutual recognition was first mooted in 2000 and came into effect in 2007.

For example, Jetstar operates domestic NZ flights under its Australian AOC that is recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of NZ.

In 2003, the then Virgin Blue set up its Pacific Blue subsidiary to operate trans-Tasman services, with the first flight on January 19 2004 between Brisbane and Christchurch.

The airline was then certified to start flying within New Zealand in 2007, with the first domestic flights on November 15.

Virgin withdrew from the NZ domestic market in 2010, the year it received approval from regulators for a joint-venture partnership with Air New Zealand across the Tasman.

New CASA chief starts five-year term with focus on five key principles

New Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) director of aviation safety (DAS) Mark Skidmore AM has laid out five key principles that he says will guide the regulator’s dealings with the aviation community.

While safety was CASA’s most important consideration, Skidmore says clear communication, minimising the financial impact of regulatory actions, reducing complexity and having a consistent message will be the key focus to “ensure CASA is an even more effective aviation safety regulator, while building our relationships with the aviation community”.

“I have told CASA’s people that I will require everyone in the organisation to think about and apply these principles when we make new regulations or amend existing regulations, when we make decisions and take or recommend actions,” Skidmore said in the January edition of CASA’s monthly briefing note.

Skidmore officially commenced his five-year term as CASA’s chief executive and DAS on January 1, having been named as John McCormick’s replacement in October 2014.

The retired air vice-marshal is a former F-111 pilot who retired from the RAAF in 2012 after a term as Air Commander Australia – ACAUST – in charge of Air Force operations.

As well as being a qualified test pilot (graduating from the US Navy’s Test Pilot School in 1985) and a former commanding officer of the RAAF’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit, Skidmore is also a keen private pilot, flying his own Globe Swift classic aircraft. He was also the test pilot for the RAAF Museum’s Bristol Boxkite replica.

Skidmore said CASA had a responsibility to communicate clearly, simply and effectively.

“If the aviation community does not understand CASA’s safety requirements we will not get the right safety outcomes,” he said.

“When CASA makes changes or takes decisions and actions we must consider the financial impact on both the aviation community and CASA and seek to keep it as low as possible – without of course compromising the achievement of optimal safety outcomes.

“While we are bound by legal requirements in the way CASA’s legislation is developed and presented, we must do our very best to minimise complexity and provide clear explanations of what we require that are free of jargon and confusing language.

“Finally, CASA must be consistent in its decision-making and actions. It is not acceptable for different areas within CASA to present different views on the same issues to the aviation community. ”

Route news

Qantas

is adding extra seasonal nonstop flights to Vancouver in 2015 after deeming its six return services in January a success.

Sydney-Vancouver flights are returning in June and July, as well as in December and January 2016, with three flights a week, Qantas said on February 4.

All up, Qantas has scheduled 33 return flights to Vancouver over those two periods.

Qantas is adding a fifth weekly flight between Sydney and Honolulu during the September/October school holiday period, as well as from November to January.

Garuda Indonesia

ended its five times a week direct flight between Brisbane and Denpasar at the end of January as part of a network restructure.

The Indonesian flag carrier announced its withdrawal from Brisbane, which was served with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, on January 12.

Air China

will offer the only direct flight between Melbourne and Beijing when it starts Airbus A330-200 services on the route from June 1.

The Chinese flag carrier has opened reservations for the new flights, which will operate four times a week.

Currently, the airline offers a same-plane one-stop service from the Victorian capital to Beijing via Shanghai.

It also flies nonstop from Sydney to Beijing and Shanghai.

Solomon Airlines

will return to Sydney for the first time in 15 years when it begins flights from Honiara to the NSW capital in June.

The airline said in a statement on February 1 the nonstop service with Airbus A320 aircraft would depart Honiara on Monday afternoon, with the aircraft to overnight in Sydney before returning to the Solomon Islands on Tuesday morning.

The first flight takes off on June 2.

Solomon Airlines last flew to Sydney in 2001.

It currently serves Brisbane four times a week.