Finnair’s Australian boss Geoff Stone says stopping over in Asia on the way to Europe is coming back into favour amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Although Finnair does not serve this market with its own aircraft, the airline has codeshare arrangements with British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, as well as interline agreements with Japan Airlines, to take passengers from...
The FAA STC for Raisbeck Engineering’s Swept Blade Turbofan Propellers for the King Air 350 has been officially accepted by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The request for the Acceptance was submitted to the CASA February 9, 2016; the official Letter of Acceptance was signed March 11, 2016. “The Civilian Aviation Safety Authority’s acceptance of the F...
This cute little number is the DART 450, a training aircraft by Austrian company Diamond Aviation that just made its maiden flight. DART stands for Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer, and the company says the little turboprop can fly eight hours without refueling and reach a top speed of about 290 mph. The sweeping cockpit views are good for pilots learning to fly and for goi...
The RAAF’s Pilatus PC-9/A turboprop trainer fleet is undergoing inspections after cracking was discovered in the folding strut of the aircraft’s nose landing gear, the Department of Defence said in a statement on Thursday. “Consequently, Air Force is assessing the implications of these cracks, so as to ensure the aircraft meet Air Force’s strict safety standard...
Virgin Australia yesterday unveiled its new International Business Class cabin, with the first of its refitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft now flying across the Pacific. The airline’s flagship Business Class product ‘The Business’, new Business Class Bar and Lounge, and refreshed Premium cabin will transform the customer experience on long haul flights from Australia to Los Angeles...
Virgin Australia has launched its revamped business and premium economy seats on its Boeing 777-300ERs, starting with services on the Sydney-Los Angeles route. The new business class layout features 37 B/E Aerospace Super Diamond lie-flat suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, with an 18in screen for in-flight entertainment. This brings it in line with the business class seats on its Airbus A330...
Eight of Asia’s low cost carriers, including Virgin Australia-owned budget subsidiary Tigerair Australia, have broken new ground in the no-frills sector, forging an LCC alliance aimed at giving members a significant boost in network spread and lifting their ability to increase revenue. Announced in Singapore today (Monday) and known as the Value Alliance, it is the world’s first pan-re...
The world's biggest plane has touched down safely in Western Australia amid scenes of traffic chaos around Perth Airport. Traffic was gridlocked around Perth Airport on Sunday morning as thousands of people lined up against fences, along road verges and on the side of the road in an attempt to get a glimpse of the Ukraine-built Antonov An-225 Mriya. The Antonov An...
Lease Corporation International (LCI), the aviation leasing arm of the Libra Group, has delivered the first new AW139 helicopter to Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service based in Australia. The aircraft is currently en route and will arrive at Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service's main base in Newcastle, New South Wales, in June to enable pilots along with rescue and medical crews to begin...
Etihad has cut the ribbon on its new premium lounge at Melbourne Airport. It is the airline’s second lounge in Australia, having opened its Sydney Airport lounge in March 2014. Featuring wide views of the airfield, the lounge is the largest in Etihad’s network outside Abu Dhabi at 800m2 and has enough seating for 133 passengers. It will be open three hours before Etihad’s t...
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker says Perth is the likely next Australian destination to receive the Airbus A350-900. Although Al Baker declined to say when Qatar’s Perth-Doha service – currently served with Boeing 777-300ERs – would switch to the A350, he noted late deliveries of the new Airbus widebody had pushed back some route chan...
Australia’s civil defence and civil security will be the subject of a new conference to be held in Melbourne at the end of May. The event, called CIVSEC 2016, is being organised by the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Foundation of Australia (AMDA), which is also behind the Avalon Airshow, Pacific Maritime Exposition and Land Forces. AMDA chief executive Ian Honnery said CIVSEC wou...
