Virgin Australia has welcomed the first group of graduating pilot cadets from its inaugural training program. After 55 weeks of intensive training, the group of seven fully qualified pilots will be initially be sent to Brisbane and Perth as first officers on Virgin Australia’s Fokker 50 and ATR 72 turboprop fleet. Virgin Australia acting chief
The Australian Financial Review has reported that Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways will increase their stakes in Virgin Australia holdings after only 25.3 per cent of retail shareholders took up entitlements as part of a $350 million capital raising. The increase will be marginal, however, with 98 per cent of institutional investors
An Australian aviation biofuel industry is technically viable but significant obstacles remain, according to a report released by Qantas and Shell. The study, conducted with the support of the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is the most comprehensive investigation so far into the economic viability of producing biofuel on a commercial
Jetstar has opted to cease the unprofitable Gold Coast-Osaka route to enable a new non-stop service between Melbourne and Tokyo (Narita). The Gold-Coast-Osaka route, which operates three times weekly, will cease May 8, 2014. The company said the decision fits with Jetstar’s strategy to ensure it deploys aircraft on routes that meet market demand and to
Virgin Australia has announced it will open a new aircraft engineer apprenticeship program. The new program will open up to 32 aircraft maintenance, mechanical and avionic apprenticeships at the airline over the next four years. The successful applicants will be trained in Melbourne and Brisbane, working on some of the world’s most advanced technology, including repairing,
Air Tahiti Nui has launched a third weekly service to Tahiti, offering Australian travellers better access to the sought-after holiday destination in 2014. The new year-round Tuesday service will compliment the airline’s existing Thursday and Sunday flights from Auckland to Papeete linking up with direct codeshare connections from Sydney and Melbourne. Air Tahiti Nui General
