The World of Aviation

The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) has announced the winners of its 2013 scholarships. RAAA Ansett Aviation Training Scholarship: With 
a total value of $22,000, winners will complete a full endorsement on either the Beechcraft Super Kingair B200 or Fairchild Metroliner III/23 aircraft types. The 2013 winners are: Scott Gregory from Regional Express and

Canada’s second major airline WestJet has announced an order for 65 737 MAX aircraft, fulfilling the carrier’s letter of intent to purchase the aircraft announced on August 29. The order, valued at US$6.3 billion at list prices, comprises 40 737 MAX 8s and 25 737 MAX 7s. The aircraft will underpin the Calgary-based airline’s fleet

Virgin Australia will begin direct flights between Brisbane and Cloncurry November 27. Using 98-seat Embraer E190s, the service will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays. Virgin Australia chief commercial officer Judith Crompton said the decision to start the service was based on strong growth in the agriculture and resources industries in the region and had been widely

Airbus continues a flow of order announcements from Asian carriers at this week’s Aviation Expo in Beijing, with Vietnam’s VietJetAir signing an MoU for up to 92 A320s. The carrier will also lease eight more from third party lessors. The purchase agreement covers for 56 A320s and six A321s, plus 30 purchase rights for additional

To stimulate demand on the Sydney-Rotorua route, Air New Zealand and Rotorua International Airport have worked together to reduce costs and improve schedules, but the airline will suspend the service during winter due as seasonally low demand affects the route’s viability. From September 2014, Air New Zealand will move its twice-weekly service to Monday and

Airbus has announced orders for up to 68 aircraft at this week’s Aviation Expo in Beijing, led by two start-up airlines and aircraft lessor BOC Aviation. Zhejiang Loong Airlines based in Hongzhou in Eastern China has signed an MoU for 20 A320s. The airline has recently been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China