The World of Aviation

Regional Express (Rex) has added a Saab 340 aircraft to its Townsville base and is setting its sights on growth in Queensland following the shutdown of Skytrans. The aircraft brings to 52 the number of Saab 340s in the Rex fleet, the airline said in a statement on Friday. Rex general manager of network planning

Two RAAF C-130J Hercules transport aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond, an AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from RAAF Base Edinburgh, and an Air Battle Management contingent from 41 Wing, are currently taking part in Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, alongside US and UK combat aircraft. Air Commander Australia Air Vice-Marshal Gavin

Skyteam’s third lounge – and first in Asia – has officially opened in Sydney following a ribbon cutting ceremony. While the airline alliance’s Sydney lounge has been operational since late December, the Skyteam airline members formally declared the facility open on Friday. Sydney is the third Skyteam alliance lounge, following on from London Heathrow and

Indonesia AirAsia Extra is still waiting for regulatory approval to commence flying between Melbourne and Bali more than a month after the first flight was supposed to take off. The newest affiliate of the AirAsia group of airlines started selling tickets for its inaugural route linking the Victorian capital and the popular Indonesian tourist destination in October,

Virgin Blue’s red, white and blue livery has been consigned to history. The last aircraft to fly in the old Virgin Blue colours, Boeing 737-800 VH-VUL, has entered the Townsville paintshop from which it will emerge in a few weeks bearing the name Virgin Australia in silver-grey print on the side of an all-white fuselage. VH-VUL operated flight

Some Qantas passengers will have the chance to experience the wonders of virtual reality at 38,000 feet when the airline commences a three-month trial of the new Samsung Gear VR headset in February. The headsets are fitted with a Samsung smartphone pre-loaded with some promotional Qantas material such as an on-the-ground perspective of an Airbus