Qantas deploys 747 on Sydney-Perth
Pre-empting the new competitive challenge from Virgin Blue’s forthcoming Airbus A330s, Qantas has announced it will deploy “internationally configured” widebody aircraft, including Boeing 747-400s, on its transcontinental services between Perth and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, in the process adding more than 4300 seats a week. On the Sydney-Perth route two-class Skybed equipped 747-400s will operate
Minister rebuffs Bankstown masterplan
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected Bankstown Airport’s 2010 draft masterplan, citing insufficient community information about its plans. “In its proposed master plan, Bankstown Airport sought approval for up to 32 passenger flights a day,” Minister Albanese said on February 16. “This would be a significant change given the airport does not have
More seats under Australia-Vietnam airservices agreement
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Australia and Vietnam signed on February 11 increases by 3300 seats per week the capacity available to Australian and Vietnamese airlines to operate between the two countries. According to a statement from Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese, the MOU will now enable airlines from both Australia
Temora warbirds to feature at Avalon
For the first time aircraft from the Temora Aviation Museum will be on show at the Avalon Airshow next month, as the airshow celebrates the 90th anniversary of the RAAF. Temora’s (RAAF owned) CAC Sabre plus its Lockheed Hudson, Gloster Meteor and Spitfire Mk V III will be among the warbirds on display at Avalon.
Bankstown Airport tightens circuit training times
Sydney’s Bankstown Airport is placing new restrictions on aircraft circuit times in an effort to settle local resident noise concerns in the area. Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown CEO Colin Grove advised in a statement that the new “noise abatement procedures” would take effect from March 7, “bringing forward the finishing time for circuits from 11pm
A400M begins cold weather trials in Sweden
Airbus Military’s second A400M development aircraft flew in to the northern Swedish city of Kiruna at the beginning of February, to conduct four days of cold weather testing. Airbus reports that tthe A400M (dubbed‘Grizzly 2’) experienced temperatures down to -21ºC and successfully achieved all planned test points during a program that focused on the aircraft’s
