Federal Infrastructure & Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has pushed back on suggestions that the carbon tax and other government policies unfairly hurt an already threatened regional aviation industry. During remarks to a summit of industry leaders in Canberra on Monday, Albanese acknowledged “some real challenges” to regional aviation in Australia but said the industry as
Air New Zealand subsidiary Mount Cook Airline has been forced to cancel dozens of flights after discovering hairline cracks around the cockpit windows of an ATR turboprop. The carrier grounded all 11 of its ATR 72-500s on Sunday as it inspected the aircraft. That forced the cancellation of more than 50 flights, mostly to regional
Leaders from the regional aviation industry will converge on Canberra on Monday for what is likely to be a lively summit with government ministers. Many in regional aviation have become increasingly critical of government policies, particularly the carbon tax, which they say unfairly targets an industry that has played a key role in supporting the
The overall on-time performance of Australia’s domestic airlines dropped by 5 per cent last financial year, according to a compendium of government aviation statistics released today. About 80 per cent of domestic flights left on time during 2010-11, down from 85 per cent the previous financial year. On-time arrivals were down from 84 per cent
Virgin Australia says all conditions for its ownership restructure have been met and the plan will go ahead over the next two weeks. Announced last month, the restructure will see Virgin’s international business split off to become a separate, unlisted company owned by current shareholders. That will free Virgin’s domestic business from government regulations that
The Qantas A380 damaged by the mid-air uncontained failure of one of its engines in 2010 should be back in the air by the end of next month, the airline has said. VH-OQA Nancy-Bird Walton has been undergoing repairs in Singapore for the past 16 months. Qantas says those repairs are substantially finished, with only a
