Category: Airlines

The carrier, one of China’s “big four”, will fly three times per week between Perth and Guangzhou using 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, providing a total of 85,800 inbound and outbound seats per year. The news comes after the return of its existing seasonal service at the beginning of the month.

In a letter to creditors seen by Australian Aviation, administrator EY Australia confirmed that the deed of company arrangement implemented last month is now complete, and all shares in the Rex Group have been handed over to Air T.

In its final report into the incident on 21 July, which saw a fire break out in overhead bins on board flight VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart, the ATSB found that a power bank in a passenger’s backpack had failed and entered a dangerous “thermal runaway” state.

The Finnish carrier will operate the new Melbourne route using its A350 fleet, which features business, premium economy, and economy seating. Flights will commence on 26 October subject to government approvals, with passengers able to book to Bangkok or all the way to Helsinki.