The World of Aviation

Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) has delivered the first locally-produced main fuselage assembly for Eurocopter’s EC725 and EC225 helicopters. The components are to be delivered to Eurocopter in December. Part of an agreement between IAe and Eurocopter since 2008, the Indonesian manufacturer produces EC725 and EC225 upper and lower fuselages, and tail booms. The contract requires IAe

Virgin Australia has issued a statement calling for an investigation into Qantas’s so-called “line in the sand” publicly stated goal of maintaining 65 per cent marketshare of Australian domestic airline travel. Reads the statement, issued on Thursday afternoon: “Over the last three years, Virgin Australia has had a consistent strategy of bringing strong competition to

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey says the restrictions of the Qantas Sale Act should be debated, saying they are a “set of handcuffs” that competitor Virgin Australia doesn’t have to wear. “We all, as Australians, need to carefully consider whether we retain restrictions on shareholdings on Australian companies, and if we do in the national interest,

Hawaiian Airlines says its first 12 months of its three-times-weekly Honolulu-Brisbane services has “exceeded expectations” “Hawaiian Airlines anticipated an approximate 41,000 seats would be added to both travel markets from the route,” the airline said in a statement. “However, due to popular demand, Hawaiian Airlines has already transported more than 65,000 passengers between Brisbane and

Construction of new hangar and support facilities for the Navy’s forthcoming MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters at HMAS Albatross, Nowra has commenced with a ceremonial sod turning by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Darren Chester, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs and Colonel Noel Beutel, acting Director General Capital Facility and Infrastructure, earlier this week. Defence

Eithad has announced it is replacings its 292-seat Airbus A340-600s with 328-seat Boeing 777-300ERs on its daily Melbourne-Abu Dhabi services from December 1. The aircraft upgauging increases Etihad’s seat capacity on the route, which partner Virgin Australia codeshares on, by 12 per cent as well as significantly boosting freight capacity. “Switching to the Boeing 777