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Australia aviation news

Virgin Australia back into profit in first quarter of 2015/16

Virgin Australia says it is on track for a full year profit in 2015/16 after improved yields and lower costs moved the airline back into the black during the first quarter of the current financial year. The company on Thursday reported statutory net profit after tax for the three months to September 30 2015 of $1.7 million, bouncing back into profitability following a $59.1 million statutory lo...

Eighth and final RAAF C-17 delivered

The RAAF officially welcomed its eighth and last Boeing C-17 Globemaster airlifter into service at RAAF Base Amberley on Wednesday. The aircraft, A41-212, landed at Amberley on Monday, with the final delivery marked by a small ceremony at Amberley on Wednesday attended by Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies and ...

Tigerair Australia credits BAE Systems Australia for improved punctuality

Tigerair Australia has credited BAE Systems Australia for helping the low-cost carrier improve on-time performance and reduce cancellations over the past two years. In October 2013, BAE Systems signed its first non-military engineering support contract in Australia to provide base maintenance services for Tigerair’s fleet of Airbus A320s. To support the Tigerair business, BAE...

Warbirds Downunder 2015 to feature a pair of Red Bull racers

Warbirds Downunder 2015 will feature flying performances from Red Bull Air Race competitors Nigel Lamb and Matt Hall. Having recently competed against each other in the Red Bull Air Race World Championships, Lamb and Hall will turn their attention to flying warbird aircraft when they head to Temora for the airshow. Hall, a former Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander, finished second in...

Qantas and Vietnam Airlines Unveil Big Growth Plans for Jetstar Pacific

Qantas and Vietnam Airlines have committed to a long-term expansion of their Jetstar Pacific joint venture that could more than double the size of the Vietnamese low-cost carrier's fleet to 30 over the next five years. That would make Jetstar Pacific the largest of Qantas's budget Asian offshoots, ahead of Singapore's Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan, which have 18 and 20 aircraf...

Virgin Australia Cancels All Flights to and from Bali

Virgin Australia has cancelled all of today's flights to and from the Indonesian island of Bali because of concerns about volcanic ash. The airline said its team of meteorologists and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre had deemed it unsafe to fly around Denpasar Airport. Virgin said it would make a decision on tomorrow's flights after receiving further expert advice. "We c...

Queenstown Airport begins runway, lighting upgrades

Construction work designed to allow the start of evening flights into and out of Queenstown Airport has commenced. Part of the NZ$17 million project includes widening the runway to 45 metres – from 30 metres currently – and installing a new “comprehensive lighting package” for the runway, taxiway and apron, as well as new approach lights. The runway is also being resu...

Canberra boosts case for international flights with new airport hotel

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...

SIA brings premium economy to Auckland

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...

New low-cost carrier at Melbourne Tullamarine

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 well positioned for strong future growth

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 Retro Roo charity flight raises $114,000 for drought relief

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...