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Despite the promise of double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency, operating costs and emissions, Boeing has been forced to commit to a marginally lower production rate for the 747-8 program from 1.75 aircraft to 1.5 a month due to what the company describes as “lower market demand for large passenger and freighter airplanes”. “This production adjustment

Bond Helicopters has launched operations in Australia to provide offshore services to the energy industry. The company’s launch is based around its first major contract – a multi-million dollar, five-year agreement with the PTTEP Australasia Group of Companies (PTTEP), part of Thailand’s national petroleum exploration and production company. Bond will initially support PTTEP’s Timor Sea

Qantas has officially opened a new $80 million “flagship” catering centre in Brisbane, which becomes the airline’s main catering hub. The new Qantas Catering centre, to which the airline started transitioning operations some months ago, is claimed to be one of the most advanced such facilities in the southern hemisphere. It includes robotic food-handling technology,

Virgin Australia has expanded its codeshare agreement with Air New Zealand, adding its code to an additional 17 routes across New Zealand. The move, which follows regulatory reauthorisation of the trans-Tasman alliance between the airlines, and adds to existing trans-Tasman codeshares and some domestic services. This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members. Login

The European Union is set to ignite a fresh diplomatic row following its decision to re-implement the controversial Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to all international flights within EU airspace. The European Commission last year suspended the scheme for international carriers in the face stiff opposition from Chinese and US authorities. The publication of the EU

The second A350 to fly, MSN3, has completed its first flight, in a sortie that lasted around five hours. Like MSN1, which flew for the first time in June and has since accumulated 330 flight test hours over 70 flights, the second A350 has no cabin fitout, but is equipped with heavy flight test installation.