The World of Aviation

Two RAAF E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft have returned to Australia after participating in Exercise Red Flag Alaska last month. The two 2SQN aircraft, supported by 59 personnel from the RAAF’s 49 Wing, took part in a number of ‘large force employment’ air combat exercises involving up to 60 aircraft during Red Flag Alaska 14-3, which

Airbus says the A400M airlifter has successfully demonstrated its air-to-air refuelling capabilities. During a recent flight test campaign, a Spanish air force F/A-18 Hornet made 33 dry and 35 wet contacts with an A400M development aircraft. During the wet contacts 18.6 tonnes of fuel was transferred to the Hornet. According to Airbus: “The standard A400M aircraft

Virgin Australia chief executive Johh Borghetti says the market is slowly catching up with the excess capacity swirling around in the domestic market. However, he admits there is still a long way to go. The softening in the national economy, coupled with a weaker Australian dollar and the huge influx of additional seats in the

Tigerair Australia is on a clear path to profitability by 2016/17 after a year of transformation, the budget carrier’s majority owner Virgin Australia says. Virgin completed its 60 per cent purchase of Tigerair Australia from Singapore-based Tigerair Holdings, which held onto the remaining 40 per cent, on July 8, 2013. Since paying $35 million for

Regional Express (Rex) has declared the Australian aviation sector to be in deep crisis after reporting a near halving of full year net profit. The airline said net profit for the 12 months to June 30 2014, fell 44.9 per cent to $7.725 million, from $14.018 million in the prior corresponding period. Revenue fell 1.9

Virgin Australia is introducing business class seating on its trans-Tasman and Pacific Island 737 aircraft from early 2015. From March next year the 10 737s operated by the airline’s New Zealand-based operation (the former Pacific Blue), including the single aircraft operated by Virgin Samoa, will be refiited with the same four-abreast, 38in pitch, eight-seat business class