Virgin Australia forced to stop ticket sales for Apia-Auckland following Samoa government decision
Virgin Australia has received a setback in its efforts to maintain flights to Samoa after the country’s government denied the airline’s application to operate flights between Apia and Auckland. While flights from Brisbane and Sydney to Apia will go ahead on November 13 as previously planned, Virgin Australia has been forced to cancel its five
Veteran aviation journalist Ben Sandilands has died after battling cancer. For the past decade, Sandilands covered aviation for the Crikey online blog Plane Talking, with his combination of analysis, comment and news often provoking much comment from readers. Even Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce was prompted to respond to one of Sandilands’ posts in June
Beijing Capital Airlines touches down in Sydney
Beijing Capital Airlines has added a second Australian port to its fledgling international route network with the start of flights between Sydney and Qingdao. The inaugural service of flight JD479, operated by Airbus A330-200 B-8550, touched down at Sydney Airport shortly after 0600 on Monday, after its 11-hour journey from Qingdao. The aircraft was expected
RAAF Orion to join HARS collection
The Historical Aviation Restoration Society (HARS) is to be gifted an ex-RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion, Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies is to announce on Friday. The Orion will join a HARS collection of more than 20 former RAAF aircraft, including examples of earlier RAAF maritime patrol aircraft including the PBY Catalina and
Jetgo starts flights from Illawarra Regional Airport
Regular public transport (RPT) flights are back at Illawarra Regional Airport (IRA) for the first time in almost a decade. On Monday, Jetgo commenced nonstop flights from Illawarra Regional Airport, also known as Albion Park, to Melbourne and Brisbane. It is the first time RPT flights have operated from the airport since the late 2000s
Perth becomes Airbus A350’s fourth Australian destination
Cathay Pacific has commenced Airbus A350-900 flights between Perth and its Hong Kong hub, bringing to four the number of Australian cities served by the next-generation widebody from four foreign carriers. The oneworld alliance member switched its daily Perth-Hong Kong rotation from the Airbus A330-300 to the A350-900 on Sunday, continuing a trend of upgauging
