Australian Aviation

QantasLink has announced plans to open a new ‘Regional Lounge’ at Gladstone Airport. Subject to final approval from airport authorities, QantasLink executive manager Narendra Kumar said the new premium lounge would add to the regional airline’s growing network of lounges and premium offering. “Gladstone is an important LNG, resource and tourism centre in Central Queensland.

Former Qantas and international airline executive, Geoffrey Bowmaker, has been appointed as the inaugural CEO of the Australian Association of Aviation and Aerospace Industries (A4I). Bowmaker, who has spent almost 40 years working in the aviation sector in Australia and overseas, has held leadership roles with Qantas and the national airlines of Fiji, Tonga, Nauru

The fifth Boeing 747-8F to join the flight test program made its first flight on February 4. According to Boeing, “The flight included a standard 2 hour, 30 minute ‘B1’ flight profile that Boeing conducts on all production airplanes prior to delivery, plus an hour of engineering testing woven into the profile”. This content is

Qantas has announced a significant increase in its fuel surcharge for international services, its first fuel surcharge increase since January 2008, in response to rising fuel prices. “Fuel prices are a major issue. Crude oil prices are currently trading at their highest levels since the global financial crisis. The Qantas Group has a big exposure

Comair of South Africa has ordered eight Boeing 737-800s for use by its low cost subsidiary kulula.com.

Russian certification authority IAC AR has granted type certification to Sukhoi’s Superjet 100 airliner. The approval from IAC AR certifies the Superjet 100 as airworthy, opening the door for the aircraft to start commercial operations. IAC AR has also granted Design Organisation Approval to Sukhoi as a result of the successful audit process which certified