Allowing the proposed alliance between Qantas and China Eastern would give the two carriers the ability to limit capacity and lift fares on the Sydney-Shanghai route, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says. In a draft ruling, the competition regulator has knocked their application to work together in the Australia-China market, arguing the partnership
Domestic passenger numbers down in January
Australia’s domestic airlines flew emptier aircraft in January despite cutting the number of available seats in the market. The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) said on Tuesday there were 4.67 million passengers on domestic regular public transport (RPT) flights in January, down 3.6 per cent from the prior corresponding period. At the
Darwin Airport wins marketing award
Darwin Airport has been recognised for its work in attracting new airline services to the Northern Territory with a Routes Airport Marketing Award for the Asian region. Northern Territory Airports (NTA) director for commercial and aviation development Jim Parashos said the award recognised the work the airport has done on improving domestic and international air
Australia’s first F-35 pilot takes off
The first Australian F-35A Lightning II pilot has completed his first flight in the aircraft. Squadron Leader Andrew Jackson’s flight, on the morning of March 17 (US time), was conducted in a US Air Force F-35A from Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where he is undergoing conversion training onto the aircraft. “It was pretty awesome,” SQNLDR
Qantas completes fourth A330 reconfiguration
Qantas has its fourth reconfigured Airbus A330 fitted with new business class seats in service, enabling the Flying Kangaroo to thicken its schedule to Asia with aircraft that feature its latest on-board product. The fourth aircraft, A330-300 VH-QPC, emerged from the Qantas maintenance facility in Brisbane on Sunday, when it went for a two hour
Virgin Australia’s most punctual airline in February
Virgin Australia has retained the title of the nation’s most punctual airline for a fourth straight month. Figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) showed Virgin led all airlines in February with an on time departure rate of 91.6 per cent, while its on time arrival rate was also an industry leading
