China’s Xiamen orders 40 737s
China’s Xiamen Airlines has agreed to purchase 40 Boeing 737-800s as part of a major fleet expansion. The deal, valued at US$3.5 billion at list prices, is pending Chinese government approval. Xiamen, a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, operates a fleet of six 757s and 77 737s. It plans to expand its fleet to 200
by Jim Carden As a boy on a rare flight international flight with the family years ago, I vividly recall a cabin crew member asking if I wanted to have a peek in the cockpit. Having boarded the plane, wide-eyed with excitement, I had stolen a glimpse at that dazzling array of instruments, levers and
Virgin opens a lounge for the high rollers
Passengers who need exhaustive pampering now have their choice of Australian airlines, with Virgin opening its first ultra-exclusive, invitation-only lounge at Sydney Airport, the Australian Business Traveller website has reported. Dubbed ‘The Club,’ the secretive lounge will vie against Qantas’s hush-hush Chairman’s Club for the patronage of politicos, CEOs and A-list celebrities. Virgin has not
The extent of damage inside a Qantas 747 engine that failed over Bangkok last year is making it difficult for investigators to determine what went wrong, the ATSB has said in an update to its inquiry on the incident. Qantas flight QF2, operated by VH-OJS, was eight minutes into its climb away from Bangkok on
Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has unveiled plans to develop an international airport on the Sunshine Coast to feed visitors into a “World Tourist Mecca” including a new 1000-room hotel and casino at the site of his Coolum resort. Palmer purchased the golf resort last year and ousted Hyatt Hotels as manager of the facility, leading
China Airlines to add AKL-SYD-TPE flights
China Airlines has confirmed plans to launch four times weekly service from Auckland to Taipei via Sydney. The service, due to begin on October 28, complements existing three times weekly flights from Auckland to Taipei via Brisbane, effectively giving Auckland a daily air link with Taiwan. “This announcement marks a significant step towards stronger trade
