Canberra Airport has boosted its credentials for more flights and long-sought after international services with a new hotel located 50 metres from the terminal. The Vibe Hotel Canberra Airport’s 191 rooms opened its doors to travellers on Monday, bringing the nation’s capital in line with nearby airports such as Melbourne Tullamarine, Sydney and Brisbane which have a hotel...
Auckland has become the latest destination to receive Singapore Airline’s (SIA) new premium economy cabin. SIA has upgauged its daily service between Singapore and Auckland to the Airbus A380, from the Boeing 777-300ER, for the peak summer holiday season. The aircraft change, which also occurred in the prior year, means the Star Alliance member is offering four classes to Auckland...
Melbourne has a new low-cost option for air travel to Asia and a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner operator at Tullamarine. Singapore Airlines-owned Scoot’s inaugural flight TZ22, operated by 787-8 9V-OFC, touched down in the Victorian capital just before 1100 local time on Sunday. The aircraft was on the ground for a little over an hour before departing as TZ21 back to Singapore. The low-cost...
Adelaide Airport Ltd (AAL) has maintained its status as the nation’s fastest growing capital city airport, enabling the company to almost triple its annual profit. The annual report, just released, showed AAL pre-tax profit soared from $19.7 million to $52.3 million in 2014/15, helped by a significant lift in property values and lower financing costs. The net profit result rose from $1...
Qantas’s Boeing 737-800 retrojet headed to Longreach over the weekend as part of a charity flight raising funds for drought affected Western Queensland. The ‘Retro Roo’, VH-XZP, touched down at Longreach just after 1000 local time on Saturday carrying a full load of 168 passengers who each paid $737 for the day trip from Sydney to the airline’s the spiritual home and the...
Scoot chief executive Campbell Wilson plans to make the budget carrier a conduit between Australia and fast-growing markets such as China and India as it expands its network from its home base in Singapore. A newly delivered Scoot Boeing 787 Dreamliner jetted into Melbourne yesterday to make the Victorian capital the long-haul budget carrier's fourth Australian destination after Sydney, the...
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says it is committed to listening to the aviation community and is making changes to the regulatory regime where necessary to ensure better outcomes for all. The nation’s aviation safety regulator has responded to concerns from The Australian Aviation Associations’ Forum (TAAAF), which said on Thursday it was concerned at the...
Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia have received the green light to extend their alliance for a further five years. In a draft ruling, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says it plans to re-authorise the alliance that was first established in 2011 and led to Virgin commencing flights on its own metal between Sydney and Abu Dhabi. “The ACCC considers th...
A Jetstar Airbus A320 has been given a makeover in the lead up to the Australian summer. The narrowbody, VH-VFV, operated its first commercial service on Wednesday afternoon featuring the “Elevate Your Summer” livery, departing Melbourne Tullamarine at 2015 as JQ780 bound for Adelaide. Jetstar is no stranger to having aircraft with special liveries. Over the years Jetstar has unv...
Brisbane Airport has cut the ribbon on its upgraded international terminal which features a new departures lounge, increased signage, more shops and, importantly for aviation enthusiasts, improved views of the airfield. The terminal was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss on Wednesday. Brisbane Airport chief executi...
The peak bodies representing the aviation sector in Australia say they are concerned with the slow pace of change at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and cost of compliance with new regulations. The Australian Aviation Associations’ Forum (TAAAF), which comprise the peak representative bodies in the local industry, says although there is some good work being done at CASA, the or...
A RAAF KC-30A tanker transport has refuelled a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft on operations for the first time. The mission over Iraq in support of Coalition operations against Islamic State last week saw the KC-30 use its ARBS (Aerial Refuelling Boom System) to refuel the Wedgetail in the first time a RAAF KC-30 had used its boom on operations. “Being able to use the...
