A Chinese-built regional aircraft operating in Tonga is at the centre of an ongoing diplomatic row between the island nation and New Zealand. The MA60 – a derivative of the Antonov 24 regional turboprop – has been cited by the New Zealand government as being unsafe and has pulled tourism aid to Tonga until the
A Virgin Australia 737-800 on pushback from its gate at Melbourne Airport clipped the tail of a Jetstar A320 waiting to park at a nearby stand on August 10. As the Virgin aircraft, VH-YID, was pushing back from the Virgin domestic terminal for its flight to the Sunshine Coast with 175 passengers on board, the
Jetstar’s first 787 has emerged from the paintshop at Boeing’s Everett plant ahead of its delivery to Australia next month. Jetstar released a set of images of 787-8 VH-VKA on its Flickr page on Saturday after images of the aircraft on the Boeing flightline had originally been posted by Flickr user moonm and were quickly
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has halted further consideration of Air New Zealand taking an increased stake in Virgin Australia. According to a report in The Australian Financial Review, the application to increase the New Zealand carrier’s holding to up to 26 per cent has given the ACCC concerns about the potential for
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its first A321 in what is the first of 64 new Airbus aircraft ordered by the airline under a major fleet modernisation program that includes 44 A321s and 20 A330s. The airline will operate the A321s in a two-class configuration primarily on international routes across the Asian region
Etihad Airways chief executive James Hogan has revealed plans for a significant expansion of his Abu Dhabi-based airline’s presence in Australia, including A380 services to Sydney and Melbourne, new airport lounges, and plans to increase its stake in Virgin Australia to almost 20 per cent. Hogan outlined the plans at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation
