AirAsiaX touches down in Adelaide
AirAsia X operated its inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Adelaide service on October 31, marking the start of its year-round four-weekly schedule. The airline is the only one to offer a direct low-cost service between Malaysia and Adelaide. The airline said it has been encouraged by demand for the new route, with the inaugural flight operating at a
Lounge wars
Qantas and Virgin Australia are engaged in a war of airport lounges, with Virgin Australia opening its new Sydney and Cairns lounges, while Qantas, not to be upstaged, previewed its new lounges in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. The flagship lounge stretches across two levels and can accommodate up to 500 guests, with design elements
Qantas ups Jetstar Japan stake
Qantas has increased its stake in Jetstar Japan via an equity injection “to support the airline’s growth”. Both Qantas and Japan Airlines are injected a combined ¥11 billion (around A$120m) into Jetstar Japan via non-voting shares, taking their holdings in Jetstar Japan to 45.7 per cent each. Consequently, Mitsubishi Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing’s shares will
First F-35 guided weapons drop on a ground target
An F-35B has successfully dropped an inert GBU-12 laser-guided bomb against a tank test target, the first time an F-35 has dropped a weapon on a ground target. The F-35B dropped the 500lb GBU-12 from an internal weapons bay at an altitude of 25,000ft after using its EOTS to identify, track, designate the weapon against
CASA issues ADS-B exemption
CASA has issued a two-year exemption allowing aircraft not equipped with ADS-B transponders to continue operating in airspace above Flight Level 290, a move that will be particularly welcomed by business jet operators. The mandate for all aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B was due to take effect from December 12 this year, but the
ATSB report sheds light on safety occurrences
A report published by the ATSB of safety occurences during the last 10 years shows there were 107 accidents, 195 serious incidents, and more than 7,300 incidents reported to the ATSB involving VH–registered aircraft. There were a further 570 occurrences involving foreign-registered aircraft operating within Australia or its airspace. During 2012 the most common safety
