Jake Nelson

Writing in the Australian Financial Review, Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie suggested the Government’s aviation policy is a “protection racket” for Qantas, and said the Treasurer should be able to force divestiture in the aviation sector.

Raul Villaron, head of APAC for Embraer, said large purchases like Alliance’s E190 fleet expansion program, as well as the recent order by Virgin Australia for E190-E2s, point towards considerable local growth for Embraer’s regional jets.

Australian Aviation understands the four Saab 340Bs, registered VH-RXE (pictured), VH-ZLX, VH-ZJS, and VH-ZRH, were listed for sale through global firm C&L Aviation before the airline entered administration earlier this year.

The new-generation aircraft, which already operate Melbourne-Brisbane, Melbourne-Canberra and Melbourne-Hobart services, will begin flying Sydney-Launceston on 27 October and Sydney-Hobart on 19 November.

The Flying Kangaroo now has three weekly A330-200 P2F (passenger-to-freight) services between Australia and Hong Kong, as well as five weekly Sydney-Christchurch-Auckland services as of late August, four of which are operated by A321P2F aircraft.

Australian Aviation understands that VH-ZNC (pictured), which saw a tyre tread separation as it took off for Perth on 24 August, damaging the underside of the right-hand wing, is awaiting the arrival of parts before it can resume operations.