A series of errors by air traffic controllers at RAAF Williamtown that lead to a breakdown in separation between a Virgin Blue 737 and a defence-chartered Westwind business jet in February 2011, according to an ATSB report. The report says the RAAF controllers maintained the two aircraft on a mirror image course despite urgent warnings
Tiger Airways will establish a second base at Sydney Airport after CASA approved the carrier’s plan to increase flights to pre-grounding levels over the next six months. The plan will allow Tiger to use all 10 of its aircraft for the first time since its operations were shut down for six weeks over safety concerns
Qantas expects a 60 per cent drop in labour demand at its heavy maintenance facilities in Australia over the next five years, the airline has said in comments that could pave the way for further job cuts. Qantas last month announced plans to consolidate maintenance facilities in Brisbane, Melbourne and Avalon that together employ 1460
Qantas will tomorrow begin an eight week trial of wireless internet service on A380 flights to and from the US. Six of the airline’s A380s will be equipped with wi-fi during the trail, with internet connection available on flights between Sydney or Melbourne and Los Angeles. The service will initially be provided free of charge
A Qantas plea to extend its code-sharing alliance with South African Airways has been rejected, with Australia’s International Air Services Commission saying the partnership discourages competition and amounts to an “effective duopoly.” Qantas had appealed an earlier decision by the IASC against the agreement but the commission stood by the decision. The IASC did however
Virgin Australia will end its frequent flyer partnership with Malaysia Airlines at the end of March in a move stemming from Virgin’s decision to form an alliance with Singapore Airlines last year. Virgin and MAS said they would honour forward bookings made through the current partnership, but members of each carrier’s frequent flyer program will
