Two weeks after abandoning plans for an Asia-based premium carrier, Qantas has secured a deal at the other end of the market and will set up a Jetstar franchise in Hong Kong. The $198 million agreement with codeshare partner China Eastern Airlines, announced today, will see Jetstar Hong Kong operational by 2013, Qantas said. The
Failed Air Australia will be liquidated, after the airline’s creditors voted to wind up the company at a meeting in Brisbane today. Administrator Mark Mentha of Korda Mentha said the airline’s 350 staff would get most of their entitlements paid out under the federal government’s General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS) but other creditors
Virgin Australia has announced plans to launch an extra daily service between Melbourne and Hobart and build a new premium lounge at Hobart Airport. The announcement coincides with the launch today of a priority boarding service for premium passengers at Hobart Airport, part of a larger effort by Virgin to expand its business offerings. The
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued draft approval of a codesharing alliance between Virgin Australia and Skywest aimed at tapping into lucrative mining routes in Western Australia. The ACCC said the alliance would benefit consumers by fostering competition between Virgin-Skywest and Qantas and its affiliates. The deal “will result in public benefits such
A regional aviation industry group has lashed out at government support for carmaker Holden, saying the government has put the needs of a “huge multi-national” above those of small airlines serving rural Australia. “Detroit might be celebrating tonight but Australians who rely on regional air services are in shock,” Regional Aviation Association of Australia CEO
Qantas has completed the refit of its fourth 747-400 and will introduce the aircraft on trans-Pacific routes by the end of this month. The refit program brings the 747-400 interior in line with that of Qantas’s Airbus A380s and includes redesigned seats, larger seatback inflight entertainment screens and fully-flat Skybeds in business class. The refurbished
